SUMMIT – Riverside-Brookfield’s Hazel Hall comes into every soccer season with a plan.

“I always try to set pretty high personal expectations for myself once I start off a season,” she said. 

The senior and her Bulldogs teammates didn’t waste any time in Tuesday’s season opener at Argo, a host site for Reavis’ annual 32-team Windy City Ram Classic.

Riverside-Brookfield needed just 58 seconds to score and the goals kept coming in a 6-0 victory over the host Argonauts.

Hall, the Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match, led the way with three goals and two assists. Senior Niamh Larson and junior Ella Caputo combined for the other goals and assists. Per tournament rules, the game consisted of 35-minute halves rather than the usual 40.

With 17 goals along with six assists, Hall was the top scorer for Riverside-Brookfield’s 2023 Class 3A regional finalist that finished 17-6-1. She collected hat-tricks in decisive victories over Bishop McNamara and Ridgewood last season.

“Starting off with a hat-trick and a few assists was really exciting,” Hall said, “but mostly I was just happy to include other people in that, too, because I feel like it is pretty much a team effort.”

The Bulldogs have another strong team with four of their five 2023 All-Metro Suburban Conference selections returning -- Hall, Larson, Caputo and junior defender Lucy Drenth. With the Bulldogs prepared to join the Upstate Eight Conference in 2025 and private schools leaving the league, this year’s conference has dwindled to three other teams – Elmwood Park, Ridgewood and Westmont.

“(We’re) senior-led,” Riverside-Brookfield coach Ivek Halic said. “They’ve been with me for four years, absolutely high expectations (this season), and rightfully so.

“We played really well, moved the ball really well, strung passes, lots of combinations. Overall, I’m very pleased with the girls. I thought we did really well in transition, both offensively and defensively.”

A working scoreboard would have been useful the way the Bulldogs came out attacking. And Riverside-Brookfield kept the pressure coming, outshooting the Argonauts 15-1 in the first half and 27-2 for the match.

Almost immediately, the Bulldogs earned a corner kick from Maddie Bisiules, which was headed out by Argo senior standout Lesly Echavarrieta.

Larson then struck just 58 seconds into play to complete a passing combination with Caputo and Hall, who got the assist.

“I think that was the key for today, putting one in right away,” said Larson, who had 15 goals and eight assists in 2023. “I think the most important part of a game is scoring first. It puts a lot of pressure on the other team. You start hot, the energy goes up.”

Hall was especially energetic about her first assist. It came in the 11th minute and produced a 3-0 lead.

As Caputo, who was dominating along right wing, made a cut toward the center, Hall delivered a perfect pass with the back of her heel, and Caputo converted. Caputo had three goals last season with eight assists.

“That was really, really good. I kind of patted myself on the shoulder for that one,” said Hall, laughing about the pass. “I’ve done it a few times in the past. It’s just something I’ve been able to get more comfortable with. When I saw Ella making more of that diagonal run, I was like, ‘Perfect. This is the time.’ And it worked out great. Sometimes it’s iffy if it’s going to work out.”

Hall scored her first goal in the fifth minute, rebounding a Larson shot stopped by substitute Argo senior goalie Jasmine Alcala-Gil off a pass from Michelle Panduro.

Hall’s second tally – which delivered a 4-0 halftime edge -- came in the 15th minute to complete another masterful passing combination from Caputo to Panduro and back to Caputo.

Fewer than three minutes into the second half, Hall dug out a ball and scored for a 5-0 advantage.

Larson added the final goal roughly six minutes later with a beautiful 22-yard direct kick over Argo’s defensive wall and into the upper-right corner.

Several Bulldogs saw action in both halves playing different positions. With about 11 minutes left, the starting outside defenders almost got in the scoring act as Abigail Ford took a pass from Abigail Jurkovic. Ford’s shot grazed off the left post.

The Bulldogs also began implementing a 3-2-4-1 lineup formation with Hall up-top.

“I think we were definitely nervous (coming in),” Bisiules said. “We were practicing a new formation. Everyone was kind of nervous about what they were doing, but I think we handled it really well. We were able to put goals in right away. It can be confusing, but I think we did a good job.”

The fairly restructured defense also enjoyed a positive start. Drenth is now the veteran after the graduations of central defenders Lena Lembcke and 2023 all-sectional and all-conference Jessica Sharenow. Drenth began last season on the outside and then joined Sharenow after Lembcke suffered a season-ending injury.

“We lost a lot of people. Our two centerbacks were some solid backs, but we have really great players able to step in and fill those positions really well,” Drenth said. “I think it’s going to be an adjustment. But from what I’ve seen today, we’re doing great and (the graduations are) not going to really impact us at all. I think we’re going to be coming out strong.”

Soon after Larson’s quick strike, Argo advanced the ball into the attacking third but was unable to shoot. The Argonauts’ lone threat came in the 27th minute when Gallardo gained control of a free kick from about 25 yards and put a shot near the right post that was stopped by senior goalie Annabel Krueger.

The keeper did not play soccer prior to this school year. But she’s been a multi-year starter for the Riverside-Brookfield girls volleyball team and before this season also competed for the gymnastics team, earning an individual sectional berth. Krueger played some club soccer in the offseason to get prepared.

“She did great,” Halic said. “We worked in the offseason with her. I’m very pleased with how she played too, just a pure athlete.”

“We were so proud of her,” Hall said.

Hall actually had a hand – or foot – in Krueger joining the team. After starting goalie Piper Blair graduated last spring, the Bulldogs knew they otherwise would be “scrambling” for a replacement.

“I don’t want to say scrambling, but we wanted to find someone who was already athletic. Having a background in soccer would have been great, but there really wasn’t that option,” Hall said. “Annabel’s been a three-sport athlete in the past. She’s super athletic. I was like, ‘Hey, you interested?’ And she was like, ‘Yeah.’“

In Argo’s net, Jasmine Alcala-Gil tried her best stepping into goal for the first time in about five or six years. Sophomore starter Damara Alcala-Gil was unable to play.

It was just part of the overall youth or inexperience for the Argonauts, who have seven seniors on the roster and started four of them with three juniors and four sophomores. Three other sophomores and one freshman were among dressed players who subbed.

New head coach Carlos Marquez has been with the program the previous nine seasons.

“For most of the game, we had one senior (on the field), our starting goalkeeper,” Marquez said. “There’s definitely a lot of positives. We’re young. That’s the one thing I knew going in. I’m still getting to know these girls. I think in the second half we did a lot better.”

Last season, the Argonauts were 5-14-1 and sixth in the South Suburban Conference Red Division. They lost to host Lyons 8-0 in the regional semifinals.

They return their three all-conference players – Echavarrieta, Cicha and all-section pick Gallardo. Cicha was the Argonauts leading scorer with 17 goals and seven assists. Gallardo was second with six goals and seven assists.

“I thought the girls had a good attitude (Tuesday). They’re going to stay positive,” Marquez said. “We’re going to be a team that’s going to be able to compete with time. I think especially next year, when these sophomores become juniors and juniors become seniors. Even this year, I think we’ll be competing for conference on our side.”

Starting lineups

Riverside-Brookfield
GK: Annabel Krueger
D: Lucy Drenth
D: Abigail Jurkovic
D: Abigail Ford
MF: Cassidy Erb
MF: Kate Newberry
MF: Michelle Panduro
MF: Ella Caputo
MF: Maddie Bisiules
MF: Niamh Larson
F: Hazel Hall

Argo
GK: Jasmine Alcala-Gil
D: Alex Jimenez
D: Martyna Dudas
D: Marely Martinez
D: Leslie Rodriguez
MF: Jazmine Cuervas
MF: Klara Cicha
MF: Jaylyn Amaro
MF: Paulina Gallardo
F: Giselle Mendez
F: Lesly Echavarrieta

Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match: Hazel Hall, sr., F, Riverside-Brookfield

Scoring summary (35-minute halves)

First half
Riverside-Brookfield: Niamh Larson (Hazel Hall) 1’
Riverside-Brookfield: Hall (unassisted) 5’
Riverside-Brookfield: Ella Caputo (Hall) 11’
Riverside-Brookfield: Hall (Caputo) 15’

Second half
Riverside-Brookfield: Hall (unassisted) 38’
Riverside-Brookfield: Larson (unassisted) 44’