Girls soccer: Vernon Hills' quick start does in Grayslake Central
Vernon Hills' girls soccer team had a perfect start after its nearly two week break with an impressive 4-2 victory Tuesday night over host Grayslake Central at William Eiserman Stadium.
Grace Guillaume's first-half double, her second coming in the 40th minute, gave the Cougars (3-0-2) a 3-1 advantage at the intermission to help the visitors to the nonconference victory.
"With our spring break and all we've been away from soccer and it showed at times tonight, but we still were able to play some good soccer on both sides of the ball to get a nice win," said Guillaume.
Guillaume and her teammate Ashley Sawa formed a dynamic partnership in the middle of the park and along with Julia Kempf, Frances Poulos, and sophomore, Ava Lukyan would be the driving force in an attack that created several chances all throughout the entertaining wide-open affair.
"We did create plenty of chances on the night and we probably should have finished a few of them, but when you score 4 goals - it's not a bad night offensively," said Cougars coach Mike McCaulou, whose club is away on Thursday at Glenbrook South.
Guillaume bagged the opener in the 15th minute, with helpers coming from both Sawa and Lukyan before Poulos gave the visitors a two-goal advantage just after the half-hour.
The Rams (1-3-0) would pull one back 60 seconds later when Kaitlyn Morrissey steered in her close range effort off a Katie Armstrong corner.
Rams keepe, Paige Gallaher, who turned in a quality night between the sticks, stopped the initial spot-kick from Guillaume but in the process the ball spilled freely back to the Cougars' senior whose one-timer made it a 3-1 match at the break.
Armstrong's inward swinging corner found the far inside netting in the 50th minute to draw the home side closer, but an opportunistic Katie Huse,- who followed the play and ball to the back post was able to restore the Cougars' two-goal cushion in the 54th minute.
"Even in defeat, I felt like we did a lot of positive things out there tonight including putting together Courtney (Fletcher) and Madison Hoffman together up top to give us strength, size, and speed which I know will put a lot of pressure on our opponents from here on out," said Rams coach Keith Andersson.
"We were off for two weeks also and at times it showed, but it's early and it will take a little time to sort a few things out. But I know we're going to be a very good team when we get everything together."
Next up for the Rams is a nonconference match Thursday afternoon at Lake Forest Academy.