Girls soccer: St. Francis drops third-place game to Sycamore

St. Francis senior Rachel Rahman remembers the team party at her house shortly after older sister Sarah and the Spartans captured the 2012 Class 2A girls soccer championship.

Things weren't as successful in the program's return to the state finals, but there still was plenty to celebrate.

St. Francis ended up fourth after Sycamore scored twice in the second half, including with 5:16 remaining, to prevail 2-1 in Saturday's third-place game at North Central College in Naperville.

"(The 2012 tournament) was just a milestone for girls soccer and for St. Francis. Just to make it to state again is really important for us and for all of the seniors," Rahman said.

"It was my goal and the team's goal to make it to state, so it was just a large accomplishment to even make it. Having such a young team is an advantage and a disadvantage at the same time, but obviously this team has incredible potential to go far."

St. Francis (17-5) appeared to have shaken the disappointment of Friday's 1-0 semifinal loss to Deerfield. In the 19th minute Hanna Rittenhouse put a header off the post.

Rahman, a starting outside defender, scored only her second goal this season with 16:14 left in the first half for a 1-0 lead. Her 25-yard shot came after Alex Preusser's free kick was headed out of the crease.

"I'm usually very hesitant, but I knew this is my last game. I knew that every play counted," Rahman said.

Sycamore (24-3-1), however, scored twice from corner kicks by junior Cali Carl. The first one deflected off a St. Francis defender into the net with 29:32 left. The second was headed home by junior Emma Stice, positioned near the upper left corner of the box.

"Restarts maybe not so much but corner kicks we've had some success," Sycamore coach David Lichamer said. "Cali Carl puts the ball in the right spot and that second goal she found her favorite target (Stice)."

St. Francis, however, led in second-half shots and 11-8 overall as well as 7-4 in corner kicks with 6 in the second half.

"We've still got to put them away," St. Francis coach Jim Winslow said. "Credit to them. They did a good job with those set pieces. We did not. We've got to do better with that. We generated shots and stuff but didn't put stuff away."

The Spartans graduate only five starters and six seniors total - Rahman, co-captains Molly Doran and Bridget Doran, Kate LaMantia, Brooke Roback and Elli Pointner. Roback's sister Kate played for the 2012 state champions.

"I hope they don't take (state) for granted," Winslow said of the underclassmen. "It's not easy to get here. We're going to have a little bit more of a target on our back. But we'll cross that bridge when we get to it."

The state tournament marked St. Francis' first losses to non-Class 3A opponents. Before Deerfield's second-half goal on a free kick, the Spartans had not allowed a score in five playoff victories. Saturday was the first time they lost a game in which they scored.

"I can't remember the last time we let up a goal in the run of play," Winslow said. "(Goalie Tammy Syron) made a couple of key saves at the end, but we've got to put away opportunities."

Sycamore received several offsides calls yet was effective with through balls. The St. Francis defense recovered quickly to prevent breakaways or Syron would surge forward to control the ball.

With less than seven minutes left, Sycamore's Saydie Holland hit the post. Another minute later, Syron quickly stuck out her right leg to deflect Ella Holland's attempt.

"I'm going to feel that tomorrow," Syron said laughing. "I was telling my teammates that I did the splits. It was a good thing I was a cheerleader before.

"It was crazy, awesome to get this far. I expected it, but it's just awesome to see it come true."

Sycamore overcame having starting senior goalie Amanda Cook out with a concussion from Friday's 2-0 loss to Rochester. Last year's Class 1A champion, Rochester beat Deerfield 4-0 Saturday for another state title.

"We wanted this third-place win, end our season on a win. We still had the fight in us," Lichamer said. "We certainly weren't going to let a goal get us down."