Cougars struggle against Tigers in their SPC opener

By Curt Herron

One thing coaches really don't like is when they feel that their team didn't put up as good a fight as their opponents.

That's how Plainfield South coach Kevin Allen felt after watching his squad fall 3-0 to Plainfield North in Joliet on Monday.

It's not that the Tigers didn't do what they needed to order to win the Southwest Prairie Conference matchup.

Instead, the Cougar coach didn't believe that his group had the right frame of mind entering their league opener.

Allen felt that his squad might have been intimidated about playing the defending league champions.

But whatever the case, the Tigers clearly were the better squad in all aspects of the game on this date.

North was putting the pressure on South's goal all match long while the Cougar offense generated few serious threats.

The Tigers controlled the midfield and when the ball did get in their end of the field, their defense shut things down.

Coach Jane Crowe's squad not only captured their fourth straight victory but also claimed their fourth shutout in a row.

Click to hear coach Kevin Allen interview

North got the only goal that it needed just over 12 minutes into the match when defender Sami Smith connected.

But it was the next two scores that proved especially pleasing to winners and disappointing to the Cougars.

Tiger midfielder Stephanie delivered perfect free kicks to help set up headers that produced the next two scores.

Ashley Auble got the first goal just after the midpoint of the opening half to give her squad a 2-0 lead.

Callie O'Donnell connected with just over three minutes remaining in the initial half to complete the scoring.

North's Paige Polonus and Cait Bulthuis only had to face a few shots, most of which came from Sarah Johnson.

Meanwhile, Cougar keeper Taylor Schwebke did her best to keep the Tigers at bay, but that proved to be a difficult task.

Offense has been a problem for the Cougars, who've only scored three goals during their last five matches.

Those troubles have been partly responsible for the squad's 1-2-2 mark in that stretch since the Joliet Township match.

South hopes that it can start turning things around when it travels to Rosary on Saturday afternoon.

The Cougars will be tested next week with a schedule featuring SPC matches against Morris, Oswego and Plainfield Central.