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Recent News
The Scouts took advantage of a great diagonal pass by Hannah Nedeau and excellent pressure by Haleigh McPeek to tally the game’s only goal in the 11th minute of the first half. Haleigh’s pressure forced confusion between the Glenbrook North keeper and defender, which allowed the ball to slip through. Haleigh then deftly slotted the ball home. The Lake Forest defense--led by Katharine McCauley, Marina Katz, Ginny McGowan and Lucy Edwards--played extreme well in limiting the Spartans to few shots. Liz Clark did have to come off her line to deny a GBN forward before she had the chance to shoot. With Weber on the ground, McPeak controlled the cross from about 10 yards out and deposited the ball in the back of the net. Lake Forest (17-4-4) will battle Palatine Fremd (16-3-3) in the title game on Friday, May 27, at Glenbrook South at 7 pm.
It takes a village could be our motto for the playoffs after it took several players defending the line to keep Deerfield at bay in the dying moments of the game. It was a back-and-forth game with no real great chances. The pesky Warriors of Deerfield did a great job of throwing the Scouts out of sync. Finally in the middle of the second half the twins struck again. Sheila ran through a gut-level pass before setting up her sister Katie, who buried it in the side netting. The Scouts withstood a final flurry with probably 5 Deerfield shots inside the 18 in a 30-second span with Marina Katz clearing one off the line. The Scouts feel a little lucky to make it into the finals. Hopefully they will heed the wake-up call. 05/12/11
Cook struck from 25 yards only to see Tigers goalie Paige Polonus (4 saves) get her finger tips to the ball and push it off the cross bar and out for a corner with 4:01 to play. Less than a minute later McConachie headed a cross into the box
off the post.
The Scouts went to into Friday’s showdown with New Trier a little unsure of how they would stand up against the perennial powerhouse. While Lake Forest was missing several starters due to other commitments, it didn’t seem to matter. The Scouts can play the game, as they showed for about the first 70 minutes. Lake Forest had a lot of effective pressure early--forcing the New Trier keeper into a couple of key saves. Finally Morgan McConachie chased down a pass from Haleigh McPeek before chipping the ball over the NT keeper into the side netting. That score stayed that way deep into the second half. The turning point was, with about 13 minutes left, when Katharine McCauley went down with a serious ankle injury. The Trevians ramped up the pressure, nearly getting one in on a cross. With less than 5 minutes remaining, the Scouts fouled a New Trier player at the top of the box, and they buried the ensuing free kick. It was a very physical and enjoyable game, a great advertisement for the game of soccer. The Scouts are now 12-2-4 and take on Libertyville at 6:15 at Varsity Field on Monday.
The Scouts came out a little flat against the pesky Blue Devils. It was an uninspired first half of soccer for the Scouts. However, led by Abby Shipp, the Lake Forest came to life in the second half. After a great series of passes, Abby found Haleigh McPeek--who somehow found an opening and from no more than a foot off the end line buried it in the side netting on the other side. Math teachers will be arguing about the angle and the improbable possibility of that even happening for years to come. Ten minutes later Abby turned her player before her player tripped Abby. PK! Abby was ready to take it before the coach could even ask, “Who wants it?” She buried it like a professional. The defense withstood a couple of interesting Warren chances before earning their 7th shutout
Lake Forest went into Antioch with one goal--to play well from the start. Things didn’t exactly go as planned at the start, but then picked up halfway through the first half. In the end it was Déjà vu all over again for Katie Murphy as she picked up another hat trick at Polley field. Her last was the prettiest with a flick between her own legs on a great corner from Sydney Johnston. Kasey Quon rocked the waffle with a laser beam into the upper 90. Holly Wark, Sheila Murphy, Hannah Nedeau, Ginny McGowan and Catherine Traut rounded out the scoring. Lucy Edwards, Katherine McCauley, Allie Danneker, Kasey, Ginny and Caitlin Hough had the helpers. The Scouts are now 11-2-3 and have the 3-day weekend off before facing Warren on Wednesday in their first Home night game.
Lake Forest came out on top in the battle of the Lakes. The first half was back and forth action without any real great scoring chances. Lake Zurich appeared to be the more energetic team, winning most 50/50 balls. However, the second half the Scouts woke up and began to apply some pressure. Six minutes in, Ginny McGowan broke the deadlock with Haleigh McPeek getting the helper off a cross from Katharine McCauley. The Scouts continued with some good pressure but it wasn’t until 20 minutes later when Lucy Edwards chased down a long through ball and somehow kept it in--crossing it for Sheila Murphy to finish. Five minutes later, Lucy got around the corner and sent another cross to Sarah McClenehan at the back post, who fought her way through a Lake Zurich tackle to put the ball away for the third goal. The Scouts are now 9-2-3 (3-0 in the division) and play at Zion-Benton on Wednesday night.
Lake Forest persevered to come out with a 2-1 victory over the visiting Patriots. The Stevenson keeper was hot in the first half--making several acrobatic saves. The Scouts helped her out-- putting several close opportunities wide. In the second half it looked like a sequel to the movie Fast and Furious. Three goals were scored in less than 15 minutes, with several other chances as well. Two minutes into the game, Ginny McGowan had a nice diagonal run to get the ball. Then she beat her man and went endline where she dropped it back to Abby Shipp, who sent it back post to Morgan McConachie, who slotted it home. Less than 10 minutes later, Stevenson was unfortunately awarded a penalty kick (video evidence supports this), which they converted. Then the Scouts came back with a great redirect by Haleigh McPeek, which the keeper amazingly kept out with the save of the year. A few minutes later Ginny McGowan beat her man before sliding it across to Morgan, who knocked it upper 90. The Scouts then had to withstand a good deal of Stevenson pressure to hold on for the victory.
If you thought we had bad weather for the Pepsi Showdown quarterfinal then you didn’t watch the Pepsi Semifinal match against Loyola. How bad was it? Penguins and Polar Bears stayed inside at Brookfield Zoo. The Scout defense (Katherine Cook, Lucy Edwards, Marina Katz, Dani Loeger, Katharine McCauley, Ginny McGowan and Holly Wark) fought valiantly to deny the high-powered Ramblers any real scoring chances. Liz Clark easily handled the shots which were mostly from long range. In the second half, she did have to come up with a great tip over the bar. Finally after 65 minutes of frigid, scoreless soccer, Loyola capitalized on a great run out of their back. A deceiving chip to the back post that the wind miraculously not only kept in, but settled it over the keeper into a Rambler, who narrowly thighed it in before the Scouts could get there. Loyola was the better team that day and deserved the victory. The Scouts finished the tournament tied for 3rd place, their best finish ever. The Scouts are now 7-2-3 and will face the perennial powerful Stevenson Patriots at 4:30 on Wednesday at the VHAC.
The Pepsi Showdown quarterfinal was played in conditions
better suited for Dorothy and Toto than two talented soccer teams.
However, the Scouts persevered--clicked three goals in to beat
the number two-seeded Metea Valley Mustangs. The Scouts got on the
scoreboard quickly when Kasey Quon intercepted a Mustang pass,
deeked a defender and then rocket a thirty-yard bomb over the keeper.
Not less than a minute later, Morgan McConachie pressured Metea’s
defense which caused confusion between their keeper and a defender.
In this moment of consternation, Morgan tipped the ball to Sarah
McClenehan, who calmly knocked it in the net. Two minutes later
the Mustangs halved the lead.
The Scouts went to Mundelein with a tough task;
beat the Mustangs on their home turf. The
Scouts battled and persevered in a very tough contest--winning 3-2.
The Mustangs took an early lead off a throw in that somehow was tipped
and flicked before squeaking across the line for the first goal just
6 minutes in. The Scouts tied the score 20 minutes later when Sheila
Murphy’s
pressure caused a poor clearance directly to Haleigh McPeek, who
chipped the keeper from 30 yards out.
In the round of sixteen of the Pepsi Showdown, the Scouts prevailed in a tough battle with OPRF. The Huskies controlled most of the first 10 minutes. While they had a great deal of possession, the Scouts denied any scoring chances. Lake Forest then took control with relentless pressure, winning most 50/50 balls and creating several good chances which were lacking the final touch. Finally, Catherine Traut made a great run into the middle, freezing the Huskie defender. She then slid it out wide to Katie Murphy, who demonstrated great poise and excellent control before making a Messi out of it and skillfully sliding it in the side netting. The defense (Katherine McCauley, Lucy Edwards, Ginny McGowan and Katherine Cook) was excellent stopping everything before it became a chance. Liz Clark did have to come up with a big save late in the game to preserve the victory. The Scouts are now 5-1-3.
The Scouts faced a tough competitor, Wheaton Academy, in the second round of the Pepsi Showdown. Lake Forest had most of the possession, but could not get anything past the very active and exceptional Warriors’ keeper. Finally after a second foray around the corner, Sarah McClenehan slid a great ball across to Haleigh McPeek at the back post. Haleigh ripped it back across to the far post with confidence and more importantly accuracy. Strong play from the back line, Special K and G (Katherine Cook, Katharine McCauley, Marina Katz and Ginny McGowan) kept keeper Liz Clark from touching the ball more than a couple of times. The second half was much like the first--with LF exhibiting quite a bit of patience and possession, but unfortunately without the finishing. Finally Abby Shipp made a nice run while dropping the ball to Kasey Quon, who hit a strong shot that snuck through the wickets of the keeper. That shot was exactly what needs to happen to be successful: shots ON goal. The Scouts will meet the 8th-seeded Huskies of Oak Park-River Forest on Saturday at noon in the round of 16 at Olympic Park in Schaumburg. The Scouts are now 4-1-3.
The Scouts went up against one of the state’s top teams, Lyons, on varsity field in a Pepsi Showdown showcase game. The Scouts controlled much up the first half getting a couple of good chances, which didn’t pay off. However in the 20th minute, Sheila Murphy redirected a cross towards Catherine Traut on the wing. Traut cut the ball back in and curled an inside footed shot just inside the far post. The shot was a clinic on how to finish! The Lions came back in the final five minutes of the half--putting the Scouts under great pressure. Liz Clark had to come up big on one breakaway and forced another girl to shoot over the bar. Lyons kept up the pressure in the second half and evened things up on a bullet just two minutes into the second half. The rest of the game featured some great back and forth action and most importantly, quality soccer. The Scouts are now 3-1-3 and face Wheaton Academy, at Varsity Field on Thursday in the second round of the Pepsi Showdown.
The Scouts hit
the field running and played a great game from start to finish. With
pressure, possession and pulchritude the Scouts handled the Wolves
for 80 minutes. Ten different players either had a goal or
an assist. Morgan McConachie started the scoring with a strong cross
that tailed towards the goal and caught the keeper off her line.
Ten minutes later, Ginny McGowan scored with Mackenzie Adams getting
the helper. Six minutes later, Sarah McClenehan finished off a nice
pass from Morgan and just 3 minutes later Sheila Murphy was set free
by Dani Loeger before finishing nicely. The second half was much
of the same as Morgan scored another off a nice combo play with Haleigh
McPeek. In a play worthy of 3 points, Katie Murphy one timed the
one-time pass from sister Sheila. With six minutes left, Sarah McClenehan
buried a perfect feed from Holly Wark. The
Scouts play highly-regarded Lyons on Tuesday at 4:45 at Varsity
Stadium. The Scouts are now
3-1-2.
The Scouts persevered in a tight battle under blustery conditions. Both teams created some opportunities, but the final pass or shot went astray. Finally with 12 minutes left in the game, the Scouts had a couple of corners and created some pressure. Palatine cleared the ball just short of the center circle where Marina Katz lobbed a ball back towards the scrum where two Scouts attacked the ball. Sheila Murphy reached it first and flicked it onto the surging Sarah McClenehan, who deftly flicked it over the onrushing Palatine keeper. The Scouts then withstood a good deal of Pirate pressure to preserve the victory. The Scouts are now 2-1-2.
The Scouts rallied from a 1-0 deficit to a draw with the Carmel Corsairs in the final game of the Carmel Quad. The Scouts finished tied for second with Carmel. The Scouts came out very flat and tentative, and Carmel had most of the pressure. The Scouts lost their defensive shape early on and gave up a goal to Carmel early in the game. The Scouts came back a few minutes later as Morgan McConachie sent Ginny McGowan through on a breakaway, which she finished with the calmness of a veteran. Both sides came up with strong chances, but Liz Clark and the Carmel keeper denied their opponents. The Scouts are now 1-1-2
After a relatively uninspiring game, the Scouts ramped up the energy and literally ran through the Wolves the last 25 minutes. It began with the inspired play of Morgan McConachie and Ginny McGowan, who attacked with relentless pressure. After a great combination play, Morgan barreled through 3 Prairie Ridge defenders with Ginny coming in to slot home the loose ball. The surge continued as Marina Katz’s throw was nicely flicked in by Lucy Edwards past the onrushing keeper. The next goal was a lofty clear from Dani Loeger, which caught a Wolve defender napping as Ginny was able to break through and finish to make the score 3-1. Probably more amazing was that the Scouts hit the post 5 times in the final 20 minutes. Clearly good things happen when you play with energy. The Scouts are now 1-1-1.
In a very tough game against a well-organized Hersey team, the Scouts fell just short and lost 1-0. Unfortunately, with less than a minute until halftime, the Scouts gave up the ball in the midfield and while the Scouts were trying to get organized on defense the Huskies found an open forward, who hit a great shot just past the outstretched fingers of Liz Clark. After that, neither team forced the opposing keepers into any kind of heroics. The Scouts are now 0-1-1.
The Scouts played their best half of the year in the opening 40 minutes of their game versus Evanston. So what if it was their first game of the year (It might have been the best half of the last two years). Relentless pressure from a variety of places and players created several opportunities which the Scouts could not capitalize on. Finally Sarah McClenethan flicked a nice cross from Abby Shipp which Haleigh McPeek volleyed into the side netting. Clearly Haleigh’s goal is a candidate for goal of the year. The second half was a totally different story as the Wildkits were a little perturbed and came back with a vengeance. The Scouts wilted until Evanston evened things out with a little time left. The Scouts did have a clear scoring chance in the second half but while Haleigh’s shot beat the keeper, it was blocked by a Scout who was lying on the goal line. The 1-1 tie was disappointing, but fair result. The Scouts are undefeated for 2011 with a 0-0-1 record.
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Girls'
Soccer Links
Ty Stuckslager, Head Coach Archives--Varsity Awards/Game Summaries Varsity Schedule (New) Updated
2012 Varsity Schedule
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