CHICAGO — Four years ago, Chloe May and Evelyn Vaughn entered Young as strangers and became fast friends.

Vaughn was new to Chicago, having just moved from Texas. May was one of her first connections. They played soccer together in the JV program.

“Back then, when I first got here, as a freshman or sophomore, I was definitely more timid and stuff,” Vaughn said.

“I feel like soccer in general grows your confidence. As you get older, you take on more responsibilities, like school or the team, because younger people are always looking up to you.”

Just as the Dolphins were ready to take on Kelly (3-5-0, 0-3-0), a gorgeous multicolored rainbow materialized above the diaphanous sky. It created a beautiful night and seniors like Vaughn and May followed suit to create their own poetry with beautiful play.

On Senior Night, the two combined for four goals and four assists in the Dolphins’ 8-0 victory in Chicago Public League Premier Division South play on the Near West Side.

Young (6-6-0, 3-0-0) won for the sixth time in its last eight meetings.

Call it, like a famous quotation from a Shakespeare sonnet, a “remembrance of things past,” for the seven seniors on the roster.

Coach Zoe Saphir reconfigured her lineup and shuffled the normal depth and position charts by starting all seven of her seniors.

Vaughn and May were the headliners, powering the Dolphins to a 3-0 halftime lead.

Vaughn scored the first two goals, and May recorded the third. Naturally the two were entwined in their success. May assisted Vaughn’s first goal, and she returned the favor by assisting both of the goals scored by May, one in each half.

“Evelyn and Chloe were on fire,” Saphir said. “Chloe assisted Evelyn, and Evelyn and everybody else was assisting Chloe, who almost had a hat-trick.

“They were like two peas in a pod today.”

Fittingly Vaughn and May shared the Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match distinction.

The other five seniors more than joined in on the action.

Lauren Roche, Kate Sweitzer, Sonia Liew and Hollis VanDerMeid also scored goals.
 
Liew added an assist. 

Casssie Reyna-Dames was a featured part of a stellar and tight backline that helped deliver a shutout.

“I played with some of these girls on JV, and it’s so fun to be able to grow as a player and as a team,” May said

“I’ve known these girls for so long, and seeing their personal development and seeing them achieve more than I could ever imagine means everything.” 

The goals developed every way imaginable, in the run of play, off set pieces, and out of scrambles.

The victory tightened the Dolphins’ grip atop the divisional standings.

More importantly the game offered a quick turnaround and respite from a disappointing 1-0 loss against rival Payton on Monday night.

“I talked about this with the girls before the game, and I think they learned that you can’t go into games expecting a win,” Saphir said.

“You have to earn them, and nothing is promised. I think all of the girls felt that loss and didn’t want to let that happen again.”

Vaughn and May have rhyming styles of play. Both are fast on their feet, and alert around the ball.

Senior Night turned into a platform to showcase their skills.

“I think the dynamic is we’re all very playful with each other, but we’re also tough on each other when necessary,” Vaughn said.

“I think it’s constructive, and nobody feels too timid to say something to another person. It’s never personal. We might just tell each other that we need to step it up. In the end, everybody knows we’re just being encouraging.”

The lightning storms that threatened the game felt appropriate given how fast and electric the Dolphins’ attack was.

Young the potential for drama with two early goals at the start of the second half.

Liew scored on a header off a beautiful corner from Moira Koleno.

May blasted in her second goal from about 14 yards on the right wing on a pass from, who else, Vaughn.

“We’ve played together now for so long, some of us play together on club as well, and I’m very proud of Evelyn,” May said.

“She’s a speedster, and so am I. It’s always great when we can find each other. I was thrilled with our performance tonight.”

Sweitzer followed suit with a gorgeous blast from about 17 yards from the right wing. She took a through-ball in stride from midfielder Xochitl Lopez down the right edge.

Sweitzer is typically a stout defender. Tuesday she was able to play more in the middle, seizing the opportunity to expand her game.

The past and present flowed together.

“I was a freshman on the varsity, and I’ve been able to grow with the program,” Sweitzer said.

“I’ve watched it evolve, and grow into the team we are now. I started out as this scared freshman, and now I’ve grown and found my voice.”

The night was a moment to step out and show something different.

“I think I’m stronger in the back, but I think I like playing more up-top because there’s just more action. We really tried to have all the seniors score tonight.”

The team has grown under their first-year coach.

Koleno, Roche and defender Ainsley Christiensen were the foundational pieces.

Soccer is a volatile game marked by chance and fast developments.

The Dolphins are learning about themselves and how to optimize the strengths of each separate piece.

“I’ve gotten super close to everybody on the team, and I think we’ve grown to really play well together,” Sweitzer said.

“I think the longer you play with people together you like both on and off the field, everything gets to be super fun. It’s really great to see us all just click together.”

Roche got into the action with a strong finish from about 14 yards off a terrific ball from Liew.

The game ended on a sharp tally via VanDerMeid from May that proved the final punctuation of a celebratory night.

“Today was a game to have fun, and celebrate their four years in the program,” Saphir said. “It was also about thinking about the future, and all of our underclassmen, and getting them excited about a night and also celebrating. 

“It was a good time, and a great win. Of course, I always expect more from them, and tonight it was much more feasible.”

Starting lineups

Kelly
GK: Delilah Lopez
D: Lesly Gonzalez
D: Natasha Soriano
D: Zaori Meza
D: Leylani Bahena
MF: Erika Flores
MF: Mariel Saavedra-Hernandez
MF: Evelyn Morocho
MF: Natalie Garcia
MF: Daisy Vargas-Brito
F: Yeremi Unzueta

Young
GK: Marcela Matallana
D: Tallulah Avery
D: Guilia Botolotto
D: Kate Sweitzer
D: Cassie Reyna-Demes
MF: Kathryn Greenbaum
MF: Sonia Liew
MF: Lauren Roche
MF: Hollis VanDerMeid
MF: Chloe May
F: Evelyn Vaughn

Chicagoland Soccer MVPs of the Match: Chloe May, sr., MF, Young; Evelyn Vaughn, sr., F, Young

Scoring summary

First half
Young—Evelyn Vaughn (Chloe May), 12’
Young—Vaughn (unassisted), 19’
Young—May (Vaughn), 31’

Second half
Young—Sonia Liew (Moira Koleno), 42’
Young—May (Vaughn), 44’
Young—Kate Sweitzer (Xochitl Lopez), 53’
Young—Lauren Roche (Liew), 64’
Young—Hollis VanDerMeid (May), 67’