Lions blank Sycamore to earn first state trip since 2005

By Mike Garofola

The scoreline was flattering for Saint Viator in its 3-0 victory over Sycamore on Tuesday afternoon.

It not only gave the Lions the title at the Barrington Super-Sectional, but also a trip into the last four of the 2A state tournament, as the club continues its quest for the biggest trophy of them all this weekend.

The usual suspects were the scoring stars, with the sophomore Katelyn Hammarlund and junior Taylor Skala scoring the first and last goals of the match.

Freshmen Chloe Luthringshausen helped double the advantage with a confidence-breaking goal in the 40th minute to all but put the upset-minded Spartans away for good.

"I don't know if we could have done anything (against) such a strong team that just one year ago was competing very well against 3A teams, but that goal just before the break, and immediately into the second-half was just too much for us to overcome today," said Sycamore head coach Dave Lichamer.

Last season, Lichamer led his club into its first-ever state appearance in school history.

Meanwhile, Saint Viator (20-8-1) will be making it first state trip since 2005, when it won the last of its three state titles.

"Did we play our best soccer of the tournament so far?, not really," said Lions head coach Mike Taylor, who was frustrated all match long with his girls' lack of aggression and lack of urgency.

"But sometimes you have to gut (one) out, even when you're not playing (your) best, and today we showed that we can win a big game when you're struggling, and that's the sign of a good ball club, and a reflection of what this team has done so far this season."

The Lions opened slowly and never really found their pace, even after a pair of goals in the later stages of the first half.

The Spartans (18-7-2) earned a slight edge in the run of play, thanks to their hard-working midfield.

They never let their counterparts possess and link with Skala, who has been a terror of late against all of her opponents during the postseason.

"We didn't play very attractive soccer out there today, maybe because of some nervousness all of us were feeling, or the heat, but it was definitely was our lack of communication out there, we just never really talked (much) for the 80 minutes of play," said Lions senior backliner, Ariana Kulinczenko.

Saint Viator finally came alive near the half-hour mark when the angled running of Skala would begin to stretch the Spartans at the back, which led to the Lions' first corner of the day- and a goal from Hammarlund, which would eventually be the game-winner.

The Lion midfielder was perfectly positioned to head just inside the back post a wonderfully-struck inward swinging corner from Samantha Gavin in the 33rd minute, much to the delight of a noisy Saint Viator faithful.

Then four minutes later, Luthringshausen made it 2-0 when she continued running forward to finish a rebound left inside the area from a blast from Skala which would fall free after crashing off the underside of the woodwork.

Sycamore never recovered from the late Lions surge, and, with the help of Jackie Tumberger, Meghan McGrath, Samantha Gavin and Kulinczenko, its best player and top scorer, Rachel Stueber, never was allowed to break-through and near keeper Stephanie Shanahan, who had an easy time on this day.

Skala finished off the scoring and Sycamore at 42 minutes from near the spot.

"We were a little flat out there today, and not typical of the play that we've seen during the last 7 to 8 games, but we got through, and into the state tournament, and now we go forward after reaching another one of our goals of the season," offered Taylor.

CLICK TO SEE LIONS' TEAM PAGE

CLICK TO SEE LIONS' PHOTO PAGE