Girls soccer: Conant sails past Schaumburg
Fifth-seeded Conant will be in its own girls soccer regional final Saturday afternoon after defeating Mid-Suburban West rival Schaumburg 3-0 on Wednesday in a blustery matchup hosted by the Cougars.
Conant (13-6-1) next meets No. 4 St. Charles East (9-4-6), winners earlier against Rolling Meadows by a score of 2-1.
"It's always difficult to play a conference rival at this time of the year, and we were nervous coming in for sure, but when we got the wind at the start, we knew if we could put a couple in during the first half, our chances to advance would increase greatly," said Conant coach Jason Franco.
Freshman Delaney Hoye gave the hosts the only goal they'd need in the 19th minute, culminating a quarter-hour of play that saw the Cougars use the wind to put a handful of attempts either on frame or up and over the Saxons' back line.
"It wasn't particularly pretty soccer out there tonight, but the plan was to create chances and be dangerous, and that's what we did, especially in the first half," Franco said.
"The big difference in this game was that Conant executed very well when it had to and did it with pace and purpose, and we didn't," said Saxons coach Greg Charvat, whose team finished with a record of 6-11-1.
Conant soon had the ball in the net again through varsity newcomer Neide Ocampo, who was allowed time and space before sending a low drive past Schaumburg keeper Emily Reddy.
The Ocampo goal at 26 minutes sparked the Cougars' attack up until intermission, and if not for quality saves by Reddy on Kaylin Feeley and Emily Mazurek, plus some quality defensive play led by Abigail Paolicchi and Dani Krug, Conant's advantage might have doubled before the break.
Katie Farb and Gina D'Orazio tested the Cougars by bringing Taylor Cyr into action on two attempts. But that was about all the visitors would muster until just after the final goal of the contest, brilliantly finished by Brittany Laskero in the 53rd minute.
D'Orazio put Farb in at the back post, but Cyr saved with confidence to guarantee her seventh shutout of the season.
"I told the girls afterward we'll be losing a terrific group of seniors," said Charvat. "But my hope was they had influenced the younger players, who we will be counting on to be our leaders next season."
Batavia 7, Hoffman Estates 1: Keegan Maris had 3 goals and Avery Davis had 2 as the Bulldogs advanced in the Class 3A West Chicago regional.
St. Viator 5, Von Steuben 1: The fifth-seeded Lions advanced to a 5 p.m. Friday Class 2A regional final matchup at home against No. 4 seed Grayslake North, which topped Northside Prep 2-0 on Wednesday.