CHICAGO — In a free-floating game marked by the random and unaccountable, soccer is often best understood as a string of accidents, with unintended consequences that push in every direction.

St. Francis defender Alyssa Suriano had one objective, staring down a free kick nearly 50 yards from the goal. She checked off the possibilities.

“I was just trying to get it into the box and try to get somebody on it,” she said.

In one unexpected instant, she surpassed her expectations.

The 48-yard free kick took an unorthodox bounce that skipped past the Spartans’ runners for a momentum-changing goal that evolved into a 4-1 victory at DeLaSalle in Girls Catholic Athletic Conference Red Division action Tuesday on the South Side.

It was a longtime coming. St. Francis (2-5-2, 1-1-2) had not win since beating rival Timothy 8-0 on March 15.

The goal broke a 1-1 deadlock and fueled the Spartans’ second highest goal total of the season. The team strung together three dazzling second half scoring plays.

“Those long free kicks are something I’ve always been able to do,” Suriano said. “I felt like in the first half, the way we played was kind of messy. I felt like that goal just cleaned up the game a little bit for us. We started working better right after that.”

Suriano earned the Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match recognition for her game-changing goal and all-around strong play.

“Scoring the way we did today just kind of gets us moving a little bit more into the game, making everything quicker and helping us figure out how to work better together,” she said.

Suriano's goal had an immediate bearing on the game. Midfielder Maicie Schweimer followed minutes later with an insurance goal and 3-1 lead.

Despite a brilliant late first half goal by forward DeLaSalle's Mia Ortega, the Meteors (2-9-0, 0-4-0) fell out of the game. The home team has been unable to replicate their magic of a year ago, which produced Class AA fourth place honors.

In their case the happy accidents did not always translate. Midfielder Imani Coleman, for instance, drilled a ball from the right hash from about 21 yards that hit off the near post in the 12th minute.

In soccer, the difference in success or failure is often measured in inches.

St. Francis coach Jim Winslow has built an exemplary private school program with two Class AA state championships and developed multiple Division I recruits.

His measure of the team's calculus for winning is simple.

“We’re a completely different team when we get early goals,” he said.

His players heeded his lessons for their own proof of concept, showing strong decision-making and connected-play in different modes of expression and being.

St. Francis showed excellent early movement, made fluid passes and was able to penetrate the Meteors’ final third. 

Schweimer blasted a ball from about 24 yards in the third minute that just skipped left of the frame.

Forward Paige Chrustowski, an Austin Peay recruit, was effective getting to the edge and pressuring the Meteors’ back, or forcing their keeper Ana Perez to move off her line.

The early movement and activity paid off in the 15th minute. Midfielder Clare Andrzejewski broke through the middle of the Meteors’ backline, and found forward Ellie Bielenda streaking down the left edge.

After controlling the pass, Bielenda eased past her defender and drilled a left-footed ball past Perez inside the far post for the opening tally.

“That felt great,” Bielenda said. “I’ve had some trouble scoring this year, almost always trying to find the perfect shot. I had to realize, tell myself, that not every shot has to be so pretty.

“I just had to take whatever was given to me, and take all of the opportunities that I could get.”

The Spartans discovered moments later the thin divide between positive and negative plays when an apparent header goal by Schweimer was negated when she was deemed offside. At halftime, an assistant referee explained she was between a foot to a yard too early to the ball.

What is clear is that St. Francis is more accomplished than its one-win victory suggested coming into the game. Winslow saw a team that had superior play and better opportunities in league ties with DePaul and St. Ignatius.

His team was ready for a breakout.

The Spartans came to the match after coming off a grueling stretch in the Lou Malnati’s Deep Dish Classic. The team went 0-3-0 in group play, but battled in the top pool of the 12-team field.

Malnati's champion, no. 3 Evanston,  and runnerup no. 5 Naperville North came out of Group B play. The Spartans lost 1-0 on a late goal against Naperville North.

“Even though we didn’t win a game, I thought we did really well in the tournament,” Belienda said. "We let in by far the least amount of goals during the past two years there.

“We lost to a lot of top teams. I felt that was the best we’ve done there.”

Against DeLaSalle, St. Francis responded well to the first significant pushback the Meteors delivered -- a breathtaking goal in the 34th minute by Ortega, a Virginia Military Institute recruit and reigning Chicagoland Soccer All-State talent.

Off a throw-in on the right side by Coleman, midfielder Sara Murray punched a quick half-volley down the left channel. Ortega finished the ball with a spectacular reverse bicycle kick from about 12 yards that stunned the Spartans.

After halftime's 1-1 tie, Suriano free kick, go-ahead goal came just five minutes into the second half.

Moments later, Schweimer created the rare one-player counter. With DeLaSalle pushing numbers forward, an attempted through-ball  deflected hard off a Spartans’ player.

Trailing the play, Schweimer was suddenly in a foot race with Perez, who chargedoff her line. Schweimer got to the ball first and fired a shot from about 28 yards.

Perez blocked it, but Schweimer deftly moved around her, collected the rebound and put it away from nine yards into an empty net in the 48th minute.

“I was trying to chip it over her. She made a good play, but I was able to get the rebound,” she said. “We moved the ball really well, and I thought we did a great job of taking care of our chances.”

Defensively the Spartans withstood the Meteors’ forays. Coleman had the best second-half chance on a free kick from 20 yards. Her shot missed over the top of the bar.

Suriano and Elle Wainscott made sharp plays deep in the defensive third, clearing dangerous balls and frustrating DeLaSalle at the point of the attack.

The three goals from the run of play developed out of the back, or off pressure created by the defense. Midfielder Sophia Roszkowski closed out the scoring in the 70th minute.

Defender Maeve McGinn trapped the ball and quickly pushed ahead and found Roszkowski down the right line for a breakaway. Roszkowski hammered home the ball from about 16 yards.

The Spartans' competitive schedule is starting to pay dividends.

“We played all those good teams at Malnati’s tournament, and we are seeing the results,” Schweimer said.

Starting lineups

St. Francis
GK: Kennedy Karl
D: Harlee Duraski
D: Elle Wainscott
D: Alyssa Suriano
D: Maeve McGinn
MF: Caroline Kiesler
MF: Olivia Basel
MF: Clare Andrzejewski
MF: Maicie Schweimer
F: Paige Chrustowski
F: Ellie Bielenda

DeLaSalle
GK: Ana Perez
D: Itzel Salgado
D: Lauren Torres
D: Julissa Zuniga
D: Samantha Velasco
MF: Sara Murray
MF: Imani Coleman
MF: Lauren Lo
MF: Tatiyana Davis
F: Mia Ortega
F: Kennedi Carpenter
C
hicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match: Alyssa Suriano, jr., D, St. Francis

Scoring summary

First half
St. Francis: Ellie Bielenda (Clare Andrzejewski), 15’
De La Salle: Mia Ortega (Imani Coleman/Sara Murray), 34’

Second half
St. Francis: Alyssa Suriano (free kick), 45’
St. Francis: Maicie Schweimer (rebound),48’ 
St. Francis: Sophia Roszkowski (Maeve McGinn), 70’