Last week’s bad weather didn’t slow down Khloe Grasso and Sandburg girls soccer.
“You have to play the ball on the floor more instead of kicking it up ’cause the wind takes it and moves it around,” Grasso said after a 3-0 home win against Riverside-Brookfield on April 2.
“Khloe mentioned it too — you have to keep the ball on the floor,” Sandburg coach Tom Kubowicz said. “When it’s windy like this, if you’re going into the wind, the ball is going to get hung up and pushed back. And if you kick high and with the wind, it’s going to roll out.”
Not only did Grasso beat the defenders, but the wind as well. Her corner kick at the 28:35 mark secured her first high-school goal in the win against R-B.
“It was my first goal so it was different to not see my club teammates at first and to see my new current team instead — it was so cool,” said Grasso, who plays for Inter Chicago FC.
Kubowicz appreciates not just Grasso’s physical skills, but also her soccer IQ and understanding of game situations.
“She’s been a great player and is really smart,” Kubowicz said. “You do not always see it coming from a freshman — she understands the game really well.”
“She plays on defense in the formation that we play, which requires her to get up the field and attack. And she is really smart about knowing when to go back.”
“It’s a lot different,” Grasso said. “There are different opportunities that come about when (playing) people older that have more experience.”
She is also involved in Sandburg’s Key Club, a service-based group that promotes school and community relationships. So she understands the importance of being collaborative with her peers.
“There are a lot of people you can learn from,” Grasso said. “These girls help you as you play and no one’s ever there to put you down. They are always there to help you.”
After a goal-less first half, junior midfielder Molly Hardek put the Eagles on the board at the 37:40 mark with her first varsity goal of the season. Senior midfielder Julia Khouri cemented the win with her first goal of the season with under seven minutes to play.
Like Grasso, Hardek is new to varsity this season. But she has wisdom to share with her younger teammates.
“Be a team player,” Hardek said. “Make the most of what you have because it goes by fast and it’s so fun to be a part of a team.”
Sandburg has quite the mix of players this season with 11 seniors, three juniors, five sophomores and four freshmen.
“We have a lot of young players that are new to the program and new to varsity,” Kubowicz said. “It’s great to see how they have all jelled because you never know how older players react when a freshman or sophomore is coming up and playing significant minutes.”
The Eagles are looking to bounced back from a rough season in 2025.
“I’m trying to build their confidence and make sure they know that they’re a good team because a lot of these girls were around for a team that only won five games,” Kubowicz said. “They are playing well, but the conference games are going to be difficult. But they’re capable.”