Lake Forest falls just short vs. Lake Zurich
Scouts stop Bears’ high-powered offense, but succomb to PKs
By Matt Misiek
LAKE FOREST -- At Varsity Field Friday night, the Lake Forest Scouts and Lake Zurich Bears got defensive.
No, these ladies were not fielding questions on politics or healthcare. They let their focus and footwork do the talking in an IHSA Class 3A regional final.
For 100 full minutes, the Scouts back four of captains Gwen Walker and Hannah Bell, along with Ella Marquardt and Morgan Asmussen, anchored a magnificent team defensive display. The Bears back four of Tara Frank, Siena Robertson, Anna Biergans and MacKenzie Parchment answered the bell with the same intensity. No one was able to break through during regulation or two periods of extra time.
It came down to a penalty kick shootout, which to no surprise, remained tied after the first five shooters. After Sarah Bires’ attempt for Lake Forest went left of goal, Lake Zurich sophomore Morgan Long converted the Bears’ sixth kick, a low shot to the bottom right corner past Lake Forest keeper Sophia DiVagno. The kick sealed a 4-3 penalty shootout victory and sent Lake Zurich, ranked no. 19 in the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25, into a Warren Sectional semifinal at 7 p.m. Tuesday against Barrington. The Fillies are both the no. 1 team in the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25 and top seed in the Warren Sectional.
“I was just trying to keep calm and focus for my team and myself,” said Long. “I tried to stay positive as much as possible. They (Lake Forest) have a large student section and everyone’s yelling at me, and we’ve been building to this regional championship moment.”
Long garnered the Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match honor for coming through in crunchtime, which was no surprise to her teammates.
“We played basketball together,” said Lake Zurich goalkeeper Madison Hart. “She is one of the most athletic, tough people I know. When she came up, I knew we were going to win. She’s only a sophomore, and I can’t wait to see what she can do for this team.”
Lake Forest (12-5-1), ranked no. 9 in the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25, converted their first two penalty kicks in the shootout. Asmussen found the top right corner to lead off, and senior Elena Walker converted her kick to the top left corner, despite Hart getting a hand to it.
DiVagno, who previously made 2 quality saves in the final three minutes of extra time, stopped the Bears’ first kick from senior midfielder Erin Neeson, correctly guessing right and punching the shot away while standing up.
“I saw her (Neeson) look the other way,” said DiVagno, a freshman who has started exclusively the last two weeks due to an injury to junior keeper Cassidy Shaul. “I knew probably that she would be going to my right. I got 100% there and was able to make the save.”
Lake Zurich (18-5-0) senior forward Rebecca Kubin, whose team’s leading total rose to 30 goals after a brace against Hersey in Tuesday’s regional semifinal, closed the gap to 2-1, slotting her attempt into the lower left corner.
After Lake Forest sophomore Leland Keller’s penalty sailed over the crossbar, the Bears leveled the shootout behind junior Kristin Brousseau’s effort.
Lake Forest freshman midfielder Nicole Doucette converted the next kick to the bottom right corner. She was immediately answered by Frank’s strike to the bottom left corner.
Marquis, the Scouts’ fifth shooter, was next and her effort went wide right. Junior midfielder Samantha Hartman had the Bears’ first clinching opportunity, but her shot clanged off the right post.
The end result was heartbreaking for Lake Forest. Understandably, groups hugged and consoled each other afterwards. In the team huddle, and with a little persuasion from coach Ty Stuckslager, they all converged for a team-wide hug.
“I thought we played really well and did an excellent job of shutting down their (Lake Zurich’s) two stars,” said Stuckslager. “There were a few close ones in the second half. The first half was really a game between the 18s. The second half we really moved the ball well against the wind, and our defense played excellent. We were putting a lot of pressure on, but we just ran out of time.”
As is the case, it’s a bittersweet moment for the seniors. However Walker, who will continue her soccer career at DePaul, was still providing leadership after the game ended as she hugged and comforted Bires.
“I think we’ve been so successful this season because of how much we trusted each other, how much we believed in each other” said Walker. “And it showed in every game that we played. It was special.”
Walker also shared what she will remember most about her Lake Forest career.
“The team and the coaches,” she said. “It’s amazing to have the parent and school support but nothing will compare to the team on this field. Whether we had no fans or many fans, it was still amazing to share this with them, and it was unforgettable.”
Stuckslager did take a few moments to share his message to his whole team.
“Just what the seniors had done,” he said. “These were five dedicated girls that acted like professionals with passion. The sense of community and the sense of inclusivity that we had was unstoppable. We haven’t had that in many years, where everyone understood and wanted to be a part of it. That there is a bigger goal than ‘me’.”
Walker wanted to leave one last message to her teammates as well as future Scout players.
“To enjoy it, and to not take what you have on the field for granted. You never know as things don’t always go your way.”
Starting lineups
Lake Forest
GK: Sophia DiVagno
D: Ella Marquart
D: Gwen Walker
D: Morgan Asmussen
D: Hannah Bell
MF: Leland Keller
MF: Ingrid Falls
MF: Nicole Doucette
MF: Delaney Williams
MF: Alyssa Marquis
F: Mary Gregg
Lake Zurich
GK: Madison Hart
D: Tara Frank
D: Siena Robertson
D: Anna Biergans
D: Mackenzie Parchment
MF: Erin Neeson
MF: Morgan Long
MF: Samantha Hartman
F: Kristin Brousseau
F: Rachel Krueger
F: Rebecca Kubin
Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match: Morgan Long, MF, Lake Zurich
Officials: Alex Mavros, (center); V.J. Kumar; Robert Meulhim
Scouts stop Bears’ high-powered offense, but succomb to PKs
By Matt Misiek
LAKE FOREST -- At Varsity Field Friday night, the Lake Forest Scouts and Lake Zurich Bears got defensive.
No, these ladies were not fielding questions on politics or healthcare. They let their focus and footwork do the talking in an IHSA Class 3A regional final.
For 100 full minutes, the Scouts back four of captains Gwen Walker and Hannah Bell, along with Ella Marquardt and Morgan Asmussen, anchored a magnificent team defensive display. The Bears back four of Tara Frank, Siena Robertson, Anna Biergans and MacKenzie Parchment answered the bell with the same intensity. No one was able to break through during regulation or two periods of extra time.
It came down to a penalty kick shootout, which to no surprise, remained tied after the first five shooters. After Sarah Bires’ attempt for Lake Forest went left of goal, Lake Zurich sophomore Morgan Long converted the Bears’ sixth kick, a low shot to the bottom right corner past Lake Forest keeper Sophia DiVagno. The kick sealed a 4-3 penalty shootout victory and sent Lake Zurich, ranked no. 19 in the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25, into a Warren Sectional semifinal at 7 p.m. Tuesday against Barrington. The Fillies are both the no. 1 team in the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25 and top seed in the Warren Sectional.
“I was just trying to keep calm and focus for my team and myself,” said Long. “I tried to stay positive as much as possible. They (Lake Forest) have a large student section and everyone’s yelling at me, and we’ve been building to this regional championship moment.”
Long garnered the Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match honor for coming through in crunchtime, which was no surprise to her teammates.
“We played basketball together,” said Lake Zurich goalkeeper Madison Hart. “She is one of the most athletic, tough people I know. When she came up, I knew we were going to win. She’s only a sophomore, and I can’t wait to see what she can do for this team.”
Lake Forest (12-5-1), ranked no. 9 in the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25, converted their first two penalty kicks in the shootout. Asmussen found the top right corner to lead off, and senior Elena Walker converted her kick to the top left corner, despite Hart getting a hand to it.
DiVagno, who previously made 2 quality saves in the final three minutes of extra time, stopped the Bears’ first kick from senior midfielder Erin Neeson, correctly guessing right and punching the shot away while standing up.
“I saw her (Neeson) look the other way,” said DiVagno, a freshman who has started exclusively the last two weeks due to an injury to junior keeper Cassidy Shaul. “I knew probably that she would be going to my right. I got 100% there and was able to make the save.”
Lake Zurich (18-5-0) senior forward Rebecca Kubin, whose team’s leading total rose to 30 goals after a brace against Hersey in Tuesday’s regional semifinal, closed the gap to 2-1, slotting her attempt into the lower left corner.
After Lake Forest sophomore Leland Keller’s penalty sailed over the crossbar, the Bears leveled the shootout behind junior Kristin Brousseau’s effort.
Lake Forest freshman midfielder Nicole Doucette converted the next kick to the bottom right corner. She was immediately answered by Frank’s strike to the bottom left corner.
Marquis, the Scouts’ fifth shooter, was next and her effort went wide right. Junior midfielder Samantha Hartman had the Bears’ first clinching opportunity, but her shot clanged off the right post.
The end result was heartbreaking for Lake Forest. Understandably, groups hugged and consoled each other afterwards. In the team huddle, and with a little persuasion from coach Ty Stuckslager, they all converged for a team-wide hug.
“I thought we played really well and did an excellent job of shutting down their (Lake Zurich’s) two stars,” said Stuckslager. “There were a few close ones in the second half. The first half was really a game between the 18s. The second half we really moved the ball well against the wind, and our defense played excellent. We were putting a lot of pressure on, but we just ran out of time.”
As is the case, it’s a bittersweet moment for the seniors. However Walker, who will continue her soccer career at DePaul, was still providing leadership after the game ended as she hugged and comforted Bires.
“I think we’ve been so successful this season because of how much we trusted each other, how much we believed in each other” said Walker. “And it showed in every game that we played. It was special.”
Walker also shared what she will remember most about her Lake Forest career.
“The team and the coaches,” she said. “It’s amazing to have the parent and school support but nothing will compare to the team on this field. Whether we had no fans or many fans, it was still amazing to share this with them, and it was unforgettable.”
Stuckslager did take a few moments to share his message to his whole team.
“Just what the seniors had done,” he said. “These were five dedicated girls that acted like professionals with passion. The sense of community and the sense of inclusivity that we had was unstoppable. We haven’t had that in many years, where everyone understood and wanted to be a part of it. That there is a bigger goal than ‘me’.”
Walker wanted to leave one last message to her teammates as well as future Scout players.
“To enjoy it, and to not take what you have on the field for granted. You never know as things don’t always go your way.”
Starting lineups
Lake Forest
GK: Sophia DiVagno
D: Ella Marquart
D: Gwen Walker
D: Morgan Asmussen
D: Hannah Bell
MF: Leland Keller
MF: Ingrid Falls
MF: Nicole Doucette
MF: Delaney Williams
MF: Alyssa Marquis
F: Mary Gregg
Lake Zurich
GK: Madison Hart
D: Tara Frank
D: Siena Robertson
D: Anna Biergans
D: Mackenzie Parchment
MF: Erin Neeson
MF: Morgan Long
MF: Samantha Hartman
F: Kristin Brousseau
F: Rachel Krueger
F: Rebecca Kubin
Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match: Morgan Long, MF, Lake Zurich
Officials: Alex Mavros, (center); V.J. Kumar; Robert Meulhim