Girls soccer: St. Charles North tops Crystal Lake South in semifinals
The St. Charles North girls soccer team remained unbeaten and finds itself in the I Grow Chicago bracket final at the PepsiCo Showdown after downing previously unbeaten CL South 4-2.
The Gators (6-1-1) did not have an answer for Hailey Rydberg, who scored a hat trick while Gia Wahlberg notched 2 assists. C.C. Wahlberg also scored for North (7-0-1) while Alison Wessle and Amanda Czerniak offered assists. The North Stars, who will face Lake Forest in the final next Sunday at DePaul University, jumped out to a 3-goal lead with the wind at their backs but in the 46th minute Jess Schoenfeldt scored the first of 2 goals in a 10-minute span to pull South within 3-2. Rydberg, however, sealed it in the 72nd minute and keeper Sami Sample had 7 saves in net for North. Jenna Ross and Courtney Sengstock notched assists for CL South.
West Aurora 2, Jacobs 1: At PepsiCo, the Blackhawks (12-1) earned a berth into Girls in the Game Bracket championship thanks to first half goals by Olivia McPhearson and Katharine Stephens. In their 12th consecutive win, West Aurora received assists from Riley O'Briena and Marlene Sanchez while keeper Bailey Ziman collected 7 saves. The Blackhawks will take on Plainfield South for the title next Sunday at DePaul.
Huntley 1, Wheaton Academy 0: The Red Raiders (5-3-2) slipped by the Warriors thanks to Maddie Hill's direct kick in the 35th minute of a PepsiCo Showdown consolation win. Goalkeeper Abbie Brown made 5 saves to induce a shutout.
Kaneland 3, Maine West 0: In a consolation game at PepsiCo, the Knights (5-3) received goals from Abby Taylor, Lindsay Penkala and Willow Dunne to get the win. Grabbing assists were Emma Ball, Lauren Ortiz and Gaby Faletto.
Burlington Central 5, Woodstock 0: Elizabeth Gousios's hat trick highlighted the scoring for the Rockets (9-1-1, 5-0) in a Kishwaukee River win. Kyrsten Pellikan and Sydney Pryor also added goals while Megan Majewski had a team-high 2 assists while Jordan King and Zoey Kollhoff each had 1. Erin Rafferty's 1 save earned her a shutout.
Harvest Christian 1, St. Edward 1: A nonconference bout between crosstown rivals ended in a tie as an own goal credited to Harvest's Emily Halter on a corner kick in the final minute spoiled a win for St. Edward (4-4-1). Madalyn Duffy scored while Kaite Ellsworth had an assist for the Wave and Mariel Franco had 6 saves in net. Isa Garcia managed 3 saves for the Lions (3-3-2).
East Aurora 2, Shepard 1: The Tomcats reached the Informed Choices bracket final of the PepsiCo Showdown thanks to Jennifer Garcia's 2 goals. Paola Segundo had 1 assist for East Aurora (3-9) while keeper Daisy Quinonez made 7 saves in net. East, winners of 3 straight, will take on Romeoville next Sunday.