Carmel, Saint Viator have
questions to answer
By Steve Nemeth
Are you in or out of the race for the East Suburban Catholic Conference title? That question will become clearer tonight when Saint Viator hosts Carmel.
A Carmel triumph will still require some specific help from the Corsairs’ league brethren while Saint Viator’s Lions control their own destiny with two additional league contests ahead of them.
Despite yet another daunting schedule and having to move up to Class 3A after claiming the 2015 2A state championship, Carmel (9-2-3) stumbled some with a draw against Nazareth. That left them 2-1-2 and able to add only two more league wins, which means the Corsairs must a) win, b) root for a Marian Central Catholic surprise in tomorrow’s Benet (4-0-1) home game, and c) add a victory over Joliet Catholic for a second-straight ESCC trophy.
At first glance Saint Viator doesn’t appear to be having the kind of season (4-8-2) that suggests that of a conference title hopeful. However, the Lions are 2-1-1 going into the Carmel contest before hosting Marist at the Forest View Education Center field and Benet at the school field. Over half their 2016 schedule had the Lions punching above their weight class.
"Strong schedules build your program,” St. Viator coach Mike Taylor insists. “That’s why we play in the PepsiCo and Naperville invite, stronger teams find your weakness, then you know exactly what to improve.”
Saint Viator will not have to face the talented Runyan sisters, McKenzie and Megan, who were 2015 graduates of the Mundelein school. McKenzie had a hat trick in Carmel’s 6-1 regular season triumph over the Lions last year and then assisted on classmate Kayla Handel’s opening goal in a 2-0 sectional final win.
Neither side believes revenge is any kind of factor.
"If we had the same teams, then maybe, but outside of a handful, the rest of the kids weren’t part of that game. It’s a different team,” Taylor noted.
“The rosters really are new enough that the past is the past,” Carmel coach Ray Krawzak agreed.
And as is the case with all good players, they really want the team they’re playing on to make their own mark in school history.
So the motivation is really another win for even the returnees led by 2015 IHSSCA All-Section 4 honoree Angela Salvi. Goalie Tina O’Block and center back Haley Miller anchor the defense and are quad captains along with Salvi and midfielder/forward Erin Johnston, the team’s goal leader. More veteran strength comes from Lisa Harwardt in back, Kathleen Graham in the middle, and Cate Halverson up top.
“Leadership from the experienced girls is a key strength for us,” Krawzak said. “We want to find a way to get our offense firing right away tonight.”
Two-thirds of Saint Viator’s roster either wasn’t around or had much less significant roles last season.
“We’re very young in most people’s minds with 12 players being freshmen or sophomores, and only six juniors or seniors,” Taylor said. “Part of our problem has been making sure not to make mistakes that help our opponents. We really need to stay focused and finish games out. A lack of intensity has caught up with us at times.”
The aforementioned rugged schedule and in particular the loaded Naperville Invitational field contributed to a seven-game skid that Saint Viator ended with a 4-1 win over Lincoln-Way Central in the Naperville finale.
“They’re (Carmel) always a talented team,” senior defender Maggie Leazer commented. “As a team, we are excited and prepared to play them, especially coming off a win this past weekend.”
“Carmel is always an exciting game for us,” echoed senior midfielder Lauren Kohn, an IHSSCA All-Section 6 honoree a year ago. “Especially because of the (league) rivalry.”
questions to answer
By Steve Nemeth
Are you in or out of the race for the East Suburban Catholic Conference title? That question will become clearer tonight when Saint Viator hosts Carmel.
A Carmel triumph will still require some specific help from the Corsairs’ league brethren while Saint Viator’s Lions control their own destiny with two additional league contests ahead of them.
Despite yet another daunting schedule and having to move up to Class 3A after claiming the 2015 2A state championship, Carmel (9-2-3) stumbled some with a draw against Nazareth. That left them 2-1-2 and able to add only two more league wins, which means the Corsairs must a) win, b) root for a Marian Central Catholic surprise in tomorrow’s Benet (4-0-1) home game, and c) add a victory over Joliet Catholic for a second-straight ESCC trophy.
At first glance Saint Viator doesn’t appear to be having the kind of season (4-8-2) that suggests that of a conference title hopeful. However, the Lions are 2-1-1 going into the Carmel contest before hosting Marist at the Forest View Education Center field and Benet at the school field. Over half their 2016 schedule had the Lions punching above their weight class.
"Strong schedules build your program,” St. Viator coach Mike Taylor insists. “That’s why we play in the PepsiCo and Naperville invite, stronger teams find your weakness, then you know exactly what to improve.”
Saint Viator will not have to face the talented Runyan sisters, McKenzie and Megan, who were 2015 graduates of the Mundelein school. McKenzie had a hat trick in Carmel’s 6-1 regular season triumph over the Lions last year and then assisted on classmate Kayla Handel’s opening goal in a 2-0 sectional final win.
Neither side believes revenge is any kind of factor.
"If we had the same teams, then maybe, but outside of a handful, the rest of the kids weren’t part of that game. It’s a different team,” Taylor noted.
“The rosters really are new enough that the past is the past,” Carmel coach Ray Krawzak agreed.
And as is the case with all good players, they really want the team they’re playing on to make their own mark in school history.
So the motivation is really another win for even the returnees led by 2015 IHSSCA All-Section 4 honoree Angela Salvi. Goalie Tina O’Block and center back Haley Miller anchor the defense and are quad captains along with Salvi and midfielder/forward Erin Johnston, the team’s goal leader. More veteran strength comes from Lisa Harwardt in back, Kathleen Graham in the middle, and Cate Halverson up top.
“Leadership from the experienced girls is a key strength for us,” Krawzak said. “We want to find a way to get our offense firing right away tonight.”
Two-thirds of Saint Viator’s roster either wasn’t around or had much less significant roles last season.
“We’re very young in most people’s minds with 12 players being freshmen or sophomores, and only six juniors or seniors,” Taylor said. “Part of our problem has been making sure not to make mistakes that help our opponents. We really need to stay focused and finish games out. A lack of intensity has caught up with us at times.”
The aforementioned rugged schedule and in particular the loaded Naperville Invitational field contributed to a seven-game skid that Saint Viator ended with a 4-1 win over Lincoln-Way Central in the Naperville finale.
“They’re (Carmel) always a talented team,” senior defender Maggie Leazer commented. “As a team, we are excited and prepared to play them, especially coming off a win this past weekend.”
“Carmel is always an exciting game for us,” echoed senior midfielder Lauren Kohn, an IHSSCA All-Section 6 honoree a year ago. “Especially because of the (league) rivalry.”