Redhawks look sharp in Game One against OPRF

 

By Gary Larsen

Naperville Central never gives up many goals in a season, and with a defense-first philosophy and an all-state goalkeeper in the fold, this year’s Redhawks don’t figure to be any different.

They showed that defensive strength in Tuesday’s 1-0 shutout of Oak Park and River Forest, along with some offensive wherewithal that had the Huskies on their heels for much of the contest.

“We’re solid in back and that’s always been us, and we have been challenged to find goals,” Naperville Central senior Krissy Many said. “But with five midfielders our goal is to be solid in the back, get people forward, and go from there.”

It was outside defender Carly Franzese who constructed the game’s lone goal, sending a ball ahead to Nicole Ramberg just three minutes into the game.

“Carly played me a great ball, right in the center of the goal,” Ramberg said. “I just thought ‘okay, this is it’ and hoped I could get a good foot on it.”

Ramberg went far post to give her side the early lead.

“At the time we thought maybe we’d get a few more but it didn’t work out,” Redhawks coach Ed Watson said. “But we had some good chances and we made (Huskies keeper Darcy Hargadon) make saves, and that’s a good thing.”

The Huskies played minus five starters due to illness and injury, and while they fought the good fight, they struggled to match the attacking cohesion of Naperville Central throughout.

“They’re a talented team,” OPRF senior back Kate McCole said. “I just don’t think we’re at the level of play that we’re used to. But we’ll get there. I think we have a good attacking team and we’re working on building the defense. We have returning skill, which is helpful, but for now we’re looking to fill the gaps with heart and having everyone give it their all on the field.”

If not for Hargadon, Central might have had four or five goals before halftime. The senior keeper made quality saves against breakaways and on shots set up by corner kicks in keeping her side within one goal of tying the game.

Central defender Renata Voci also played solidly throughout the contest for the Huskies.

“Darcy brings a wealth of experience in the back, to get us organized and call players out,” Wright said. “That’s why she’s so heavily recruited. She’s going to put herself in position to stop goals. We were blessed having (keeper) Sam Euler during the boys’ season and now we’ve got another coach on the field with Darcy. She’ll scream and get them organized, and she’ll gain a comfortability level with these girls.”

The Huskies will fight to find chemistry until their starters return to the fold.

“Missing five starters is tough,” Gullo said. “Especially getting new people accustomed to how we play soccer. A lot of us have been playing together for a while and we know the way we’re supposed to be playing. So with a lot of new people, it’s difficult. It will take some time.”

“Effort and communication,” Hargadon said, when asked where the improvement needs to come. “Now that we’ve actually played a game we can pinpoint certain things that we can work on, like defending, goalkicks – just things you learn from playing a real game.”

And while the Huskies are forced to try to play catch-up with a makeshift lineup, the Redhawks seemed to be playing ahead of the curve on Tuesday.

“I was a little surprised because we’ve scrimmaged against our jayvee and looked decent, but I thought everyone came ready to play today,” Ramberg said. “We played really well.”

With her start as a central defender against the Huskies, Many completed an odyssey that has seen her play all 11 positions for Watson. With all-state keeper Jill D’Amico in net behind her, midfielder Many is ready for the challenge.

“I don’t care, as long as I’m playing,” Many said. “The key for me is keeping the game in front of me. Wherever I play I just have to make sure I give myself enough space and think about what the role of that position is going to be.”

The Redhawks’ attack featured quick decisions, quick passing, and players aiming to get the ball forward, and in the middle of it all was junior midfielder Meredith McEniff.

“We’ve got a brand-new midfield and I thought Meredith McEniff really controlled the middle of the field today,” Watson said. “She missed all of last season with a broken foot, as a sophomore, and she would have been an impact player for us last year.”

Ramberg liked what she saw team-wide in the attack.

“It’s nice because our midfielders are essentially forwards,” Ramberg said. “So even though I’m the forward, I know that if I drop there’s a midfielder working as a second forward that I can turn and play to.”

Watson is also pleased with Ramberg’s willingness to play with her back to the goal.

“I don’t think the style we’re asking her to play is the style she is accustomed to,” he said. “She likes to be going to the goal but she has bought in. She’s more of a post-up player for us and it’s dirty work. When you’re posting up you’re getting beat on.”
 
“I thought we did a really good job of connecting,” Many said. “We’re a young team and we don’t have a lot of girls coming back from last year so I was really happy with the way everyone played. Everyone stepped up and seemed really comfortable.”