Merriam Helps Kits Punch Return Ticket To Title Game

The early goal-scoring spurt this season by Evanston’s Alexandra Merriam could have been discounted slightly because the calibre of competition didn’t feature the best teams the Wildkits will match up with later in the 2024 campaign.

But Merriam proved her ability to rise to the occasion against some of the state’s elite clubs this week at the 6th annual Malnati’s Deep Dish Classic tournament hosted by New Trier.

The ETHS freshman scored what turned out to be the game-winning goal in the 27th minute Thursday as the Wildkits held on for a 2-1 semifinal victory over Lyons Township in a battle of unbeaten squads.

Evanston punched a ticket to the tourney championship game for the second year in a row with the impressive victory. Coach Stacy Salgado’s team, now 8-0-1, will face Naperville North for the second time this week after the two teams played to a 1-1 draw on Monday. North knocked off New Trier 2-1 in the other semifinal Thursday.

The title game is set for 3 p.m. Saturday at New Trier.

Averaging a remarkable one goal per game to start her varsity career so far, the younger sister of former ETHS standout Adriana Merriam has been an impact player after cracking the starting lineup for one of the state’s strongest programs. She scored one of Evanston’s goals in a 5-1 trimming of Wheaton St. Francis Wednesday that clinched the group championship for the Kits and came up big again on Thursday.

The smallest player on the roster --- she’s 5 feet tall in her cleats --- Merriam’s fearless play caught the eye of the ETHS head coach right away and there was no doubt that she belonged at the varsity level.

“Alex is playing with a lot of confidence right now. She’s stepped up right from her first game, and I LOVE that level of confidence in a player,” Salgado said. “Obviously, she’s very skilled on the field, and she doesn’t play scared. That’s what you hope for when you have someone playing against older girls like that.

“She really rises to the occasion. She played with us (varsity players) in the summer league and the ability she has to make plays with both feet is something special.”

Merriam is one of those rare players who can take corner kicks with either foot, which means as long as she’s on the field she’s available to help with restarts no matter which corner the play originates from.

Her ability to find the back of the net on a regular basis, however, is what has propelled her to the team scoring lead so far.

“I think it’s a result of the training we’ve done together and the team really helps me make those runs, and allows me to finish,” Merriam said. “I’m a little surprised I got into the starting lineup right away. The team helped me come in and adjust to a new style of play. The girls here are a lot bigger than I am.

“Sometimes I am a little less confident and I have to build myself back up when that happens. I’ve been able to use my speed (against bigger defenders). Even if I’m not the biggest person out there, I can move the fastest and that gives me an advantage.”

After senior Syd Ross got the Wildkits on the scoreboard first in the 8th minute, banging in a shot from the left side against Lyons goalkeeper Anna Bigenwald, it was Merriam’s turn next.

“My teammates did a nice job of building up that play, instead of rushing and forcing the ball anywhere,” said the freshman forward. “The ball just came to me and I put it in.”

Lyons broke through to score just the fourth goal the Wildkits have yielded all year when Caroline Mortonson stole the ball just inside the sideline, burst past one defender and caught ETHS keeper Shea Lucas way off the line. That tally, in the 35th minute, gave the Lions (8-1-1) some hope even though the winners had dominated play in a decisive fashion up until that point.

But Evanston wouldn’t crack in the second half, even when fatigue caught up with both squads. Defenders Damilola Adeniyi, a sophomore, and Maizlyn Kelly, a freshman, kept the Lions at bay and Lucas finished with 5 saves.

Lyons did mount a challenge late when Mia Darer blocked a shot by LT star Josie Pochocki, and Lucas easily handled the rebound effort by Leahla Frazier. Lucas’ final save came with just 10 seconds on the clock as she clutched a 40-yard drive from Caroline McKenna.

“We had a lot of big moments from different players tonight,” Salgado said. “In the first half we were connected on defense and connected on offense, but then our legs got tired in the second half. I actually thought we reacted a little slower than we normally do at times out there.

“Lyons is obviously a very strong team and this is a good win. Being in any championship game is really exciting and we’re looking forward to playing Naperville North again. They’re a strong, well-coached team but I felt like we controlled most of the game in the second half when we played them.”