Hampshire 4, Winnebago 0

STILLMAN VALLEY -- Hampshire's offense picked the right time to break out.

Kelly Plichta and Christine Schumacher each had a goal and an assist as the Whip-Purs throttled Winnebago, 4-0, in the semifinals of the Class A Stillman Valley sectional Thursday.

Kelsey Burke and Alex Field also scored for Hampshire, which will play for the sectional championship at 4:30 Monday against today's Rockford Lutheran-Hiawatha winner.

Hampshire coach Patrick O'Brien was happy to see the Whips score early in each half.

"We told them that they have to be hungry, and they have to start putting pressure on other teams that way," he said. "And they did it tonight."

After struggling through much of the regular season, the Whip-Purs' offense has exploded in the postseason with 12 goals in 2 games.

O'Brien thinks the experience of going to state last year has helped the top-seeded Whips ramp up the intensity.

"I don't know if during the regular season you kind of sleepwalk through some things," said O'Brien. "You've had that taste and you want it again, but then when you get here, the focus level is up and you know what to expect."

Schumacher put Hampshire on top early, scoring off an assist from Kayla Meyer. Plichta then made it 2-0 after taking a feed from Kendall Kurilla.

That was the score at halftime. Then, just minutes into the second half, Burke scored off Schumacher's assist.

Finally, Field took Plichta's pass and scored on a turnaround shot from the center of the field about 10 yards away.

Hampshire (15-6-2) had numerous opportunities to break the game wide open, peppering the Indians' goalkeeper with shots throughout the middle portion of the seconds half. The Whips couldn't find the back of the net again, but they really didn't need to.

Their defense made it an easy day for keeper Alexa Heinrich. She didn't touch the ball after intermission until making a save with just over a minute left to play.