Veneto's Jonah Caliendo knows that sometimes soccer players just have to go wild.
The junior forward isn't shy about doing so.
“I don't think I have the biggest legs,” Caliendo said. “But I think I have a difficult shot.”
Caliendo proved that when he scored the game-winning goal in the Red Wings' East Suburban Catholic Conference game against Nazareth on Thursday at La Grange Park.
Caliendo's second goal of the season came with 2:43 left in the first half. This was the first goal after Nazareth senior goaltender Audrey Moster made a great play to thwart the Red Wings.
Moster had made nine of his 14 saves before halftime, including denying Caliendo from close range five minutes before the break.
But when Caliendo intercepted a clear pass, he found himself open just inside the top of the box. She hit Moster's 15-yard shot with one touch.
“I felt like I saw the ball coming,” Caliendo said. “I stayed calm and was able to secure the ball pretty well, so I ducked over the ball to make sure it went in.”
Caliendo's strike was just what the doctor ordered for Veneto's offensive line, which had struggled after defeating Marian Catholic 12-0 in the season opener. The Red Wings (2-2-1, 2-0) had scored just one goal in their past three games before Thursday.
“That's what we've been talking about all season,” Veneto coach Gerard O'Connor said. “Too many shots ended up being one or two bouncers.
“That was a shot that ended up with some authority and obviously had a good chance of going into the shot. Hitting it a little weaker made this goalie look really, really good tonight. She He made some incredible saves in the first half.”
Moster made some good shots in the second half, but the Roadrunners (1-3, 0-1) still couldn't get much out of the opponent's basket.
The Red Wings enjoyed a 30-1 advantage in shots. Junior defender Chloe Saintman extended the lead to 2-0 with a 30-yard shot with 24:36 left, and senior midfielder Rania Fikri closed out the scoring with a penalty kick with 1:23 left. Ta.
Fikri said Caliendo's goal sparked a fire for the Red Wings.
“She is a very important part of our team,” Fikri said. “I think her goal set the tone for the rest of the game. Shots like that are what we need to score, energy and intensity like that is what we need. .”
The Red Wings don't have a dominant goal scorer, but they do have a lot of talented offensive players. But most use finesse to stand out. Caliendo brings a different element.
“She brings her physicality to the forefront, so we might be a little lacking without her,” O'Connor said. “She's a target player for us who can play. It really helps complement our talented midfield and wingers. So when she's there, it all comes together.”
Caliendo had five goals and one assist in 13 games in a supporting role last season, helping Beneto advance to its second straight Class 2A state championship game. But he believes he will play a more important role this season, especially considering junior forward Kyra Petrucelli, who had 11 goals and 11 assists in 2023, will miss the season with an ACL injury.
“It's always different from year to year,” O'Connor said. “Obviously we want to be a little bit more efficient in the final third, just adjusting the spaces and looking at how we have to create this year.”
Caliendo was happy to be the creator against Nazareth.
“I was really happy that I was able to score because our team deserved to score,” she said. “It lifted our spirits in a way. It was exactly what we needed and I was happy to contribute to the team.”
Matt Le Crenn is a freelance reporter.
