Johnston's late goal
gives Carmel 1st state title
78th-minute score gives Corsairs 1-0 win over Glenwood
By Mike Garofola
NAPERVILLE -- Exhaustion etched on their faces, their fatigued bodies ready to betray them, the players from Carmel knew just one goal would be enough to win an elusive state title for their program and school.
Erin Johnston provided just that, and now Carmel has the big trophy at long, long last.
The Corsairs junior earned Chicagoland Soccer's MVP of the Match honors after her 78th minute shot crossed the box and found the upper right corner - sending the Carmel faithful into orbit. Johnston's teammates followed suit two minutes later when the center official whistled the end of the Class 2A season.
The Corsairs lifted the trophy after getting by a quality Glenwood side 1-0 Saturday afternoon at North Central College.
"This all feels real good right now," said a now-calm Johnston, who was mobbed by her mates and coaching staff.
"It really (was) a shot. (That's) all I had planned when I got the ball from MacKenzie (Sheehan), because I knew there wasn't much time left, and anything on frame at that point could go in."
It was only Johnston's third goal of the season, but it might end up being the biggest of her high school, and perhaps, entire soccer career.
The junior, who has already committed to play at Marquette following the 2016 season, took one touch after Sheehan got her the ball, then found the upper right corner
with a lofted shot that carried just over the outstretched gloves of Titans keeper Morgan Lauher, who came on for Mara Cunningham after the break.
"Amazing," was all manager John Halloran could immediately muster long after his club celebrated this memorable victory in front of their fans, who listened, watched and cheered as each player received their championship medals on a gorgeous June afternoon.
"I could go down the list and tell you who gave us huge efforts in this game, and actually I will before leaving today, but without everyone who is here and in uniform, this never happens. And I can honestly say that state trophy is not leaving my sight for several days," said the thrilled Halloran, who guided his club to a 21-3-1 overall record and is now just three victories from 200 in his career.
The Corsairs culminated this three-week long tournament with yet another clean-sheet, its sixth in seven matches, The only goal it conceded along the way went to Lemont in a 2-1 semifinal victory here Friday.
"(Christina) O'Block has been tremendous all throughout in goal, Haley Miller, just a sophomore has been great as our centerback, Emma (Kobitter) and Mary Murphy alongside Haley -- just as fantastic as the others," said Halloran, who began, as promised, to tick off the names on that aforementioned list. "And how about those three players who came back from club to play their senior year with us?"
Halloran referred to MacKenzie and Megan Runyan and Amanda Lasso. The trio, whose return helped fill in the final blanks, gave the Corsairs the last few missing pieces to a championship team.
"Those three came back, and we never missed a beat," he said. "(It) was as if they had been here right from the start. Everyone worked for each other, not themselves, and that's how you get through a long season, and advance this far, and in our case, win a state title."
There were moments, however, when it appeared the Corsairs were in trouble, particularly after a well-played first 40 minutes. Then the action turned around into pure panic for both Halloran and his coaching staff, especially Stephanie Swanson, who was a star on the 2008 club which came into the state tournament with a 22-2-0 record and did the old one-and-done after a 1-0 loss to Downers Grove South in its tourney opener.
"I thought we played pretty well in that first half," said a now-relieved Halloran. "But I don't know what happened during the break, because we came out so flat, and (Glenwood) really got us on our heels and immediately put us under pressure. And frankly, I thought we were in for it at that time."
The longtime Carmel manger watched as the Titans (18-5-3) easily played through their best player, Kelly Graves, who in turn distributed through her now-confident mates, Taylor Parriott, Katie Juhlin, Madison Volpert and Kennedy Sheedy as if they were the only players on the big pitch at Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium.
That spurred Halloran to go to his seven-player, super-subs unit which includes Alyssa Cepon, Grace Nolan, Abigail Potter, Jennifer Doyle, Madeline Lombardo, Elizabeth Sykes and Lisa Harward. The coach regularly uses the group to bring on fresh legs during each half of each match. This time he did it earlier.
"When (those) starters came off, I went to them and said 'What the heck are you doing out there?' hoping the quick lecture would help them reset, and get themselves back to where they had been in that first half. But Stephanie (Swanson) outdid me this time around," laughed Halloran.
"She remembers being here in 2008, and wasting an opportunity to advance into the semifinals, and there was no way she wanted our girls to replicate that day, not when we are this close. So she let them have it with a little more force than I did. I think it made her feel a little better, and I know it made more of an impact than my pep talk did."
The urgency of the coaches' directives showed their effect.
An enterprising and courageous run up the left side from Angela Salvi, ended when Megan Runyan fired wide, but it signaled a rebirth for the Corsairs in the 62nd minute.
Six minutes later, the sophomore Salvi was at it again. She ran hard to the endline before delivering a lovely cross to Kayla Handel that Titans' keeper Laugher hauled in.
After Glenwood's Graves tricked her way into the area - and the trio of Miller, Kobitter and Murphy smothered the 27-goal scorer with some sharp tackling -- the now energized Corsairs attacked got back in gear.
In the run of play, a wonderful early ball from Lasso put MacKenzie Runyan in close - and if not for a well-timed clearing effort from senior defender Maggie Juhlin, the senior striker might have found the back of the net at 71 minutes.
An innocent looking restart from Megan Runyan made something out of nothing when Johnston delivered the game-winner two minutes from time. Then the Corsairs did well to manage the final time to bring home their first title.
Glenwood coach Jay Lipe, who is nearing 400 career wins in his brilliant career, was gracious in defeat.
"It was an excellent game, which could have gone either way," said classy Titans' manager Jay Lipe, whose class of 2015 made it to the finals every year and claimed the championship trophy in 2013. "But (Carmel) kept us out of their net, and they capitalized at the end to get the win.
"This run with this group has been very special. Each time is unique to itself. Of course I am very proud of this year's team, and quite blessed to have a group of players who are so easy to coach."
Carmel, in only its second trip to the finals, joined the roster of state champions.
"We had a tough semifinal on Friday, but came back out here today, and maybe didn't play our best, or very pretty soccer, but we did what we had to do as a team to get the job done and win a state championship," Johnston said. "It's the best feeling in the world right now."
Starting lineups
Glenwood
GK- Mara Cunningham
D- Alie Smith
D- Blaire Marker
D- Maggie Juhlin
D- Madison Volpert
MF- Rachel Mays
MF- Kelly Graves
MF- Kennedy Sheedy
MF- Maddie Klintworth
F- Taylor Parriott
F- Katie Juhlin
Carmel
GK- Christina O'Block
D- Emma Kobitter
D- Haley Miller
D- Mary Murphy
MF- Kayla Handel
MF- Angela Salvi
MF- Amanda Lasso
MF- Megan Runyan
MF- MacKenzie Sheehan
F- Erin Johnston
F- McKenzie Runyan
MVP of the Match: Erin Johnston, F, Carmel
Officials: Sam Nachampassack (center); John Bouc (assistant); Lorry Salasche (assistant); Mark Kenar (4th)
gives Carmel 1st state title
78th-minute score gives Corsairs 1-0 win over Glenwood
By Mike Garofola
NAPERVILLE -- Exhaustion etched on their faces, their fatigued bodies ready to betray them, the players from Carmel knew just one goal would be enough to win an elusive state title for their program and school.
Erin Johnston provided just that, and now Carmel has the big trophy at long, long last.
The Corsairs junior earned Chicagoland Soccer's MVP of the Match honors after her 78th minute shot crossed the box and found the upper right corner - sending the Carmel faithful into orbit. Johnston's teammates followed suit two minutes later when the center official whistled the end of the Class 2A season.
The Corsairs lifted the trophy after getting by a quality Glenwood side 1-0 Saturday afternoon at North Central College.
"This all feels real good right now," said a now-calm Johnston, who was mobbed by her mates and coaching staff.
"It really (was) a shot. (That's) all I had planned when I got the ball from MacKenzie (Sheehan), because I knew there wasn't much time left, and anything on frame at that point could go in."
It was only Johnston's third goal of the season, but it might end up being the biggest of her high school, and perhaps, entire soccer career.
The junior, who has already committed to play at Marquette following the 2016 season, took one touch after Sheehan got her the ball, then found the upper right corner
with a lofted shot that carried just over the outstretched gloves of Titans keeper Morgan Lauher, who came on for Mara Cunningham after the break.
"Amazing," was all manager John Halloran could immediately muster long after his club celebrated this memorable victory in front of their fans, who listened, watched and cheered as each player received their championship medals on a gorgeous June afternoon.
"I could go down the list and tell you who gave us huge efforts in this game, and actually I will before leaving today, but without everyone who is here and in uniform, this never happens. And I can honestly say that state trophy is not leaving my sight for several days," said the thrilled Halloran, who guided his club to a 21-3-1 overall record and is now just three victories from 200 in his career.
The Corsairs culminated this three-week long tournament with yet another clean-sheet, its sixth in seven matches, The only goal it conceded along the way went to Lemont in a 2-1 semifinal victory here Friday.
"(Christina) O'Block has been tremendous all throughout in goal, Haley Miller, just a sophomore has been great as our centerback, Emma (Kobitter) and Mary Murphy alongside Haley -- just as fantastic as the others," said Halloran, who began, as promised, to tick off the names on that aforementioned list. "And how about those three players who came back from club to play their senior year with us?"
Halloran referred to MacKenzie and Megan Runyan and Amanda Lasso. The trio, whose return helped fill in the final blanks, gave the Corsairs the last few missing pieces to a championship team.
"Those three came back, and we never missed a beat," he said. "(It) was as if they had been here right from the start. Everyone worked for each other, not themselves, and that's how you get through a long season, and advance this far, and in our case, win a state title."
There were moments, however, when it appeared the Corsairs were in trouble, particularly after a well-played first 40 minutes. Then the action turned around into pure panic for both Halloran and his coaching staff, especially Stephanie Swanson, who was a star on the 2008 club which came into the state tournament with a 22-2-0 record and did the old one-and-done after a 1-0 loss to Downers Grove South in its tourney opener.
"I thought we played pretty well in that first half," said a now-relieved Halloran. "But I don't know what happened during the break, because we came out so flat, and (Glenwood) really got us on our heels and immediately put us under pressure. And frankly, I thought we were in for it at that time."
The longtime Carmel manger watched as the Titans (18-5-3) easily played through their best player, Kelly Graves, who in turn distributed through her now-confident mates, Taylor Parriott, Katie Juhlin, Madison Volpert and Kennedy Sheedy as if they were the only players on the big pitch at Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium.
That spurred Halloran to go to his seven-player, super-subs unit which includes Alyssa Cepon, Grace Nolan, Abigail Potter, Jennifer Doyle, Madeline Lombardo, Elizabeth Sykes and Lisa Harward. The coach regularly uses the group to bring on fresh legs during each half of each match. This time he did it earlier.
"When (those) starters came off, I went to them and said 'What the heck are you doing out there?' hoping the quick lecture would help them reset, and get themselves back to where they had been in that first half. But Stephanie (Swanson) outdid me this time around," laughed Halloran.
"She remembers being here in 2008, and wasting an opportunity to advance into the semifinals, and there was no way she wanted our girls to replicate that day, not when we are this close. So she let them have it with a little more force than I did. I think it made her feel a little better, and I know it made more of an impact than my pep talk did."
The urgency of the coaches' directives showed their effect.
An enterprising and courageous run up the left side from Angela Salvi, ended when Megan Runyan fired wide, but it signaled a rebirth for the Corsairs in the 62nd minute.
Six minutes later, the sophomore Salvi was at it again. She ran hard to the endline before delivering a lovely cross to Kayla Handel that Titans' keeper Laugher hauled in.
After Glenwood's Graves tricked her way into the area - and the trio of Miller, Kobitter and Murphy smothered the 27-goal scorer with some sharp tackling -- the now energized Corsairs attacked got back in gear.
In the run of play, a wonderful early ball from Lasso put MacKenzie Runyan in close - and if not for a well-timed clearing effort from senior defender Maggie Juhlin, the senior striker might have found the back of the net at 71 minutes.
An innocent looking restart from Megan Runyan made something out of nothing when Johnston delivered the game-winner two minutes from time. Then the Corsairs did well to manage the final time to bring home their first title.
Glenwood coach Jay Lipe, who is nearing 400 career wins in his brilliant career, was gracious in defeat.
"It was an excellent game, which could have gone either way," said classy Titans' manager Jay Lipe, whose class of 2015 made it to the finals every year and claimed the championship trophy in 2013. "But (Carmel) kept us out of their net, and they capitalized at the end to get the win.
"This run with this group has been very special. Each time is unique to itself. Of course I am very proud of this year's team, and quite blessed to have a group of players who are so easy to coach."
Carmel, in only its second trip to the finals, joined the roster of state champions.
"We had a tough semifinal on Friday, but came back out here today, and maybe didn't play our best, or very pretty soccer, but we did what we had to do as a team to get the job done and win a state championship," Johnston said. "It's the best feeling in the world right now."
Starting lineups
Glenwood
GK- Mara Cunningham
D- Alie Smith
D- Blaire Marker
D- Maggie Juhlin
D- Madison Volpert
MF- Rachel Mays
MF- Kelly Graves
MF- Kennedy Sheedy
MF- Maddie Klintworth
F- Taylor Parriott
F- Katie Juhlin
Carmel
GK- Christina O'Block
D- Emma Kobitter
D- Haley Miller
D- Mary Murphy
MF- Kayla Handel
MF- Angela Salvi
MF- Amanda Lasso
MF- Megan Runyan
MF- MacKenzie Sheehan
F- Erin Johnston
F- McKenzie Runyan
MVP of the Match: Erin Johnston, F, Carmel
Officials: Sam Nachampassack (center); John Bouc (assistant); Lorry Salasche (assistant); Mark Kenar (4th)