N. Star girls rally in final seconds to edge Saints

One town, two teams, one pool - the annual Crosstown Showdown lived up to its billing. And then some.

Down 11-10 to St. Charles East with 4 seconds to play, St. Charles North's Emily Davis launched a rocket shot that found the goal to force overtime.

In overtime, again down by 1, Davis scored to tie the game at 12. Seconds later, Emily Sullivan notched her seventh goal, and goalie Becca Richardson made the lead hold up with 3 saves in the final 1:30 for a 13-12 thriller for St. Charles North Thursday at its own pool.

"It was so crazy," Davis said. "That was the most exciting game I've ever played."

It looked for sure like St. Charles East's Collen Kanies would be the hero. Saints goalie Erin Arnoff made two saves late in regulation, than threw nearly the length of the pool to find Kanies, who scored with 4 seconds remaining for an 11-10 lead, sending the Saints' half of a large crowd into a frenzy.

But St. Charles North (3-8) wasn't done. North Stars coach Kelly Perry called timeout. They got the ball to Davis in the middle who didn't waste any time catching, firing and scoring.

"I just knew I had to make that shot," Davis said. "The whole game depended on it. I was so excited when I made it."

"I thought with the last four seconds with all the girls lined up with their arms up they couldn't get it past but they did," St. Charles East coach Maureen Sheahan said.

St. Charles East (2-1) took the lead in overtime on a goal by Juliet Suess. After the North Stars went ahead 13-12, Richardson made several clutch saves to preserve the lead, including one on a 5-meter shot by Suess with 20 seconds left.

"She (Richardson) has been a very strong player," Perry said. "She has really been hitting those 5-meter shots which is the hardest shot to block. I believe the last three 5-meters she's had she's blocked. It's really exciting to see her block those shots because those are the most difficult shots to block."

The game was tight throughout. St. Charles North led 10-8 entering the fourth only to watch the Saints tie on goals by Suess and Jo Park.

"That was such a close game, the girls were very well matched with North," Sheahan said. "I thought we were this close to winning."

Sullivan (7 goals) and Davis (5) combined for 12 of the North Stars' 13 goals. Emily Devries had 11 good passes while Kate Otten scored a goal, assisted on 4, stole 5 balls and had 8 good passes.

"To be that close the entire game was very exciting but nerve wracking," Perry said.