Mundelein's never-quit attitude nets win over Warren

Mundelein's girls soccer team displayed a never-quit attitude Saturday morning.

Down 2 goals early, the Mustangs scored three times in three minutes and 4 unanswered goals en route to a 4-2 victory over visiting Warren in a North Suburban Lake Division game.

"We just had to believe we could come back and win," Mundelein coach Dave Ekstrom said. "It surprised me that we got 3 goals in three minutes. The girls believed they could come back."

Stephanie Emery scored a hat trick and Ashley Begrowicz had the other Mustangs tally.

Mundelein (15-2-3) kept alive its bid to play in the North Suburban Conference championship game at Lakes on Thursday.

The Mustangs completed division play with a 4-0-2 mark. Stevenson (4-0-1) plays its divisional finale at Warren (10-8-1, 3-2) on Monday. Stevenson needs at least a victory to play in the title game. A loss would allow the Mustangs to advance.

"This is a big win," Ekstrom said. "Hopefully, Warren can beat Stevenson and give us a chance at the conference championship."

The Mustangs found themselves down 2-0 in the first half.

"We got our opportunities and played well," Warren coach Jeff Knouse said. "But we had a letdown with a few minutes left in the half."

The Blue Devils' Natalia Jovanovic scored in the seventh minute off a Kelly Ditmars assist, and Jovanovic finished again in the 24th minute off a Karly Moe pass.

"Warren made 2 beautiful goals," Ekstrom said. "We had a lot of chances and couldn't connect on them. We got caught offsides and had to get used to their offsides tactic."

Begrowicz turned the game around for Mundelein in the 38th minute. She took a pass from Nathalie Mathis and scored on a breakaway.

Not more than a minute later, Emery beat a defender and Warren goalkeeper Amanda Macuiba, pulling the Mustangs even at 2-2. Lisie Garza assisted.

Emery struck again in the 40th minute, scoring off a long punt from keeper Brooke Dennis to put the home squad in front.

Emery added her hat-trick goal - and 25th of the season - in the 67th minute off a pass from Abbey Ekstrom.

"I'm surprised I did this because (Warren) is a very good team," said Emery, whose hat trick was her third this year. "I knew if we could (beat the offsides trap), I would be on a breakaway. That's what happened and how I got the goals."