Speed thrills for Wheaton Academy

It's one thing to send a nice ball over the top of an opponent's defense. It's another to have a teammate fast enough to catch up to it and knock that soccer ball into the goal.

Wheaton Academy used this combination to strike quickly for a goal against Nazareth Academy early in Tuesday's Class 2A supersectional at Benedictine University.

Ally Witt's score off the long pass from Meghan Grant gave the Warriors a 1-0 lead and sent the defending state champions on their way to a 2-0 victory over the Roadrunners, who were playing in their first supersectional and close out the season with a school-record 22 wins against just 3 losses.

"I was just kind of kicking it on over their defense and Ally ran after it," said Grant, who had a goal and an assist in the game. "Ally's a really fast player and she just ran at it."

Nazareth goalkeeper Annmarie Chizewski left the net to try and attack the ball, but once Witt chased it down, she then had a big opening to the Roadrunners goal and she converted with 27:25 left in the first half.

"I was a little confused because there was an open net," Witt said. "If there's a ball in front of me in front of an open net, there's no chance someone's going to get to it before me. Well, maybe a teammate."

Almost seven minutes later, Grant corralled a bouncing ball in traffic, spun and fired a shot past Chizewski for a 2-0 lead midway through the first half. From there the Warriors' defense took control, limiting Nazareth to just 1 shot on goal in the game, and senior defender Christi Dithrich helped clear away a dangerous ball near the goal line to preserve the shutout.

Wheaton Academy, which will face St. Viator in Friday morning's state semifinals, did not add to its 2-goal advantage over the game's final 60 minutes, but sophomore Crystal Thomas did help keep up the pressure and ended one long, impressive run with a blast off the crossbar.

Warriors coach Scott Marksberry credited this year's squad with having strong team unity and with a variety of different players who step up each game. Kristen Wittmuss, Lindsey Burke, Brigitta Engebretsen, Kerrin Clancy and Alexa Sharkey all played solid, selfless soccer while protecting the lead in the second half.

"We're just having fun," Marksberry said. "We're happy we have two more games together."

Roadrunners coach John Nikchevich was disappointed his team's defense didn't mark up properly on the Warriors' two scores, but he had nothing but praise for his record-setting squad.

"It's a great experience for our group," said the Nazareth coach.

, whose school was one of four competing in two supersectionals Tuesday in Lisle. "We're proud of our season and what we accomplished. Every team here today has been here before, it's not their first time like it is for us. But we did a lot of good things, going 22-3, 8-2 in the ESCC, and having four all-conference players. A lot of nice things."