Warriors fall to Stevenson on PKs in Pepsi Showdown

By Rusty Silber

Wheaton Academy was a shot away from advancing in the Pepsi Showdown but was stopped on an amazing save from Stevenson goalkeeper Lizzy Sanscrainte on Thursday afternoon.

On the fifth kick of a shootout, the Warriors were tied 4-4 and Kristen Wittmus had the potential game-winning kick pushed away out of mid air.

Stevenson made its sixth kick from Emily Neidermayer and Wheaton Academy missed its opportunity for the tying one.

The No. 12 Warriors ended up losing to the unseeded Patriots 2-1 and 5-4 in kicks that lasted into six rounds at Stevenson in Lincolnshire.

"When the game goes to penalty kicks in a tournament you have to have a winner," Wheaton Academy coach Scott Marksberry said.

"Any other time during the season, that game ends as a draw. Both teams probably go away feeling pretty good about it."

Wheaton Academy (2-2) has nothing to be upset about the score not going its way against the Patriots (3-1).

Considering the way the Warriors played against a school like Stevenson, there was a lot to take away from the game like that one.

"There's no element of disappointment," Marksberry said. "These girls fought the way I wanted them to and they came together.

"I thought in the overtime we ran out of gas with a couple of injuries. But in the run of the game, I thought we possessed the ball well and had some great combinations."

Wheaton Academy keeper Emily Mulder made 11 saves in the match and also had an outstanding save during the kicks, just like Sanscrainte (10 saves) did.

"I usually take a side and go with my first instinct," said Mulder, going through the kicks. "I just wanted to get out and reach as far as I could for the ball.

"I have had experience with shootouts and I do well under pressure. That's probably why I play this position. I enjoy the adrenaline rush and it comes down to you and the other striker. You've got to give it everything you got and leave it on the field."

Stevenson (3-1) had a tough time trying to get set up in the final third of the field.

There were some chances to score in the first half, but the Warriors defense did a great job minimizing any good shots. The back consisted of Christi Dithrich, Lindsey Burke and Kerrin Clark.

"(Wheaton Academy) had an outstanding sweeper (Dithrich) in the back," Stevenson coach Mark Schartner said. "Actually, all their backs were giving us trouble."

Dithrich doesn't want to take too much responsibility for all the hard work as the last one on defense.

"Really it comes down to the outside backs," Dithrich said. "I really don't do a lot. If they get beat, then I have to step up. They do most of the work back there and don't let anything get by them."

The Warriors scored the first goal in the 21st minute. It happened off a Dithrich free kick to the top of the box.

Rachel Nasralla took control of the ball, beat a defender and then Sanscrainte to make the score 1-0.

Stevenson evened the game at 1-1 with a goal in the 36th minute. Missy Loretto fed a touch pass over to Katie Kresa, who scored up top.

For Wheaton Academy, it was also the case of a small school (600 enrollment) going against a big school (4,800).

"Stevenson was a good team and for a school our size, it was good to come out and compete." Marksberry said.

"They're eight times the size of us. I told the girls before the game, you can fit eight Wheaton Academies in their building."