Lake Park seeks 1st win of season
against stingy Downers Grove North
By Ken Keenan
It will be a tale of teams with different identities when Lake Park hosts Downers Grove North on its West Campus field at 6:30 p.m. Thursday. The Lancers look for their first win of the 2016 season after an 0-3-1 start, while the the Trojans come in on the strength of a blowout win in their opener.
The discrepancy doesn't end there. Lake Park head coach Anthony Passi is in reconstruction mode, while Downers Grove North skipper Bob Calder is gearing up for what he hopes will be a deep postseason run.
"It will be a rebuilding year, so getting varsity experience on the field will be key to making progress this season and into the future," said Passi, whose team finished 10-8-3 in 2015 after dropping a 2-1 decision to Geneva in an IHSA Class 3A regional semifinal.
"Being organized in the back, combining out of the middle, and being dangerous and taking more chances in the final third of the field will be what I'm looking for as we go along."
Lake Park began the new campaign with a 1-1 tie against Riverside-Brookfield at home on March 15, followed by a 8-0 loss to host Naperville North a day later, a 2-1 defeat against Vernon Hills at home on March 19, and a 6-1 loss to Oswego East in Roselle on Tuesday.
Sophomore midfielder Brianna McAloon scored the Lancers' goal against Oswego East, assisted by senior defender/midfielder Jacey Kent. Lake Park trailed 4-0 at halftime.
"After losing these games, I hope we come out ready to play (versus Downers Grove North)," Passi said. "I'm sure (the Trojans) will be coming with a lot of experience. I just hope we'll be ready."
Downers Grove North rolled to victory in its lone match of the season so far, whipping Plainfield Central 6-0 at home Tuesday.
"I am looking for my girls to continue the aggressive ball pressure against Lake Park that we established in our first game," Calder said. "If we can play aggressively and with confidence, I will be happy."
Junior midfielder Delaney Forst led the charge against Plainfield Central, scoring two goals and adding an assist. Senior forward Bridget Keys also tallied two goals, and sophomore forward Carli Nehls notched a pair of helpers. Sophomore forwards Abby Swanson and Chloe Nowka scored the other goals, while senior midfielder Maria Derrig and senior Arlinda Osmani each had one assist.
Sophomore goalkeeper Grace Stevenson earned the shutout.
Swanson missed the 2015 campaign with a torn ACL, and Calder is glad to have her on board this year.
"She has an incredible work rate and wonderful vision on the field," Calder said.
Calder pointed to junior mid Simone Gardner as another key varsity newcomer, and cited senior defender Alyse Dutcher and Osmani as being tops among the returnees.
"(Dutcher and Osmani) were part of strong defensive team last year (13 goals allowed in 22 matches), and I actually feel like we're stronger defensively than last season," said Calder, who saw his squad finish 14-7-1 overall last year after suffering a 5-4 loss on penalty kicks to break a 1-1 tie against York in a regional final. "Our biggest strength will be holding teams off the scoreboard. We do need to work on attacking space that is given to us, and not settling for wide or backwards play when we don't need to."
Lake Park's key returnees are Kent, a co-captain who tallied nine goals and two assists last year and is back for her fourth varsity go-round; sophomore midfielder Jaclyn Lamz, who dented the net six times a year ago; and co-captain McAloon, who scored one goal as a varsity rookie in 2015. Passi expects freshman forward Selena Catalano to emerge as a top newcomer.
Following the visit from Downers Grove North, Lake Park will host the Frizelle Memorial Tournament, with matches against Buffalo Grove at 11 a.m. Saturday, Batavia at 4:30 p.m. March 29, and Cary-Grove at the same time on March 31.
Meanwhile, Downers Grove North will return home for a tilt with Trinity at 10 a.m. March 28.
against stingy Downers Grove North
By Ken Keenan
It will be a tale of teams with different identities when Lake Park hosts Downers Grove North on its West Campus field at 6:30 p.m. Thursday. The Lancers look for their first win of the 2016 season after an 0-3-1 start, while the the Trojans come in on the strength of a blowout win in their opener.
The discrepancy doesn't end there. Lake Park head coach Anthony Passi is in reconstruction mode, while Downers Grove North skipper Bob Calder is gearing up for what he hopes will be a deep postseason run.
"It will be a rebuilding year, so getting varsity experience on the field will be key to making progress this season and into the future," said Passi, whose team finished 10-8-3 in 2015 after dropping a 2-1 decision to Geneva in an IHSA Class 3A regional semifinal.
"Being organized in the back, combining out of the middle, and being dangerous and taking more chances in the final third of the field will be what I'm looking for as we go along."
Lake Park began the new campaign with a 1-1 tie against Riverside-Brookfield at home on March 15, followed by a 8-0 loss to host Naperville North a day later, a 2-1 defeat against Vernon Hills at home on March 19, and a 6-1 loss to Oswego East in Roselle on Tuesday.
Sophomore midfielder Brianna McAloon scored the Lancers' goal against Oswego East, assisted by senior defender/midfielder Jacey Kent. Lake Park trailed 4-0 at halftime.
"After losing these games, I hope we come out ready to play (versus Downers Grove North)," Passi said. "I'm sure (the Trojans) will be coming with a lot of experience. I just hope we'll be ready."
Downers Grove North rolled to victory in its lone match of the season so far, whipping Plainfield Central 6-0 at home Tuesday.
"I am looking for my girls to continue the aggressive ball pressure against Lake Park that we established in our first game," Calder said. "If we can play aggressively and with confidence, I will be happy."
Junior midfielder Delaney Forst led the charge against Plainfield Central, scoring two goals and adding an assist. Senior forward Bridget Keys also tallied two goals, and sophomore forward Carli Nehls notched a pair of helpers. Sophomore forwards Abby Swanson and Chloe Nowka scored the other goals, while senior midfielder Maria Derrig and senior Arlinda Osmani each had one assist.
Sophomore goalkeeper Grace Stevenson earned the shutout.
Swanson missed the 2015 campaign with a torn ACL, and Calder is glad to have her on board this year.
"She has an incredible work rate and wonderful vision on the field," Calder said.
Calder pointed to junior mid Simone Gardner as another key varsity newcomer, and cited senior defender Alyse Dutcher and Osmani as being tops among the returnees.
"(Dutcher and Osmani) were part of strong defensive team last year (13 goals allowed in 22 matches), and I actually feel like we're stronger defensively than last season," said Calder, who saw his squad finish 14-7-1 overall last year after suffering a 5-4 loss on penalty kicks to break a 1-1 tie against York in a regional final. "Our biggest strength will be holding teams off the scoreboard. We do need to work on attacking space that is given to us, and not settling for wide or backwards play when we don't need to."
Lake Park's key returnees are Kent, a co-captain who tallied nine goals and two assists last year and is back for her fourth varsity go-round; sophomore midfielder Jaclyn Lamz, who dented the net six times a year ago; and co-captain McAloon, who scored one goal as a varsity rookie in 2015. Passi expects freshman forward Selena Catalano to emerge as a top newcomer.
Following the visit from Downers Grove North, Lake Park will host the Frizelle Memorial Tournament, with matches against Buffalo Grove at 11 a.m. Saturday, Batavia at 4:30 p.m. March 29, and Cary-Grove at the same time on March 31.
Meanwhile, Downers Grove North will return home for a tilt with Trinity at 10 a.m. March 28.
