Triad gains revenge
on Saint Viator, earns title berth
Harshany's 2nd half goal nets Knights' 23rd-consecutive win
By Michael Wojtychiw
PALATINE - Triad came into Friday's second Class AA semifinal at Fremd with gaudy stats.
The Knights: boasted a 105-3 scoring margin; won 22 straight after tying Granite City in the season opener; hadn't allowed a goal in the past 13 games; and made its third trip to state in the past five years in search of its second title in that stretch.
Triad (22-0-1), coincidentally, had met their semifinal opponent Saint Viator twice previously in the state tournament. In 2002 and 2003, the Lions beat them.
Saint Viator couldn't complete the trifecta as Triad came up from the Metro East area to hand the Lions their first loss since May 22, a 1-0 decision.
The goal was the first goal allowed by the Lions in the postseason.
Even with the loss, Saint Viator manager Mike Taylor — who is about to conclude his long career as the Lions' coach — was happy how his team performed in a steamy afternoon tilt.
"We scouted them. We knew if we played as a team, played well defensively and kept them out, if we catch one or two breaks, maybe we'd be able to put it away," he said. "They're a very good team. I thought my girls played unbelievably.
"As a team defense, we shut things down. We gave up a few chances, but sometimes you have to tip your hat, because they were better than you."
Despite the 1-0 score, a lot of the play took place in the Knights' offensive zone. The Saint Viator defense had to work harder than it may have expected.
That was especially seen in the 18th minute when Triad junior forward Gina Catanzaro’s shot was saved by the Lions' keeper Lilly Collins, but rolled along the goal line before defender Emily Rascher knocked the ball away. That kept game scoreless, which is how the first half ended.
Defense has been the name of the game for the Lions in their six-game winning streak. In addition to the skein, the team allowed only one goal each in the two wins prior to the postseason run.
"We really wanted to give it our all and do everything we could for (coach Mike) Taylor because it's his last season," Collins said. "We have seven seniors, so we all really wanted it and wanted to go far. Every year we come up with goals and one of them was to win PepsiCo, which we did, another was to get to state and get that sweatshirt, which we did.
" We got here and we're very grateful."
After a slow start in the scoreless first half, Triad found a way to put the ball into the back of the net early in the second half. Sophomore forward Laney Harshany shot a laser from about 30 yards over Collins' outstretched arms. The goal gave Harshany, Chicagoland Soccer's MVP of the Match, 14 goals on the year.
"When I saw the open space in front of me, I looked up and knew I had a chance for a shot. So I took it and it went in," she said. "I started to make a run down the middle of the field, with everyone else on the outside, so it gave me all that space."
"She was in front of the bench and as soon as she took that touch we were all telling her 'Hit it! ' That was a great strike," Triad manager Matt Bettlach said. "That's why we said hit it, because she can hit from that yardage out. When she strikes it, it'll go.
"Laney has that ability to do that, and she has the green light to do it from everywhere. And she took it."
At times during the first half and even after the goal, it seemed as if Triad would break open the floodgates, but that never happened. A good part of the reason was the play of Collins.
"I'm constantly looking around to see if everyone's marked to where if they get a shot on and I can't get it completely, I have those girls marked wherever they need to be," she said. "I'm constantly yelling and watching the ball, just making sure I'm ready for any shot at any point."
Bettlach also felt as if the Knights left goals on the pitch.
"Credit their keeper (Collins)," he said. "Sometimes, even when you think you have the most wide-open net, here comes the defender. And they were. They pressed. They weren't going to give up on anything.
"We left three on the field, at least, that we feel could have been easy tuck-ins."
Saint Viator’s best chance came with 2 minutes, 1 second remaining when a shot from right of the goal hit the frame before bouncing away.
"There was a cross there, and I think the goalkeeper cheated a bit and thought it was going to go out," Taylor said. "Then it swerved.
"That's the break you need, and I always say you have to catch a break here or there and be lucky about it."
With the loss, the Lions face Saint Ignatius for third place Saturday at Fremd. With the program's second trophy in three state playoff runs secured, Collins and her squad know that they can't dwell on Friday's loss.
"We want to win that third place," Collins said. "We're not stopping here. Even though we played an amazing team today and lost, we're still going to go in tomorrow and we're going to win, go for that third place."
"There's only four teams playing right now, and we're one of those four," Taylor said. "I told them I couldn't be more proud of them."
Triad will try to take its third third title and first since 2012, when they take on Joliet Catholic, a 7-1 winner over Saint Ignatius in Friday's first semifinal.
"It's crazy," Harshany said. "Since last year, how we didn't get to come because of COVID and this being my first year, it's an amazing feeling."
Joliet Catholic will be a formidable opponent.
"Some of the coaches out here were watching (Joliet Catholic's win), but you have to play the game," the Triad manager said. "We don't like to adjust if we don't have to, but it looks like we might need to talk about some things.
"We'll do what we do, we'll talk about it and make sure the girls are ready to play."
Starting lineups
Triad
GK: Reagan Chigas
D: Avery Bohnenstiehl
D: Emily Rosenthal
D: Savannah Stauffer
D: Brynn Presley
MF: Gracie Giacoletto
MF: Kinlee Lippert
MF: Ezra Wilder
F: Maddie Milligan
F: Laney Harshany
F: Carson Bohnenstiehl
Saint Viator
GK: Lilly Collins
D: Emma Ziebka
D: Laila Azari
D: Molly Craig
D: Emily Rasher
MF: Emilie Doersching
MF: Sydney Grant
MF: Gabby Brown
MF: Zophie Perez
F: Caroline Sexton
F: Taylor Brakett
Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match:
Laney Harshany, so., MF, Triad
Scoring summary
First half
No scoring
Second half
Triad - Laney Harshany (unassisted), 45th minute
on Saint Viator, earns title berth
Harshany's 2nd half goal nets Knights' 23rd-consecutive win
By Michael Wojtychiw
PALATINE - Triad came into Friday's second Class AA semifinal at Fremd with gaudy stats.
The Knights: boasted a 105-3 scoring margin; won 22 straight after tying Granite City in the season opener; hadn't allowed a goal in the past 13 games; and made its third trip to state in the past five years in search of its second title in that stretch.
Triad (22-0-1), coincidentally, had met their semifinal opponent Saint Viator twice previously in the state tournament. In 2002 and 2003, the Lions beat them.
Saint Viator couldn't complete the trifecta as Triad came up from the Metro East area to hand the Lions their first loss since May 22, a 1-0 decision.
The goal was the first goal allowed by the Lions in the postseason.
Even with the loss, Saint Viator manager Mike Taylor — who is about to conclude his long career as the Lions' coach — was happy how his team performed in a steamy afternoon tilt.
"We scouted them. We knew if we played as a team, played well defensively and kept them out, if we catch one or two breaks, maybe we'd be able to put it away," he said. "They're a very good team. I thought my girls played unbelievably.
"As a team defense, we shut things down. We gave up a few chances, but sometimes you have to tip your hat, because they were better than you."
Despite the 1-0 score, a lot of the play took place in the Knights' offensive zone. The Saint Viator defense had to work harder than it may have expected.
That was especially seen in the 18th minute when Triad junior forward Gina Catanzaro’s shot was saved by the Lions' keeper Lilly Collins, but rolled along the goal line before defender Emily Rascher knocked the ball away. That kept game scoreless, which is how the first half ended.
Defense has been the name of the game for the Lions in their six-game winning streak. In addition to the skein, the team allowed only one goal each in the two wins prior to the postseason run.
"We really wanted to give it our all and do everything we could for (coach Mike) Taylor because it's his last season," Collins said. "We have seven seniors, so we all really wanted it and wanted to go far. Every year we come up with goals and one of them was to win PepsiCo, which we did, another was to get to state and get that sweatshirt, which we did.
" We got here and we're very grateful."
After a slow start in the scoreless first half, Triad found a way to put the ball into the back of the net early in the second half. Sophomore forward Laney Harshany shot a laser from about 30 yards over Collins' outstretched arms. The goal gave Harshany, Chicagoland Soccer's MVP of the Match, 14 goals on the year.
"When I saw the open space in front of me, I looked up and knew I had a chance for a shot. So I took it and it went in," she said. "I started to make a run down the middle of the field, with everyone else on the outside, so it gave me all that space."
"She was in front of the bench and as soon as she took that touch we were all telling her 'Hit it! ' That was a great strike," Triad manager Matt Bettlach said. "That's why we said hit it, because she can hit from that yardage out. When she strikes it, it'll go.
"Laney has that ability to do that, and she has the green light to do it from everywhere. And she took it."
At times during the first half and even after the goal, it seemed as if Triad would break open the floodgates, but that never happened. A good part of the reason was the play of Collins.
"I'm constantly looking around to see if everyone's marked to where if they get a shot on and I can't get it completely, I have those girls marked wherever they need to be," she said. "I'm constantly yelling and watching the ball, just making sure I'm ready for any shot at any point."
Bettlach also felt as if the Knights left goals on the pitch.
"Credit their keeper (Collins)," he said. "Sometimes, even when you think you have the most wide-open net, here comes the defender. And they were. They pressed. They weren't going to give up on anything.
"We left three on the field, at least, that we feel could have been easy tuck-ins."
Saint Viator’s best chance came with 2 minutes, 1 second remaining when a shot from right of the goal hit the frame before bouncing away.
"There was a cross there, and I think the goalkeeper cheated a bit and thought it was going to go out," Taylor said. "Then it swerved.
"That's the break you need, and I always say you have to catch a break here or there and be lucky about it."
With the loss, the Lions face Saint Ignatius for third place Saturday at Fremd. With the program's second trophy in three state playoff runs secured, Collins and her squad know that they can't dwell on Friday's loss.
"We want to win that third place," Collins said. "We're not stopping here. Even though we played an amazing team today and lost, we're still going to go in tomorrow and we're going to win, go for that third place."
"There's only four teams playing right now, and we're one of those four," Taylor said. "I told them I couldn't be more proud of them."
Triad will try to take its third third title and first since 2012, when they take on Joliet Catholic, a 7-1 winner over Saint Ignatius in Friday's first semifinal.
"It's crazy," Harshany said. "Since last year, how we didn't get to come because of COVID and this being my first year, it's an amazing feeling."
Joliet Catholic will be a formidable opponent.
"Some of the coaches out here were watching (Joliet Catholic's win), but you have to play the game," the Triad manager said. "We don't like to adjust if we don't have to, but it looks like we might need to talk about some things.
"We'll do what we do, we'll talk about it and make sure the girls are ready to play."
Starting lineups
Triad
GK: Reagan Chigas
D: Avery Bohnenstiehl
D: Emily Rosenthal
D: Savannah Stauffer
D: Brynn Presley
MF: Gracie Giacoletto
MF: Kinlee Lippert
MF: Ezra Wilder
F: Maddie Milligan
F: Laney Harshany
F: Carson Bohnenstiehl
Saint Viator
GK: Lilly Collins
D: Emma Ziebka
D: Laila Azari
D: Molly Craig
D: Emily Rasher
MF: Emilie Doersching
MF: Sydney Grant
MF: Gabby Brown
MF: Zophie Perez
F: Caroline Sexton
F: Taylor Brakett
Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match:
Laney Harshany, so., MF, Triad
Scoring summary
First half
No scoring
Second half
Triad - Laney Harshany (unassisted), 45th minute