Schaumburg gears up for postseason with crossover win
Left with only the annual crossover match to end the Mid-Suburban League regular season, Schaumburg completed another strong campaign with a 1-0 victory at Rolling Meadows on Tuesday.
The Saxons (15-2-2) hope their win signals the start of a successful state tournament run for the No. 2 seed in the St. Charles East sectional.
The Saxons finally solved a stubborn Mustangs defense with the only goal in the 73rd minute. Alexa Ben was at the center of the eventual game-winner when she sent a superb early ball down the right side to find Becky Sneddon, who did the rest with a cleanly-hit low ball that found the far inside net.
“Yeah, it was kind of ugly out there today, but we’re heading into the time of the season when good-looking soccer doesn’t always equal a victory,” said Saxons coach Greg Charvat. “Each and every game you’re in is going to be a battle, so this was a good test for us today against a feisty, hard-playing opponent who made things really difficult out there for us.”
Just two minutes into the second half, the Mustangs lost starter Jackie Kemph to a possible fractured left wrist.
“We played really hard for 80 minutes, but, as we have so many times of late, we have one breakdown in our end and our opponent finds a way to finish our mistake,” said Mustangs assistant Jeff Rubio, who was filling in for head coach Jeff Adkins. “We’ve had a terrible time with injuries all season long, and today was no different. But the girls perservered and gave it their best, and now we’re hoping that we can maybe catch a break in the postseason and put together a nice long run.”
Maggie Moran, who leads the Mustangs (11-8-2) in scoring, gave the faithful a thrill with a 30-yard cracker at Saxons keeper Brooke Schocker, who made the save of the match in the 54th minute.
Seconds later, the Saxons’ Kelsey Steenstrup teased her way past a pair of defenders and had a go on frame that keeper Emily Haeger saved with confidence.
Schocker alertly raced off her line to stop Alex Partipilo, who was sent through by Sara Shumaker, and snuff out a potentially dangerous Mustangs’ opportunity.
“Even though this game didn’t mean anything as far as the final standings, it was a game that we really wanted, and needed to win, order to keep our momentum going heading into the playoffs,” said Saxons defender Ali Schmalz, who along with backline partner Amanda Kelly were near flawless. “We have to play every game from here on out as if it were our last game for ourselves, and all the players who are seniors.”