DGS focuses on conference title, streak
By Matt Le Cren
At first glance, Downers Grove South’s home game Tuesday against Addison Trail appears to be a meaningless match between the teams at opposite ends of the West Suburban Conference Gold Division standings.
The host Mustangs are heavily favored to win easily, but don’t think they will be lacking for motivation.
Downers Grove South, which clinched a share of the WSC Gold with a 5-2 win over Willowbrook last Thursday, can win the league title outright with a victory.
The Mustangs (13-6-0) have won 15-consecutive conference championships and have a 91-game league winning streak. Their last loss came against Hinsdale South on April 3, 2001.
“It’s for sure something we value,” Downers South senior forward Autumn Rasmussen said. “We don’t lose conference no matter what. So no matter what our team or the other team does, we won’t lose.”
The winning streak is remarkable considering the constant perfection required to keep it going against motivated opponents who are tired of getting beaten repeatedly by the Mustangs.
Downers South has had some great teams during the run, including state semifinal appearances in 2002, 2008 and 2012, but also some average squads in recent seasons.
Yet the Mustangs continue to dominate even though the players come and go and the program has seen two coaching changes in the past four seasons. What keeps it going?
“Definitely just our pride,” Rasmussen said. “Knowing that we don’t lose makes everyone push a little harder.”
Downers Grove South coach Chris Hernandez, who is in his second year at the helm after replacing Abby Anderson, is a 2006 graduate of the school. He remembers the streak being talked about when he was a student.
“I think that’s a credit to (longtime former coach) Barry (Jacobson) and Abby (Anderson) before me and the traditions that they kind of put in place for me,” Hernandez said. “Coming in, I knew that was a given; you win conference.
“We see how much it means to the girls, and we just want to make sure we keep those traditions alive because those are important.”
Addison Trail, which is winless in Gold Division play, doesn’t figure to test the Mustangs, who played valiant defense Saturday in a 1-0 loss to Naperville North, the no. 1 team in the Chicagoland Soccer rankings.
But the Mustangs will not take any win for granted. Rasmussen, who is a co-captain along with forward Lexi Dimovski and midfielder Natalia Pinto, will make sure of that.
“Definitely with conference games anything can happen, so you’ve got to show up,” Rasmussen said. “We should play our game no matter who our opponent is. It doesn’t matter if it’s Proviso East or Naperville North, we just play our game.”
That’s especially true when the opponent is unfamiliar.
“I really don’t know too much about them,” Hernandez said. “We had the game against them last year, and it was our first game back since (defender) Kailee (Miller) passed away.
“That was our rallying cry. We had something to focus on (in the eventual 8-0 win). This will be round number two.”
One thing keeping enthusiasm for the streak fresh is the constant turnover of players. The influx of newcomers brings a fresh fervor, and this year is no different.
While Rasmussen and Dimovski have done the bulk of the scoring for the Mustangs, sophomore Kailee O’Connor and freshman Lauren Travis have impressed in their first year on varsity, as has junior goalkeeper Paige Patera.
Travis had a hat trick against Willowbrook, scoring the team’s final three goals, which were also the first three of her prep career.
“It was awesome to see her do that,” Rasmussen said. “She’s been working hard all season, so to see her get the results was amazing.
“I definitely think her and a couple of the other freshmen will really pick up the lead, so I’m excited for them.”
So is Travis.
“It was very exciting for me considering I’m a freshman,” Travis said. “It’s definitely a very good experience for me to start (my career) on a team like this. I’ve definitely learned different combinations and different skills from the girls.”
Travis, midfielders Paige Reichert and Abby Wissler and defender Jillian Paladino are four rookies who eventually will be counted on to continue the streak.
“We’re very lucky to have four very talented freshmen,” Hernandez said. “Lauren was at the right place at the right time (Thursday) and showed her composure and offensive potential.
"Three goals for a freshman in a conference game to get a portion of the title is a nice thing.”
Ultimately, the Gold Division title is only the first of several milestones the Mustangs hope to reach this month.
After hosting York in the regular season finale on Thursday, Downers Grove South will host a regional next week. The Mustangs, who are seeded third at the Class 3A Hinsdale Central Sectional, open with Proviso West on May 17 and would face either sixth-seed Fenwick or 11th-seed Young in the final on May 20.
There is precedent for the Mustangs to make a long playoff run because they are not in the Naperville-area sectional. Every time they have reached the state finals, they have come through the Hinsdale-area sectional.
“We’re hoping to go as deep as we can, so winning conference is definitely a little stepping stool, something that will fire us up and get us excited,” Rasmussen said. “I think this will be our (15th) year so it’s awesome to be able to hold on to that legacy.”
By Matt Le Cren
At first glance, Downers Grove South’s home game Tuesday against Addison Trail appears to be a meaningless match between the teams at opposite ends of the West Suburban Conference Gold Division standings.
The host Mustangs are heavily favored to win easily, but don’t think they will be lacking for motivation.
Downers Grove South, which clinched a share of the WSC Gold with a 5-2 win over Willowbrook last Thursday, can win the league title outright with a victory.
The Mustangs (13-6-0) have won 15-consecutive conference championships and have a 91-game league winning streak. Their last loss came against Hinsdale South on April 3, 2001.
“It’s for sure something we value,” Downers South senior forward Autumn Rasmussen said. “We don’t lose conference no matter what. So no matter what our team or the other team does, we won’t lose.”
The winning streak is remarkable considering the constant perfection required to keep it going against motivated opponents who are tired of getting beaten repeatedly by the Mustangs.
Downers South has had some great teams during the run, including state semifinal appearances in 2002, 2008 and 2012, but also some average squads in recent seasons.
Yet the Mustangs continue to dominate even though the players come and go and the program has seen two coaching changes in the past four seasons. What keeps it going?
“Definitely just our pride,” Rasmussen said. “Knowing that we don’t lose makes everyone push a little harder.”
Downers Grove South coach Chris Hernandez, who is in his second year at the helm after replacing Abby Anderson, is a 2006 graduate of the school. He remembers the streak being talked about when he was a student.
“I think that’s a credit to (longtime former coach) Barry (Jacobson) and Abby (Anderson) before me and the traditions that they kind of put in place for me,” Hernandez said. “Coming in, I knew that was a given; you win conference.
“We see how much it means to the girls, and we just want to make sure we keep those traditions alive because those are important.”
Addison Trail, which is winless in Gold Division play, doesn’t figure to test the Mustangs, who played valiant defense Saturday in a 1-0 loss to Naperville North, the no. 1 team in the Chicagoland Soccer rankings.
But the Mustangs will not take any win for granted. Rasmussen, who is a co-captain along with forward Lexi Dimovski and midfielder Natalia Pinto, will make sure of that.
“Definitely with conference games anything can happen, so you’ve got to show up,” Rasmussen said. “We should play our game no matter who our opponent is. It doesn’t matter if it’s Proviso East or Naperville North, we just play our game.”
That’s especially true when the opponent is unfamiliar.
“I really don’t know too much about them,” Hernandez said. “We had the game against them last year, and it was our first game back since (defender) Kailee (Miller) passed away.
“That was our rallying cry. We had something to focus on (in the eventual 8-0 win). This will be round number two.”
One thing keeping enthusiasm for the streak fresh is the constant turnover of players. The influx of newcomers brings a fresh fervor, and this year is no different.
While Rasmussen and Dimovski have done the bulk of the scoring for the Mustangs, sophomore Kailee O’Connor and freshman Lauren Travis have impressed in their first year on varsity, as has junior goalkeeper Paige Patera.
Travis had a hat trick against Willowbrook, scoring the team’s final three goals, which were also the first three of her prep career.
“It was awesome to see her do that,” Rasmussen said. “She’s been working hard all season, so to see her get the results was amazing.
“I definitely think her and a couple of the other freshmen will really pick up the lead, so I’m excited for them.”
So is Travis.
“It was very exciting for me considering I’m a freshman,” Travis said. “It’s definitely a very good experience for me to start (my career) on a team like this. I’ve definitely learned different combinations and different skills from the girls.”
Travis, midfielders Paige Reichert and Abby Wissler and defender Jillian Paladino are four rookies who eventually will be counted on to continue the streak.
“We’re very lucky to have four very talented freshmen,” Hernandez said. “Lauren was at the right place at the right time (Thursday) and showed her composure and offensive potential.
"Three goals for a freshman in a conference game to get a portion of the title is a nice thing.”
Ultimately, the Gold Division title is only the first of several milestones the Mustangs hope to reach this month.
After hosting York in the regular season finale on Thursday, Downers Grove South will host a regional next week. The Mustangs, who are seeded third at the Class 3A Hinsdale Central Sectional, open with Proviso West on May 17 and would face either sixth-seed Fenwick or 11th-seed Young in the final on May 20.
There is precedent for the Mustangs to make a long playoff run because they are not in the Naperville-area sectional. Every time they have reached the state finals, they have come through the Hinsdale-area sectional.
“We’re hoping to go as deep as we can, so winning conference is definitely a little stepping stool, something that will fire us up and get us excited,” Rasmussen said. “I think this will be our (15th) year so it’s awesome to be able to hold on to that legacy.”