Girls Soccer: York Ends Hinsdale South’s season

Hinsdale South wasn’t favored to beat York in Saturday’s Class 3A Argo Regional title game, but neither did the Hornets think they would be blown out.

But that’s exactly what happened as the Dukes (19-4-1) blanked Hinsdale South 5-0 to win their ninth consecutive game and improve to 16-1-1 in their last 18 matches. It was a far cry from the first meeting between the two sides, which York won 2-1 on April 27.

“I think that for the past several weeks we’ve been playing good soccer,” York coach Krzysztof Halupka said. “I think the girls have a positive attitude. That’s one of the most important things for our team. We’re working hard for each other.”

The Dukes did that from the beginning, showing why they are playing great soccer. Striker Christina Ordonez scored the game’s first three goals to record her second hat trick of the season.

Ordonez’s first score came just 2:13 into the contest, when she dribbled into the box and beat Hornets goalie Vanessa Niestrom with a 12-yard shot.

The game was fairly even for the next 20 minutes before a crucial error led to Ordonez’s second goal. Niestrom attempted a clearing pass that went straight to Ordonez at the top of the Hornet’s box. Two seconds later the ball was in the back of the net.

“I think ‘Nessie’ feels bad,” Hinsdale South coach Pat Wolf said of Niestrom, who was otherwise solid in making eight saves. “I said to her there were 10 other girls out there on the field who could have said you had time to take a touch and she didn’t take a touch. She could have taken a touch and then had an opportunity to clear it, but it’s a learning process and she’s getting better every game and every year, so for a sophomore she does a good year.”

The mistake was costly for the Hornets (12-9), who weren’t able to put much pressure on York’s defense.

“It’s hard when three minutes into the game you give one away,” Wolf said. “I’m not taking their goals away but I said at halftime their first two goals weren’t anything special. It’s just that they take advantage of their opportunities.”

Even so, Wolf felt his team still had life going into the second half. But Ordonez struck again with 25:58 remaining, timing her leap perfectly to head a bouncing free kick from Angela Guerino over Niestrom for a 3-0 York lead.

“I’m proud of the players that they played hard,” Wolf said. “When you’re going back out there and you’re only down 2-0 at half, there’s a chance and then that next goal is important. They got the next one.”

Five minutes later, York scored two more goals within a 58-second span to put the game out of reach.

“They’re a good team,” Wolf said. “We knew that from when we played them before. They transition well, they’ve got quickness, some great touch. The ball would come down and they’d have it and they would get going.”

The Hornets were held to seven shots, including a pair of dangerous attempts by senior Meagan McPherson in the second half that were stopped by York goalie Anna Bell Lansdowne.

McPherson had scored twice during Hinsdale South’s 5-0 regional semifinal victory over Argo. Senior Jackie Belmonte had a goal and four assists in that match, while senior Brittney Noble and freshman Maggie Nicosia also scored for the Hornets, who improved from the 2010 season, when they went 8-13 and did not win a playoff game.

“It is always good when you have a winning record,” McPherson said. “So I think that’s one good thing that came out of the season, that and I feel that everyone had fun working our butts off trying to come out with a winning record.”

Hinsdale South says goodbye to eight seniors: McPherson, Belmonte, Noble, Staci Ruzicka, Nicole Maslow, Jamie Walker, Melissa Van Hoegarden and Melissa Camarena. McPherson will play college ball at Bethel College, while Belmonte will continue her career at St. Francis and Noble at Linwood.

“We’re going to miss some fabulous seniors who have been here for quite some time just giving everything they have to the program,” Wolf said.