Stratford vs. Cy Creek High School - 02.20.24

On Tuesday, February 20, 2024, the Varsity Girls Soccer Team faced off with the Cy Creek Cougars. The Spartans were missing several key players – but with the talent and bench strength on this team, it wouldn’t be a problem this evening. It wouldn’t take long to get going when in the 4th minute, Junior Mary Charlotte Paul took a quick touch from the far-left corner and then fired a laser shot from distance just inside the left post… never giving the goalie a chance and taking the early 1-0 lead. In the 17th minute, it was Paul again dribbling from midfield down to the left post, but this time she sent one across the front of the goal to Sophomore Avery Rushing, who found the back of the net for the second goal of the night for SHS. At the 24 minute mark, Rushing would return the favor when her shot from the far-right side went through the goalie’s gloves and Paul got a foot on it in mid-air for her second goal of the night, increasing the lead to 3-0. The green and white would add one more goal before the first half ended when Freshman Sophia Beviacqua sent a pass out in front of Rushing up the left sideline where Rushing outran the last defender and sent a rocket through the goalie’s hand for her second goal of the night – taking the game to intermission at 4-0.

The second half went a lot like the first 40 minutes when the Spartans came out of the break firing again. At the 48 minute mark, Sophomore Sydney Valentine sprinted up the right sideline with the ball and sized up a shot, but at the last moment unselfishly passed off a cleaner look to Junior Ryann Weber, who finished with ease, taking the total to 5-0. Then in the 53rd minute it was déjà vu all over again when Valentine would send another pass out in front of Weber that would connect and give Weber her second goal of the evening and increase the lead to 6-0. Valentine would be rewarded for the teamwork a minute later when Sophomore Sara Benton would lead her up the middle of the field,  and Valentine would beat the charging goalie to the ball for the seventh SHS goal of the night. In the 64th minute, it was Valentine again beating three defenders and the goalie for her second goal of the match, taking the score to 8-0. At the 73 minute mark, coming off of a Cougar goal kick, Weber was fouled near midfield, and the Spartans were awarded a free kick. The kick would be taken by Paul, who volleyed one down toward the left post where Senior Lizzie Emerson was waiting for her chance to get on the board, which she did, increasing the lead to 9-0. At this point, the Lady Spartans would play down one, 10 vs. 11 until the 75th minute, at which point they removed another player for the remainder of the game, 9 vs. 11. Even down two players, in the closing minutes the Spartans would be awarded another free kick which was played to Weber, who dribbled past two defenders and fired past the goalie for a hat trick and the final goal of the night for SHS – finishing the match 10-0.

Stratford vs. Northbrook High School - 02.23.24

On Friday, February 23, 2024, your Varsity Girls Soccer Team returned home to face the Northbrook Raiders on a cool, crisp night to defend their undefeated District record. It wouldn’t take long for the crowd to have something to cheer for – less than 60 seconds into play, Sophomore Sydney Valentine made a run up the right sideline and was fouled as she neared the end line, earning the whistle from the referee and the penalty shot. Valentine would line up her shot and fire a quick kick to the right side of the frame to easily beat the NHS goalie. At the 6 minute mark, it was again Valentine, but this time she would earn an assist with a pass to the middle of the field, where she found Junior Mary Charlotte Paul, and Paul smashed a 25-yard shot to the upper right 90 where the leaping goalie didn’t have a chance – taking the score to 2-0 in the opening minutes. A little more than midway through the first half in the 26th minute, it was Paul with an assist this time – finding Junior Ryann Weber on the right side. Weber would continue right but pull the ball back left, getting the defender to overrun the play, and then fire an indefensible shot to the top left corner, increasing the lead to 3-0. With two minutes to go in the first half, Freshman Sophia Beviacqua found an opening and sent a great pass across the middle to Paul, who was unmarked. Paul would take one quick touch and fire her second 25-yard shot of the night past the Raider goalie, taking the home team to halftime with a 4-0 lead.

The Lady Spartans would continue to pressure the Northbrook defense in the second half, earning the first scoring opportunity 10 minutes into the restart. Junior Whitney Bui sent a ball to midfield where Sophomore Avery Rushing would pick up the ball in stride and dribble through two defenders before taking a shot from 15 yards out to the left side – finding the back of the net and her first goal of the night, 5-0. Less than a minute later, Sophomore Sara Benton threaded a ball through traffic that made its way to the goalie, who tried to clear the ball, but instead -- sent it directly to Senior Lizzie Emerson, who returned it right past the keeper for Stratford’s sixth goal. Shortly after this goal, SHS would remove a player from the game and play down one, 10 vs. 11 for the remainder of the match. Even down a player, that wouldn’t stop the offense of the green & white. In the 62nd minute, Weber worked the ball up the left sideline and slid a pass across the middle to Paul, who was all alone. Paul fired her longest shot of the night – this one from 31 yards out – to the top left corner, earning over 80 yards of shots on the night, her 3rd goal for a hat trick, and the 7th goal for SHS. The scoring wasn’t quite over yet though. With 6 minutes to play in the match, Freshman Audrey Brendel would drive the ball up the right sideline and volley a pass to the front of the goal where Weber steadied the ball and fired left side for the eighth and final goal of the evening.

This win takes the Lady Spartans to 15-1-3 overall and 10-0 in District play. Next up for Stratford is a match at Spring Woods High School on Wednesday, February 28th and then they will be back at home on Saturday, March 2nd to face Cy Ridge High School. At the Saturday home game, we will be celebrating all of the Senior players – so make sure to come out to support these athletes and help recognize all of their hard work.