In a battle with an extremely physical Carol Stream Panters team, Team Chicago Academy-Internacional earned a hard-fought tie today at Rios Park.

A goal on either side of the interval was what it took to get the 2-2 tie. The first goal came 5 minutes before the break when Lauren Penkala broke down the left flank and served in a perfect cross. Sam O’Brien connected at the far post and sent her shot off the post to an unmarked Stephanie Kulczycki who scored her first goal of the Spring season.

Up 1-0 at the break Internacional was looking to extend the lead in the 2nd half. Unfortunately, the Panters struck first through an impressive free-kick from 25 yards out.

But Internacional kept fighting and with 10 minutes left Sam O’Brien got her second assist of the game as she found Kiley Czerwinski at the top of the penalty box. Kiley then struck a perfect shot to the foot at the far post outside the reach of the diving keeper.

It looked like it would be enough to earn the win, but unfortunately Internacional didn’t manage to clear the ball sufficiently a few minutes later, and the Panters took advantage of the situation to tie it up for good.

So the opening weekend brought 4 points and 5 goals for Internacional. Kiley Czerwinski leads all scorers with 3 goals and Sam O’Brien has 3 assists on the season.

Next up for Internacional is a match-up with Oak Park River Forest Strikers next Friday at 6:30pm