Scandora beats the clock
After 99 minutes and 55 seconds of scoreless girls soccer played between Wheaton North and York, the Falcons' Michelle Scandora finally startled the scoreboard operator into consciousness Saturday.
With a shootout seemingly all but guaranteed, Scandora's goal with five seconds left in a second overtime period advanced Wheaton North to Toyota Park and next Sunday's title game of the 32-team Pepsi Showdown.
The Falcons will take on New Trier (8-0), a 1-0 winner over St. Charles North in Saturday's other semifinal played at Oak Park-River Forest.
"I just think it's cool that we get to play a doubleheader with the Chicago Fire," Scandora said. "Playing at Toyota Park is a once-in-a-lifetime thing."
The top-seeded Falcons (9-1) took on a fifth-seeded York (6-1) team that proved throughout that it can battle the best. The Falcons had the better of the attack through the game's first half, but nothing came easy against a solid York team and goalkeeper Stef Matsas.
"I thought we played very, very well," said Dukes coach Rachael Shepherd. "I think a lot of people underestimated what York is capable of this year. I think this was the awakening."
"They have a greater collection of athletes throughout the entire group this year," said Falcons coach Tim McEvilly.
The Falcons' best chance of the first half came in the 20th minute, when Matsas retreated to her line and slapped a Jaime Orewiler offering past the post. Matsas was solid throughout in making 8 saves.
The Falcons' Erin Strom sent a 40-yard free kick in that Matsas fielded in the 32nd minute, before Wheaton North goalkeeper Hannah Perry stopped a pair of shots from York's Danielle Vujovic and Jasmine Watkins before halftime.
Wheaton North earned an 8-5 edge in shots on net for the game, and "in the first half I thought we probably should have put the ball in the back of the net a few times," McEvilly said.
Matsas saved a Laura Dieter head shot in the eighth minute of the first overtime, then made her final save on an Allie Cerone head shot as the first overtime expired.
Scandora located a Brittany Sorensen throw-in with time winding down, calmly settled it and sent a left-footed shot inside the far post.
"It went through a couple York players," Scandora said. "I was just there to get the shot. It was pretty lucky, I think."
"The clock was ticking down, and she didn't panic," McEvilly said. "She just looked up, saw where the keeper was at and played it toward the far post."