Girls soccer: Hersey keeps pace in East race

Well, look who's in the race for the Mid-Suburban East girls soccer crown.

As improbable as it might have seemed after a 1-5-0 start, Hersey has slowly made its climb up the league table. And after a 2-1 victory Friday night at Roland Goins Stadium, the Huskies find themselves just 2 points behind division-leading Buffalo Grove.

Junior Laura Burckhardt's sensational strike in the 72nd minute was the game-winner and gives the Huskies 16 points with a 5-2-1 league record. The Bison have 18 points (6-2-0) after a win over Wheeling on Friday.

"I have to say that I never thought we would be in it this late in the season, but the girls play hard and defend really well, plus we have a player in (Burckhardt) who has become a dynamic player for us on both sides of the ball," said Huskies coach Darren Llewellyn. "We've had a long, tough week of soccer with four games, while having two key players out with injuries. And Hoffman Estates really came at us, having a lot of the play and making it very difficult out there for us tonight."

The Hawks did not look the part of a club with a 1-6-0 record in the MSL, always seeming to find ways to get the ball outside to talented senior Molly Salerno or into its midfield quartet, which had plenty of success targeting both Kathy Lopez and Avery Panek up top.

"This was our best overall effort of the year, and one which could have easily led to a victory for us tonight," said Hawks coach Jeff Bird. "We had some quality chances tonight, and I thought played some attractive soccer. But as we have all season long, we just cannot put the ball into the back of the net after working so hard to create chances for ourselves."

Malena Kot, just brought onboard from the JV to help out the undermanned varsity roster, made her presence felt immediately when she fired in the opener at the half hour after collecting a short ball in the Hawks' end.

The visitors showed urgency and energy to begin the second half, and it wasn't long before they equalized, thanks to Panek, who drew her club back level in the 51st minute. Hersey keeper Emma Hager made a save on Panek's close-range strike, but the ball spilled free to her right and Panek steered in an angled shot in sublime fashion.

Burckhardt, a box-to-box warrior for Llewellyn throughout this frigid night, made herself available during a marvelous run up the right side by Kot, whose perfect cross to Burckhardt ended with a brilliant one-timer into the upper left corner.

"We were without one of our top players (Avery Larson) who does so much for us in the midfield, and we moved Olivia Mrowicki into her spot," said Llewellyn. "She won so many balls out there for us to help our chances against Hoffman."

• Shawna Stokes scored twice and Faith Fitzsimmons had a goal and an assist to help Prospect defeat Morton 4-0 on Friday in a Glenwood Invite semifinal. Gianna Rossi and Isabella Hubrich shared in the shutout, benefitting from sharp defensive back-line work from Helen Siavelis, Ashley Erickson, Madalyn Ladd and Alexa Mitka.

Kristen Schneider also scored for Prospect (8-5-1), and Ella Marzolf, Ashley Adams and Sarah Mulvihill had assists.

• KK Hanner and Martina Macaggi had 2 goals apiece and Kara Tyner finished with a goal and 3 assists to help Buffalo Grove past Wheeling 8-0. Jackie Molloy and Zugey Olvera shared time in goal for a combined shutout for the Bison.