It all happens in about seven seconds.
Chesterton junior midfielder Grace Bamber puts a hand in the air to signal she’s ready and launches a free kick toward junior forward Gina Geenen.
The ball takes one hop before Geenen heads it into the net for what proved to be the winning goal in Chesterton’s 2-1 victory against visiting Valparaiso on Tuesday night.
It looks so simple, so choreographed, that it seems like Geenen and Bamber rehearse it at every practice.
The truth?
“Not really,” Geenen said. “Grace and I just have that good of a connection. I knew exactly where that ball was going.”
That connection is one forged from nearly a decade as teammates, evolving into a dynamic attack in the middle of Chesterton’s offense that can deliver goals in crucial moments — just like it did against its Duneland Athletic Conference rival.
It takes longer to read this sentence than it takes that duo to formulate a plan.
“It’s telepathic,” Bamber said. “We’re best friends. I know what run she’s going to make. I know how to play her the ball. I know when she wants it and where she wants it. I just point her out, and she knows it’s coming.”
Geenen scored both goals for the Trojans. Senior forward/midfielder Kaylee Rongers scored her first of the season for the Vikings.
Valparaiso coach Rob Cespedes said his team continued its upward trend despite its loss.
“All of those little things are starting to come together,” he said. “The amount of desire they had on the field, the amount of attack and the challenging for the 50-50 balls … they’re starting to jell, and we need to continue to build on it.”
Geenen and Bamber have been playing together since they were 8. During high school, the two spent their offseasons playing club soccer together in Indianapolis. Senior midfielder Kaitlyn Kogl also has been part of those trips down Interstate 65, adding even more on-field chemistry to the heart of Chesterton’s offense.
If those attacks falter, Chesterton has a significant insurance policy in senior goalkeeper Carley Balas, who was a second-team all-state selection last season. Balas made a key save in the final minutes of the Trojans’ win on Tuesday, moving from post to post to stop Valparaiso’s last bid for a tie game.
All that eases the burden on coach Ben Forgey, and he knows it.
“It makes coaching a little bit easier because she’s going to make game-winning saves,” Forgey said of Balas. “On the attacking end, all the glory goes to the goal scorers. But she’s making just as many — if not more — game-winning plays for us.”
Dave Melton is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.