Capuch delivers for Sandburg

Updated: April 26, 2011 8:16PM

Tara Capouch showed Tuesday what she’s been capable of all along.

The Sandburg junior scored four of her five goals in the decisive second quarter as Sandburg downed Lincoln-Way East 14-9 in a SouthWest Suburban Blue girls water polo contest in Orland Park.

“She was using her talent today,’’ Sandburg coach Jane Caliendo said of Capouch. “She is the fastest swimmer we have and she used her speed and anticipated very well.’’

The Eagles (19-5, 6-2) never trailed, though the score was close early. Sandburg scored five unanswered second-quarter goals to stretch a 5-3 first-quarter lead to 10-3 with 1:55 left in the first half. Capouch got four of those goals by putting herself in position for some nice feeds from Jamie Pappanastos.

Capouch has raised the bar for herself. Her coach isn’t going to let her go backward.

“I’m harder on her than anyone else because she has no idea what she can be capable of,’’ Caliendo said. “She is developing confidence now to reach her potential. I’m really excited for her for the rest of the year and next year.’’

“Coach is right about me and she is hard on me,’’ Capouch said. “I used to get down on myself, but when I’m at my best is when I’m doing what she is telling me to do.’’

Cara Hays scored two first-quarter goals in helping Sandburg to a 5-3 lead. The Eagles were crisp moving the ball on offense, with most of the action going through Pappanastos in the center position. The junior racked up five assists while holding the ball just long enough to draw an extra defender to her, then dishing to an open teammate.

“My main goal is to anticipate the next move,’’ Pappanastos said. “We have been working on our passing a lot lately.’’

Brittany Kamper scored two goals from the right side on offense while Lauren Olson chipped in two goals for the Eagles.

The Griffins (15-6, 7-3), who fell to the Eagles for the second time this year, played Sandburg evenly in the second half. Zoe McCabe led East with four goals.

“We came together as a team in the second half,” East coach Jen Klein said. “Zoe was on fire. She is my captain and the most respectable and hardest-working kid that I’ve ever had here.’’

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