Girls Soccer: Grace Nasenbenny notches game-winner for Lyons

Updated: May 5, 2012 10:25PM

Grace Nasenbenny scored the first game-winning goal of her short career Saturday.

“It feels fantastic,” Nasenbenny said. “It feels great. I can’t get rid of the smile on my face.”

Nasenbenny’s goal gave Lyons a 2-1 nonconference victory over visiting Rolling Meadows Saturday.

Lyons (12-2-4) raised its unbeaten streak to seven games entering its biggest game of the season when Lyons plays at Oak Park-River Forest Tuesday to try to go undefeated in the West Suburban Silver.

Nasenbenny’s goal came with 5:58 remaining in the game when a Meadows defender stood too far away from the sophomore from La Grange. Nasenbenny stopped and fired a right-footed shot from nearly 25 yards out to catch the upper-right corner of the goal.

The midfielder nearly gave Lyons the lead 10 minutes earlier when she took a pass from Sarah Mazur and drilled a shot off the crossbar. It appeared the ball ricocheted and caught part of the goal line, but referees let play continue.

“It was amazing to score,” said Nasenbenny, who scored her second goal of the season. “I figured [goalie Ashley Ingolia] would be on that side. I know they have a good goalie.”

Rolling Meadows (9-10-2) scored first in the first half on Ann Marie Lynch’s goal. Lyons tied the game three minutes into the second half on Kristen Janicki’s goal.

Meadows coach Mike Drenth noticed his team’s lack of depth caught up to the Mustangs.

“You can only avoid it for so long. You’ve got to go with what you’ve got, but I think we ran out of gas,” Drenth said. “They took it to us in the second half. We fell apart.”

Lyons’ last loss was April 19 to No. 3 Naperville North, 1-0, at the Naperville North Invitational. Lyons’ only other loss this season was to Plainfield North 2-0 April 12. After playing OPRF, Lyons has two regular season games remaining at Glenbard East May 10 and at Prospect May 12.

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