Girls soccer: CP blanks Valpo, gets a leg up in DAC title race
By John O’Malley Post-Tribune correspondent September 11, 2012 11:24PM
Valparaiso's Kaylee Pullins and Crown Point's Meghan Sulka go after the ball in the first half Tuesday evening at Crown Point High School. | Jeffrey D. Nicholls~Sun-Times Media
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Updated: October 14, 2012 1:54PM
CROWN POINT — Sarah Rivich knew exactly what she wanted to do when she lined up for a free kick in the final minutes of Crown Point’s Duneland Athletic Conference showdown with Valparaiso.
The Bulldogs senior midfielder had only one thing going through her mind as she prepared to boot the ball from 40 yards away.
“I had a few (shots) earlier and all of them sucked before that,’’ smiled Rivich. “That was my redeeming shot, so I was thinking: ‘I’ve got to put this in the net.’ Coach (Chris Mikrut) was saying: ‘Shot. Shot.’ He’s my coach, so I always try and do what he tells me.’’
Rivich sent the ball sailing through the air and into the corner of the net — barely over Valparaiso goalie Kristina Veljovic’s hand — clinching the Bulldogs’ 2-0 win over the Vikings (7-3-1, 4-1) Tuesday night.
“I thought it was in, yes,’’ Rivich said. “Rachel (Marczewski) said she knew it was going in, too, so she didn’t have to run in.’’
Marczewski came up big for the Bulldogs (8-2, 5-0) herself, helping to put her team in the driver’s seat for the DAC title with two league games remaining each.
The senior midfielder, who hadn’t played for 10 days because of an injured back, was all over the field Tuesday night. She assisted on CP’s first goal — a header by Courtney Farrell off a corner kick at 37:07.
Mikrut was hoping Marczewski would be able to play about half the game, but she was on the field all night, giving her team a boost.
“She was an absolute monster out there,’’ Mikrut said. “I’m so proud of that kid. She came out here and really was just a beast today.’’
The loss was a difficult one for the Vikings, who had a couple of good scoring opportunities but couldn’t cash in on them.
Lauren Reineke broke in on CP keeper Meghan Morasan, but missed just wide about 12 minutes into the second half. Valpo also had a header go wide at the 62-minute mark.
“It’s frustrating when you have the ability and opportunities and they just don’t go your way,’’ Valparaiso coach Rob Cespesdes said.
Mikrut was just glad his team mustered enough offense to win.
“It’s a game of opportunities and we took advantage of the ones we had tonight,’’ he said. “Our goal was to go undefeated in conference and we’re right there. We still have a chance to do that.’’
