Girls soccer: Burlington Central earns first trip to state
DeKALB - Six starters and two more key reserves for Peoria Notre Dame on Tuesday were hoping to get IHSA medallions like they had in 2015 as part of that year's Class 2A third-place crew.
But they discovered this is Central time - as in Burlington Central's long-deserved turn in the spotlight.
The Rockets scored twice in the opening 10 minutes and made those goals stand up for a historic 2-0 victory over Notre Dame in the Class 2A DeKalb supersectional which results in a first state final berth for girls soccer.
Having achieved the school's initial girls soccer sectional title, Central's players celebrated their first supersectional with a rousing rendition of what sounded more like a vow than a cheer: "You spell r-o-c-k-e-t-s, we'll blast, blast, blast, blast forever, forever, forever, forever and we'll never stop."
The newcomer status undoubtedly casts Central in all-too-familiar underdog role that appears insignificant in 2017.
While Notre Dame's third-place was the highest of three state trophies, the Rockets' next foe - Troy Triad - boasts two: the 2A state crown from 2011 and a Class A runner-up finish in 2003. Central and the Knights meet in Friday's 1 p.m. semifinal in Naperville at North Central College following an 11 a.m. semifinal between two more familiar finalists - defending 2A champion Wheaton Academy owns three titles among its four state trophies while Lemont's collection includes runner-up, third-place and two fourth-places.
Of course Sycamore - last year's third-place finisher which also owns fourth-place hardware - was thinking yet another encore success while sporting a 1-0 lead in last Friday's sectional championship. The Spartans had ended Central's season with victories in regional finals in 2016, 2015 and 2013.
However, the Rockets scored twice in the final 2:35 of regulation for to claim the Hampshire sectional. Instead of late shots, Central's first shot on goal produced a 1-0 lead after just 5:39 of Tuesday's game.
Sydney Pryor's fourth assist led to Anna McMahon's 19th goal and fourth game winner on a stellar one-touch, 14-yard volley from the middle.
"The two quick goals were key," Central coach Jessica Arneson noted. "They traveled for two hours and we're 30 minutes away, so we knew we could get in (attack mode) quick with our speed."
Less than four minutes later (9:22 gone), the Rockets doubled their advantage with another out of the air volley. That play originated with a McMahon cross that would surely get her included in hockey's double assist category. Jessica Clouser's second setup for the year directed that cross to Elizabeth Gousios for the junior's ninth goal.
"When I chested the ball, I could sense defenders closing in and knew there wasn't time for another touch. I just wanted to get the ball back in toward the goal and used a side volley to help keep it on frame," Gousios explained. "Although it's something I've practiced for 14 or 15 years, it still feels indescribable."
Opposing coaches have been known to credit Central's eye-popping goal totals to a weaker conference schedule, but that thinking glosses over what was the Rockets' 20th clean sheet. Goalie Erin Rafferty chalked up an 11th solo shutout while sharing six more with Abbi Ciganek.
"While the team counts on me to make saves I count on them just as much. We've all played together long enough to always have each other's back," Rafferty insisted.
That was evident on a couple of massive scrambles in front of the Rockets' goal where defenders either cleared the ball or hindered a clean look. Notre Dame's last-second shot on goal prior to halftime was essentially absorbed by Alyssa Mariani. The junior defender earned credit for an additional save off the Central goal line in the second half.
"Getting the first sectional and supersectional is amazing, but it's something we've really wanted for our two seniors," Rafferty said.
The sense of accomplishment was captured by McMahon.
"When our boys (soccer team) went to state (2010), I went to the game as did several teammates. We wanted to recreate that time and feeling for our school and community," McMahon explained. "It feels so great to do so, but now we want to keep making history."
Why not, it's Central time.