Brennan scores in second OT to lift Warriors past Morris

By Curt Herron

After nearly 100 minutes of competition, there were plenty of tired performers on the field in the regional semifinal match between Lincoln-Way West and Morris.

But with a first-ever postseason win at stake, Warrior players Cori Brennan and Kalin Winans still had a little something left as the second overtime wound down.

Winans fed a pass to Brennan, who fired off an attempt that hit the post and rolled into the net with 28 seconds left to account for the match's only scoring.

As a result, West managed to capture a 1-0 victory in double overtime over Morris in New Lenox to earn itself a spot in Friday's 6 p.m. regional championship.

The Warriors (9-14-1) will now meet up with Joliet Catholic Academy, a 7-0 winner over Streator, in the title match of the Class 2A Lincoln-Way West Regional.

After watching his squad suffer a pair of big losses to Lincoln-Way schools last week, West coach Jeff Theiss was understandably proud of his team's play.

Theiss viewed the victory as a team effort and had plenty of positive things to say about a number of Warrior players afterward.

Click to hear coach Jeff Theiss interview

Brennan's goal capped an exciting second overtime period during which Morris very nearly ended the Warriors' season abruptly.

With 6:10 left in the second OT, Morris' Jordan Cummings got free for a great scoring opportunity close to the Warriors' net.

But West keeper Kayla Bryant, who recorded her fourth shutout, came off her mark to cause a deflection which was eventually cleared away by Lea Gindville.

Earlier in that overtime period, Bryant stopped a liner from Alyssa Paulsen and West's Emily Kowalski sent a long free kick to Morris keeper Caroline Riccolo.

A third overtime seemed to be looming when the Warriors suddenly capitalized on a break and Winans found Brennan to finally end the drama.

Click to hear Cori Brennan interview

Both squads also had chances during the previous 10-minute overtime session, with the hosts getting the first on a bouncer from Winans about four minutes in.

Morris applied pressure during the final minute of the initial overtime but Bryant was able to stop attempts from Claudia Villanueva and Leslie Claire.

Bryant was supported on defense by center back Gindville while Katelynn Alexander and Kowalski were on the outside.

Ashley Sichak, Kelly Forbus, Ashley Gardner and Traci Bianchi down held spots in the midfield at the start of the match.

And the Warriors relied on Kalin and Kara Winans and Brennan to lead the offensive attack from the forward position.

Following a frenzied first half which saw the Warriors come up just shy on a number of good chances, there was less drama following the intermission.

Bryant made a pair of saves during the first segment of the final half, with Kalin Winans sending a liner toward the Morris net in between those tries.

During the final 20 minutes of regulation play, West had half a dozen decent attempts, but it was unable to find the mark on any of them.

Shortly after the midpoint of the second half, Gindville sent in a long free kick and Kalin Winans directed another line drive just over the net.

A few minutes later, Brennan was stopped up top on a shot try and Kowalski launched a long free kick toward goal that no one could get a touch on.

During the final minutes of regulation play, Brennan and Kalin Winans were both stopped on close-range attempts, setting the stage for the overtime drama.

Click to hear Ashley Gardner interview

Kalin Winans applied the pressure from the start of the match, sending in a pair of attempts during the initial 10 minutes of play.

But also during that time, she had a far more dangerous free kick that deflected off of the crossbar just over five minutes in.

Shortly before the midway point of that half, Kara Winans got off a threatening shot that was hauled in by the Morris keeper.

A short time later, Claire recorded some of her squad's best chances, during a sequence featuring a shot try, a free kick and a corner kick.

During the final 15 minutes of the half, Brennan was stopped on four straight attempts and Kalin Winans' late free kick was also halted.

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