Chicagoland Soccer

Redwings edge Mustangs to win back-to-back regional titles

By Curt Herron

Benet Academy hadn't reached sectional play in consecutive seasons since doing so four straight times from 2002-2005.

Downers Grove South had waited even longer since pulling off that feat, last advancing to the sectional from 1999-2002.

With both sides losing many quality performers from successful 2012 squads, it was no given that they'd be in this spot.

But the Redwings and Mustangs both entered Saturday's Class 3A Downers Grove South Regional title match on a high note.

And even though there were factors that could have prevented each from giving their all, that's not how things unfolded.

Benet and Downers South laid it all on the line for the full 80 minutes, and looked like they might actually play more.

However, just as extra time looked likely, the Redwings got a break and capitalized on it to assure their advancement.

Meaghan O'Hara got free following a pass from Lindsy Kendrick and put a shot just inside the post in the 77th minute.

That goal turned out to be the difference in an otherwise even affair on a warm and sunny afternoon in Downers Grove.

So despite having the prom the night before and being forced to change things on the fly, Benet captured a 2-1 victory.

The Redwings (17-4-1) have won nine of their last 10, with the loss coming on May 9 to Hinsdale Central by a 4-0 score.

In its defense, Benet was short-handed in that match, and things figure to be more competitive the second time around.

The Redwings meet the Red Devils (14-3-3) on Tuesday at 5 pm in the Hinsdale Central Sectional semis at Dickinson field.

Lyons Township and Wheaton Warrenville South will play in the other semifinal. The championship is on Friday at 6 pm.

"It was hard-fought on both sides," Benet coach Bob Gros said. "I thought that we had the better of it in the first half but we were beginning to lose our energy and then we had our sweeper go out, which was devastating, since it dominoed us all the way through the back.

"We also had prom last night but I thought the girls did a great job after coming home at four o'clock in the morning and getting a few hours of sleep. You saw the energy that they had. I asked them to have a great time at prom, but come to play, and they did that.

"Emma (Hlavin) did well in goal and we had to create a whole new sub rotation, which was an exotic experience, but at least we have something that we can work on. No one picked us to do much this year since we lost 16 seniors but that's a good team out there.

"We can do a lot of good things and we're dangerous, obviously, since we scored two goals against a really good team. Downers South gave it everything that they had but we just had a little bit more today."

It was a tale of two halves, with the Redwings getting a goal and dominating the chances during the opening 40 minutes.

The final half was belonged to the Mustangs (13-9-1), who got the equalizer and had many opportunities to add to that.

But it was Benet which would get the decisive score after Kendrick found O'Hara, who was determined to end the drama.

"After they took it to us for so long, we got some shots off and that was important since we calmed down and got our momentum back," O'Hara said. "It was a great ball from Lindsy right through their defense. There I was and I was just hoping that I wouldn't miss.

"They're a great team and we knew that it would be a battle for the whole game. Most of the first half was just back and forth so when we got the first goal, everyone was excited but we knew that wasn't going to be the end of the game, and obviously, it wasn't.

"Winning this game is super exciting. We've always been in a hard sectional and even though we were switched to this one, we knew that it would be equally difficult. So we wanted to take every opportunity that we were given and that's what we did today."

After the Mustangs had kept steady pressure on keeper Emma Hlavin in the final half, Benet finally got some late shots.

While an effort from Kate Hennessy went wide and another from Amanda Kaiser was high, the Redwings shifted the momentum.

Not long after O'Hara's connected, she nearly did so again, but keeper Jamie Furio came out of the net to halt her try.

The Mustangs created a corner kick during the final two minutes but were unable to seriously threaten in the late going.

Despite the disappointing conclusion, Downers South coach Abby Anderson was proud of how her team responded and battled.

"These girls did just what I asked them to do," Anderson said. "They played hard and physical, they attacked and helped each other defensively. I thought that Lauren Tusek, Lori Niehaus and Haley Holz played amazing games in the back.

"We came back after their first goal and turned it around and played such a different style of soccer. I'm so proud and said to them that we have absolutely nothing to hang our heads about. This is a great group of girls who were selfless and sacrificed for the team.

"We created a lot of opportunities for ourselves and I'm proud of these girls for their effort. But it's been the same thing since day one. We've played hard and it didn't matter who was on the field. Whoever came on the field today made an impact."

The tide definitely started to shift after the break, and that became evident after the hosts struck for the equalizer.

In the 48th minute, Brittany Dietz fired in an attempt that Hlavin deflected but Kelly Stapleton put in the loose ball.

Benet tried to respond when Ellie Bumpus sent a free kick to Jacquie Kaufman, but Lori Niehaus cleared away the effort.

Emily Wauer was denied on a short try prior to the half's midpoint and also forced Hlavin to make a diving deflection.

In the final 10 minutes, Stapleton sent a shot high and then fired in a liner which was stopped by the Redwing keeper.

After that, Benet got some much-needed tries which led to the eventual winner with just under four minutes remaining.

The Redwings had the majority of good chances during the opening half, which was disrupted by a pair of key injuries.

Following an early exchange of shots by Ava Porlier and Michelle Morefield, Dietz was denied on free kick by Hlavin.

Moments later, Downers South's Stephanie Zurales got hurt and had to helped off, returning to the bench on crutches.

Not long after Benet's Loretta Elder saw her liner halted by Furio, Rachel Bernicky got injured and was helped off.

That forced the Redwings to juggle things in the back, with Katie Baumann stepping in to fill the sweeper position.

Right after the injury, in the 32nd minute, Benet received some good news, which came courtesy of a successful set piece.

Morefield sent a corner kick into the box and Kaiser got her head on the ball and placed an attempt in for a score.

"After having prom last night, we were all a little worried about how tired we'd be," Kaiser said. "But we all had the right mindset right away and knew that we'd have to start out with high intensity in order to have a chance to beat a good Downers Grove South team.

"We were a little sleepy in the second half and some time we don't start off that half as well as we should, but we came back with Meaghan's goal, which was great. I was not looking forward to going to overtime so I'm glad that we were able to finish it with a goal.

"We have been playing well all season and we put everything together today in order to get the win. I'm excited about our next game."