VanderBloomer's goal the difference for Vernon Hills
The Vernon Hills girls soccer team picked the right time to get healthy.
The Cougars recently welcomed Brigid Walsh and Julie Pecht back from injuries just in time for the postseason.
The combination helped the third-seeded Cougars edge No. 2 Grayslake North 1-0 on Wednesday night in the IHSA Class 3A Grayslake Central regional semifinal.
The Cougars (7-9-2) will play the top-seeded Rams (13-7) in the regional final Saturday at 11 a.m. at Grayslake Central.
"We've been having trouble scoring all year," said Cougars coach Vince DeLuca. "We're just glad to be playing on Saturday.
"We're also glad to get all our kids back. We've been battling through injuries for most of the year. We're taking things one game at a time."
The Cougars netted their goal in the 12th minute when freshman Heidi VanderBloomer connected on a rebound.
"Courtney (Corrado) made a nice cross to the goal and it went off the keeper's (Brooke Sauer) hands," VanderBloomer said. "I was standing in an open area and I wasn't marked. I saw the ball go off her gloves, ran in and shot it."
Vernon Hills keeper Iris Ostrovsky made 8 saves, recording her ninth shutout.
She received solid support from the Cougars defense, including Walsh, Brie Bahlmann, Courtney Corrado, Allie Menotti and Stephanie Pecht.
"We practice every day and work real hard in practice," Ostrovsky said. "Forwards come at us and the defense work their butts off. We just play like we practice. We came out and played hard.
"All the credit goes to my defenders. I'm the last defender out there. When the ball gets to me they've already worked their butts off. They just make my job so much easier."
Grayslake North (10-12-1) had some good scoring chances, including during the final minutes when Katie McGrath nearly netted a header.
"The girls gave it all they got in the second half," said Grayslake North coach Adam DeCaluwe. "The head ball was close. McGrath is our sweeper and we threw her up top because she has that instinct. I want to fight for the ball and she wants the ball.
"Vernon Hills was more aggressive from the start to the finish. They played our pressure and we were the ones who buckled under the pressure."
Grayslake Central 9, North Chicago 0: Grayslake Central's Maggie Klees had a hat trick, Kelly Jay added 2 goals and Skyler Jessop, Alex Wilson, Allie Black and Jocelyn Gaughran also scored. Jessop, Mitchell, Brooke Swearingen, Savannah Mudd and Kelly Jay picked up assists.
Kat Dickson made a save and recorded her 11th shutout.
Lake Zurich 4, Grant 0: At Barrington, Sarah Stauner and Gina McCoy each scored goals in both halves, as the Bears won the Class 3A regional semifinal.
Maggie Eisenhuth earned her seventh shutout for Lake Zurich (10-9-1).