Tigers get it done in overtime vs. Benet

 

By Eddie Burns
Photos courtesy of Diana Fowee

Wheaton Warrenville South coach Guy Callipari has a deep squad and he’s not afraid to use it.

The Tigers’ depth played big factor in WW South’s 1-0 overtime victory against Benet in a Naperville Invitational match played at Wheaton North on Thursday night.

“Everyone who dresses plays,” Callipari said. “We’ve been fortunate enough to do that this year more than any other. I feel real comfortable and confident in each of their abilities in certain situations. What (the consistent substituting) has really transpired into is an opportunity for us to play with the same type of threatening plays right through until the end and that has been great for us because it gives us this kind of edge.”

The Tigers (9-1-1) appeared to have fresh legs when the match moved into the overtime session. WW South almost won it in the opening two minutes when Jill Langlas set up teammate Liz Ciesielski, but Ciesielski sent a shot low and barely wide of the net.

A few minutes later, the same two players hooked up for the game-winner. Langlas possessed the ball long enough to draw the attention of the Benet defense, which freed up the middle of the field where Ciesielski was waiting and this time she shot high and the ball found the net.

“Jill made a touch and saw the seam and I ran in and shot it,” said Ciesielski, who has five goals.
“It is a great feeling. We started off strong and had a lot of good movement. With everyone’s hard work, we got it back. It was hard to go into overtime, but we had to step it up and we did.”

Callipari was pleased with how the winning goal developed.

“You hoped that a game like that would end on a good effort and it did,” Callipari said. “It was a combination we thought would work through the midfield. Jill held the ball long enough to pull one of their center defenders forward, which allowed Liz to get free. One time Liz tried it low and another time she tried it high and she finally found the goal.”

As the match went deeper into regulation and eventually into overtime, the Tigers began creating open space in the middle of the field.

“We had a lot of our forwards working well keeping Benet’s defenders pushed back, so we could look for seams through the middle of the field,” Ciesielski said. “We all did a good job and we were lucky enough to find that seam.”

Benet coach Henry Wind was encouraged by the effort he received from his youthful squad, which is now 7-3.

“We stayed in the mach and played real well,” Wind said. “I wish we had a few more opportunities, but the last 10-15 minutes of the first half they started to take it to us and then all of a sudden -- they got a good chance in overtime. We left Ciesielski too wide open where she could tee it up and she did the job. I thought our girls played hard and I think we just ran out of gas.”

The Redwings are in the midst of a very active portion of their schedule. Benet has eight games in a two-week period.

“We’ve been busy and I’ve seen improvement in each match,” Wind said. “Brittany Pullen continues to play big and strong in the middle. We’re a roster filled with a lot of sophomores and juniors right now – we basically have one senior. At one time (against WW South), we had seven or eight sophomores on the field and that is good, but they just need to get stronger.”

Benet sophomore forward Madie Burke created one of the Redwings’ best scoring chances when she played a dangerous ball across the penalty area late in the first half. The ball danced off a few players before WW South could clear the ball.

For the Redwings, playing in the Naperville Invite provides them with an opportunity to see bigger and much more physically-minded teams.

“The soccer played is this tournament is a lot different from what we see on a regular basis,” Burke said. “WW South was more physical than most teams we’ve seen this season. It was a good experience and a challenge for us. They are a good team and were overall very athletic.”

WW South continues tournament play at 7 p.m. Friday against Fremd at Wheaton North. Benet returns to action at noon on Saturday against Fremd at Wheaton North.