Redhawks, Tigers settle for draw

Updated: March 23, 2011 3:52PM

Naperville Central's 1-1 tie Saturday against Plainfield North epitomized the way the Redhawks' early season has unfolded.

The Redhawks (2-0-1) remain undefeated despite scoring four goals in their first three matches.

According to Central coach Ed Watson, the Redhawks have played well in two.

"We've had one good, one bad, one good," he said. "We play again on Monday and it will depend on (whether) we're going to be that A-B type team where every other day you don't know what you're going to get or is that Friday game an aberration. The girls get an opportunity to find out."

Naperville Central plays two solid teams in Oswego (Monday) and Waubonsie Valley (Wednesday) in the coming week.

"After next Wednesday night, I'll have a really good sense of what to expect for the rest of the way," Watson added.

From the outset, the game offered a microcosm of the Redhawks' inconsistent start this spring. Sophomore midfielder Veronica Ellis (team-high two goals) gave Central the early lead four minutes into the action on a goal that was ruled to have hit the net before it bounced off the left post. Just 95 seconds later, Tigers forward Ashley Handwork raced ahead of a field of Redhawks defenders to run down a loose ball and beat Central keeper Jill D'Amico (two saves) in a one-on-one situation.

Neither team scored again, despite Central outshooting the Tigers 19-6. That statistical advantage included an 8-3 upper hand in shots on goal.

Tigers coach Jane Crowe was happy to see her 0-0-1 team respond after falling behind early.

"It's not a positive that we gave them as many opportunities as they had but I think the fact that we didn't give up anything and we got in the way, we did a good job fighting back and not giving them any great chances as we got in front of the ball," she said.

Redhawks junior midfielder Maddie Thompson provided solid play off the bench and narrowly missed scoring goals three times in the first half. That performance came in her third career varsity game.

"It could easily have been 4-1 at halftime," Watson said.

Plainfield North goalkeeper Paige Polonus made seven saves and robbed Thompson of one of her three would-be goals in the first half on a diving play.

On Ellis' goal, outside back Carly Franzese moved the ball ahead to Kristin Adams, whose cross to Ellis set up the goal. Both players earned assists.

"I just thought, ‘I have to get a foot on (the cross) so I hit it with the left-foot volley and hoped it wouldn't go to the keeper," Ellis said. "It went to the post and they said it went in because it hit the side net."

Ellis has moved into an attack role after playing in the backfield for both her club team and last year's Central varsity squad.

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