MUNDELEIN -- Benet scored at the very start and continued to convert near the very end as they delivered a complete performance and handed host Carmel a 6-1 defeat. The win kept the Redwings in the catbird’s seat in the East Suburban Catholic Conference race.

The red and white delivered a second-consecutive goal-scoring frenzy, this time at Baker Stadium, with a devastating display that featured four second half goals.

"The last two games scoring (13) goals has really boosted our confidence," began Redwings manager Gerard Oconer. "We have been more decisive in our attack, have better spacing, and are now starting to see the results of the dangerous opportunities we were able to create."

On Monday, Benet (5-2-1, 4-0-0) exploded for seven goals in a nonconference shutout win over Plainfield East. Seven different players scored. Junior Eleanor Mahan, who bagged the opener against Plainfield East, scored twice in the second half against Carmel.

"I think (it) is all starting to come together for us with our attack," said Mahan, who shared Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match honor with teammate Rania Fikri.

In the lead up to this match, captain and senior outside back Gabby Hedden said that the strength of the Benet attack is its ability to move the ball quickly with plenty of combination play. That was evident as the visitors delivered some text book passing with a high completion percentage.

"We have a lot of very good players in our attack: Rania (Fikri), Johnna Caliendo and Ivana (Vukas) are just amazing in the way they create for themselves and the rest of us," added sophomore Annie Fitzgerald, who along with Fikri played the eight in the Redwings 4-3-3 formation.

"Annie has made great progress since the beginning of last season," says Oconer. "She is so incredibly skilled and composed on the ball and helps facilitate most of what we do in our attack."

With Fikri and Fitzgerald running the show in the middle of the park, and Caliendo, Mahan and Vukas aggressive up-top, it wasn't long before the visitors were able to find the back of the net.

"(That) was not the way we wanted to start the night," lamented Corsairs manager Stephanie Kile of the Caliendo opener just three minutes in.

"Our focus wasn't where it needed to be against a really good opponent like Benet, and they made us pay for it."

It appeared as if Mahan might have mishit her well- intentioned serve into the box, perhaps wrong-footing Caliendo. However, it was not enough to prevent the junior from creating a sublime touch past Corsairs keeper Maron Bowes, who had no chance on the attempt from in-close.

"We had a great start the other day in our (6-0) win over Marian," said Carmel senior Bella D'Amore, who wears the captain’s armband with Anna Hartman and Jillian Miller. “But for the first 10 minutes tonight we were just so flat.”

"We immediately had to regroup after their first goal, which I felt like we did a good job at even with Benet putting a lot of pressure on us the rest of the night."

D'Amore will play next fall at Loras and likely pursue a degree in criminal justice with the hope of studying forensic science.

D'Amore, and her backline mates Miller, Morgan Pitcher, Mila Schachelmayer and Josie Hartman at the six did well in the tackle, staying organized, and composed despite the consistent threats the Redwings created going forward.

Fikri broke free when sent through by Fitzgerald and Caliendo, however a nice read on the play by keeper Bowes ended the hope of a potential 1-v.-1 situation in the 10th minute.

Carmel had a solid chance when Anna Hartman struck a nasty 30-yard free kick, but Benet keeper Kate Grubish saved it confidently. Moments later she beat Hartman to a 50/50 ball that was delivered from Peyton Carney.

The near post saved the home side in the 20th minute after Megan Bergman played wide to Caliendo who rattled the standard with her angled effort.

As the Redwings continued to get the best of their hosts with sharp and well-intended passes, some out of the back from Chloe Sentman or from Mahan, it didn’t take long for the visitors to fashion their second goal of the half.

That's when freshmen Audrey Eiseman put Caliendo into a 50/50 situation with Bowes, who was unable to stop her from recording her double in the 28th minute.

"We came out strong like this the other day against Plainfield East,” said Oconer. “It's nice to see us do the same tonight and finish the chances that we're creating."

If Oconer and his staff were pleased with the first half efforts of his club, then he had to have been downright thrilled with the play after the intermission when the Redwings found their pace and rhythm from the first shriek of the whistle.

"Obviously the final score didn't look good, but our effort was strong in the second half," said Kile. “We created some chances, but no. 20 (Vukas) is so good with the ball on her foot. She really helped put us under pressure in the second half.”

Vukas, through Gabby Hedden and Caliendo, brought Bowes into action. Her valiant reach to push the Vukas blast over the bar set things in motion for the visitors whose strong start just two minutes into the second half would lead to a dazzling 40 minutes.

Bowes was at it again with another terrific save in the 48th minute, however the Corsairs sophomore keeper was injured in this sequence and left the game.

"Losing Maron for the night was big," said Kile, who brought on Valeria Dimas-Cruz between the sticks. She was kept busy right away.

The Carmel (1-5-0, 1-1-0) attack came to life with Carney, D'Amore, Delgado and Hartman at the heart of a now organized and purposeful push toward the visitors’ end.

Hartman tested Kate Grubish in the 50th minute, and again minutes later as the game opened up with some exciting box-to-box action.

But it was Benet that added to its score line. Natalie Grover went just inside the post with a lovely finish after some wonderful work from Vukas to make it 3-0 in the 56th minute.

"We finished our chances tonight,” said Grover. “Rania was great all night, and so was Eleanor (Mahan), whose runs and wide play really made a difference for us."

Mahan was terrific as an outside wing. She provided wonderful service, many of which were early diagonal balls that stretched the Corsairs defense. The heady play of the Miller/D'Amore-led backline continued to be tested on numerous occasions.

Not to be forgotten was the performance of Benet junior Chloe Sentman, who from her spot on the right wing pushed forward from out of the back with an aggressive edge to her runs. She found her teammates with precise passes.

After Lily McKenna was allowed enough time and space to tee-up from 16 yards, the Redwings junior made it 4-0 in the 65th minute.

Two minutes later Mahan increased the advantage when she got behind the Corsairs after another nice piece of combination play from Caliendo and Fikri.

"Ivana, Rania and Annie (Fitzgerald) are so good on the ball and off the dribble," began Oconer.

"Ivana is so incredibly quick, with and without the ball, and a real threat to score when she gets the ball wide and in the attacking third.

"Rania is easily one of the best dribblers we've ever had in tight spaces in our program. She's able to cut on a dime and helps us keep possession of the ball in the midfield, and even in high-traffic areas."

Carmel put its only mark on the scoreboard when Miller unloaded an unstoppable free kick cracker from 35 yards to end the hopes of a shutout that would have been shared by Grubish and Giada McGlynn, who came on in the 67th minute.

Mahan claimed her double at 70 minutes with the help from Ellery Schulz.

"It's a disappointing result for sure, but we played hard until the end with 100 percent effort, and that's something we'll take with us going forward," said D'Amore.

"Bella and Josie (Hartman) were always in the right spots at the right time," said Kile.
“Jillian Miller once again gave us a great performance as always.

"We lost to the better team tonight. We've got to get back at it and get ready for our next game this weekend."

The Corsairs open play at the BodyArmor Tournament against Plainfield Central this Saturday at the Waukegan Sports Complex.

Next up for Benet is an away match at Montini on Monday, with its Naperville Invitational opener on the horizon next Thursday (April 18).

"Scoring early has been a major focus that has helped us settle into the last two games,” Oconer said. “We'll look to continue that next time out."

Starting lineups

Benet (4-3-3)
GK- Kate Grubish
D- Chloe Sentman
D- Bailey Abbott
D- Meghan Sarros
D- Gabby Hedden
M- Megan Bergman
M- Rania Fikri
M- Annie Fitzgerald
F- Johnna Caliendo
F- Ivana Vukas
F- Eleanor Mahan

Carmel (4-1-3-2)
GK- Maron Bowes
D- Bella D'Amore
D- Jillian Miller
D- Mila Schachelmayer
D- Morgan Pitcher
M- Josie Hartman
M- Katherine Anen
M- Norah Belmonte
M- Ema Delgado
F- Anna Hartman
F- Peyton Carney

Chicagoland Soccer MVPS of the Match: Rania Fikri, sr., MF, Benet; 
Eleanor Mahan, jr., F, Benet

Referee: John Anderson

Scoring summary

First half
Benet: Caliendo (Mahan), 3'
Benet: Caliendo (Eiseman), 28'

Second half
Benet: Grover (Vukas), 56'
Benet: McKenna (Eiseman), 65'
Benet: Mahan (Caliendo, Fikri), 67'
Carmel: Miller (FK), 68'
Benet: Mahan (Schulz), 70'