Fittingly, Wheaton N., Wheaton A.
to decide local trophy winners tonight
By Steve Nemeth
It only seems appropriate that the Wheaton Invitational champion is determined after Wheaton North takes on Wheaton Academy on Friday in the first meeting between the two in four years.
That doesn’t mean South Elgin or St. Ignatius were simply interested bystanders, but the point system is such that the outcome of the crosstown clash decides the trophy.
With wins worth three points, ties one and shutouts earning an additional bonus point, the round robin comes down to the Wheatons. Thanks to a 2-0 shutout of St. Ignatius and a 1-1 draw Thursday versus South Elgin, Wheaton North’s Falcons own five points.
The Warriors from host Wheaton Academy posted a 1-1 stalemate with South Elgin with a 3-1 triumph over St. Ignatius to have four points. Hence the Falcons need at least a draw while Wheaton Academy needs the win to take the title.
Aside from some obvious local bragging rights, building all-important momentum for the homestretch of the regular season and ensuing playoffs is equally important.
For Wheaton North, it’ll also be a test of staminia with the second half of back-to-back games and a third match in five days.
The Falcons (8-5-2) kept their mathematical hopes alive for a repeat DuPage Valley title with a 2-0 win over Glenbard North on Monday with three league matches still remaining. Add on Thursday’s deadlock with South Elgin and North has the momentum of a four-game unbeaten streak.
Making those results more impressive is the reality that the line-up has been far from healthy.
“We had a rough start to the season (0-3-0 and outscored 10-1), but for our last 12 games, we lost just two and only one team was able to score more than a goal on us (a 3-0 loss to no. 2 Naperville North on April 18),” coach Tim McEvilly noted. “Since our turnaround, the key has been having more players get comfortable with the level of varsity play.”
While senior Becca Kouwe’s knee injury took her out of the line-up and will delay her future Wheaton College career, the Falcons have succeeded thanks to youngsters stepping up or others switching positions.
Cara Maxwell was a backline standout in 2015, but moved into a forward/offensive midfield role until the need arose for her senior leadership. She made a major impact in the win over Glenbard North, and has helped freshman Anna Warfield settle in with the defense.
“Anna has been assuming more responsibility playing the backline, but with Cara’s help, she can add more of an offensive role to her skill set,” McEvilly said. “In the middle Gwen (Phillips) has done a great job controlling the pace of play. She can make things happen for us both offensively and defensively.”
Phillips (Kenyon College) and teammate Hannah Atkinson (Cedarville University) are both headed to Ohio to continue their education and soccer careers.
Four of North’s five shutouts this season have occurred during the last six games. Senior goalkeeper Sydney Partington, playing in her first game in two years since an injury, stepped up in the 2-0 win against Lake Park on April 19 when Katie Sullivan, who started the match, was sidelined.
Sophomore Zoe Welsh earned the clean sheet against Glenbard North on Monday and protected the net versus South Elgin. Clare Kocher set up Hannah Atkinson for the Falcons’ goal.
Now the Falcons' attention had definitively turned to Wheaton Academy, and also the Wheaton Cup, a traveling trophy that the two teams compete for along with Wheaton Warrenville South. Wheaton North is in the driver's seat with an earlier win over the Tigers, whom Wheaton Academy tied.
“It’s been awhile since we’ve played them, it’s the first for me,” Atkinson said. “It’s a game similar to Wheaton South, we know a lot of the girls. There’s a lot at stake, it determines the Wheaton Cup and the tournament.
“It is a busy week with a lot of important games with a conference match and two tournament games. Every game until postseason helps prepare us, but a week like this prepares us to be ready to be able to deal with the pressure when wins are really important and can give us confidence going forward.”
Teammate Margaret Hupp had the same impressions.
“Playing (Wheaton Academy) is special in that I’ve never played them before, but if we win, we win not only the tournament but the Wheaton Cup as well,” Hupp said.
“Our preparation has been the same, stay calm and really push hard in practice. A week like this helps us realize things we need to work on, and shows what kind of team we are. I believe we’re a talented, hard-working one and need to bring it. Hard.”
That kind of play has raised Wheaton North's rep.
“Even though we won the DVC last year, we still get overshadowed some,” McEvilly said. “But over the last four seasons I believe we’ve shown North can compete with anybody. All of our kids are high-level, quality players who put in a lot of work over the offseason. There’s no doubt they can make life difficult for any opponent.”
The same can be said of Wheaton Academy’s Warriors (11-3-2). Coach David Underwood’s crew is unbeaten in its last six matches (4-0-2) after topping St. Ignatius last night.
“Our team is starting to click. We had a number of key injuries or players out for various reasons, but we have everyone back and playing so we are looking for the right chemistry,” Underwood noted.
“Not having played (North) in a few years, it’ll also be a fun match-up because a lot of the girls have gone to school or church together,” Underwood said. “Our goal is to peak as we go into the postseason. I feel that if we stay healthy, we have the talent to make a deep run into the Class 1A tournament.”
That big picture view was echoed by Julia Della Torre.
“Many of us have grown up together and played club ball with or against one another,” Della Torre said. “But I also believe we need to treat it like any other game in that we keep doing what we do. I’d say our top six are super close. We know what each other is thinking, know the passes we need to make, and how to get in on the end of those passes.”
to decide local trophy winners tonight
By Steve Nemeth
It only seems appropriate that the Wheaton Invitational champion is determined after Wheaton North takes on Wheaton Academy on Friday in the first meeting between the two in four years.
That doesn’t mean South Elgin or St. Ignatius were simply interested bystanders, but the point system is such that the outcome of the crosstown clash decides the trophy.
With wins worth three points, ties one and shutouts earning an additional bonus point, the round robin comes down to the Wheatons. Thanks to a 2-0 shutout of St. Ignatius and a 1-1 draw Thursday versus South Elgin, Wheaton North’s Falcons own five points.
The Warriors from host Wheaton Academy posted a 1-1 stalemate with South Elgin with a 3-1 triumph over St. Ignatius to have four points. Hence the Falcons need at least a draw while Wheaton Academy needs the win to take the title.
Aside from some obvious local bragging rights, building all-important momentum for the homestretch of the regular season and ensuing playoffs is equally important.
For Wheaton North, it’ll also be a test of staminia with the second half of back-to-back games and a third match in five days.
The Falcons (8-5-2) kept their mathematical hopes alive for a repeat DuPage Valley title with a 2-0 win over Glenbard North on Monday with three league matches still remaining. Add on Thursday’s deadlock with South Elgin and North has the momentum of a four-game unbeaten streak.
Making those results more impressive is the reality that the line-up has been far from healthy.
“We had a rough start to the season (0-3-0 and outscored 10-1), but for our last 12 games, we lost just two and only one team was able to score more than a goal on us (a 3-0 loss to no. 2 Naperville North on April 18),” coach Tim McEvilly noted. “Since our turnaround, the key has been having more players get comfortable with the level of varsity play.”
While senior Becca Kouwe’s knee injury took her out of the line-up and will delay her future Wheaton College career, the Falcons have succeeded thanks to youngsters stepping up or others switching positions.
Cara Maxwell was a backline standout in 2015, but moved into a forward/offensive midfield role until the need arose for her senior leadership. She made a major impact in the win over Glenbard North, and has helped freshman Anna Warfield settle in with the defense.
“Anna has been assuming more responsibility playing the backline, but with Cara’s help, she can add more of an offensive role to her skill set,” McEvilly said. “In the middle Gwen (Phillips) has done a great job controlling the pace of play. She can make things happen for us both offensively and defensively.”
Phillips (Kenyon College) and teammate Hannah Atkinson (Cedarville University) are both headed to Ohio to continue their education and soccer careers.
Four of North’s five shutouts this season have occurred during the last six games. Senior goalkeeper Sydney Partington, playing in her first game in two years since an injury, stepped up in the 2-0 win against Lake Park on April 19 when Katie Sullivan, who started the match, was sidelined.
Sophomore Zoe Welsh earned the clean sheet against Glenbard North on Monday and protected the net versus South Elgin. Clare Kocher set up Hannah Atkinson for the Falcons’ goal.
Now the Falcons' attention had definitively turned to Wheaton Academy, and also the Wheaton Cup, a traveling trophy that the two teams compete for along with Wheaton Warrenville South. Wheaton North is in the driver's seat with an earlier win over the Tigers, whom Wheaton Academy tied.
“It’s been awhile since we’ve played them, it’s the first for me,” Atkinson said. “It’s a game similar to Wheaton South, we know a lot of the girls. There’s a lot at stake, it determines the Wheaton Cup and the tournament.
“It is a busy week with a lot of important games with a conference match and two tournament games. Every game until postseason helps prepare us, but a week like this prepares us to be ready to be able to deal with the pressure when wins are really important and can give us confidence going forward.”
Teammate Margaret Hupp had the same impressions.
“Playing (Wheaton Academy) is special in that I’ve never played them before, but if we win, we win not only the tournament but the Wheaton Cup as well,” Hupp said.
“Our preparation has been the same, stay calm and really push hard in practice. A week like this helps us realize things we need to work on, and shows what kind of team we are. I believe we’re a talented, hard-working one and need to bring it. Hard.”
That kind of play has raised Wheaton North's rep.
“Even though we won the DVC last year, we still get overshadowed some,” McEvilly said. “But over the last four seasons I believe we’ve shown North can compete with anybody. All of our kids are high-level, quality players who put in a lot of work over the offseason. There’s no doubt they can make life difficult for any opponent.”
The same can be said of Wheaton Academy’s Warriors (11-3-2). Coach David Underwood’s crew is unbeaten in its last six matches (4-0-2) after topping St. Ignatius last night.
“Our team is starting to click. We had a number of key injuries or players out for various reasons, but we have everyone back and playing so we are looking for the right chemistry,” Underwood noted.
“Not having played (North) in a few years, it’ll also be a fun match-up because a lot of the girls have gone to school or church together,” Underwood said. “Our goal is to peak as we go into the postseason. I feel that if we stay healthy, we have the talent to make a deep run into the Class 1A tournament.”
That big picture view was echoed by Julia Della Torre.
“Many of us have grown up together and played club ball with or against one another,” Della Torre said. “But I also believe we need to treat it like any other game in that we keep doing what we do. I’d say our top six are super close. We know what each other is thinking, know the passes we need to make, and how to get in on the end of those passes.”