On a gorgeous Whitsunday in Aurora, Team Chicago Academy-Internacional had another strong performance as they saw off the Challengers.

Sam O’Brien’s goal in the first half off a Abby Flynn through-ball was all Internacional needed to secured the win. However, in the second half Internacional kicked it up a notch, and recorded 5 more goals to run out 6-0 winners.

First, Abby Flynn scored directly off a free kick for the second day in a row. Then Stephanie Kulczycki chipped one in from 25 yards out, and Megan Buchanan didn’t want to be outdone, so she beat a player at the top of the 18 and rifled a shot past the keeper at the far post.

With 10 minutes to go Maya Neal rounded a defender at the end-line, and served a perfect ball for Sam O’Brien to record her second goal of the match. And finally, Miranda Lambert finished off a well-placed Abby Flynn corner-kick with a solid strike from 8 yards out.

Hannah Parrish recorded the shutout in goal. Up next for Internacional is a 2pm game at Downers Grove next Sunday.

Team Chicago Academy-Internacional scored 5 unanswered goals in their 5-2 come-from-behind win over Fox Valley Strikers. After falling behind 2-0 in the opening 10 minutes everything went right for Internacional in the ensuing 60 minutes.

First Megan Buchanan scored on a beautiful free kick, and a minute later a Sam O’Brien flip-throw found Alena Sidwell inside the penalty box, and she took a great first touch to escape pressure, and then calmly tucked it away at the foot of the far post.

The 2nd half showed a much improved Internacional, and their passing game really started to flow. And the improved play quickly resulted in goals. First Miranda Lamber went to the end-line and hooked the ball back to Alena Sidwell who laid it off to Kiley Czerwinski for another far post goal.

Then Abby Flynn scored a mirror image free kick of Megan Buchanan’s in the first half to put us 2 goals to the good. And finally Miranda Lambert scored a cracker after Megan Tagler stole the ball in the midfield, and passed it to Alena Sidwell who one-touched it to Miranda.

Next up for Internacional is a home game tomorrow at 1pm v. Challengers.

Internacional moved their record to 2-0-1 behind goals by Maya Neal, Miranda Lambert, and Abby Flynn.

Maya Neal gave us the lead halfway through the first half, when she beat 3 defenders over a 40 yard run. However, Plainfield answered back immediately off a corner kick.

It looked like we where headed into halftime all tied up, but up stepped Megan Wolf with a commando raid through the Plainfield midfield before she dished the ball off to Miranda Lambert, who finished the play off expertly by finding the inside of the far post.

The second half started like the first ended – with Internacional pressure. And 12 minutes in Miranda Lambert went on a mazy run before she was felled in the penalty box. Abby Flynn scored with a perfectly hit PK.

Internacional had several chances to put the match completely out of reach, but instead Plainfield made it interesting with a counter-attack goal with 15 minutes to go. Fortunately, we were able to hang on to the 3-2 win and our unbeaten record.

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

Team Chicago Academy-Internacional got their Spring campaign off to a great start on Friday night with a convincing 3-0 win at Darien.

Despite long grass and no lines on the field Internacional played great possession soccer, and scored 2 great goals.

The first goal came with 10 minutes left in the first half when Megan Wolf won the ball at the left back position, and centered it to Megan Tagler. Tagler found left-mid Alena Sidwell who then found forward Sam O’Brien. Sam took a great first touch, and then served a perfect pass to her strike partner Miranda Lambert who finished the move with a powerful strink.

Internacional was even more dominant in the second half, and halfway in Kiley Czerwinski got the first of her brace after stealing the ball from the Darien keeper. With 8 minutes to go Kiley notched her second goal of the evening off a great cross from Sam O’Brien.

Hannah Parrish recorded the shutout in goal.

Next up for Internacional is a home game against Carol Stream Panthers this Sunday at 1pm at Rios Park.