Corsairs capture regional title in Palatine
By Mike Garofola

Host Fremd certainly made Carmel earn its first regional title since 2008.

"We haven't had much luck in the postseason of late, especially here,” Carmel coach John Halloran said. “But what a game.”

Carmel’s 4-3, double-overtime win over Fremd saw Meegan Johnston and Caitlin Murphy get two quick strikes in the opening moments of a first overtime period, followed by the wild intensity needed to defend a Fremd team that fought tooth-and-nail for an equalizing goal.

When it was over, No. 2-seeded Carmel (19-1-0) advanced to sectional play past No. 7 Fremd (12-6-3). The Corsairs will take on No. 3 Hersey at Mundelein on Tuesday.

Johnston and Murphy are two of 10 seniors that have seen Carmel’s postseasons end abruptly over the past three years. Fremd beat Carmel 2-0 in a regional final in 2010, it was one-and-done in 2011, and Glenbrook South knocked Carmel out with a 2-0 decision last season.

"We needed to change our luck in the postseason, but coming in here tonight we were facing a team that was just 4-4-2 at (the sectional seeding) and then goes on to win eight games while giving up hardly any goals. The task was daunting, to say the least."

Fremd coach Steve Keller also knew his girls were in for a battle.

"After watching (Carmel) the other night in its regional opener we saw some terrific talent, especially with (Johnston), and a very hard working team that could also play a very physical style,” Keller said.

The Corsairs (19-1-0) looked to have the edge in energy during the opening exchanges, but it didn't take long for Fremd (12-6-3) to get into the match.

Early on, the Vikings’ Mary-Kate Schiffer -- whom Keller praised afterwards for her hard running, creative work up top, and ability to be dangerous when in the Carmel end -- ran onto a Bri Frys corner and saw her attempt blocked by Carmel defender Claire Ogrinc.

Moments later, it was Ogrinc once again who saved the day when her forceful tackle of Schiffer stopped the junior from getting in on Carmel keeper Jenna Bauer after Fremd’s Liz Flavin put her through.

"We saw some very good work from players who will be our core next season, including Schiffer and Flavin, so that will be a good start for us a year from now," said Keller.

Ogrinc and Leah Lach helped keep the Corsairs backline organized with some marvelous individual work during their 100 minutes, and although the unit had its troubles at times with a rampant Vikings attack, they did well to keep their opponents far away from Bauer when it was most needed.

A long throw from Johnston would eventually end up on the left-foot of the senior, and with an easy touch the Corsairs star sent a well-paced, bending ball to the back post which Vikings keeper Christine Piasecki was unable to get enough on as it clanked the post before falling into the back of the net at 33 minutes.

Johnston would force Piasecki to save a 30-yard bomb minutes later, Then, with the wind in its sails, the Corsairs put together a nice counter against the run of play with Annie DiVenere, Bri Carlson and Katie Sandecki all having a touch before Johnston ripped her shot into the side netting.

"It was clear after watching Carmel on that first night that we had to deny (Johnston) the ball on her left foot, because she wasn't afraid to have one, and I thought we did a very good job of that  except twice, when she made us pay for a lack of defending her," said Keller.

But the Vikings pulled Johnston’s goal back when Flavin delivered a superb through-ball to Schiffer, and the big striker drove her shot the other way and past a diving Bauer, who had no chance on the 40th-minute equalizer.

The Corsairs countered soon after intermission, when Fremd struggled with a long throw from Johnston that led to a corner at 44 minutes.

Johnston swung her serve to the back post and an unmarked Carlson buried her header to give the visitors a one-goal advantage once more.

"I was kind of surprised there were three goals already but all of them were very good ones to that point," offered Halloran.

Keller went to three up top and it wasn't long before the Vikings drew even once more.

At 57 minutes, with a crisp move to get free, the Vikings’ Ashley McConnell put the ball on Caroline Wagner's foot and the senior did well to put a quality pass through to Schiffer, who broke loose before sending her well-paced ball past Bauer.

The final 20 minutes of regulation were non-stop, with plenty of ferocious tackling and defending as each side did all it could to keep the other from getting close to their keeper.

Lach, Ogrinc and Jen Capparelli were air-tight along the back for the Corsairs, as was the veteran Fremd trio of Catherine Ernst, Cassie Etelemaki and Courtney Norenberg.

However, it was a disastrous start to overtime for the home side, which allowed Johnston to get comfortable near the same spot she struck the game’s opening goal, and at 83 minutes Carmel grabbed back the lead for good.

Carlson did all the preliminary work for Murphy, who guided in a short-range shot to double the Corsairs lead just two minutes after Johnston's go-ahead goal. But there was still 15 minutes of soccer to play.

"I didn't get comfortable for one minute, even when Murphy gave us that insurance goal," Halloran said.

Fremd’s bench thought McConnell had been hauled down in the box but ended its protest quickly. The Vikings suffered more angst a few moments later when Schiffer got in on Bauer, only to watch an aggressive challenge off the line that allowed the senior keeper to snuff out the dangerous scoring chance as the first extra session came to a close.

McConnell scored in the 93rd minute, making each touch by the home side in the Carmel end an adventure for both fan groups, but Halloran's club ultimately held on and lifted the regional plaque.

"Getting that first goal of OT was just huge for us but even in the end we were fighting so hard to keep them out," began Halloran.

"It was a great game and we knew how hard Fremd would come at us all night. It's the way they always play and Steve does a great job every year getting his team ready for the stretch run. But I thought our girls were ready as well and I am very happy for all of them right now."

For the Vikings it was a tough ending to a sensational two-plus weeks to end a season that began slowly but built into something special despite the loss.

"I told them I would have been disappointed in the loss if they didn't leave everything out there, but they did," said Keller.

"There's always something to learn in defeat, and in a season like this. It's about the journey, and all the memories you gain from it all. During those final weeks of the season, we became a team nobody wanted to play, and all of them should be proud of that fact."