ROSELLE -- New Conant manager Jeff Melone celebrated his first match in charge with a 2-0 road victory over host Lake Park on Thursday at Bob Monken Field.

Thanks to freshman Gabby Coyne's maiden goal just moments into this contest and a second half finish from Brianna Serna, the visitors took home the win on this dreary, cold and windy evening.

"It's nice to come in (here) tonight and have Gabby put one in early to get us started in the right direction, and to see a good effort from all of the girls on a not-so-great weather night," said Melone, who starred under Hall of Fame manager Tony Kees along the backline during his senior year at Conant in 2001 when the Cougars went 16-5-0 and advanced into the MSL Soccer Cup.

Melone was part of a terrific backline partnership which included current Mundelein manager Sebastian Falinski, who later played at Lewis University, Joe Tritthardt and Adan Salinas, who played at IUPUI.

In 2000, Melone and his mates claimed a Class 3A fourth place state trophy after advancing out of the Glenbard East Sectional as the no. 5 seed.

Melone takes over the girls program from the highly successful Jason Franco, who stepped down after last season after 18 terrific years.

During that time, Franco claimed a pair of top-four state trophies. One came in 2011 with two-time All-American Courtney Raetzman, who went on to star at the University of Kentucky.

Melone and assistant Mark Davies were on the staff on that 2011 state team. Davies, a 2004 Conant grad, was a three-year starter and a key figure on the 2003 boys state team.

"Mark and I have been together for a long time, so I feel like we're both fortunate to (now) have the opportunity to take over the girls program," said Melone prior to the Cougars season-opener.

For Lake Park manager Caroline Kilrea, this contest gave her and the Lancers (1-1-0) plenty of positive things to take with them going forward.

"We're a very young team. We came out a little slow and tentative, and it cost us right away," began Kilrea, who is now in her second year in charge.

"(It) wasn't the greatest start for us, especially against a very good team like Conant. I was proud of the fact that the girls didn't hang their heads and just fold as a team after taking on so much pressure in that first half. I thought we came out in the second half and played a lot better."

The home side was knocked back when Coyne bagged the opener after the Lancers failed to track her run into the box before she collected a lovely helper from senior Sophie Dobrincu.

"It was just 45 seconds into the game, and we were already chasing the game,” said Kilrea. “Fortunately, our backline withstood a ton of pressure after that goal. We had Vanessa Boafo back there to save us."

Boafo, the starting keeper for the Lancers JV squad a year ago, turned in a magnificent performance, particularly in the first half when the senior turned around a handful of quality chances that kept her club’s head above water.

"Ava Garcia was our starting keeper on the varsity last year, while Vanessa did the same for us on our JV team,” said Kilrea. “Her hard work and extra time she put in to be a better keeper really showed for us tonight. There's complete trust in her from all of us."

Boafo shared the Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match honor with Conant senior Megan Ferengul.

"That early goal from Gabby was a great start for us,” said Ferengul, whose work-rate, energy and terrific effort on both sides of the park inspired the visitors. “We created a lot of great chances and should have probably put a couple of those chances in. Their keeper kept them in the game, and I know we'll finish more of those chances as the season goes on."

Two-time All-Mid-Suburban League player Sophie Dobrincu, who entered her final season with 23 goals and 21 assists, initiated five first half corners, all of which forced Boafo or her backline mates into action.

Avery Connelly steered a Dobrincu corner off the post at seven minutes, Amani Urban saw her left-footed attempt saved by Boafo minutes later after Coyne and Dobrincu sent their teammate through. Then Serna thumped a header off the bar after meeting corner kick no. 3 of the half in the 10th minute.

"I thought for our very first game of the year (that) we did a lot of good things, including our communication and ability to connect passes," said Urban, who wears the captain’s armband along with Ferengul and Dobrincu for the Cougars. “I'm feeling really good about our backline this season as well."

"We have a nice group of players back, which includes our entire backline, which should be the strength of the team this year," said Melone of his returning 10 players.

Urban (all-MSL) and Olivia Hagler are on the outside, while Reese Staniak and Claire Husnick (all-MSL) handle the central defensive positions.

With a strong wind at Conant’s back and the Cougars confidence after the Coyne early goal, Lake Park found it difficult to get out of its own end for nearly 20 minutes. Then Francesca Cali, Garcia, Kira Holliday and Mizzia Vavalle began to create some quality passing combinations.

"(Conant) put a lot of pressure on us right from the start, and it seemed like all we were doing was defending and having Vanessa (Boafo) make great saves for us to help keep us in the game," said senior Holliday, who wore the captain’s armband with Cali and Cora Riter.

"We all really worked hard in that first half to keep the score close, especially our backline and Vanessa. I felt like we were able to push up, connect passes, and play so much better in the second half." 

Holliday, a two-sport star for the Lancers, is considering playing basketball in the fall at Mount Mary University in Milwaukee.

Kilrea praised her young back four of Ruth Dellaria, Gabriella (Gabby) Goldz, Amelia Szamatowicz and Maya Zur for their ability to stay composed and sturdy, despite the constant appearance of white kits in and around the Lancers box.

"Amelia and Ruth are both freshmen; Maya Zur is a sophomore; and Gabby, a junior, really showed me something tonight," said a thrilled Kilrea, whose club won its opener Tuesday over Providence on a goal from Garcia, who now toils for the Lancers as a midfielder.

The visitors did their best to double the advantage in the first half with Vivian Brand, Serna and Coyne all going close. Then Boafo made a trio of goal-saving stops on close-range efforts from Brand, Lily Maio and Katelyn Fink just minutes before the intermission.

"We did a lot of good things in the first half, except to finish our chances, but that will come as we continue to train and play games," Melone said.

During the first 10 minutes of the second period, the Lancers showed plenty more energy and spirit. That resulted in far more touches and completed passes in the final third.

On the other side of the park, it was Ferengul and Coyne who found their rhythm early on as they operated nicely in the Cougars 4-3-3 formation with teammate Connelly providing plenty of support tracking back to defend, while adding pace going forward.

Dobrincu started the final scoring sequence. She allowed junior Serna to finish high into the net with some wonderful work on the left side on a strike that gave the Lancers keeper no chance to turn away in the 52nd minute.

Both sides brought a number of reserves on at the hour mark.

Holliday and Cali created the first free kick opportunity on the night for the home side in the 64th minute, then watched their teammate Szamatowicz take one off the line moments later to keep things close.

"I am really happy with our effort tonight, especially in the second half, so we'll look to continue that type of play in our next game," said Holliday.

"Last year we lost to Conant 5-0, and this team is equal to, or better than a year ago. That's something the girls should feel proud of," began Kilrea, whose club goes to Glenbard South this Monday for a 6:30 p.m. contest.

"Like I said, we're really young. We've got some terrific seniors back to lead with Holliday, Cali and Riter. I feel like our strengths are at the center of the field where the girls are learning to play together and move together as a unit.

"Vanessa will keep us in games with her strong work. She is so consistent and trustworthy in the net, which will help our young, and inexperienced back to go through the usual growing pains associated with playing at the varsity level.”

Conant is ready for more success.

"We'll clean some things up before our game on Saturday (at Mundelein). I know we'll be a little bit better and sharper than tonight," said Ferengul, who praised Serna as one of the top players of the night.

"Brianna was great,” concurred Urban. “So were our two freshmen Gabby Coyne and Vivian Brand."

Another newcomer to the club, freshman keeper Annabel Danso recorded the first clean-sheet of her career.

Starting lineups

Conant (4-4-3)
G- Annabel Danso
D- Amani Urban
D- Reese Staniak
D- Claire Husnick
D- Olivia Hagler
M- Avery Connelly
M- Gabby Coyne
M- Megan Ferengul
F- Brianna Serna
F- Sophie Dobrincu
F- Vivian Brand

Lake Park (4-4-3)
G- Vanessa Boafo
D- Ruth Dellaria
D- Gabriella Glodz
D- Amelia Szamatowicz
D- Maya Zur
M- Francesca Cali
M- Ava Garcia
M- Mizzia Vavalle
F- Adrianna Skruch
F- Kira Holliday
F- Cora Riter

Chicagoland Soccer MVPs of the Match: Megan Ferengul, sr., MF, Conant; 
Vanessa Boafo, sr., GK, Lake Park

Scoring summary

First half
Conant: Coyne (Dobrincu), 1'

Second half
Conant: Serna (Dobrincu), 52'