Latin ends Aurora Central's season in supers
Aurora Central Catholic had never even won a girls soccer regional until this season. The Chargers' momentum carried them all the way to the Concordia University Class 1A supersectional Tuesday afternoon against Chicago Latin.
ACC coach Kristy Kane was frank, if nothing else, after her girls fell 2-1 in River Forest.
"We were at a disadvantage," Kane said. "You saw the way (the Latin girls) moved, passed and touched (the ball). You could tell they have been playing soccer their entire lives. We have more of a mish-mosh group of girls. For most of (our girls) their season is the high school season."
The Romans had far more quality scoring chances than ACC in the opening half.
But, then again, Latin (19-1-2) also had a distinct advantage of playing with a significant wind at its back in the first 40 minutes.
"The weather was not our friend tonight," Kane said.
The Romans' top striker, junior Madison Gilbert, cashed in on the last of three excellent chances to break the scoreless draw with just under 14 minutes remaining in the opening half.
"I had a teammate (Lily Keiderling) hit me right between two (ACC) girls," Gilbert said. "I shot it and it luckily bounced off one of them."
The ball was redirected into the Chargers' net as a result.
The Chargers' best scoring opportunity in the first half came from the determined play of senior Jordyn Sundberg. But the Latin keeper denied all three of her quality looks.
"I was trying so hard to score the whole game," Sundberg said.
ACC keeper Bry Mandarino made two brilliant saves to keep the Chargers close, but the junior had no chance against Keiderling early in the second half.
After ACC failed to clear a cross, Keiderling rifled a ball just under the part of the goal where the left post and crossbar form a 90-degree angle.
But ACC (14-8) refused to back down.
"We started to break them down defensively," said ACC junior Megan Crabb.
Sundberg had nearly forged the equalizer a half-minute into the second half, but a Latin defender brushed aside a sure goal with her right foot.
But 19 minutes into the second half, Latin had no response for another collaboration between Sundberg and Crabb.
Sundberg fed Crabb on a give-and-go; the junior did not miss from 14 yards out.
"I'm happy that she was able to finish it," Sundberg said.
"They were a difficult team," Crabb said of the Romans. "We had a run for our money. I knew if I could hit (the shot) to the (left) corner their goalie wouldn't be able to reach it."
Unfortunately for the Chargers, though, Sabrina Dudziak was the only player to have a shot for the remainder of the match.