3-goal 1st half explosion does in Young
Dolphins gain experience in 6-0 loss
By Mike Garofola
NORTHBROOK -- After cruising past Parker at the Chicago Fire Academy indoor facility in its season opener - Young found itself on the other side of a similar outcome Saturday at Glenbrook North.
The Dolphins (1-1-0) trip to the North Shore proved disappointing with the hosts recording a 6-0 victory at William Lutz Stadium.
"For the first 28 minutes I thought we fought hard, and held our own, but that letdown of ours late in the first half kind of did us in," admitted Dolphins manager Spero Mandakas, whose club came here a year ago and enjoyed a much better result against these same Spartans.
"We had a fairly easy time of it against Parker. And that, combined with us maybe taking Glenbrook a little too lightly after beating them (3-1) last year probably contributed to our first half effort," said co-captain, Gabrielle Cattan, whose score against Parker on a PK conversion at 50 minutes got the Dolphins off and running in their 5-0 win Thursday.
To be fair to Cattan and her mates, their match with Glenbrook North may have been more daunting than they would have expected: playing outside for the first time on a bone-chilling day after an indoor opener; and facing a club that was itching to play after cancellations kept the Spartans on the sidelines all week long.
Glenbrook North built its game to a crescendo.
"With so many newcomers, and very little time outdoors because of the shift in the weather this past week, none of knew what to expect - but I know the girls were very anxious to get out there and play," said Spartans manager Craig Loch.
"It took us a little while to wipe away some of the rust from our game, but after a half hour or so, I thought we put together some nice stuff in our attack, and it showed with those goals we scored."
During the first quarter hour, the home side tested the Dolphins backline on a regular basis, thanks in part to a strong wind in its favor, and some wonderful work by a trio of young players: Victoria Caparos, Samantha Cramin and Emily Charen, who supported each other when the Spartans got forward.
"We're still trying to figure things out along the back, and this was a totally different team we played today compared to Thursday, so we had our struggles from time-to-time today," said the Dolphins senior center-back Mariah Helm.
"These tough games on our schedule against good suburban teams will really help prepare us for our CPS games later on. So I'm not worried about a result or two like this, because I know it will make us better in the end."
The Dolphins had little going in their attack during the first quarter hour, but when they did it occurred when the club set Audrey Howaniec free up the right side.
A quality early ball from Jessica O'Donnell put the sophomore Howaniec into the Spartans area on the right side, and if not for a sharp tackle from Maggie Oliphant the Dolphins forward would have gotten in on keeper Ellie Scott.
The 12th minute uprising jumpstarted the Dolphins attack. Just two minutes later, it was Howaniec once again, this time collecting a nicely played ball from Mia Lisanti - which, again, ended when a Glenbrook North defender rotated toward the near post to end the Young attempt.
Just afterwards, sophomore defender, Addie Schelnsker took one off the line for the Dolphins when Glenbrook North's Melissa Tucker attempted to steer in her angled attempt against keeper Sloane Kistinger.
The senior Dolphin keeper enjoyed a solid day technically, challenging well off her line when called upon, while stopping a handful of shots with confidence.
Kistinger could do nothing during the three-goal explosion by the home side, which would come in a five-minute flurry. It began when a third-consecutive corner ended up in the back of the Dolphins net at 31 minutes.
"We'll need to clean a few things up on those set pieces and deadball opportunities along our backline, "admitted Mandakas, who watched his club have its troubles most of the day in that area.
Two minutes later, the Spartans doubled their advantage after a lovely exchange between the aforementioned Cramin and Charen, before sophomore Torrie Welch unloaded a 35-yard blast high into the back of the net. The Spartans trotted off the field for intermission with a 3-0 lead.
Young returned resolute.
"Our overall effort in that first half wasn't good enough, but I thought we came back after the break and showed much more energy, and it showed with the confidence we had on the ball, and how we went into tackles also," said Cattan.
There was no give in the Dolphins approach after the break, and despite conceding a fourth goal at 45 minutes, Mandakas' charges were creative, pacey and more intent in their attack.
Much of this had to do with the efforts from Lisanti and Jessica O'Donnell, as well as Cameron Herman, whose marauding runs out of the back both caused the Spartans some trouble in their end and gave the Dolphins another option in their final third.
"I was happier with the way we attacked in the second half, and with the way we possessed the ball a little better, while trying to build our attack from the back," Mandakas said. "We're still a work in progress with so many new faces, but hopefully we can build with the way we played in the second half."
Mandakas brought in Mia Engelmann to take over between the sticks and the rest of his bench to get them valuable minutes in the final quarter hour.
Glenbrook North added two more to the scoreboard in the last seven minutes before time, but the 6-0 result didn't damper the way in which both Cattan and Helm felt going forward.
"We were a little predictable out there at times, and we had our troubles here and there. But there's good talent on this team, and this was just one game in many we're going to play. I feel real good about the direction of this team," said Helm.
"I know we all learned a lot from today, and we'll be much better next time out also," added Cattan.
The Dolphins have a busy week ahead of them with three nonconference matches on their schedule. It begins with Kennedy on Tuesday, followed by road games at Oak Park and River Forest (Thursday) and St. Ignatius (Saturday morning).
Starting lineups
Young
GK - Sloane Kistinger
D- Addie Schlensker
D- Mariah Helm
D- Cameron Herman
D- Kyra Sobel
M- Gabrielle Cattan
M- Olivia Putrim
M- Jessica O'Donnell
F- Sara Woods
F- Mia Lisanti
F- Audrey Howaniec
Glenbrook North
GK- Ellie Scott
D- Emily Perta
D- Maggie Oliphant
D- Olivia Kosla
D- Melissa Tucker
M- Torrie Welch
M- Emily Charen
M- Victoria Caparos
M- Katie Benson
F- Samatha Cramin
F- Maya Harkavy
Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match: Mariah Helm, sr., D, Young
Referee: Chris Blackshern
Dolphins gain experience in 6-0 loss
By Mike Garofola
NORTHBROOK -- After cruising past Parker at the Chicago Fire Academy indoor facility in its season opener - Young found itself on the other side of a similar outcome Saturday at Glenbrook North.
The Dolphins (1-1-0) trip to the North Shore proved disappointing with the hosts recording a 6-0 victory at William Lutz Stadium.
"For the first 28 minutes I thought we fought hard, and held our own, but that letdown of ours late in the first half kind of did us in," admitted Dolphins manager Spero Mandakas, whose club came here a year ago and enjoyed a much better result against these same Spartans.
"We had a fairly easy time of it against Parker. And that, combined with us maybe taking Glenbrook a little too lightly after beating them (3-1) last year probably contributed to our first half effort," said co-captain, Gabrielle Cattan, whose score against Parker on a PK conversion at 50 minutes got the Dolphins off and running in their 5-0 win Thursday.
To be fair to Cattan and her mates, their match with Glenbrook North may have been more daunting than they would have expected: playing outside for the first time on a bone-chilling day after an indoor opener; and facing a club that was itching to play after cancellations kept the Spartans on the sidelines all week long.
Glenbrook North built its game to a crescendo.
"With so many newcomers, and very little time outdoors because of the shift in the weather this past week, none of knew what to expect - but I know the girls were very anxious to get out there and play," said Spartans manager Craig Loch.
"It took us a little while to wipe away some of the rust from our game, but after a half hour or so, I thought we put together some nice stuff in our attack, and it showed with those goals we scored."
During the first quarter hour, the home side tested the Dolphins backline on a regular basis, thanks in part to a strong wind in its favor, and some wonderful work by a trio of young players: Victoria Caparos, Samantha Cramin and Emily Charen, who supported each other when the Spartans got forward.
"We're still trying to figure things out along the back, and this was a totally different team we played today compared to Thursday, so we had our struggles from time-to-time today," said the Dolphins senior center-back Mariah Helm.
"These tough games on our schedule against good suburban teams will really help prepare us for our CPS games later on. So I'm not worried about a result or two like this, because I know it will make us better in the end."
The Dolphins had little going in their attack during the first quarter hour, but when they did it occurred when the club set Audrey Howaniec free up the right side.
A quality early ball from Jessica O'Donnell put the sophomore Howaniec into the Spartans area on the right side, and if not for a sharp tackle from Maggie Oliphant the Dolphins forward would have gotten in on keeper Ellie Scott.
The 12th minute uprising jumpstarted the Dolphins attack. Just two minutes later, it was Howaniec once again, this time collecting a nicely played ball from Mia Lisanti - which, again, ended when a Glenbrook North defender rotated toward the near post to end the Young attempt.
Just afterwards, sophomore defender, Addie Schelnsker took one off the line for the Dolphins when Glenbrook North's Melissa Tucker attempted to steer in her angled attempt against keeper Sloane Kistinger.
The senior Dolphin keeper enjoyed a solid day technically, challenging well off her line when called upon, while stopping a handful of shots with confidence.
Kistinger could do nothing during the three-goal explosion by the home side, which would come in a five-minute flurry. It began when a third-consecutive corner ended up in the back of the Dolphins net at 31 minutes.
"We'll need to clean a few things up on those set pieces and deadball opportunities along our backline, "admitted Mandakas, who watched his club have its troubles most of the day in that area.
Two minutes later, the Spartans doubled their advantage after a lovely exchange between the aforementioned Cramin and Charen, before sophomore Torrie Welch unloaded a 35-yard blast high into the back of the net. The Spartans trotted off the field for intermission with a 3-0 lead.
Young returned resolute.
"Our overall effort in that first half wasn't good enough, but I thought we came back after the break and showed much more energy, and it showed with the confidence we had on the ball, and how we went into tackles also," said Cattan.
There was no give in the Dolphins approach after the break, and despite conceding a fourth goal at 45 minutes, Mandakas' charges were creative, pacey and more intent in their attack.
Much of this had to do with the efforts from Lisanti and Jessica O'Donnell, as well as Cameron Herman, whose marauding runs out of the back both caused the Spartans some trouble in their end and gave the Dolphins another option in their final third.
"I was happier with the way we attacked in the second half, and with the way we possessed the ball a little better, while trying to build our attack from the back," Mandakas said. "We're still a work in progress with so many new faces, but hopefully we can build with the way we played in the second half."
Mandakas brought in Mia Engelmann to take over between the sticks and the rest of his bench to get them valuable minutes in the final quarter hour.
Glenbrook North added two more to the scoreboard in the last seven minutes before time, but the 6-0 result didn't damper the way in which both Cattan and Helm felt going forward.
"We were a little predictable out there at times, and we had our troubles here and there. But there's good talent on this team, and this was just one game in many we're going to play. I feel real good about the direction of this team," said Helm.
"I know we all learned a lot from today, and we'll be much better next time out also," added Cattan.
The Dolphins have a busy week ahead of them with three nonconference matches on their schedule. It begins with Kennedy on Tuesday, followed by road games at Oak Park and River Forest (Thursday) and St. Ignatius (Saturday morning).
Starting lineups
Young
GK - Sloane Kistinger
D- Addie Schlensker
D- Mariah Helm
D- Cameron Herman
D- Kyra Sobel
M- Gabrielle Cattan
M- Olivia Putrim
M- Jessica O'Donnell
F- Sara Woods
F- Mia Lisanti
F- Audrey Howaniec
Glenbrook North
GK- Ellie Scott
D- Emily Perta
D- Maggie Oliphant
D- Olivia Kosla
D- Melissa Tucker
M- Torrie Welch
M- Emily Charen
M- Victoria Caparos
M- Katie Benson
F- Samatha Cramin
F- Maya Harkavy
Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match: Mariah Helm, sr., D, Young
Referee: Chris Blackshern