Strong start to second half sends Libertyville past Evanston

Libertyville 2, Evanston 0

THE SKINNY

The Libertyville girls soccer team won its opening-round game in the PepsiCo Showdown on Saturday afternoon, knocking off No. 12-seed Evanston at Olympic Park in Schaumburg. Libertyville was not seeded.

TURNING POINT

Libertyville (2-2-1) struggled to create offensive opportunities in the first half due to playing into a strong wind that was around 25 miles per hour for much of the match. The Wildcats had an offensive surge in the first 10 minutes of the second half, however. They scored both of their goals during that time.

THE STAR

Libertyville junior forward Mia Hollingsworth played a crucial role in both goals. She assisted on the first, drawing Evanston’s defense near the endline before rolling a pass into the middle of the penalty box. Libertyville senior midfielder Ali Urbanski ran onto the ball and beat Evanston junior goalkeeper Olivia Post with a one-touch shot. Hollingsworth scored her fifth goal of the season soon thereafter when she fought off a defender in the box and slid a low, right-footed shot past Post.

BY THE NUMBERS

Evanston (6-3) was 3-0 against teams from Lake County – it has beaten Lakes, Mundelein and Stevenson – before losing to Libertyville.

QUOTABLE

“The whole first half, we were just trying to play against the wind, which is really difficult to do. But we all knew going into the second half that we were going to have an advantage just because of the wind. Being a fast player … you just have to have that determination to get to the ball. I think I really tried to pursue it because I knew I would have that advantage over [Evanston’s defenders].” — Hollingsworth on why Libertyville’s offense was more successful in the second half