Practice makes perfect,
Wauconda tops Joliet Catholic
Johnson’s deflection lifts Bulldogs to 1-0 win
By Matt Le Cren
NAPERVILLE – Savannah Johnson had seen this play before and had liked the ending.
So why not a rerun?
Why not, indeed?
Johnson scored on a deflection off a free kick from Morgan Lung in the 26th minute and Wauconda hung on to beat Joliet Catholic 1-0 at Friday’s Class AA state semifinals at North Central College.
The Bulldogs (19-2-2) will attempt to win their school’s first team state championship in any sport when they take on Benet (23-3-1) in Saturday’s 1 p.m. title match.
That game will be a battle of first-time state finalists. This match featured a pair of first-time semifinalists and what it may hav lacked in drama, it made up for in historic ramifications.
The game came down to two plays. The first occurred at the 21:25 mark of the first half, when Wauconda goalie Mackenzie Arden lunged to her right to stop a 28-yard free kick from Joliet Catholic’s Makenzie Kaput.
The second followed a little over seven minutes later. Lung took a 35-yard free kick from the left wing and sent it to the top of the 6, where Dakota Thompson got a foot on it.
The ball traveled a short distance to Thompson’s left and found Johnson, who used the top of her foot to deflect the ball past JCA goalie Abby Pasternak with 13:54 to go in the half.
“It was pretty much identical to our sectional final game-winner,” Johnson said. “We worked on that play probably a thousand times in practice.
“Our coaches really prepared us for that. Morgan Lung, who takes the free kicks, she hits them on the dime every time.
“She has beautiful kicks, and we all trust her to get it where we need it. Then Dakota Thompson made the run that took my defender away and nicked it a little bit and I got the final touch.”
Pasternak, a freshman, was in position to make the save, but was crossed up when the ball came from Johnson and Thompson.
“I think she was expecting the touch off of Dakota Thompson,” Johnson said. “When I go that second touch it really threw her off and went right through her legs.”
It was the 11th goal of the season for Johnson, who instantly realized the importance of what she had done. It was only the 10th score surrendered all season by the Angels.
“Turning around and seeing everyone, your teammates and your family cheering, and everyone coming in to tackle you, is a great moment,” Johnson said. “This is more of a safety goal.
“They had great chances. Our goalie and defense stepped up huge in this game. Just having that goal gave us that safety net.”
The lead proved insurmountable, a fact that seemed to dawn on both teams quickly in a game that featured little offense. The two teams combined for only nine shots, four of which were on frame.
Joliet Catholic (18-2-0) had only one other scoring chance. That came when Cienmy got loose in the box, only to see Arden knock it away.
For most of the game, the Bulldogs packed it in defensively, especially after they got the lead. At least six defenders clogged the middle of the field, daring the Angels to attack down the flanks.
Despite possessing the speed to do so, the Angels declined and played tentatively at times.
“Wauconda played really well,” Joliet Catholic coach Oscar Valdez said. “They were not giving up on any play. They were attacking and not holding the ball too much.
“They played like six defenders on us, and they clogged everything up. We had our chance, missed it, and they had one chance and it went in. We tried to come back and it didn’t happen.”
The Angels, who started eight freshmen and sophomores, have a bright future. They produced a tremendous upset in eliminating Downstate power Notre Dame (Peoria) on its own field in the supersectional to advance to state for the first time.
“For us (the Notre Dame win) was the greatest moment ever for the program,” Valdez said. “It was amazing, so we’re excited.
“We want to build for next year, and hopefully we can come back next year.”
Valdez and his squad have one game left in their magical season.
“I’m so proud of the girls,” Valdez said. “This is our first time here.
“We weren’t ready for state yet, but there are a lot of young players. We have a good group of girls that are eager. I told them tomorrow is another day.”
Both teams will play Saturday, but only Wauconda has a shot at reaching the ultimate prize. Benet will be favored in the final but if the Bulldogs can repeat their terrific defensive performance, anything is possible.
“We focused on condensing our defense in order to prevent any of their runs through or any lay-off balls,” Wauconda senior Megan Sinnott said. “Their girls didn’t have a lot of time on the ball, so we were pressuring them right away so they didn’t have time to take or shot or find a through-ball. We were swarming.”
That’s not a new concept for the Bulldogs, who have steadily improved in recent years and now have a 68-8-6 record under coach Beau Shogren.
“The years that I’ve been here we’ve had very strong defense and really good coaches,” Sinnott said. “Our assistant coach, Dave Heinrich, is phenomenal, and he always makes sure we spend tons of time on the defense.
“We’ve played together so long that we know each other’s movements. We know that we’re going to back each other up. We move in perfect harmony at this point.”
That’s a tune Shogren loves to hear, especially from his seniors.
“The senior leadership of this team is unreal,” Shogren said. “It really is fantastic.
“They’re great people. We’ve proven we belong here, and we’ve legitimized ourselves. We have a lot of heart and skill and quality athleticism.”
Now the Bulldogs have a chance to cement their place in school history.
“It means so much,” Sinnott said. “It means so much to us, and it means so much to the school.
“It’s an amazing opportunity. I’m getting emotional just thinking about it. We said this was our goal and we got here. It’s unbelievable.”
Starting lineups
Wauconda
GK Mackenzie Arden
D Sarah Rizzo
D Olivia Kuch
D Madelyn Thompson
D Kayla Llewellyn
M Savannah Johnson
M Morgan Lung
M Rosalie Wisniewski
M Belle Johnson
M Abigail McHugh
F Megan Sinnott
Joliet Catholic
GK Abby Pasternak
D Nina D’Andrea
D Makenzie Kaput
D Bella D’Andrea
D Emmy Diaz
D Natalie D’Andrea
M Kendall McLeod
M Aliana Wildernradt
M Breanna Ciemny
F Morgan Furmaniak
F Emma Gruber
Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match – Savannah Johnson, jr., MF, Wauconda
Scoring summary
First half
Wauconda – Savannah Johnson (Dakota Thompson) 13:54
Second half
No scoring
Wauconda tops Joliet Catholic
Johnson’s deflection lifts Bulldogs to 1-0 win
By Matt Le Cren
NAPERVILLE – Savannah Johnson had seen this play before and had liked the ending.
So why not a rerun?
Why not, indeed?
Johnson scored on a deflection off a free kick from Morgan Lung in the 26th minute and Wauconda hung on to beat Joliet Catholic 1-0 at Friday’s Class AA state semifinals at North Central College.
The Bulldogs (19-2-2) will attempt to win their school’s first team state championship in any sport when they take on Benet (23-3-1) in Saturday’s 1 p.m. title match.
That game will be a battle of first-time state finalists. This match featured a pair of first-time semifinalists and what it may hav lacked in drama, it made up for in historic ramifications.
The game came down to two plays. The first occurred at the 21:25 mark of the first half, when Wauconda goalie Mackenzie Arden lunged to her right to stop a 28-yard free kick from Joliet Catholic’s Makenzie Kaput.
The second followed a little over seven minutes later. Lung took a 35-yard free kick from the left wing and sent it to the top of the 6, where Dakota Thompson got a foot on it.
The ball traveled a short distance to Thompson’s left and found Johnson, who used the top of her foot to deflect the ball past JCA goalie Abby Pasternak with 13:54 to go in the half.
“It was pretty much identical to our sectional final game-winner,” Johnson said. “We worked on that play probably a thousand times in practice.
“Our coaches really prepared us for that. Morgan Lung, who takes the free kicks, she hits them on the dime every time.
“She has beautiful kicks, and we all trust her to get it where we need it. Then Dakota Thompson made the run that took my defender away and nicked it a little bit and I got the final touch.”
Pasternak, a freshman, was in position to make the save, but was crossed up when the ball came from Johnson and Thompson.
“I think she was expecting the touch off of Dakota Thompson,” Johnson said. “When I go that second touch it really threw her off and went right through her legs.”
It was the 11th goal of the season for Johnson, who instantly realized the importance of what she had done. It was only the 10th score surrendered all season by the Angels.
“Turning around and seeing everyone, your teammates and your family cheering, and everyone coming in to tackle you, is a great moment,” Johnson said. “This is more of a safety goal.
“They had great chances. Our goalie and defense stepped up huge in this game. Just having that goal gave us that safety net.”
The lead proved insurmountable, a fact that seemed to dawn on both teams quickly in a game that featured little offense. The two teams combined for only nine shots, four of which were on frame.
Joliet Catholic (18-2-0) had only one other scoring chance. That came when Cienmy got loose in the box, only to see Arden knock it away.
For most of the game, the Bulldogs packed it in defensively, especially after they got the lead. At least six defenders clogged the middle of the field, daring the Angels to attack down the flanks.
Despite possessing the speed to do so, the Angels declined and played tentatively at times.
“Wauconda played really well,” Joliet Catholic coach Oscar Valdez said. “They were not giving up on any play. They were attacking and not holding the ball too much.
“They played like six defenders on us, and they clogged everything up. We had our chance, missed it, and they had one chance and it went in. We tried to come back and it didn’t happen.”
The Angels, who started eight freshmen and sophomores, have a bright future. They produced a tremendous upset in eliminating Downstate power Notre Dame (Peoria) on its own field in the supersectional to advance to state for the first time.
“For us (the Notre Dame win) was the greatest moment ever for the program,” Valdez said. “It was amazing, so we’re excited.
“We want to build for next year, and hopefully we can come back next year.”
Valdez and his squad have one game left in their magical season.
“I’m so proud of the girls,” Valdez said. “This is our first time here.
“We weren’t ready for state yet, but there are a lot of young players. We have a good group of girls that are eager. I told them tomorrow is another day.”
Both teams will play Saturday, but only Wauconda has a shot at reaching the ultimate prize. Benet will be favored in the final but if the Bulldogs can repeat their terrific defensive performance, anything is possible.
“We focused on condensing our defense in order to prevent any of their runs through or any lay-off balls,” Wauconda senior Megan Sinnott said. “Their girls didn’t have a lot of time on the ball, so we were pressuring them right away so they didn’t have time to take or shot or find a through-ball. We were swarming.”
That’s not a new concept for the Bulldogs, who have steadily improved in recent years and now have a 68-8-6 record under coach Beau Shogren.
“The years that I’ve been here we’ve had very strong defense and really good coaches,” Sinnott said. “Our assistant coach, Dave Heinrich, is phenomenal, and he always makes sure we spend tons of time on the defense.
“We’ve played together so long that we know each other’s movements. We know that we’re going to back each other up. We move in perfect harmony at this point.”
That’s a tune Shogren loves to hear, especially from his seniors.
“The senior leadership of this team is unreal,” Shogren said. “It really is fantastic.
“They’re great people. We’ve proven we belong here, and we’ve legitimized ourselves. We have a lot of heart and skill and quality athleticism.”
Now the Bulldogs have a chance to cement their place in school history.
“It means so much,” Sinnott said. “It means so much to us, and it means so much to the school.
“It’s an amazing opportunity. I’m getting emotional just thinking about it. We said this was our goal and we got here. It’s unbelievable.”
Starting lineups
Wauconda
GK Mackenzie Arden
D Sarah Rizzo
D Olivia Kuch
D Madelyn Thompson
D Kayla Llewellyn
M Savannah Johnson
M Morgan Lung
M Rosalie Wisniewski
M Belle Johnson
M Abigail McHugh
F Megan Sinnott
Joliet Catholic
GK Abby Pasternak
D Nina D’Andrea
D Makenzie Kaput
D Bella D’Andrea
D Emmy Diaz
D Natalie D’Andrea
M Kendall McLeod
M Aliana Wildernradt
M Breanna Ciemny
F Morgan Furmaniak
F Emma Gruber
Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match – Savannah Johnson, jr., MF, Wauconda
Scoring summary
First half
Wauconda – Savannah Johnson (Dakota Thompson) 13:54
Second half
No scoring