logo
With Evergreen Park trailing Tinley Park, Maddie Bruno knows exactly what to do. And how. ‘Bring that urgency.'

With Evergreen Park trailing Tinley Park, Maddie Bruno knows exactly what to do. And how. ‘Bring that urgency.'

Chicago Tribune30-04-2025

Maddie Bruno has been the ultimate leader in both soccer and volleyball for Evergreen Park.
On the soccer field, the senior midfielder is a great communicator, organizer and motivator. But the biggest thing she provides to the team can be summed up in one word, according to fellow senior midfielder Itzel Alvarez.
'Urgency,' Alvarez said of Bruno. 'She's always like the first one to go for it and I love that. If you don't have that, people are kind of scared. But we have Maddie to bring that urgency.
'Watching her go up there, take a shot and make it, it boosts everybody else on the team's confidence.'
That's exactly what happened Tuesday night. Bruno scored two of three second-half goals for the Mustangs, who rallied for a 3-2 win over host Tinley Park in a South Suburban Conference crossover game.
Alvarez capped the scoring for Evergreen Park (7-5, 4-2 SSC Red). Jade Rubalcava added two assists and Gwenyth Sichelski made five saves.
Alexandria Rocha and Gracie Fitzgerald each scored a goal for Tinley Park (7-5, 5-2 SSC Blue), while Maggie Stachowicz finished with 13 saves.
Tinley Park held its second annual breast cancer benefit game and honored former player Christine Hermann, who died in 2023 after a battle with breast cancer.
Titans coach Kelsey Neylon was Hermann's teammate at Tinley Park.
'I think the biggest thing is teaching the girls that this is so much more than just a game,' Neylon said. 'It's meshing with people that you wouldn't normally hang out with and growing these bonds that you wouldn't typically have.
'It's creating this sisterhood. That's how it was when Chrissy and I were teammates and I just want to keep that going.'
On the field, though, it was Evergreen Park's night. It was thanks largely to Bruno, who scored on a shot from 15 yards just four minutes into the second half to tie the game 1-1.
She then converted on a penalty kick a little less than 10 minutes later — after Rubalcava was fouled in the box — to give the Mustangs a 2-1 lead.
'I was going to do anything I could to put one in for the team,' Bruno said. 'We kind of strive on momentum, and once we get going, we can go. But it sometimes takes us a minute to get there.'
After the Titans forced a 2-2 tie, Alvarez provided the game-winner on a high shot from 25 yards with 24 minutes to go.
Bruno, who has five goals this season, is a four-year varsity starter in soccer who has also been a star volleyball player for Evergreen Park.
She's comfortable sharing everything she has learned from all that time in the spotlight.
'Someone has to step up and be that leader,' she said. 'I'm loud on the field. I just like to talk. I try to encourage people because if it's silent out there, nobody knows where anybody is. Plus, we always need a push to get us going.'
Evergreen Park coach Matt Majchrowicz knows Bruno will have the team ready to go.
'Maddie is very tough for us,' Majchrowicz said. 'She's one of the girls that keeps us going. She's very hard on us, showing up early to practice and making sure everything is the way it needs to be, but she's very positive.
'It's very, 'Hey, let's go get it.' She's a motivator for the team and she's definitely a grinder.'
Bruno has seen her team grow in major ways over her varsity career. The Mustangs won the program's first regional championship last season.
'It's been awesome,' she said. 'Winning that regional last year just showed how our hard work has paid off. This season, we've just been pushing hard and we just want more.
'Before my freshman year, there had been a few seasons where they didn't win a single game, so we've come a really long way. We just want that for the school. We want to make history.'

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Barcelona President sets out number one target to replace Robert Lewandowski
Barcelona President sets out number one target to replace Robert Lewandowski

Yahoo

time7 hours ago

  • Yahoo

Barcelona President sets out number one target to replace Robert Lewandowski

Barcelona have delayed their search for a number nine until next season, with Robert Lewandowski set to lead their line for another year, the final one he is contracted for. However President Joan Laporta has already started thinking about the post-Lewandowski era at Camp Nou. Lewandowski was Barcelona's top scorer last season, scoring 42 goals and giving three assists in his 52 appearances, including some crucial strikes in El Clasico against Real Madrid. Turning 37 in August though, it is no surprise that Barcelona are thinking about who will play through the middle after him. Julian Alvarez to Barcelona talk Initially when Joan Laporta returned to the Barcelona presidency, it was always noted that Erling Haaland would be the top target, but after that moved out of their financial reach, Lewandowski was brought in. More recently, Alexander Isak has been cited as the striker that most interests the recruitment at Barcelona. Image via AFP / Bernat Armangue However in recent weeks, there have been a number of links between Barcelona and Atletico Madrid forward Julian Alvarez. His agent has supposedly held meetings with several major clubs, but it was made known that an offer that would most attract him was Barcelona. Talk that was fueled by his agent too. Laporta admires Alvarez Alvarez arrived at Atletico Madrid for €75m (plus €15m in variables) last summer, and by the midway point this season, it became clear he was the star name in their line-up. According to Cadena SER, after watching him four times in person, Laporta has changed his tune from talking about AC Milan's Rafael Leao as a dream signing, to discussing Alvarez. Any move would occur next summer, despite Atletico's constant assertions that Alvarez is going nowhere. Alvarez's debut season at Atletico The 25-year-old forward was a constant for Diego Simeone this season, leading the line alongside one of Antoine Griezmann or Alexander Sorloth. In his 54 apearances, Alvarez scored 29 goals and gave seven assists this season, just nine less than Lewandowski in a far less prolific team.

Atletico Madrid star's advice to Real Madrid-linked teenage prodigy – ‘Choose with your heart'
Atletico Madrid star's advice to Real Madrid-linked teenage prodigy – ‘Choose with your heart'

Yahoo

time3 days ago

  • Yahoo

Atletico Madrid star's advice to Real Madrid-linked teenage prodigy – ‘Choose with your heart'

Franco Mastantuono has become the hottest topic at Real Madrid right now amid recent reports linking him with a move to Santiago Bernabeu. Indeed, reports suggest Real Madrid are closing in on the capture of the River Plate starlet, who recently made history by becoming the youngest player to ever represent the Argentine national team. Advertisement Apart from Real Madrid, Mastantuono has also been courted by Paris Saint-Germain, who are ready to offer more to the River Plate starlet. Julian Alvarez's advice to Mastantuono Amid ongoing speculation over his future, Mastantuono's national teammate, Julian Alvarez has offered a little advice to the young playmaker. Talking about Mastantuono's debut, the Atletico Madrid star said (h/t MARCA), 'I'm happy for the kids who got playing time, for Mastantuono's debut, for Nico Paz. Fortunately, good players always emerge. That's the history of Argentine football. 'There's always quality. We have to support the younger players so they can join in and play with confidence.' Franco Mastantuono recently made his senior team debut with Argentina (Photo by) Alvarez was then asked about Mastantuono's future, especially amid reports linking him to Real Madrid. Advertisement But even as an Atletico Madrid star, Alvarez refused to encourage Mastantuono to not join Real Madrid and instead offered a more diplomatic response. 'I spoke with him a bit. The truth is, everything that's happening to him makes me very happy. He's very young, but the things he does on the pitch and how he behaves off it makes him seem older,' he said. 'At his age, he's done incredible things. He has impressive quality. He's a star. I wish him the best, that he continues to grow. It depends on what he decides. I don't know what will happen,' he added. Finaly, Alvarez urged Mastantuono to choose with his heart and make sure he joins a club where he can continue to grow. Advertisement 'Let him choose with his heart, do what he thinks is best for him, and continue to grow,' he concluded. It remains to be seen whether or not Alvarez's words of wisdom have any impact on Mastantuono's decision making as the young playmaker looks to take the next step in his career. With Real Madrid leading the chase, two scenarios could pan out. The first scenario could see the Argentine join Los Blancos immediately while the latter could see him remain at River Plate until the end of the year and then join the club.

Incredible Mets misplay allows Dodgers to tie game in 4-run comeback
Incredible Mets misplay allows Dodgers to tie game in 4-run comeback

Yahoo

time4 days ago

  • Yahoo

Incredible Mets misplay allows Dodgers to tie game in 4-run comeback

Blowing a four-run lead to the Los Angeles Dodgers was a bad enough time for the New York Mets on Thursday. The game-tying play made it even worse. With the Mets up 5-4 in the bottom of the eighth inning, reliever Reed Garrett seemingly got a big out when Andy Pages hit an easy grounder right at third baseman Brett Baty. Dodgers catcher Will Smith had no choice but to make a break for home from third base, where he should have been tagged out. The Mets turned an easy out at home plate into a "Three Stooges" skit. (Jason Parkhurst-Imagn Images) (IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect / Reuters) However, Baty spiked the throw to home and catcher Francisco Alvarez couldn't get a hold of it. As the ball bounced into the air and came down, Alvarez and Garrett collided into each other in a play worthy of a "Three Stooges" episode. Advertisement Had Alvarez not essentially set a basketball-style pick against Garrett after losing the ball, Smith still probably would have been out. Instead, he tied the game. It was the kind of play that harkened back to the days when the Mets inspired more mockery than fear as a large-market team. They're doing everything they can to shed that reputation under owner Steve Cohen, but plays like that can happen to any baseball team. The inning got worse three batters later when former Mets All-Star Michael Conforto punched an RBI single into the outfield for the go-ahead run. That single was Conforto's first hit with a runner in scoring position since March 31, the Dodgers' fifth game of the season. It was his first with two outs of the entire 2025 season, which hasn't quite gone according to plan after he signed a one-year, $17 million deal to join the reigning World Series champs. He entered Thursday slashing .167/.311/.270. Advertisement With the Dodgers suddenly leading, they brought in Tanner Scott, another new acquisition who has been struggling, for the ninth inning. He struck out two and allowed a single before ending the game on a Luisangel Acuña flyout. The Dodgers' win split the four-game series with the Mets and kept them in first place in the NL West at 38-25. In arguably the hardest stretch of their season — with series against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Cleveland Guardians, New York Yankees and Mets — they went 9-7 despite a heavily depleted pitching staff.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store