Tough Weekend for Rooks Lead to Men's Draw and Women's Loss
Last weekend’s games were a difficult challenge for the Rooks.
Men’s First Team vs. Chicago Ghost FC (MWPL): 0-0 DRAW
Women’s First Team vs. Rockford Raptors FC (UWS): 2-1 LOSS
D. Garcia (Rockford Raptors) 10’
K. Boos (Edgewater Castle) 34’
A. Roush (Rockford Raptors) 46’
Men’s First Team vs. Chicago Ghost FC
The Men’s First Team traveled to Greg Petry SportsPark in Waukegan to face MWPL newcomers Chicago Ghost in a tense 0-0 draw Saturday afternoon.
Edgewater striker Murtadha Kamil (left) laments during a tough match with Chicago Ghost FC. Credit: Miles Whitworth (whirltwirlmedia.com)
Defensive efforts by both the Rooks and Chicago Ghost players kept the game scoreless as both sides rarely had opportunities to score throughout the game. After a quiet first half, the second half created some action, with the latter half of the second half producing close goals for each side.
Edgewater Castle right winger Bardia Kimiavi clashes with Chicago Ghost defenders . Credit: Miles Whitworth (whirltwirlmedia.com)
At 70’, Edgewater left back Lucas Sampson managed to overlap Edgewater right winger Bardia Kimiavi before slotting it past Ghost goalkeeper Matt Vollmer. Despite this effort, the goal was called offside with Sampson just barely being past Ghost’s defenders.
Edgewater goalkeeper Anton Vozyan smiles for the camera. Credit: Miles Whitworth (whirltwirlmedia.com)
Ghost were close to getting a goal late in the game too, but were foiled by the Rooks’ new goalkeeper. Making his MWPL debut and first ever start, Edgewater goalkeeper Anton Vozyan made a huge save at 89’, blocking an indirect free kick in the box from Ghost. Preventing the score from the set piece, the Rooks managed to maintain the 0-0 draw to secure a crucial point from their away day in the Chicago suburbs.
Now at third place in the MWPL Heartland Division 2 table, the Rooks are only a point behind second place AFC Roscoe. With the two top spots in the conference receiving promotion, the race is in full swing between MWPL Heartland Division 2’s big three: the undefeated Green Bay Glory, AFC Roscoe, and your Edgewater Castle Rooks.
Be sure to catch the next Men’s First Team game this Saturday night at the Fire Pitch for their home game against Rockford FC to see the Rooks’ fight for promotion continue. To purchase tickets, be sure to click the button below:
The Women's First Team's starting 11 line up prior to kick off. Credit: Ruben Urquiza (https://www.instagram.com/ru_shoots/)
Women’s First Team vs. Rockford Raptors FC
The Women’s First Team clashed with Rockford Raptors FC at the Fire Pitch Saturday evening, where Rockford’s persistent attacking and defending prevented the Rooks from coming back, forcing a 2-1 loss for Edgewater’s first UWS game of the season.
Rockford started the game strong, bringing the pressure to the pitch to force an early goal. After a couple of close calls by the Rooks’ strikers, Rockford managed to capture the ball and forced it into Edgewater’s third. After earning a free kick, Rockford player Daisy Garcia launched the ball outside of the box over the Rook’s net to the middle of the net at 10’ above Edgewater goalkeeper Nicole D’Agostino. After making an attempt to stop the ball, however, D’Agostino struggled to keep the ball out, making it land into the net for the 1-0 start.
Women's First Team head coach Duygu Erdoğan and staff talk strategy with the players. Credit: Ruben Urquiza (https://www.instagram.com/ru_shoots/)
The pressure was now on for the Rooks to make a comeback. Despite their best efforts, the Rooks seemed to be deflated following the goal, with multiple members of the Women’s First Team staff wanting the Rooks to create pressure in Rockford’s half instead of keeping the ball flat in the midfield.
“We gotta up the tempo,” Women’s First Team assistant Coach Sami Ismat told the players.
Kristin Boos (left) and Saige Bingman (right) celebrate their goal. Credit: Ruben Urquiza (https://www.instagram.com/ru_shoots/)
Following more near misses by the Rooks’ forwards as well as excellent defensive plays by Edgewater defender Alexis Gonzalez, Edgewater managed to bounce back with a goal at 33’ to pick up the pace leading into the second half. Running past Rockford’s defenders after a throw-in, Rooks center midfielder Saige Bingman launched the ball into the right side pole of the Raptor’s goal. Being there to capitalize, Rooks forward Kristin Boos recovered the deflection and shot it past Rockford goalkeeper Valerie Sardelli to tie the game 1-1.
Rooks and Raptors fans watch as the game marches on. Credit: Connor Macintosh (https://www.instagram.com/connor.aden/)
After keeping the Rooks from scoring for the rest of the half, Rockford came in with a vengeance at the after half time. At 46’, right as the Rooks were starting to get warmed up back to the game, Rockford player Brooke Parnello drew a foul and launched a free kick into the box. Undefended, Rockford player Anika Roush headed the ball, launching it past D’Agostino’s reach to secure the 2-1 lead.
The Rooks clash with the Raptors in their box. Credit: Connor Macintosh (https://www.instagram.com/connor.aden/)
Following the score, the rest of the game was in Rockford’s hands. With Edgewater failing to pressure Rockford’s defense within the box, the Rooks were unable to create consistent chances. At 64’ D’Agostino made a great save in a one-on-one situation to keep the Rooks in the game, but was injured after colliding headfirst into a Raptors player; Rooks backup keeper Hollee Herick came in to sub for D’Agostino for the rest of the match, preventing the Raptors from scoring again in the process with a save at 80’ to keep the Rooks in the running for a tie within the closing minutes. Despite these efforts, however, the Rooks were unable to overpower Rockford’s defensive strategy, falling 2-1 to last year’s ISSA State Champions.
The Women’s First Team’s season continues this Saturday afternoon as they travel to Schaumburg to face Chicago Rush at Olympic Park at 3:00 PM. Admission is free, so be sure to follow your Rooks and support them in this crucial UWS game!
The Men’s U-23 team is also making their Greater Chicago Soccer League debut this Friday night at Foster Turf Field at 8:45 PM against CKS Warta’s U-21 team. Admission for that game is also free, so come and watch the future of Edgewater men’s soccer take shape on the pitch!
Written by: Gareth Mullins