Lisle loses 3rd-place game in OT

Nicole Urban knew goals would be a premium.

"We talked about it (Friday) night," the Lisle striker said. "It was definitely going to be a low-scoring game."

In the Class 1A third-place girls soccer match, held at North Central College in Naperville on Saturday evening, quality scoring chances were essentially limited to a pair of Rockford Lutheran first-half shots nicking the post.

The schools went to overtime after 80 minutes of scoreless play, but the first Lisle appearance, for either gender, in state finals history ended with a fourth-place result after Miranda Lofgren scored less than three minutes into sudden-death overtime.

The Crusaders' second straight third-place result left them 25-2 on the season; Lisle ended its year at 16-9-2.

"I thought the goalie had the ball," Lofgren said of her unassisted score. "I didn't even know I scored until everybody came running at me."

Urban had been the Lions' standout player the entire season, but the Crusaders' defense limited the squad to 5 shots for the match.

"Our best (scoring chances) came on crosses, but no one could get any part of their body on the ball," Urban said. "(The winner) was going to be the first team to score, and, unfortunately, it wasn't us."

Urban had her best chances to break through late in each half.

In the first half with six minutes to play, Rockford Lutheran goalkeeper Callie Rezin denied Urban from the left side of the box.

Late in regulation, with the specter of overtime looming, Urban was in the process of creating separation for a quality chance, only to be cited for a controversial foul.

The Lions would never threaten during regulation again.

"(Rockford Lutheran) did a good job against our go-to girl, which is Nicole," Lisle coach Paul Kohorn said. "We've had a pretty strong offense all year. I never thought we would make it (to state) with a freshman keeper (Vanessa Roach) who had never played the game of soccer before."

Emily DeLong had 3 of the Lions' 5 shots on goal, and fellow seniors Jen Potter, Rebecca Ruthburg, Mary Gill, Shelly Chatman, Kaitlin Smiley, Brynn Tomko and Zandy Van Tholen also had their careers come to a close with the overtime defeat.

"It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience," Urban said of the Lions' postseason run.

"We'll fight to get back here next year," Kohorn said.

Quincy Notre Dame denied defending champion Manteno 2-0 in the championship match.