Falcons can't find net in 1-0 regional loss to Saints

By Darryl Mellema

It was the silence that spoke the loudest.

While St. Charles East's players hugged, smiled and discussed their team's 1-0 Class 3A St. Charles East Regional victory over Wheaton North, the Falcons were in various stages of quiet reflection.

A couple of players sat on the bench, two more were gathered near the team's equipment bags while still others moved to the space at the edge of the field where they would eventually talk about the season that just ended.

Coach Tim McEvilly crouched on the field his players had played so ardently on for the previous 80 minutes.

And hardly any words were spoken.

The key moment of the match came with 94 seconds to play in the first half when St. Charles East's Cat Camic scored from six yards out with a shot that reached the side netting before it could be cleared.

Wheaton North (10-12) worked throughout the game to score but was unable to get past either the Saints' defense or goalie Zoe Samaan.

And so the Falcons left the field with their season at an end.

"We're playing St. Charles East in a regional semifinal," McEvilly said. "They're a No. 11 seed and we're a No. 6 seed. You never expect you are going to get anything without working for it.

"And St. Charles East could be a Top Three seed in any other sectional other than the one in Naperville. They tied Waubonsie Valley last week. We knew we were going to have to fight for this because St. Charles East was going to fight for everything, too."

Neither team's offense had been in great form entering the match. In Wheaton North's case, recent difficulties finding the back of the net resulted in a seven-match losing streak that ended in the regular season finale against Glenbard East.

It's not as if the Falcons didn't work to create chances, either. Kate Wiegman and Kelsey Tharnstrom worked up the wings throughout the match and routinely beat the Saints defenders on the corners of the penalty area.

Tharnstrom, especially, was a thorn in the Saints' sides. But that final action – a menacing shot on goal – proved elusive.

"I would say we both had an equal number of quality scoring chances in that game," McEvilly said. "Their quality chances came off of restarts and corner kicks.

"That goal they scored started off a restart. We got behind their defenders a lot tonight. We just couldn't find that runner in the box."

Rebekah Marquez had a chance similar to Camic's not long before the Saints forward scored the match's lone goal but Marquez had her shot saved by Samaan.

Wheaton North's best chance in the second half came when a leading pass into the penalty area nearly found Wiegman, who was ready to strike a volley when Samaan came rushing off her line to collect the ball.

"Neither one of us is a goal-scoring machine," McEvilly said. "That one goal makes a major difference. Becca Marquez had that one chance that she knocked down off of a restart.

"It wasn't by any means a blisterer, but their keeper kept composed and got a shot that a lot of keepers wouldn't get because it was shot down low."

CLICK TO SEE FALCONS' TEAM PAGE

CLICK TO SEE FALCONS' PHOTO PAGE