|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
Sports
Young soccer squad learns from ups, downs : Sports : Oswego Ledger-Sentinel : Hometown Newspaper for Oswego and Montgomery, IllinoisYoung soccer squad learns from ups, downs
| Schlaker lone Oswego East player to leave Wolve's lineup this spring
| by Christine Bolin
| 6/7/2012
|
The way the Oswego East girls' soccer season ended was so sudden.
Just 50 seconds into the second half of the Class 3A Waubonsie Valley Regional semifinal on May 15, the Wolves' game against Waubonsie Valley was officially called due to poor weather conditions.
"The weather was an unfortunate way to call a game, but it hopefully enforces to the girls that you have to play every second like it's the last," Oswego East head coach Lauren Anderson said. "You never know what game of soccer will end up being your last...whether it's due to the game being cut short due to weather or a career ending injury. Don't leave anything out on the field and don't 'save' it for second half because you might not always get that opportunity."
The No. 6 seeded Warriors beat the No. 12 Wolves, 5-0. That capped Oswego East's season at 8-9-1 overall.
"We had our ups and downs this season, but the girls true character came out during this season," Anderson said. "They could have easily given up when times got tough, but they stuck together and never once turned on each other. Even though we didn't finish this season with a winning record, we definitely grew as a team."
Neuqua Valley ended up beating Waubonsie Valley, 2-1, in the regional title game. Naperville North ended the Wildcats' season after beating them 2-1 in the Naperville North Sectional semifinal.
Last Saturday, Naperville North won the Class 3A state title over St. Charles North, 1-0, in four overtimes at North Central College in Naperville.
Oswego East ended up in fifth place in the Southwest Prairie Conference with a record of 4-3. The Wolves lost to league champion Plainfield North, Plainfield South and rival Oswego, which topped them, 2-1, in the final conference game of the season on May 8.
Anderson said the Wolves' favorite game of the season was against a conference opponent, Plainfield Central. Oswego East topped the Wildcats, 2-1, on April 26.
"The team worked and played as one," Anderson said. "They fought until the end and came away with the victory. Last year, we lost to Plainfield Central in pk's, so it was nice to end it before it got to that point again this season."
Oswego East lost just one senior in Carli Schlaker, a midfielder who will continue playing at Roosevelt University in Chicago.
"Carli was a huge part of this team and she will be greatly missed as a player and a person on the team," Anderson said. "She has a lot of talent and I'm looking forward to following her in her new soccer career at Roosevelt."
Everyone else is back, including the Wolves' Most Valuable Player on offense, midfielder Anida Phetchanpheng. The junior also led the team in scoring (14 goals, four assists) and made the all-conference team.
Junior defender Victoria Pecca earned the team MVP for defense and also made the All-Conference team. Junior forward Brittany Brewer led the Wolves with eight assists, freshman forward Alexia Tobias was voted most improved, the top newcomer was freshman midfielder Miranda Lambert and the Wolf Award (award that goes to the player with the most heart, work ethic and sportsmanship) was given to junior defender Brenna Risch.
After completing her first year ever in goal, junior Alysen Newton is also returning.
"It's definitely exciting (to have so many players returning)," said Anderson, who will enter her ninth season as head coach next year - which is perhaps the longest tenured varsity coach at Oswego East. "We have a lot of key players returning next year and we will continue to work hard and get better each and every day."
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
