Stellick's late goal lifts Geneva past Lake Park

Playing in her first high school postseason game, Geneva freshman Maddie Stellick picked an opportune time to notch the first playoff goal of her prep career Wednesday night.

Stellick sent a point-blank shot into the back of the net with 17:25 remaining in the second half to snap a 1-1 deadlock and propel the seventh-seeded Vikings (9-10-3) to a 2-1 Class 3A girls soccer regional semifinal victory over Lake Park (10-8-3) at Burgess Field.

"The ball got through and it was all kind of a blur," said Stellick. "It (the ball) came past and I was lucky enough to get a foot on it. It's an honor to score a goal in the regionals."

The play that led to Stellick's go-ahead tally originated from a corner kick by senior Megan Fitz.

Rather than sending a long corner toward the net, Fitz quickly delivered a short pass to teammate Quincy Swanson, who chipped a long ball toward a crowd in front of the Lancers' net.

"If the angle is open, then I will most likely pass it back and if it's not I will just take the corner," said Fitz. "The girl was marking her but I had a good enough angle to see that Quincy (Swanson) could get a 1-touch ball off."

Stellick was happy to help send senior teammates Briar Schwardt, Mary Landry, Caitlin Harkleroad, Megan Newingham, Megan Albrecht, Riley Sanders, Swanson and Fitz to Saturday's regional championship against co-Upstate Eight Conference River Division champion St. Charles North (17-2-2).

"This game was for all the seniors," said Stellick. "We wanted to make it through just to make their season so much better. This could have been their last game because a lot of them aren't playing in college.

"We're all playing for them."

Fitz admittedly felt it was "go time" for her team as the second half progressed.

"As the time started to wind down, we picked up our intensity and knew that we had to score," said Fitz. "We got the job done."

"Half of our team has not played in the playoffs," said Vikings coach Megan Owens. "Half of our team has not been in the situation where you have to win to advance (in the tournament). I think nerves got the best of us at certain points and time but we triumphed."

Geneva grabbed a 1-0 lead 16 minutes into the match on Mary Landry's redirect header off a chip pass from Swanson.

Senior Lexi Ruffolo notched the equalizer with 10:55 left in the first half, helping provide a much-needed spark for the Lancers.

"After we scored our first goal, I thought we definitely gained back that momentum," said Lake Park coach Chris Fruehling. "It re-energized us and lifted the spirits. In the second half, it was a 50-50 game and you have to credit them (the Vikings) on finishing their opportunity. We didn't capitalize on some chances of ours."

Fruehling, whose team also included 5 freshmen starters, praised seniors Caitlyn Ryba, Eren Uribe, Vanessa Brooks, Casey Harris and Ruffolo for their efforts.

"It has been wonderful to see the seniors take that leadership role on and guide the freshmen," said Fruehling. "And you have to give credit to the freshmen for stepping up and playing at the varsity level. We have a very bright future."

Geneva will try for its fourth consecutive regional title against third-seeded St. Charles North, which handed the Vikings a 3-1 defeat in their season opener.

"We just want to show up and give a good fight on Saturday," said Owens. "I think almost every year I've been here we've hit each other and someone has knocked the other one out. It's fun that it's two Tri-Cities teams. It should be a great matchup."