Tigers use strong start to get past Mustangs in regional final

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By Curt Herron

Whenever Wheaton Warrenville South has scored multiple goals this season, it's been very tough to beat.

The Tigers entered Friday's Class 3A Bolingbrook Regional finals with an 11-0-1 mark in matches where they've scored two goals or more.

At the same time, WW South has also done a good job of keeping other teams from collecting multiple goals during a match.

Coach Guy Callipari's squad had held 18 of their 22 opponents to just one goal or less heading into its clash with Downers Grove South.

While limiting a Mustang team that had scored over 80 goals this season wasn't going to be easy, it sure helped to quick some quick scores.

And that's just what the Tigers accomplished after collecting two goals within the first 22 minutes of play in their match with DG South.

They added another score later in the opening half and the Mustangs were unable to answer as WW South went on to claim a 3-0 victory.

The victory advances the Tigers (17-3-3) to Tuesday's Naperville Central Sectional, where it meets Neuqua Valley (19-2-2) in a 7 p.m. match.

It was the seventh regional championship in nine years for sixth-seed WW South, which carries a four-match winning streak into sectional play.

Meanwhile, the Mustangs (15-5-3) were shut out for just the second time, with the other coming on April 16 in a 0-0 draw with Glenbard West.

Coach Barry Jacobson's third-seeded squad fell short in its quest to capture its third regional championship during the past five seasons.

Elizabeth Ciesielski, Lexi Peterson and Bridget Shrigley all scored goals for WW South while Kelsey Graham posted the shutout in goal.

Click to hear coach Guy Callipari interview

The Tigers collected the only score that they would need about 15 minutes into the match when Ciesielski scored, off an assist from Peterson.

About six minutes later, Peterson got free on a breakaway following a pass from Kara Bimschleger and connected to give her team a 2-0 lead.

That proved to be plenty of scoring for the Tigers, thanks to the efforts of defenders Rachel Adomshick, Haley Charlton and Laine Jackson.

Holding mid Shrigley and midfielders Jill Langlas, Nicole LaPetina, Dana Miller and Mary Heaton kept the Mustangs from starting their attack.

Click to hear Jill Langlas interview

The Tigers increased their advantage to 3-0 with just over eight minutes left in the opening half in what proved to be the final goal.

Shrigley lined up for a free kick from about 50 yards away and managed to find the net through heavy traffic in front of DG South's net.

The Mustangs had few chances during either half, but one of their best opportunities typifies the type of afternoon that they experienced.

As the clock was ticking down the final seconds of the opening half, Sarrah Ludwig got past defenders and started heading toward the net.

A Tiger defender got a foot on her shot attempt and Keri Kujawa wasn't able to get off the subsequent corner kick before time ran out.

WW South kept up the pressure during the opening minutes of the second half as Peterson threatened to score again on a few occasions.

Click to hear Lexi Peterson interview

There were few scoring chances for either squad throughout much of the second half as WW South was content to run out the remaining time.

It was a disappointing ending for a Mustang squad which once again captured the West Suburban Conference Gold Division championship.

But nearly every player returns next season, including the two leading scorers, Kujawa (24 goals) and Ludwig (15 goals, 11 assists).

Others who started in a significant number of matches and will be back are Flo Beshiri, Jessica Bronke, Cara Doogan and Kimmy Grimmer.

Additional returning Mustangs who saw plenty of starts are Megan Martin, Amanda Meyers, Jess Pikul, Lauren Rusk, Jacquelyn Thate.

"Hopefully this will be a learning thing for some of our girls," Jacobson said. "We have to get better and play harder, like they did."

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