GENEVA – As soon as South Elgin saw its 2024 game schedule, it drew a big, red circle around Monday’s game. And just to be clear, the Storms’ eagerness had nothing to do with the unique positioning of the sun and moon. It had everything to do with the matchup against Geneva in the second round of the Plainfield Classic.

 

The teams’ last encounter left a bitter taste in the collective mouth of South Elgin. The Vikings ousted the Storm, on its home field, from the 2023 Class 3A state tournament with 1-0 win in the regional championship match. The sole goal came on a penalty kick after a controversial foul call.

 

Motivated by that devasting season-ending loss, South Elgin (7-2-0) edged Geneva 1-0 at Burgess Field. Freshman forward Lucy Tomasi scored the lone goal with 8:12 left in the match. The win ended a two-game losing streak.

 

Both teams, which were previously ranked and now sit at the top of the honorable mention list of the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25, have 1-1-0 marks in Group 3. South Elgin takes on Lincoln-Way West, and Geneva, the defending tournament champion, squares off against current pool front-runner and newly ranked Waubonsie Valley to end round-robin play. Both matches take place Wednesday at Burgess Field.

 

The regional PK call has stuck in Storms’ craw.

 

“Our girls wanted this one a little bit,” South Elgin coach Jerzy Skowron said of the defensive battle. “The referees admitted it, so I feel comfortable saying it. They made a mistake and awarded a PK in the regional final that determined the game 1-0. For all I know, we’d still be taking PKs in that game.”

 

“It was big on our mentality,” said South Elgin’s Mia Traver. “But I think we came in strong, and we knew what we had to get done.”

 

Geneva (4-3-0) could not end its attacks with a payoff.

 

“Today’s match was a little frustrating for us. I feel like we had a lot of opportunities, and we couldn’t finish,” Geneva coach Megan Owens said. “I think it’s a game that is good to have early in the season, because we grow from it. I think it’ll help us in the postseason.”

 

The Vikings have plenty of time to hit their stride.

 

“Obviously, we’re very disappointed,” Owens continued. “But you know, as we progress through the season, it’s a marathon, not a sprint. We need to work a little bit on our mental toughness and our focus and our grit to get to where we need to be.

“I would like to see my offense be able to finish better. I think that’s where our focus needs to be.”

The Vikings were a challenging opponent for South Elgin. Geneva held an eight-game unbeaten streak (7-0-1) vs. the Storm the past eight years, including seven shutout losses.

Skowron had a plan to turn the result around in the rivalry. He loaded his line-up with offense to pressure Geneva’s backline.

 

“Geneva is always difficult,” he said. “We threw something new at them today, because we’ve been bleeding goals a little bit and went with four forwards. But credit to Geneva, they diverted us from those plans a little bit in the first half.

“In a stroke of luck, we stuck with it in the second half to try and put Geneva on its back foot, and I think we were able to do that.”

 

The South Elgin manager moved midfielders Callie Miller and Adeline Kinsella to the front line.

 

“They are such intelligent players, and that’s why we threw this last-second formation tactical change at the girls, because they can take it,” said Skowron.

 

Seventy-two minutes into the match, the Storm finally hit pay dirt.

 

After taking a pass from Avi Hernandez, Tomasi dribbled up to the right corner of the penalty box and smashed the ball across the goal mouth into the left corner of the net.

 

“It was a tough goal, but I was really determined from the start to beat this team,” said the freshman of her fifth goal of the season “My aggressive attitude toward the game, and all my skills finally paid off for that one big moment.”

 

Tomasi also remembers last year’s regional final.

 

“I know all about this rivalry,” she said. “I was there (as an eighth-grader) watching it.”

 

Skowron had high praise for sophomore midfielder Hernandez, who started the goal-scoring process.

 

“Avi commands so much respect from the opponent,” said the Storm coach. “Plus, all the technical tools that she brings, she unlocks the defense with one pass. It’s just a super weapon to have.”

 

Owens thought her defense turned in a strong performance.

 

“Overall, they did fine. We had one mental mistake, and we paid for it,” said the Vikings manager. “They had one (dangerous) shot in the second half. They were able to put it away so props to them for that.”

 

Senior Vikings keeper Jordan Forbes (four saves) appreciated the defensive effort in front of her.
 

“A lot of people stepped up like Cammie (Bishop) did a really good job of getting back,” the returning Chicagoland Soccer All-Stater said. “Riley (Pryor) did a good job of cutting South Elgin off when they tried to split us. I think that worked out really well for us.”

 

Skowron is pleased with the improving play of his junior centerbacks Traver and Ashley Gonzalez.

 

“Ashley is growing and growing. She’s normally not a centerback. We started the season without (then-injured) Cami (Stokes) in the lineup, and Ashley stepped in and just kind of took off running.”

 

Traver’s defending earned her Chicagoland Soccer’s MVP of the Match honors.

 

“Mia had another strong game,” Skowron said. “I can’t speak enough about her. She dispelled so many attacks from Geneva. She was physical with them right back. And she was even fighting allergies and all that kind of stuff. She’s been an absolute monster for us.”

 

Geneva took 12 shots on goal. Gonzalez and Traver worked together to withstand the pressure of Viking forwards Hope Ieler, Audrey Stredde and Olivia Rawls.

 

“I think when Ashley and I work together, we know when to recover and always pressure cover balance,” said Traver. “We worked together really well in the backline, even when we have that hard offense coming at us. We knew how to take care of it.”

 

Freshman South Elgin goalkeeper Lilly Rodriguez made nine saves for her third clean-sheet of the season.

 

 

Starting lineups

 

South Elgin

GK: Lilly Rodriguez

D: Ashley Gonzalez

D: Mia Traver

D: Madelyn Baker

D: Cami Stokes

MF: Avianna Hernandez

MF: Lexi Hondros

F: Christina Slovik

F: Nevaeh Gyurko

F: Lucy Tomasi

F: Adeline Kinsell

 

Geneva

GK: Jordan Forbes

D: Cameron Bishop

D: Leyna Yonehara

D: Riley Pryor

D: Lilly Coats

MF: Alyssa Houk

MF: Ashley Marquardt

MF: Caroline Madden

F: Hope Ieler

F: Audrey Stredde

F: Olivia Rawls

 

Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match: Mia Traver, jr., D, South Elgin

 

Scoring Summary

 

First half

No scoring

 

Second half

SE: Tomasi (Hernandez) ‘72