Devyn Compisi pedaled back fast, trying to cut off the attack mounted by two Lane players rushing toward the Deerfield goal.
Steely and calm, Compisi forced the Lane dribbler wider and deprived the shooter of a stronger look at the Warriors’ goal, as junior goalkeeper Karley Morris alertly corralled the errant shot.
Compisi, a 5-foot-8 Deerfield junior, is physical and athletic. As a converted midfielder, learning the intricacies of anchoring the Warriors’ defense as the center back is a lesson in patience.
That patience came into play Wednesday at Lane, the two-time defending Public League champion.
Compisi’s switch from an attacking player to a defender illustrates that Deerfield is a team in transition. Seven starters are gone from last year’s historic 22-7-1 team that lost to Rochester in the Class 2A state championship game.
The Warriors survived an aggressive first half from the Indians to secure a 0-0 draw in Chicago.
“I think it’s a learning experience,” Compisi said. “I think we are still adjusting to the new team. The first half tonight was a little shaky. We were not really talking to each other. I think we still need to find that sync together, where we are talking and communicating.”
Coach Rich Grady had to reconstruct his entire back line as well as appoint a replacement for standout goalkeeper Sari Eisen.
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“The big thing with the back is they are trying to figure out their speed relative to the players they are playing against,” Grady said. “We don’t have that center back with blazing speed like we did last year with Gabbi (Lazer).
“Devyn has never played the position before. She’s a good presence back there. She wins a lot of balls in the air, which I think is great.”
Senior Molli Goodman is the only starter who played in the back a year ago. The other two starters on the back line, junior Ashley Morgan and senior Julia Harlan, were midfielders.
Goodman, Morgan and Harlan all played together on the Chicago Fire Juniors North club team. They have an intuitive comfort level with each other.
“It’s not that hard, we just need to get more experience playing together,” Harlan said. “We just need more time to jell. The more time we play together, the better it gets.”
Morris registered eight saves against the Indians. She played sparingly last year behind Eisen.
Against Lane, Morris showed her excellent instincts inside the box. Deerfield (1-0-2) posted shutouts in two of its first three games.
“Sari really helped me get adjusted to the team last year,” Morris said. “I think right now, defensively, we are a work in progress. We lost a lot of great players from last year. We lost our whole back four. I have played with a lot of the new (defenders), just not at the same time. We are working to get better every day, in every practice.”
Patrick Z. McGavin is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
Twitter @Pioneer_Press