Girls water polo: Conant hangs on against Hersey, earns return to state

Conant's girls water polo program is making a habit of achieving at the highest levels.

The Mid-Suburban League champ of the past two seasons added to its resume on Saturday by claiming a tense 9-7 victory against East Division winner Hersey in the Schaumburg sectional final.

The Cougars (28-4) are 1 win away from the team record for victories in a season, and coach Justin Bickus, between nibbles on a postgame cupcake commemorating his 34th birthday, was savoring an especially sweet outcome.

Conant will meet Loyola in the last state quarterfinal of the day Friday at Stevenson. It will be the Cougars' third Elite Eight trip in the past four seasons.

"I think it's a case of our kids having some success, and then making sure they're passing that down to the next group that's coming through," he said. "And, if I'm being honest, it sure helps to have a 6-foot-2 lefty on your side."

That 6-2 lefty is junior Olivia Olszewski. She was a force throughout the game and finished with game-high 5 goals, mostly on shots from around the 5-meter mark. Taking that last step to state was especially satisfying for her, as the Cougars were denied in last year's sectional final by Prospect.

The main difference in this year's outcome?

"Intensity," Olszewski said. "I think we just had the confidence in one another and as a team that we could find a way to win."

It required an intense effort to defeat this Hersey team.

Senior Katie Lindgren kept the Huskies (25-5) in it early with a pair of long lobs. In the second quarter, a steal and breakaway from freshman Annie Lindgren led to a goal for Ashley DaSilva, which pulled Hersey within 6-4 at the half.

Madison Burkhalter got Hersey with a goal early in the third quarter, seemingly willing her shot past Cougars goalie Lauren Day. But Conant ended the period with a 3-goal advantage as Olszewski drew an ejection and followed the rebound of her own missed shot for a goal, and Aly Wooley finished scored on a man-up.

Hersey asserted itself again in the fourth quarter. DaSilva's perfect pass to Emily Born generated a penalty shot chance, which Katie Lindgren finished.

Then, coming out of a Hersey timeout, Katie Lindgren found her sister on a drive, and Annie finished with a nifty scoop.

Now within 1 goal and with plenty of time left, the Huskies had a great to tie it after earning a man-up chance. That opportunity failed, and soon after, Conant senior Amy Rodriguez converted on a man-up for the final goal.

"I think a whole lot of people laughed at us at the start of the year when we said it was our goal to make it to state," said Hersey coach Megan Brownley. "We came up just a little bit short against a great coach in Justin, and an awesome program where they've really established a culture of winning."

Senior Nia Tsoulos had a pair of goals for Conant, and Lauren Day (15 saves) made a big difference as well in her first season as the varsity goalie.

"I'm a little biased, but I think Lauren makes saves that just about nobody else can make," Bickus said. "I think at the start of the season, maybe she wasn't all that confident in herself. But I never had any doubts about her - just a matter of time."