Banged-up Warriors fall to Glenbard North
By Dave Owen

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Willowbrook still has half of its conference schedule to play in the next 10 days.

That factor and unusual on-the-field circumstances made a 3-0 non-conference loss to Glenbard North on Saturday dim in significance.

The Warriors (5-11-2) kicked off the day with usual starters Lauren Carroll, Claire Criscione, Jamie Colella and Tracie Steben all sidelined, and the list of absentees grew when Andy Escallier and Jess Budig left the game early with injuries.

The good news: all are expected back for the Warriors’ Tuesday game at Leyden.

“Both (Escallier and Budig) asked if they could play again today, but we’re really building towards Tuesday and Thursday (at Addison Trail), said Willowbrook coach Pete Montgomery, whose team has a 1-2 record in WSC Gold play with three games to go.

“Those are the important conference games for us, so it was more important for them to feel healthy and not run them into the ground today. We want to be our best and put ourselves in the best position for those games.”

Beyond being less than full strength in numbers of late, the Warriors have also adjusted to some key position changes. Foremost was midfielder Louisa Reese’s move to sweeper in a swap of positions with Carroll.

“We did that two weeks ago in a tournament just to try something different, so we’ve had Louisa in the back and Lauren Carroll usually in the center mid for us,” Montgomery said. “That’s been a pretty good change for us. Both of them have dropped into those new roles nicely.

“You’re always trying to figure out the best combination, and sometimes it takes 15-20 games to get there. Hopefully by the time playoffs start and these important conference games are here, that’s when you have it figured out. We’ll find out.”

Once a key spark to the Warriors’ offensive attack from the midfield, Reese has embraced her new role.

“it’s been an adjustment,” Reese said, “but  I had played sweeper a few times before when we needed it. It’s easier to see the field and give more direction, but it’s harder in that you’re more specialized and you’re the last defender besides the goalie. It’s not been any harder or worse technically, but mentally it’s different and gives different options offensively for the team.”

Fellow captain Jessica Nolen has made her own shift from forward to defender.

“We’ve had to shuffle around and a lot of people aren’t used to their positions, but we’ve been doing pretty well lately,” Nolen said. “There’s some rough spots obviously and we have a very young lineup. It just takes getting used to.”

Montgomery was impressed with Nolen’s impact on the shorthanded Warriors Saturday, especially during a scoreless second half.

“I thought Jess Nolen at the stopper position really was kind of an anchor in the middle,” Montgomery said. “She talked to some of those girls who were in different roles today and really helped them feel comfortable, and took away some of the stress of being in a new role. She helped everyone settle down and play their best soccer. She really played outstanding today.”

The Warriors weren’t at their best in the first half, as constant Glenbard North pressure produced three Panther scores.

The first came with 31:40 left in the half, when Glenbard North’s Ashley Pogue fired a 10-yard shot from the right wing that deflected off a Warrior defender and  past goalkeeper Shanti Lindberg for an own goal and 1-0 lead.

“It happens,” Montgomery said. “(The defender) stepped in to try and clear, it went off her foot wrong and went in. 

“They both did the right thing. They both went for the ball. I would rather have an error like that going hard for the ball than have her stand back and do nothing and have it go in. They both went hard and that’s the way it happens sometimes.”

Lindberg made a brilliant one-handed save diving to her left to deny another Glenbard North goal in the 14th minute, but the pressure continued to boil in the next five minutes. First came three Panther corner kicks in a row (denied by strong clears of the box by Reese and Nolen), then senior defender Criscione exited with injury at the 23:33 mark.
Glenbard North added to its lead on a header off a corner kick with 18:16 left in the half, followed by Marissa Ferreri’s rebound score after a nice Lindberg leg save 11:33 before the break to put the Panthers up 3-0.

Reese and Marissa Yepez both made nice plays to repel Glenbard North attacks in the final 10 minutes, foreshadowing a shutdown second half for the Warriors’ defensive unit.

“I thought we really stepped up, especially in the second half,” Montgomery said. “We focused on what we needed to do. We marked better in the second half, we didn’t give them the same kind of clean shots as they had in the first half, and it showed with a 0-0 second half.”

Lindsey Petersen (blocked shot in the 27th minute of the second half), Danielle Naughton, Kasie Dembowski, midfielder Natalie Wolski and Grace Pakeltis were among other contributors to the strengthened defense. Holly Buchanan, Shelby Walling and Lauren Bimber played increased roles at forward.

At halftime Monty said ‘more listening, less talking,’ and we listened to each other a lot more,” Nolen said. “We would help each other, and that instinct was there – rather than telling someone to go there, we would go there instead. We adjusted and it worked out really well.”

The Warriors’ offense was also revived after the break. Nolen triggered an attack from the back line in the 17th minute of the half, which ended with Glenbard North goalkeeper Nicole Strawn barely beating Willowbrook’s Jessica Pearlman to the ball near the top of the box.

The best chance to snap the shutout came with four minutes left, when Reese fired a well-placed 30-yard direct kick that Strawn saved on a reaching catch just below the crossbar.

“It’s hard because we haven’t had a full squad in a couple of weeks,” Reese said. “We’ve been coping, but today is probably the most obvious result of having all these people missing or injured. Hopefully we’ll recuperate fast because we’re coming to the close of the season soon.”

Just starting what could be a strong career is freshman Budig. Her two goals Tuesday (along with one each by Pearlman, Petersen and Reese) powered the Warriors to a 5-0 win over Proviso East. Budig joins Wolski to give Willowbrook two impact freshmen offensively.

“Jess came up from the freshman team about five games ago, and she scored a goal in her first game for us up at the Niles West tournament,” Montgomery said. “ Then she added two more against Proviso East. She’s been an extra piece of offense that we really needed.”

Willowbrook hopes all the pieces fall into place for the stretch run of the season.

“Just keeping positive attitudes,” Reese said. “Especially as captains we (Reese, Yepez, Criscione, Nolen and Lindberg) need to make sure everyone knows their roles and not think that we can’t do certain things. We just have to adjust and do them differently. Attitude is a big factor.”

“We just have to play to our strengths and take advantage of opportunities,” Montgomery said.