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Kaneland gets lift via non-conference conquests
Lady Knights out-duke Marengo, earn 2nd in BC
by Mike Slodki
With every win, 2007 gets farther in the rearview mirror.
With more momentum, the Lady Knights soccer team could be driving toward a good end of the season.
Coach Scott Parillo's roster saw a 5-0 loss at Batavia on Tuesday, a 3-1 victory at Marengo on Monday, lost to Burlington Central 4-0 in the finals of the Rockets' tournament on Saturday, defeated Woodstock 2-0 and shut out Hinckley-Big Rock 1-0 on Friday, while getting shut out in Western Sun Conference action. The Lady Knights found themselves at 8-11-1 with just one week left in the regular season. Kaneland has more than doubled its win total from last season, positioning itself for its best finish since 2005.
“We started slow and were lucky to pop a couple goals,” Parillo said on Monday. “That got our confidence up and we played better.”
Against Marengo, the Lady Knights were buoyed by freshman goalie Sophie Blank, who came up with key saves, often at close range.
Blank is picking up knowledge at this stage along with close-range shots.
“I just try to not be as hesitant out there and be aggressive,” Blank said.
Bridget Crosby opened the scoring floodgates with 4:52 left in the first half, shooting a rainbow from just inside the box. Emily Heimerdinger beat the Indian defender and snuck the ball past the goalkeeper with 2:16 to go.
“It was a good pass, and I saw where the goalie was, and just kicked it to the opposite side,” Heimerdinger said.
Blank rebounded a stop back to herself for a save in the initial moments of the second half and stuck a penalty kick 10 minutes into the second half. Heimerdinger scored the clincher with 11 minutes to go. Marengo avoided a shutout when it scored with 5:02 to go.
To end the BC tourney, the Lady Knights put up a valiant front with 12 players in uniform due to prom. The previous evening in rain-swept conditions, Kaneland went 2-0 thanks to Heimerdinger and Crosby goals against the Blue Streaks, and a Shelby Koester score against the Lady Royals.
Lower class action had Kaneland tie Marengo 1-1, with Joscelyn Suggett putting one in the net. Tuesday had the JV crew lost 6-0 to Batavia.
KHS were scheduled for a non-conference affair at Indian Creek before facing Batavia over at Neuqua Valley on Wednesday, May 14.
05/09/2008
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