MUNDELEIN – Carmel dug extra deep to get back in the win column Friday.

After the Corsairs’ 1-0 lead early in the second half was answered just two minutes later by visiting Joliet Catholic, Carmel’s Norah Belmonte responded with an extra-effort, game-winning goal with 29:52 to go.

Despite having just 12 healthy players, Carmel (3-9-2, 2-2-1) went on to a 2-1 East Suburban Catholic Conference win over the Angels (1-17-0, 1-5-0). It marked the Corsairs’ first win since a 4-3 triumph over Jones on April 15.

“It’s good to get a win: we haven’t had one in a while,” Carmel coach Stephanie Kile said. “We do play a really tough schedule, so I’ve kind of emphasized to hit the reset button a little bit.

“And we were missing some players. Peyton (Carney, a senior forward) is in a boot for a couple of weeks. We lost her against Saint Viator (Tuesday) in the middle of the game.”

Samantha Decker stepped into the starting lineup at a defender spot in Carney’s absence.

“Sam Decker did a good job,” Kile said. “Peyton’s a big loss, and we lost a couple of other people so we only had one sub. We tried to make do with what we had, and they got the job done.”

Battling through a tough schedule, the Corsairs were rewarded for their efforts Friday.

“We always have a tough schedule,” senior co-captain Anna Hartman said, “and it’s good because it prepares you for the state tournament, but you also have to be prepared for the losses too. That’s evident in our season.

“But a lot of teams we’ve played, even if the score doesn’t reflect it, we’re with them. We can possess with them. That part is at least encouraging, and going into the tournament knowing we can play with Class 3A schools. We’re not going to see any teams that look like New Trier or Warren (in the Class AA tournament), so it helps us in the long run.”

As for the serious depth issue Carmel faced on Friday, Belmonte summed up the squad’s approach.

“Obviously it was a lot of minutes for all of us,” the junior said, “but you have to be confident and also not tire yourself out sprinting all the time. You have to be strategic with it.”

Strategic and energetic were a tough combination to achieve Friday, and Carmel also had to deal with the emotional challenge of a wave of opportunities that came close but had no payoff.

Big first half chances included a Fiona Ackerson 20-yard shot denied on a diving save by Joliet Catholic goalkeeper Danica Hogan in the 24th minute; a Belmonte 30-yard send that Hogan juggled off the right post but then controlled in the 30th minute, and an Anna Hartman 25-yard liner that skimmed off the crossbar and over the net in the 34th minute.

Carmel closed the half with another shot off a nice combination play: passes from sisters Josie Hartman and Anna Hartman set up Ackerson for a 22-yard liner in the 38th minute that Hogan again saved.

“Our keeper (Hogan) is learning,” Joliet Catholic Oscar Valdez said. “This is her first time there, and she’s a really hard-working goalkeeper. It’s amazing. She had never done it before and wanted to try it. 

“We have a very young group. Most of these girls are still learning the game. We weren’t making good passes. They were making good passes, and they were taking more shots. But it was a close game.”

The Carmel shots intensified early in the second half.

Just one minute in, Jillian Miller’s long shot was blocked, but Bella D’Amore recovered the rebound to set up a 15-yard shot for Miller that went wide left.

Anna Hartman then quickly turned the disappointment of a very near miss into her eighth goal of 2024.

It started with 35:50 left, the senior came as close as possible to a goal. Her 28-yard free kick was ruled to have lined off the crossbar and straight down into the crease, where Hogan covered it.

“I thought it was in,” Anna Hartman said, “but if a goal doesn’t count, it doesn’t count.

“I knew we needed to get one up there (on the scoreboard). We had controlled the ball most of the game, and we had a lot of chances. So
it was just actually finishing and getting it in the back of the net.

“It was like, ‘I’ll get the next one.’ 

Hartman did just that. Fifty-eight seconds after her narrow miss, she took a pass from Belmonte and powered a 22-yard shot high inside the left post to put Carmel up 1-0.

“We were talking at the half that we had to get that first goal,” Kile said.

“We took more shots outside the 18. We weren’t afraid to shoot. That’s one of the things we’ve been talking about over the course of the last two weeks. We had several chances to do that even more, but we at least initiated that and took a few more shots.”

Sophomore Josie Hartman has been an offensive standout at attacking midfielder, and her presence has been extra special for her older sister.

“It’s a lot of fun,” Anna Hartman said. “She plays basketball too. I used to play basketball, but I hurt both my knees and didn’t get to play my senior season. It’s nice that I at least get to play soccer with her now.”

While Carmel had the edge in quantity of chances, Joliet Catholic standout Ella Dwyer turned a quality opportunity into a 1-1 tie with 32:58 left.

Racing in up the left side, Dwyer dribbled into the box, fought off an initial denial by a Carmel defender and sent a low 10-yard liner into the net.

“Ella is so fast,” Valdez said. “She’s going to play at Eastern Illinois, and she’s going to be a great asset for that school.”

“Ella is an amazing player, one of those that plays offense and defense at the same time. We have a couple of defenders who are pretty good, but Ella is a key player.”

The suddenly efficient offenses were just getting started, trading bids in the next 50 seconds.

Just 30 seconds after Dwyer’s goal, an Ema Delgado pass set up Anna Hartman’s 10-yard shot in front that Hogan dove to cover millimeters from the goal line at the right post.

Dwyer then was back on the attack 20 seconds later with a left-side rush and shot that Carmel goalkeeper Maron Bowes tipped over the upper-left side of the crossbar.

After the Corsairs successfully defended the ensuing corner kick, MVP of the Match Belmonte tilted the game into Carmel’s favor for
good.

“We needed to … retake the momentum,” Belmonte said.

She won a Joliet Catholic clearing attempt on the right-side and  dribbled toward the middle. From there she placed a low 24-yard shot inside the left post for a 2-1 Carmel lead.

“I was just trying to be aggressive toward the goal,” Belmonte said of her fourth score of the season. “I looked for an open space and took my shot.

“It’s always tough with a good defender on you, but you need a positive approach with it.”

Belmonte earned very positive reviews from her coach.

“Norah stood out today,” Kile said. “She took it upon herself to take more shots, which is what we’ve been telling her to do, and was
focusing on getting it on frame. She did a good job of that today.

“And Jillian (Miller) has been phenomenal for us. She gives 100 percent every single game. She is awesome.”

Anna Hartman nearly added to the Carmel lead with 26:55 to go. She blocked a Joliet Catholic clearing attempt and raced in on a breakaway. But Hogan responded with a low catch of Hartman’s 10-yard shot.

Carmel again was frustrated with 20:15 left when Ackerson lined a 16-yarder off the crossbar. Three minutes later, a prolonged threat in the box was denied by Joliet Catholic defender blocks of Gabby Osorio and Belmonte shots.

“The opportunities they had and their shots were what got them there (to the 2-1 lead),” Valdez said. “The more you shoot, the more chances you have for a goal.

“They had two great goals. And we just did not connect. That was a key. But we had one quick breakaway there. That’s what we’re trying to do, get breakaways for Ella. And we came close again at the end.”

The Angels endured two more good Carmel bids (an Anna Hartman 10-yard shot off a Josie Hartman pass went over the net with 11:15 left, then a Josie Hartman header wide off a Anna Miller 26-yard free kick three minutes later) before putting up a strong late push.

A Joliet Catholic corner kick with 6:40 left was cleared. Ava Giarrante’s 45-yard free kick one minute later was denied on a D’Amore initial block and ensuing Miller clear.

Giarrante’s long send with 2:30 to go created another Joliet Catholic attempt, with Dwyer angling a 22-yard shot wide left.

One minute later, a Joliet Catholic throw-in from 10 yards off the end line was headed away from in front by D’Amore and run down by Bowes.

Miller had a key final defensive play with 35 seconds left when she hit a long send up the right side. Anna Hartman turned it into a corner kick as time ran out.

“This is nice confidence-wise,” Anna Hartman said. “Losing is not fun, winning is fun. We’ll just have higher spirits going into the playoffs.”

Said Kile: “At times we felt a little too comfortable. Especially defensively, we weren’t our normal selves. But we won so I’m happy.”

And as postseason play nears later in May, Carmel has reason for added optimism.

“I think it’s just being confident and running with what we have,” Belmonte said. “Even though our outcomes don’t show how well we
played, we keep up with the hard teams. And I think it helps us get better as a team.”

Kile also sees better times ahead.

“I’m excited for this group,” Kile said. “We don’t look good on paper (with the won-loss record), but I don’t think we are an 11-seed-type team. When we’re playing at our best, we can compete with anybody. And sometimes being the underdog is not a bad thing: there aren’t as many expectations.

“But it’s more telling the girls to have fun with the postseason. Just battle and anybody can win. If they’re playing their best soccer I think we can have a chance vs. anybody. We see a lot of good competition, and that will help prepare us for the postseason.
Hopefully we can get some more wins going forward and get more momentum. I’m looking forward to it.”

Starting lineups

Joliet Catholic
GK: Danica Hogan
D: Amelia Cameron
D: Ava Giarrante
D: Addi Allen
D: Alexa Lux
M: Lyndsay Black
M: Aleena Estrada
M: Allie Lesters
M: Ella Dwyer
M: Syndell Ocegueda
F: Lyndsay Blabas

Carmel
GK: Maron Bowes
D: Morgan Pilcher
D: Samantha Decker
D: Jillian Miller
D: Bella D’Amore
M: Josie Hartman
M: Gabby Osorio
M: Ryleigh Sydell
M: Ema Delgado
F: Anna Hartman
F: Norah Belmonte

Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match: Norah Belmonte, jr. F, Carmel

Scoring summary

First half
No scoring

Second half
C: Anna Hartman (Norah Belmonte), 45’
JCA- Ella Dwyer (unassisted), 48’
C- Belmonte (unassisted), 51’