Burlington Central keeps rolling

Updated: May 7, 2011 12:22AM

Burlington Central breezed to a 6-1 victory over Woodstock while Streamwood stumbled 3-1 to host Kaneland in Friday’s start to the Kaneland Klassic Tournament.

The triumph gives the Rockets a 5-0-1 mark over the last six contests and boosts the season record to 10-5-1 overall while Friday’s setback dipped Streamwood’s ledger to 4-12-1. The round-robin event, using abbreviated 30-minutes halves, resumes Saturday morning with Streamwood and Burlington Central meeting at 8 before the Sabres face Woodstock at 10 while the Rockets take on the host Knights.

Cali Andrew got Burlington Central off to a positive start after 7:14 by using Michelle Fowler’s assist. After Woodstock got a tying goal, Andrew helped put the Rockets ahead for good by returning the favor and setting up Fowler just 2:30 prior to halftime.

Maddie Stoneman bumped her team-best goal tally to 14 for the year with an unassisted strike early in the second half. Karrington Bell then took advantage of setups from Andrew and Chloe Plum for her second and third goals of the season. Camille Dela Cruz’s sixth goal of year with 2:13 left to play completed the scoring for the Rockets.

“We got off to kind of a slow start offensively but turned it on in the second half,” coach Mike Gecan said. “Beyond giving up one easy goal, our defense really played well and after that initial breakdown, it was a shutout worthy effort. Best of all we got that from our backup defenders who also logged some good minutes. Cali lit it up offensively and Maddie gave us her usual good all-around game.”

Streamwood yielded a goal just 1:07 into its contest with Kaneland but then the Sabres picked up the pace only to experience a lack of luck shooting either high, wide or right at the Knights’ goalie.

With 1:21 left before intermission the Sabres got the equalizer following a scramble in front of the net that ended with the ball in right before Corrie Thompson, who displayed excellent touch in chipping a five-yarder over the keeper but under the crossbar.

“When I saw her rushing out I knew I had to kick it right over her head but softly enough,” Thompson said in explaining her first goal of the year. “We played pretty well in stretches but were a little unlucky and a little tired from just getting off the bus (after traffic cut into the Sabres’ warm-up time).”

When Streamwood was whistled for a trip and awarded a penalty kick 4:02 into the second half, Kaneland’s Emily Heimerdinger converted the opportunity for a 2-1 lead. Making matters even worse for the Sabres was a miscue three minutes later when the Knights’ Katie Taylor booted a free kick into the box only to have it carom off a Streamwood defender’s head and in for an own goal.

“Scoring early isn’t unusual for us, but then we usually a get a couple in bunches, that didn’t happen because Streamwood dominated the rest of the half,” Kaneland coach Scott Parillo said. “Give them credit, I told my team at half we were lucky to be tied at 1-1.”

Sabres coach Chelsea Lloyd agreed with that much, but not with the penalty kick opportunity that put Streamwood behind a second time.

“I felt we dominated the majority of the contest, so it’s an unfortunate result for us. We also need to remember to keep playing regardless of the calls. Some were disappointing but so was our lack of communication at other times,” Lloyd said. “We’ve also dealt with a lot of injuries this year coupled with having a smaller bench to start with. Having two players (Daniela Escalante ankle / Sharice Ellenwood possible concussion) go down doesn’t help matters, especially with two games to play Saturday.”

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