Girls soccer: Carmel meets classy challenge from Hersey

Defending Class 2A girls soccer state champion Carmel Catholic has moved up in class to 3A this spring.

The Corsairs found their opening playoff game to be quite a challenge against the tougher competition.

But Carmel did advance, as Lisa Hardwardt scored the winning goal to send the Corsairs to a regional final.

Fourth seed Carmel Catholic pushed its way past No. 13 Hersey 3-2 in regional semifinal play in Mundelein on Tuesday night.

"Hopefully, the ugly one is out of the way and we're settling into our game," said Carmel Catholic coach Ray Krawzak, whose team is 12-2-4 and unbeaten over its last 10 matches. "I thought we were the better team. It really wasn't our best effort. I'll take and move on - whatever it takes to win."

Harwardt scored her first goal of the season on a header from a Kathleen Graham cross in the 46th minute.

"I knew I was the target in that situation," said Hardwardt, who came forward as a defender on the play. "I wanted to get it on the frame or get the rebound if I could get a chance. I just had to get to the ball no matter what. The goal was important, because it gave us the lead."

Carmel opened the scoring in the third minute when Lily Sykes was credited with a goal that went off a Huskies defender and into the back of the net.

Hersey (7-12-2) responded just 20 seconds later after a miscue in the back, with Grace Kozurek scoring on a loose ball at the far post to tie it at 1-1.

The Corsairs went ahead 2-1 in the 22nd minute. Marquette-bound Erin Johnston netted a penalty kick after Emma Heinrich was fouled in the penalty area.

Again the Huskies tied it, this time at 2-2 in the 32nd minute when Laura Burckhardt scored on a counter-attack after taking a pass from Kozurek.

"We've done that play a number of times this year," Kozurek said. "We've tried at times and this time it worked for us."

"We had a fantastic effort," Hersey coach Darren Llewellyn said. "My girls did exactly what I wanted and they played with honor. I thought we played well.

"For the most part we've got freshmen and sophomores mixed with some juniors. I loved this group of girls, and they've come a log way from the beginning of the season. We gave Carmel a good game."