Girls soccer: Scouting Burlington Central vs. Troy Triad in Class 2A state semifinal

Class 2A state semifinal

Burlington Central (24-2-2) vs. Troy Triad (20-6) When/Where: Friday at 1 p.m. at North Central College in Naperville

How they got here: Central defeated IMSA 11-0 and Dixon 7-2 in its own regional; downed Marian Central 2-0 and Sycamore 2-1 at the Hampshire sectional. Defeated Peoria Notre Dame 2-0 in a DeKalb supersectional. Triad won the Marion regional, beating Herrin co-op 10-1 and Marion 6-0. Ousted defending 2A state champion Rochester 3-0 and Chatham Glenwood 1-0 in sectionals. Beat Sacred Heart-Griffin 1-0 at the Rochester supersectional.

Outlook: This is Central's first trip to state whereas Triad makes its fourth appearance. The Knights won the Class 2A state title behind then-coach Mike Villa in 2011 over Marian Central in penalty kicks 2-1.

Both teams are similar in that they sent packing the team in the postseason that's blocked their path to state in recent years. Burlington ousted Sycamore in a memorable comeback in the final 5 minutes to steal the sectional title after losses to the Spartans 3 of the last 4 seasons in regionals. Triad turned away its postseason foe in Glenwood, which had the Knights' number from 2012 to 2015.

"It hasn't been an easy road for us. Our sectional was one of the toughest around," Triad coach Matt Bettlach said, who boasts a 69-23-8 record in his fourth season. "Our girls have been there before but haven't been able to break through that barrier. This group knew that they were going to have to do something special to get through Rochester and Glenwood and that's what they did."

The Knights are led by two all-sectional standouts in Sam Bassler and Meghan Smith, the latter heading to UIC in the fall. Smith, a forward-mid, has 5 game-winners to go with 12 goals and a team-high 11 assists. Bassler, a forward who has 10 goals and 4 assists, is third on the team in points only to Smith and leading goal scorer, sophomore Katie Rogers with 14. It's no secret the co-captain duo of Smith and Bassler are the Knights' engine.

"Not only do they lead on the field, but off the field as well," Bettlach added. "They both can play anywhere on the field and they have. Each has played in the back, midfield, and up top for us, showing their versatility. The team really feeds off the two of them."

Mercedes King and Madisyn Stauffer split time in net, both allowing just 6 goals. King has totaled 75 saves and has been the starter throughout the playoffs. Of Triad's 20 wins, 19 came via the shutout, just like Central.

Geographically speaking, the Rockets played in their backyard going from Rocket Hill to rival Hampshire and then DeKalb en route to state compared to the trek Triad has from the greater St. Louis area this weekend. Triad primarily played teams in the southern portion of the state so both teams do not have common opponents. Triad split with matches with Edwardsville (1-1) and Belleville West (1-1) - two 3A powerhouses - and lost by a combined 2-0 score against Granite City and Collinsville.

Only one team in BC history - the 2008 state runner-up girls volleyball team - has competed for a state title. The proverbial underdog, the Rockets surprised a lot of 3A teams and coaches at the Naperville Invite. Central showed it belonged all season earning wins over regional champ and 3A powerhouse Huntley as well as sectional champion Hononegah. BC beat Boylan twice, lost to arguably the top team in state in Barrington 2-0, who competes in a 3A semifinal on Friday against Downers North. The Rockets also tied Bartlett 1-1, upset Conant 2-1 and defeated a highly-ranked Peoria Notre Dame in the super. But it all goes back to the Hampshire sectional final, the game that defines this run.

Down 1-0 in the final 3 minutes against Sycamore, the Rockets scored 2 goals, one from Kyrsten Pellikan with 2:35 remaining while Megan Majewski's in the final 75 seconds to make this run to Naperville possible.

"There's no describing that feeling we had after that game, it was amazing," said third-year coach Jess Arneson, who has compiled a 60-12-2 record. "(Sycamore) scored within the first five minutes of the second half so the whole time we were trying to chase a little bit and if you ask the girls there was never a doubt in their mind that they were going to win that game. That was the big one I was focused on in the postseason up to that point. I knew we could beat any other team there was this some sort of mental block when come up against Sycamore."

BC's goal for state was its primary objective since day one. But the Rockets had to buy into a new plan with newer players who took on bigger roles. It's paid off big time. Junior midfielder Jordan King has been the glue, with 20 goals and 14 assists. A 2-time Daily Herald All-Area selection with back-to-back 30 goal seasons, King's been aided by forward Megan Majewski with 21 goals and 18 assists. They combined for 114 points. Scoring comes from all over the place for Central. Zoey Kolhoff and Kyrsten Pellikan each have 15 goals and mid Anna McMahon provided 19 goals and a team-high 24 assists as the Rockets' leading scorer.

Co-captain and 2-time All-Area selection Elizabeth Gousios, a potent goal scorer in the past, has 9 goals and 7 assists from a defensive-mid role while Sydney Pryor also has 9 goals.

In net, Erin Rafferty has made 66 saves with 3 combined shutouts and 10 solo in 22 games. Abbi Ciganek has 3 solo shutouts and 3 combined in 14 games of action.

But what about the defense? Well, Arneson notes it might come down to that kind of game as Morgan Bohnenstiehl, Erynn Little and Sydney Beach have shown for the Knights and Taylor Abbott, Jessica Clouser, Kirsten Wyse and Alyssa Mariani for Burlington that scoring might be the antithesis from previous games.

"I think it'll come down to who can play team defense better, and then those pesky set plays and corners and things like that," Arneson said. "I think it's going to be hard for the both of us to get an offense going because we both have a very solid set of defensive players."

Advancement: Winner plays in Saturday's 1 p.m. championship game vs. the winner of Friday's 11 a.m. semifinal between Lemont (20-1-4) and Wheaton Academy (20-5). Losers play in Saturday's 11 a.m. third place game.