ST. CHARLES – Apparently, ties are occasionally okay with both teams. 

That was the case in the 1-1 draw between St Charles East and Fremd. Each mentor was pleased with his team’s play  Tuesday at Norris Stadium.

Gemma Gillespie capitalized on a free kick to put Fremd up 1-0 with 22:30 left in the first half.

St. Charles East’s Alli Saviano scored the equalizer in the 59th minute.

“We never want to tie; we never want to lose. But you know, with the team we have this year, we’re excited that they all gained the experience,” St. Charles East coach Vince DiNuzzo said. “And they played against a top-quality opponent and found a way to get some kind of a result.”

His counterpart from Fremd also liked what he saw on the pitch.

“I was pleased. I thought we did a good job,” said manager Steve Keller. “We did some nice things with the ball, and we had some decent possession against them. So, a decent result, but I thought we could have sneaked one out to win.”

Gillespie, a senior midfielder and returning Chicagoland Soccer All-Stater, also had positive takeaways.

“It’s the first game. We’re warming up, definitely promising. We were connecting passes, making sure that we were getting back and fighting for each other,” Gillespie said. “I really liked our effort. I think we’re going to only improve moving forward.”

Fremd, ranked ninth in Chicagoland Soccer’s First 50 preseason poll, had the run of play in the first half.

“I think it was a little frustrating for our kids in that first half. Fremd did a lot of things well,” said DiNuzzo. “They have some physical components where they’re just faster, stronger in certain areas of the field. It caused us problems, specifically in the buildup. We weren’t able to get in a rhythm passing the ball.”

A collision between Fremd’s Sammy Serpico and Fighting Saints goalkeeper Sidney Lazenby (four saves) just outside of the penalty box set up Fremd’s goal. The referee assessed the foul to St. Charles East.

Gillespie, a Butler commit, lined up up-the-middle from 20 yards out for the resulting free kick. Her shot went over the wall of St. Charles East defenders and into the upper left corner of the net.

“When Sammy was fouled, I was actually really excited. I have been practicing (free kicks), so I was ready,” the senior said. “It was at such a close range. I knew that I could just kind of finesse it a little bit. I didn’t need to put that much power on it -- just place it.”

Fremd’s speedy offense successfully challenged the Fighting Saints defense during the first 40 minutes.

“It was really Fremd’s forward and midfield pressure in the first half. Their three up-top were running very fast at our backline, causing them to make quick decisions on the ball,” DiNuzzo said. “Their midfield played very physically and knocked us off balance quite a few times. That cost us some unfortunate turnovers and made us defend a lot.”

St. Charles East, ranked 21st in the preseason poll, adjusted to Fremd’s style of play in the second half.

“After we settled in the game in the second half, I think our attacking midfielders, Tatum Smith and Alli Saviano got higher up and the field gained a little shape. Lauren Kernan came on and played there too” said DiNuzzo. “They were able to hold the ball for us, allow us to transition. We also matched the physicality, and we were taking our chances a little better.”

Saviano corralled an Anika Dodrill cross just outside the right post and knocked the ball home.

“We were able to get a quick counterattack, and Annie was able to hold the ball for me and then played me right through the line. I was able to take it on a first touch and score,” said Saviano, who will play at Southeast Missouri next year.

She agreed her team’s midfield play improved in the final 40 minutes.

“Adapting our positioning in the midfield, that helped a lot in the second half,” she said. “We were able to get numbers up more and use our forwards.”

Keller gave high marks to his defense.

“I think our backline did a did a very good job and for the most part kept things in front of us. Any time East tried to play forward, we were in good positioning to pressure the ball,” he said.

“Good work from Matty McMillan and Bella Cesnik in the back. Sammy Serpico on the left and Lia Digirolamo on the right both did a nice job.”

Fighting Saints freshman defender Presley Kannaka made a good impression in her varsity debut.

“I thought Presley showed why she should be on the field. She made a couple of last-ditch tackles,” the St. Charles coach said. “She just slide tackles, something that you don’t typically see from freshman girls. She was good today.”

Kannaka patrolled the backline with Chicagoland Soccer All-Stater Mackenzie Loomis, a fourth-year varsity player. Loomis’
play earned her a portion of Chicagoland Soccer’s MVP of the Match honor.

“She played true centerback for us,” said DiNuzzo about the Eastern Michigan signee. “I don’t think she lost the ball out of the air, and she won a bunch of tackles. She didn’t make a mistake today. She was phenomenal.”

Keller was also pleased with his midfield play which included two sophomore newcomers, Sophia Kennedy and Natalia Wala.

“Our midfield had a good work-rate,” he said. “Kennedy and Wala played very well.”

Wala’s effort earned her a share of the MVP of the Match honor.

“She was a presence out there for us and really put a mark on this game,” said Keller.

Seniors Riley Goettsche and Emily Gordon shared goaltending duties for Fremd.

Gordan (one save) patrolled the nets in the first half, and Goettsche (three) took over in the second.

DiNuzzo made frequent substitutions to give his new players match experience.

“A lot of our kids played a lot of minutes. It was good to rotate kids in, and they all stepped up,” he said.

Starting lineups

Fremd
GK: Emily Gordon
D: Lia Digirolamo
D: Maddie McMillian
D: Bella Scesniak
D: Gemma Gillespie
MF: Ava Catherall
MF: Sophia Kennedy
MF: Natalia Wala
F: Sami Serpico
F: Lily Mayer
F: Gwen Zimmerman

St. Charles East
GK: Sidney Lazenby
D: Presley Kannaka
D: Mackenzie Loomis
D: Abbey Petrick
MF: Sophia Wollenberg
MF: Georggia Desario
MF: Payton Rivard
MF: Alli Saviano
F: Tatum Smith
F: Anika Dodrill
F: Ellie Possin

Chicagoland Soccer MVPs of the Match: Natalia Wala, so. MF, Fremd; Mackenzie Loomis, sr., D, St. Charles East

Scoring summary

First half
Fremd: Gillespie 18’

Second half
SCE: Saviano (Dodrill) 59’