Mixed feelings for Wheaton Academy, St. Francis

Thursday's girls soccer game had something for both Wheaton Academy and St. Francis to be happy about, but not enough for either to be content.

The teams tied 1-1 through regulation and two five-minute overtimes before the Warriors won a shootout 5-4 at Elmhurst College. The victory clinched the inaugural Suburban Christian Conference championship for the Warriors.

Still, the Warriors weren't happy with the way they played.

"We were fortunate to have the wind at our back in the first half so we could work our way into the game," Wheaton Academy coach Scott Marksberry, whose team was playing its third game in three days. "In the second half we played better, but still we sort of held on back here."

While not happy to lose, the Spartans were happy they got their best result ever against their archrivals. They hope it gives them an edge against the defending Class 2A champion Warriors if the teams meet again in the Elmwood Park sectional final on May 28. The Warriors are the sectional's top seed, with St. Francis at No. 2.

"I'm very proud of them even though the outcome wasn't, obviously, what I wanted," St. Francis coach Meghan Boler said.

Wheaton Academy took a 1-0 lead in the 35th minute, when Crystal Thomas used the wind to help bend a free kick from the left side just inside the far post.

St. Francis found the equalizer in the 58th minute following a corner kick that Wheaton Academy just couldn't clear. Out of the "chaos", as Warriors goalkeeper Emily Mulder described the scene, senior Meagan Gitchell managed to drive home the goal on Senior Night.

"This is the fifth time I've seen St. Francis this season, and I thought that was their best performance that I've seen," Marksberry added. "They put a lot of pressure on us. They were very dynamic. They moved the ball well. They were creative with how their strikers moved."

The teams went to a shootout to decide the game. Alexa Sharkey, who will play basketball at Elmhurst College, Lindsey Burke, Thomas, Meghan Grant and Sydney Sharkey each converted their kick. Meanwhile, Mulder stopped one, and that was all the Warriors needed.

"If it comes down to that I like that adrenaline," Mulder said of the penalty kicks. "I do enjoy them."

"Emily does well in shootouts," Marksberry added. "She's coming off her line quickly. The one that she saved she got a great jump on it."

It was a bitter way to lose for St. Francis.

"I hate shootouts. I don't think that really tells you the winner of the game. Just bad luck," Boler said.

Both teams are hoping for a rematch in two weeks.

"We're looking forward to playing them again and hopefully we'll bring all we got and be ready for it," Mulder said.

"I'm just glad that we get them later, in sectional hopefully," Boler added.