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Prep girls soccer: Blue Devils, Zee-Bees fit to be tied
NSC LAKE STANDINGS
Team W-L-T
Lake Forest 3-0-0
Stevenson 2-1-0
Lake Zurich 1-1-1
Llibertyville 1-1-0
Warren 0-1-1
Zion-Benton 0-1-1
Mundelein 0-2-1
Updated: April 27, 2011 11:01AM
Warren attacked, Zion-Benton High defended, and neither team was able to break through on Monday, as the host Blue Devils and Zee-Bees battled to a 0-0 tie in a North Suburban Conference Prairie Division girls soccer match.
The result left both teams 0-1-1 in the division, but still viable contenders as neither has faced first-place Lake Forest (3-0-0).
In Monday’s match, Warren had the better of the play and several good scoring chances.
But Zion’s defense, led by goalie Leijhana Earnest and defenders Greta Pierce, Anna Pierce, Brittany Machak and Maria Montoya kept the Bal lout of harm’s way.
“You always want to win, but to come in here, play a very skilled team and walk out with a tie ... I’ll take that result,” said Zee-Bee coach Cliff Pontillo. “We’re still kind of rough offensively, but defensively we were really strong today.
“Our keeper and my four defenders were really solid.”
On the other side of the pitch, Warren coach Jeff Knouse was disappointed not to be able to score.
“High-school soccer is about taking advantage of your opportunities,” he said. “We had four or five good opportunities that we didn’t take advantage of. We got desperate a the end, and turned it up a bit to try and get a goal, but I’d like to see us try to do that for 80 minutes instead of the last 15.”
Knouse praised the defensive work of Zion in earning the tie.
“This is one of the better Zion-Benton teams we’ve seen in a long time,” the coach said. “They have 3-4 really solid players who really move the ball well and move to the ball. They beat us to the ball when then needed to ... That’s the bottom line.”
Warren’s best chances to score came in late flurry, but none of the shots were on frame.
In the first half, Jackie Luka was stoned by Earnest from point-blank range.
Warren also had a good chance off a free kick in the 62nd minute, but Katelyn McDermott’s header off a free kick went over the crossbar.
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