Girls Soccer: Metea Valley downs Stevenson, Loyola awaits

Updated: April 16, 2012 11:32AM

Metea Valley is at their most dangerous when it is aggressive and attacking.

It also showcases the skills of senior midfielder Kristina Tomaras. She scored two goals to raise her season-mark to 16 as the No. 4 Mustangs seized control late in the first half in posting the 3-0 quarterfinal victory over Stevenson in the Pepsi Showdown Saturday at Olympic Park in Schaumburg.

Metea Valley advances to play No. 7 Loyola in next Saturday’s semifinal round.

The Mustangs (12-1) took control by scoring twice in a two-minute stretch for the 2-0 lead at the break. Defender Alexis McKay perfectly floated a ball that Tomaras controlled on the right side and blistered a shot into the back of the Patriots’ net in the 28th minute of the first half.

“We had to adjust to what they were doing defensively at the start of the game,” she said. “They were dropping forward into the backline to try and slow us down. Offensively we always try to play in front of the ball, and beat our defenders one-on-one and that’s what I was able to do.”

Freshman Elena Sidell, a recent offensive catalyst who was elevated to the varsity against Neuqua Valley earlier this month, followed the first goal moments later by collaborating with Jenna Kentgen on beautiful pass for the 2-0 lead.

Metea Valley coach Pat Feulner said opponents have been trying to slow the Mustangs’ attack by adopting unorthodox lineups and dropping a fifth defender. “It took us a while to figure out what they were doing defensively, but once we starting moving the ball, possessing it and getting to the front third, we were able to get into our attacking style.

“That’s where we are at our best. The one game we lost [to Waubonsie Valley] we didn’t take the game to them. We’ve learned since then we have to take the game to them.”

Tomaras put the game out of reach when she scored in the 66th minute from a through ball by senior midfielder Hannah Thayer. “We knew they were good, because we knew they beat York and we knew how good York was,“ Tomaras said. “We’re excited about being the No. 1 seed, especially with all the great teams here, and show we can continue to do well against this kind of competition.”

Mustangs keeper Megan Geldernick had four saves in posting her ninth shutout of the year.

Stevenson coach Mark Schartner said the game changed when the Patriots (5-3-2) failed to capitalize on early scoring opportunities. “I thought we played as well if not better than them for the first 20 minutes,” he said. “That’s the first time this year the first two shots somebody took against us both went in. That was disappointing, but we also had probably nine shots at the beginning.

“They weren’t necessary great shots, but they were opportunities and we could not punch through,” he said.

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