It's St. Francis' moment to shine
Friday night's Class 2A girls soccer sectional championship between Wheaton Academy and the host Spartans of St. Francis was far too entertaining to get wrapped up in a single moment.
Many will be eager to see the video of St. Francis senior Regan Kasprak's 98th-minute shot that was ruled a goal before officials conferred and determined that it was not. But in a game between two rivals for a sectional championship that went to overtime and then penalty kicks, Kasprak's goal - or non-goal - is ancillary.
It was just one part of a dramatic game that ended with the No. 3 seeded Spartans upsetting Wheaton Academy, the No. 1 seed, 3-2 after taking the penalty kicks 4-3.
"Last year we hosted sectionals and didn't make it that far, so for us to get here and then have a crowd like this to get to enjoy this with, it means a lot," St. Francis coach Jim Winslow said.
For the game's first 10 minutes or so, the two teams mostly tested one another as neither team registered a shot on goal until St. Francis' Erin Peck lost her mark and let one rip from the right corner of the goalie box in the game's 13th minute to put St. Francis ahead 1-0.
Wheaton Academy answered with a goal of its own from Rebecca Smith in the 25th minute before Kendra Pasquale of St. Francis and Gabi LaMantia of Wheaton Academy traded goals in the final 10 minutes of the half to go to the break tied 2-2.
In the second half Wheaton Academy managed 3 shots on goal to St. Francis' 2, but neither team could find the back of the net.
In overtime, both teams had chances, including a shot from Wheaton Academy's Erin Teevans that missed the corner post by a matter of inches.
"We talk often about finishing not only with precision but finishing with a sense of urgency," Wheaton Academy coach Dave Underwood said. "Those are the heartbreakers - those are the ones you wish you had back - but that's soccer."
In penalties, both teams made three of their first four attempts. When a Wheaton attempt in the fifth round sailed wide, St. Francis junior Brooke Rohback stepped up and found the back of the net to clinch the win.
"I get goosebumps thinking about (the atmosphere) and I can kind of allow myself to do that now," Winslow said.