Weekend afternoon on the soccer pitch

Madison faced NDCL, and South took on Beaumont in girls soccer. Chris Lillstrung was on the sideline for both and has the recap.

Erica Leinweber and Elena Brkic had bookend strikes in each half to lift Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin to a 2-1 victory over visiting Madison in a nonconference headliner Aug. 28.

The Lions (2-0) recorded 11 shots on target and turned in an effort in totality that perhaps lacked end product to the extent Coach Matt Tainer would have preferred but was nonetheless solid.

“We created a lot of chances, both in set pieces and in the run of play,” Tainer said. “Their defense did really well. I would have liked a few more finishes. We were there — just have to anticipate a little bit more. But if we keep creating them, they’ll start falling eventually. We’ve just got to keep working on it.” Leinweber opened her side’s account in the 33rd minute. The standout senior striker made a smart set-piece run to shed her marker and did well with a header off a free kick.

The Lions, in recording their fifth win in seven tries against the Blue Streaks dating to 2014, made it a 2-0 match past the hour mark.

Brkic, making her muchanticipated return to high school soccer for the Lions as a senior, slotted a firstclass right-footed strike from distance upper-90 in the 63rd minute.

“I know Ellie (Znidarsic) played the ball quickly, and I just had to follow,” Brkic said. “I turned, and I saw a few defenders, but I just tried to shoot it.

“I thought that we played pretty good. There were some that we weren’t connecting, and we’d overplay the ball a little bit. But I think getting back out on the field, we’re all really happy to be back out here (during the coronavirus pandemic), so I just think we’re trying to have fun with it.”

Madison turned in an honest 80, especially in the defensive third, to stay within striking distance. Goalkeeper Kate Kuntz had nine saves, including a nice denial of Brkic in the 54th, and senior defenders Emily Moran, Chloe Wakim and Autumn Warren kept a consistent shape and were solid.

Sophomore Melanie Hribar gave her side a lifeline in the 75th minute with a right-footed strike. But Madison deviated at times from its trademark short, quick efficient combo work through midfield and had difficulty for a full 80 generating in the natural flow of attack.

“It was mixed,” Blue Streaks coach Chad Butler said.