Sarah Matuszek had played defender her entire career and earned all-state honors at that position last year, so she was caught a bit off guard when Lockport coach Todd Elkei told her he wanted her to play midfielder in her senior season.
“I was a little shocked,” Matuszek said. “At the beginning, they told me I was playing center back, and when they switched it up, I was a little bit scared at first. I was like, ‘I don’t really know how to play this position, and I don’t want to mess up.’
“But it’s been really fun being able to go up top and help my team on offense too.”
Matuszek has adjusted well, and she’s now able to help the Porters on both ends of the field.
She scored her fourth goal of the season Thursday to help lead host Lockport to a 3-1 win over Andrew in a SouthWest Suburban crossover.
“We just needed a little more dynamic movement and leadership in the midfield,” Elkei said. “I’m sure (Matuszek) would rather be playing in the back, but she’s taken it on.
“She’s aggressive, she’s so fast and she’s settled some things down for us in the midfield.”
Anna Domina and Karolina Stasik also scored for Lockport (7-3) on Thursday. Illinois State recruit Leah Crotty had the goal for Andrew (6-2-1).
On a rainy, cold day, the Porters came out hot with three first-half goals.
After Domina started the scoring in the sixth minute, Matuszek made it 2-0 less than nine minutes in when she scored off a corner kick. Katie Cavallo took the corner and sent a cross into the box, where Matuszek was able to get a shot off. Matuszek’s initial shot was blocked, but she got the rebound and fired it in.
“I thought one of our girls was going to head it, and I really wasn’t ready, so I just quickly shot it,” Matuszek said. “Then it came back to me, and I just blasted it. I didn’t think anything about it. I just kicked it straight at the goal. It was a little panicked, but it worked out.”
Typically, however, Matuszek has done a lot of thinking on the field while taking on a new position.
“I try to think about what the other player is thinking,” she said. “I think about what I would usually do as a defender, and I try to think the opposite. It’s been a little tough, but I’m trying to get there.”
Domina and Stasik, both forwards, are having huge seasons for the Porters. Each scored her 11th goal.
Stasik’s goal, off a beautiful cross from Tiffany Giannese, came with just 20 seconds left in the first half and gave the Porters comfort knowing Andrew would have the strong winds in its advantage in the second half.
“We were talking on the sidelines about how we needed three,” Elkei said. “It was getting to the end of the half, and I told (assistant Chris Beal), ‘It’s not going to happen.’ He said, ‘I don’t know, mate.’
“And then Tiffany crossed it, and Karolina finished it. So I guess it was the optimism of the Englishman (Beal).”
Crotty scored with 31:39 left, but Andrew could get no closer.
Chloe O’Connor made five saves for Lockport and assisted on Domina’s goal.
“That was not our best half of soccer, obviously, in the first half,” Andrew coach Loren Zolk said. “We came out flat. I don’t think we were really prepared to compete. Lockport caught us early. We don’t give up goals very often, so that put us on our heels in an uncomfortable spot.”
Steve Millar is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
