'Purs settle for second at state

When the final buzzer sounded on Hampshire's 2-1 loss to Rochester in Saturday's Class A state title game, an expected wave of disappointment washed over the Whip-Purs' girls' soccer team.

It didn't take long, however, for that disappointment to morph into pride over finishing second in Illinois. Then pride gave way to resolve, that next year will be different for a team graduating only two seniors.

"Second in state? You can't complain about that at all," said the Whip-Purs' Kelly Plichta.

"But next year we're coming back even more hungry for a state title," said teammate Christine Schumacher. "I love playing with this team."

In its third consecutive trip downstate, Hampshire (18-7-2) reached its first title game with a pair of shutouts -- first in a 4-0 quarterfinal win over Chicago Latin on Friday, then a 1-0 win over Herscher in a semifinal on Saturday morning.

That win put the Whip-Purs in a state title game at North Central College in Naperville, against a Rochester team (19-4-3) that beat them in last year's Class A third-place game.

"Both teams really wanted it more this year. We knew what was at stake," said Whip-Purs senior Devon Murphy. "We felt like we dominated, and just couldn't finish."

Hampshire struck first in the game's 14th minute, when Alex Field dribbled in deep on the right side and crossed a perfect ball across the goalmouth.

Schumacher dummied Field's cross at the near post, and Plichta hammered it home at the far post from point-blank range.

"(Schumacher) let me have it," Plichta said. "I just had to stay calm. It was exciting, and I knew I had a shot that was going in."

The Rockets tied the game in the 22nd minute on a head shot goal by Amy Cassiday, then scored the game-winner before halftime on a goal by Kelcee Walsh.

"We've been a second half team all year," said Whip-Purs coach Patrick O'Brien. "We just couldn't get the equalizer, but Rochester is a tremendously skilled team and they deserved it tonight."

Hampshire spent considerable time on Rochester's half of midfield throughout the game, but struggled to find a final link to a scoring chance.

"Give Rochester all the credit," Plichta said. "We were just one step too short."

"Hampshire worked their tails off, and had some dangerous girls that we had to key on," said Rochester coach Chad Kutscher. "(A win) was not in the bag at any point, down to the last ten seconds."

It was ultimately fitting that five different players scored the six goals that Hampshire managed during the three-game finals, as scoring has been spread out across the roster this year.

Kelsey Burke scored twice in the win over Latin, Schumacher and Kayla Meyer scored one apiece, and Field netted the game-winner over Herscher before Plichta put one on the board in the title game.

Schumacher led the team with 10 goals, Field had 9, Meyer had 7, Murphy netted 6 and Kristy Pfaffinger scored 5 goals this year.

When it was over, O'Brien wore the smile of a coach that has taken a soccer program to new heights, and sees a reachable summit next year.

"We're returning 99 percent of this team, we've taken a step further, and there's only one more step to take," O'Brien said.

Murphy will be lost to graduation, as will senior Lauren Schumacher, who battled injury all season.

"We would have loved to have her on the field more, and Devon's been great for us all four years," O'Brien said. "We'll miss them both."

"We play as a team and we're like a family," Murphy said. "We really connected this year. We love each other like sisters, and you can just tell."