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Chemistry the key for Jacobs
Updated: April 13, 2011 3:36PM
Whether it was due to the special instincts of the four sets
of sisters or not, the bottom line in Monday's 5-1 Jacobs victory over Dundee-Crown was the Golden Eagles' chemistry.
Although Jacobs coach A.J. Cappello wasn't too thrilled with his team's sluggishness in the opening half, the hosts jumped out to a 3-0 lead and put the disappointment of Saturday's 3-0 Pepsi Showdown loss to Glenbrook South behind them for their sixth win within the last seven contests.
The win boosts the Eagles to 10-3-0 overall and upped their Fox Valley Conference ledger to 2-1-0 while the visiting Chargers dipped to 3-7-0 with a first league loss (2-1-0).
"I think our chemistry has been a real key. We all have good relationships throughout the team and are committed to working hard,'" said Lauren Grady, who got things started by finishing a cross from sister Shannon just 5:02 into the contest. That marked the sixth time this season the duo have teamed up for a
strike.
"Our team camaraderie definitely makes a difference because we all get along on and off the field," Shannon Grady added.
"Plus we take practices seriously and that translates on to the field. It's important because we really want to play
on our field for sectionals."
It took less than two minutes for the Golden Eagles to swoop in for a 2-0 lead when Mel Duda tapped in a four-yarder after a scramble in front of the net when D-C goalie Ali Sanders stopped another Lauren Grady blast. After the Chargers
had a solid Mallory Fryer shot stopped by Jacobs keeper Meghan Minogue, the margin grew to 3-0 when Cassie Sherman's carom off the crossbar was fired back in by Amy Rigby.
"Not to take anything away from Jacobs, but I thought the first three goals were more a result of our own mistakes," Dundee-Crown coach Sebastian Falinski said.
We talked about three keys, winning 50-50 balls, not committing stupid fouls, and being the aggressors. Unfortunately Jacobs did a better job on all of those."
To the Chargers' credit, they continued battling and the hustle paid off with 5:01 left before halftime when Stephanie Letheby opportunistically followed up a shot that Minogue wasn't able to completely grab. The D-C senior dribbled
away from the goalie and parked the ball in the back of the net for her first goal.
"Coach always stresses following up on shots so I try to do that every time and once I saw she dropped it, I went for it," Letheby explained.
"This was disappointing because when we show up and play our best, we're a much better team. But we've been too inconsistent and that happened again."
Another quick-strike goal came four minutes into the second half as Lauren Grady sprinted to a ball at midfield and got ahead of a defender for a one-on-one she finished for her team-high eighth goal of the season. Margaret Rivera added
the last score with a 21-yard direct free kick that sailed just under the crossbar with 18:19 left to be played.
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