Girls Soccer: Prospect rallies from two down to tie Hinsdale Central

Updated: March 30, 2012 10:04PM

Two teams eager to get on the right side of the win column did everything right except deliver the knockout blow.

It is still March.

Both Hinsdale Central and Prospect came away from their 2-2 draw Friday night in Hinsdale with positive and encouraging signs to draw on.

Despite watching the Knights rally from a 2-0 second half tie to forge the draw, Smith liked how Hinsdale Central competed.

“We made their keeper work,” Smith said. “I was very pleased at the opportunities we created offensively off of our play. We did a far greater job with that than our previous games.”

The Red Devils (0-2-2) dominated much of the first half. Junior midfielder Casey May scored both goals. She put Hinsdale Central up 1-0 in the 27th minute of the first half by nailing a wedge from about 18 yards out that brilliantly rose and curled over the arm of Prospect keeper Eileen McTigue.

“Coach Smith has really been stressing about possessing the ball,” May said. “In both of my goals, it was directly related to the kind of offense we play, with four players across the middle.

“We did a good job controlling the ball in the middle and passing wide, and both times I got beautiful balls that I was able to score on,” she said.

Events appeared secure in the Red Devils’ favor after May scored from the right wing, crossing another ball that eluded McTigue’s grasp for the 2-0 lead at the five-minute point of the second half.

Smith’s team has only two seniors, and neither played a second on the field Friday. Blessed with talent, Hinsdale Central is still experiencing growing pains. “We get complacent sometimes out there,” May said.

Sure enough, just three minutes after May’s second goal, Prospect senior forward Jesse Petrovski controlled a loose ball from about 20 yards, turned and fired a shot that skipped past sophomore keeper Riley Glenn.

“We decided we were not going to simply lay down and play on our heels,” Petrovski said. “We got some good runs in that second half, and hopefully we can build on that the rest of the way.”

Freshman defender Erin Smith made a spectacular defensive save to clear a ball that was dancing on the Red Devils’ goal line.

Prospect (1-2-1) turned up the offensive pressure and broke through in 28th minute of the second half. Senior midfielder Kelli Iovino smashed in a left-footer from about eight yards off a beautiful through ball by senior midfielder Lauren McNab.

In the final moments, the Red Devils had several opportunities they failed to capitalize on. May watched one of her shots just skip over the crossbar. Sophomore forward Lily Chetosky intercepted a ball and hit the near post from about 25 yards out.

Prospect’s McTigue made a spectacular diving stop in the final minute that thwarted the Red Devils’ final and best scoring chance. “We’re disappointed [about the draw],” May said. “But we’ve only played a couple of games so far this year, and we’re getting better and showing improvement.”

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