St. Viator sophomore midfielder Payton McDonnell stood at the top of the box and was about to carry out St. Viator’s best scoring opportunity.
A Lake Forest foul yielded one of the Lions’ signature set pieces. Two players stationed alongside McDonnell served as decoys, and she delivered a sharp ball that pushed just wide of the frame in the 70th minute.
“We practice those set pieces a lot,” McDonnell said. “They do help us create chances and score goals.”
Despite the 1-0 loss against the Scouts on April 4, St. Viator demonstrated its technical strength and ability to play with top teams.
In the first month of the season, the team is trying to fuse together all the disparate parts.
With just four seniors, St. Viator (2-2-1 as of Tuesday) relies on its emerging talent, such as McDonnell and sophomore forward Mary Ann Castelli. Both played last year on varsity and experienced the rigors of varsity competition.
For a decorated program that has won three state championships, St. Viator is eager to vanquish the memory of last year’s deeply uncharacteristic transition year that saw the team win just six games.
“We are looking for a much better year, and we are playing a very strong schedule, so we will see how quickly the kids all come together,” coach Mike Taylor said.
“A lot of the girls who were on the team this year were on varsity last year,” added McDonnell, who lives in Arlington Heights. “We have learned a lot from playing last year. I think of myself as somebody who likes to pass and create things. The more I can pass it to others and they can do their job, the happier I am with how I play.”
Led by a standout back line dominated by seniors Maureen McGrath and Sarah Schade, the defense has been exemplary. Now the offense has to match that intensity, poise and balance.
With nine juniors and three freshmen, St. Viator is adapting on the go to incorporate newcomers and several key members who are back with the program after a year away playing club.
“We are still learning how to play together, but the opportunity is going to be good for years to come,” Castelli said.
An attacking forward on the right wing, Castelli brings a confident style to the top of the attack.
Castelli, who lives in Inverness, comes from a soccer family. Her mother, Jennifer Castelli, played college soccer at Georgetown and now works as a youth coach for the Palatine Celtic Soccer Club.
“Lake Forest was our first game after spring break, and we only had one practice,” Mary Ann Castelli said. “We were not up to speed of where we should be, but I think you saw as the game wore on we got more comfortable.”
With a heavy slate of games approaching, Castelli said the team is returning to emphasizing fundamentals and a direct style of play.
“Since our spring break, we have not been at the same level,” she said. “Now we are going back to basics and work a lot on our skills, work rate and fitness levels to be at our best.”
Patrick Z. McGavin is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
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