Roundup for June 14
Class AA
Wauconda Supersectional
(1) Saint Viator 2, (1) Burlington Central 0
Emilie Doersching, Caroline Sexton, and their Saint Viator teammates continue to upgrade their going-away present for manager Mike Taylor.
The dynamic duo fueled a late second half goal-scoring uprising to lift the Lions over gritty, shorthanded Burlington Central (15-7-1) to advance into the state semifinal against Class AA state power Triad at 2:30 p.m. Friday afternoon at Fremd High School.
"We don't want (Taylor) to leave. If it was up to us he would stay forever. But since he's leaving Saint Viator (13-4-1) when the season is over, we're going to do whatever we can to make his time last," said Doersching, with Sexton in full agreement.
The Hall of Fame manager, who has coached 34 years -- 11 seasons with the girls program, and 33 with the boys program – had hoped to coach another year at the school. He appreciates the sentiment from his players.
The decision that he would not return has helped inspire a postseason run that sent his club to its ninth state appearance and first since a runnerup finish to St. Francis in 2018.
"I told the girls at the start of the playoffs to (just) get us to the supers, and I'll do the rest," joked Taylor.
However, he was in no laughing mood during the first hour of this contest.
"It could have been 2, maybe 3-0 (in Burlington Central's favor) at the half, but (goalkeeper) Lily (Collins) came through for us on their first real chance, and in the second half, we finally got the work rate we needed to wear them down (which) I believe led to us scoring that first goal and then the second."
Collins came to the rescue in the 28th minute to turn away what looked to be a sure-goal opportunity from the Rockets superb central-midfielder Reagan Oller. She then watched the rebound effort from Eva Samuelian find the outside netting. Burlington Central, which played without several starters who were unavailable, was unable to break the ice.
Saint Viator claimed the victory after Sexton turned, and whipped a near perfect ball to an unmarked Doersching who thumped her one-timer in at the back post in the 58th minute. Sexton then converted her spot kick at 73 minutes after she was tripped up on her way in.
That was what the Lions needed Monday, but Taylor knows they’ll need more Friday.
"We're guaranteed a state trophy right now,” he said. “But we know we have to be better if we want to be in that championship game this Saturday."
-- Mike Garofola
Class A
Bloomington Supersectional
(1) Notre Dame (Quincy) 1, (2) University (Normal) 0
The Lady Raiders made good on their first threat when Lia Quintero finished a throw-in from Lauryn Peters in the eighth minute. Keepers Aly Young and Addison VanHecke kept the sheet clean for the win and the school's sixth trip to the finals since 2010. The previous five trips ended with championship hardware. Notre Dame (17-1-1) advances to play in the semifinals against (1) Timothy (16-2-0) at 1 p.m. Friday at Hoffman Estates. "We are playing well and look forward to our semifinal match up with Timothy on Friday," said coach Mark Longo.
Mendota Supersectional
(1) Wheaton Academy 5, (1) Princeton 0
Amy Alexander's hat-trick and assist led the Warriors to the win and their third trip to the Final Four in the last five seasons. Alexander scored twice and Jocelyn Royce once for a 3-0 halftime lead. Eva DeSouza and Alexander concluded the scoring. Emily Setran contributed helpers on the first and last of Alexander's goals for Wheaton Academy (18-4-0), which won its 10th-straight game. Goalkeeper Sara Swoboda made two saves for the 14th clean-sheet for the Warriors, who will meet the winner of the (1) Marquette (Alton)-(1) Althoff match in the Columbia Supersectional (7 p.m., Tuesday). Wheaton Academy opens Final Four play at 11 a.m. Friday at Hoffman Estates High School.
Class AA
Wauconda Supersectional
(1) Saint Viator 2, (1) Burlington Central 0
Emilie Doersching, Caroline Sexton, and their Saint Viator teammates continue to upgrade their going-away present for manager Mike Taylor.
The dynamic duo fueled a late second half goal-scoring uprising to lift the Lions over gritty, shorthanded Burlington Central (15-7-1) to advance into the state semifinal against Class AA state power Triad at 2:30 p.m. Friday afternoon at Fremd High School.
"We don't want (Taylor) to leave. If it was up to us he would stay forever. But since he's leaving Saint Viator (13-4-1) when the season is over, we're going to do whatever we can to make his time last," said Doersching, with Sexton in full agreement.
The Hall of Fame manager, who has coached 34 years -- 11 seasons with the girls program, and 33 with the boys program – had hoped to coach another year at the school. He appreciates the sentiment from his players.
The decision that he would not return has helped inspire a postseason run that sent his club to its ninth state appearance and first since a runnerup finish to St. Francis in 2018.
"I told the girls at the start of the playoffs to (just) get us to the supers, and I'll do the rest," joked Taylor.
However, he was in no laughing mood during the first hour of this contest.
"It could have been 2, maybe 3-0 (in Burlington Central's favor) at the half, but (goalkeeper) Lily (Collins) came through for us on their first real chance, and in the second half, we finally got the work rate we needed to wear them down (which) I believe led to us scoring that first goal and then the second."
Collins came to the rescue in the 28th minute to turn away what looked to be a sure-goal opportunity from the Rockets superb central-midfielder Reagan Oller. She then watched the rebound effort from Eva Samuelian find the outside netting. Burlington Central, which played without several starters who were unavailable, was unable to break the ice.
Saint Viator claimed the victory after Sexton turned, and whipped a near perfect ball to an unmarked Doersching who thumped her one-timer in at the back post in the 58th minute. Sexton then converted her spot kick at 73 minutes after she was tripped up on her way in.
That was what the Lions needed Monday, but Taylor knows they’ll need more Friday.
"We're guaranteed a state trophy right now,” he said. “But we know we have to be better if we want to be in that championship game this Saturday."
-- Mike Garofola
Class A
Bloomington Supersectional
(1) Notre Dame (Quincy) 1, (2) University (Normal) 0
The Lady Raiders made good on their first threat when Lia Quintero finished a throw-in from Lauryn Peters in the eighth minute. Keepers Aly Young and Addison VanHecke kept the sheet clean for the win and the school's sixth trip to the finals since 2010. The previous five trips ended with championship hardware. Notre Dame (17-1-1) advances to play in the semifinals against (1) Timothy (16-2-0) at 1 p.m. Friday at Hoffman Estates. "We are playing well and look forward to our semifinal match up with Timothy on Friday," said coach Mark Longo.
Mendota Supersectional
(1) Wheaton Academy 5, (1) Princeton 0
Amy Alexander's hat-trick and assist led the Warriors to the win and their third trip to the Final Four in the last five seasons. Alexander scored twice and Jocelyn Royce once for a 3-0 halftime lead. Eva DeSouza and Alexander concluded the scoring. Emily Setran contributed helpers on the first and last of Alexander's goals for Wheaton Academy (18-4-0), which won its 10th-straight game. Goalkeeper Sara Swoboda made two saves for the 14th clean-sheet for the Warriors, who will meet the winner of the (1) Marquette (Alton)-(1) Althoff match in the Columbia Supersectional (7 p.m., Tuesday). Wheaton Academy opens Final Four play at 11 a.m. Friday at Hoffman Estates High School.