Naperville Central’s Anna Sadowski knows that constructive criticism is something to build upon.
So the senior defender wasn’t discouraged when coach Troy Adams had some negative things to say at halftime of the Redhawks’ DuPage Valley Conference opener with Neuqua Valley on Tuesday.
“Adams told us that we needed to be disciplined, and I really took that to heart,” Sadowski said. “Because in the first half it wasn’t looking too good, and I kept lunging. We all kept making mistakes.”
The errors ceased in the second half as Naperville Central rallied to beat the Wildcats 2-1 at Memorial Stadium and stay unbeaten. Sadowski was an anchor at center back alongside Cincinnati-bound star Ella Burke.
“Anna is a phenomenal girl because you can be honest with her,” Adams said. “I said, ‘Anna, we way overcommitted in that first half. That was not a good defensive half.’ And she was like, ‘I know, I know.’
“She took that and applied that to the second half, which was so much better. As a coach, that’s what you want to see. You want to see kids taking the advice you’re giving them and then applying it to the field. She did a great job with it.”
Indeed, the Redhawks (5-0-1, 1-0) outshot the Wildcats (1-3, 0-1) by a 10-1 margin after intermission. Sophomore goalkeeper Emma Dram tipped Neuqua Valley’s only shot, an 18-yard drive by Selma Larbi, around the post midway through the second half.
Sadowski, a second-year varsity player, is a first-time starter and fairly new to playing in the middle. But she has been a rock.
“I enjoy it a lot,” she said. “Being a starter is a lot on my shoulders, but it’s a lot of fun. It’s good being a team player, and I feel like all the starters should be a leader.”
Sadowski doesn’t have as much playing experience as some of Naperville Central’s seniors, and she’s far from the most highly touted. But that hasn’t been a problem.
“I don’t think (center back) is truly her natural position,” Adams said. “But I told her, ‘Listen, I know you’re not comfortable with it, but you’re the best option we have right now.’
“She’s like, ‘If that’s what needs to be, that’s what needs to be.’ She’s embraced it and done a wonderful job.”
Sadowski’s leadership has been particularly helpful to freshman goalkeeper Erin Hackett, who splits time with Dram in the net.
“She’s told me multiple times that I’ve got it,” Hackett said. “She’s believed in me, and she’s definitely saved me a bunch of times, whether she’s clearing the ball or chasing after it.
“It’s unbelievable what she’s been doing.”
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Sadowski’s encouragement buoyed Hackett when the Redhawks were on their heels in the first half. Hackett made seven saves, including one on Larbi’s penalty kick 10 minutes into the game.
That stop turned out to be the difference because Safa Jeffery scored to give Neuqua Valley a 1-0 lead three minutes later.
“I told her that she could do it,” Sadowski said. “That PK save was one of the nicest I’ve seen in my years of playing. It was a great save, and I think that it really lit a fire under the team for the second half.”
Northwestern-bound senior Megan Norkett scored her 10th goal of the season to tie the game at 1-1 with 1:47 left in the first half. She assisted freshman Malia Shen on what turned out to be the game-winning goal at the 35:50 mark of the second half.
Sadowski, Burke and fellow defenders Chloe Mowry and Taylor Walk made sure it stood up.
“(Sadowski) is a phenomenal senior leader,” Adams said. “She does all the little things you want from a senior leader. She collects the balls, she makes sure the equipment is where it needs to be, she’s one of the first ones on the field and she’s positive with teammates.”
Matt Le Cren is a freelance reporter for the Naperville Sun.
