Guerin Prep soccer wins 1st regional title in school history
(River Grove) The girls' soccer team at Guerin College Preparatory High School, 8001 W. Belmont Avenue, has earned their first regional title in the school's 50-year history.
Junior forward Mary Jo Toohey netted a hat trick leading Guerin Prep to a 5-0 over Wells in the IHSA Class 1A Regional Final. It was Guerin Prep's third consecutive appearance in a regional final on their home field, Holy Cross Field.
Nerves were running high but Toohey calmed them for the Gators (7-7-1) with a pair of first half goals off a couple of great long passes. The first came about 10 minutes in when junior defender Melissa Tyler sent Toohey through with a long clearance, and she did the rest to get the Gators on the board. Junior defender Olivia Jucha sent a similar ball to Toohey later in the half and Toohey produced the same result.
A bit of mysterious play gave the Gators their third goal as Jucha took a fine corner kick that both teams fought for. Junior midfielder Caroline Corbeil last touched it for the Gators before the ball eluded the control of a couple of Wells defenders and goalkeeper Jazmin Rodriguez and landed across the goal line and into the net giving the Gators a bit of a cushion. It was Corbeil's first goal of 2013.
Toohey added her third goal of the game after that giving her four in the playoffs and 11 on the season with senior forward Paulina Rodriguez finishing it off with her seventh of the campaign and fourth of the playoffs when a Jazmin Rodriguez clearance rebounded off her and rolled into the Raiders' goal to make the final 5-0.
The Guerin Prep defense neutralized Wells' dangerous tandem of Bricia and Cynthia Vazquez, who teamed up for five goals in the Raiders' regional semifinal win over hope on May 7. Sophomore goalkeeper Claudia Guerrero earned her second shutout of the season making some big saves when she had to and handling Wells' corner kicks flawlessly.
The Gators will try to keep this historic run going facing Chicago Academy Regional winner Josephinum Academy on Wednesday, May 15, at 4:30PM in the Sectional Semifinal at Holy Cross Field.
Special thanks to Mr. Danny Carlino (Girls' Assistant Varsity Soccer Coach, P.A. Announcer and Statistician) for the write-up of this game summary.
Sharing in the mission of the Sisters of Providence, Guerin College Preparatory High School, a Catholic Learning Community, committed to works of love, mercy and justice, is dedicated to the education and faith development of young women and men and to the cultivation of individual values and skills.