Carmel 3, Hersey 1

A banner hanging right in front of the Carmel Catholic student section on Monday night read "It's Our Time Carmel."

Somebody must have known something, because for the first time in the Corsairs history they've got a soccer team headed to state.

The Corsairs have been to the supersectional before but never found a way to break through until Monday.

Carmel made history by outlasting Hersey 3-1 in the Class AA Buffalo Grove supersectional.

Sara Petermann netted a hat trick for the Corsairs with Kassidy Brown getting 2 assists and the other going to Stephanie Swanson.

Carmel (22-1) will play in Friday's 11 a.m. state quarterfinal at Central College in Naperville against Downers Grove South, a 4-0 winner over Chicago U-High at the Lemont supersectional.

"I don't know what to say," said Carmel coach John Halloran, whose team matched a school-record win total set in 2001 (22-2). "They played their guts out and they did what we had to do. We've been in this game so many times.

"It's the first time we got through it. Now we get a chance to go down to Naperville. It's just so special."

Petermann also secured a magic moment in her four-year high school career. She now has 85 goals and passed Christy Zwolski to move into second place in school history.

For Petermann, there are bigger things ahead.

"It feels good, but the records book really doesn't matter," said Petermann, who now has 37 goals this spring. "What matters is that this is the first time going down to state."

Carmel got on the board in the seventh minute off an indirect kick. Brown touched the ball and Petermann delivered a kick into the top right corner.

Hersey (19-3-4) evened the game at 1-1 five minutes later, when Kathryn Korff sent a curling cross which found its way into the goal.

The Corsairs' Swanson sent a well-placed pass over the Hersey defense. Petermann ran onto the ball, made a move and beat Hersey keeper Julia Fredian for a 2-1 lead in the 21st minute.

"The second one was more important," Petermann said. "I got to the ball, looked up and saw no one. The goalie came off her line, I just decided to go for it. I just cut around her and put it in."

Petermann added her third goal in the final minute as she broke free after Brown flicked a header at midfield.

"I was just able to set things up for Sara," said Brown, who has 17 goals and 15 assists. "(Petermann) just finishes so well all year."

Hersey had a solid season as it gave up 3 goals for the first time this season.

"I thought we had more heart," Hersey junior defender Kristen Gierman said. "We did have our fair share of opportunities. Carmel has a good team, but I don't think they dominated. It was a battle of who wanted it more."

One edge Carmel had was putting Hersey in an uncustomary position of trailing at halftime.

"We had a tough time absorbing that type of pressure," Hersey coach Brad Abel said. "Physical presence we had throughout the season. For some reason, I don't think we recovered after the first goal.

"I do give Carmel a lot of credit and they were the better team."