St. Edward claims regional title

St. Edward is glad that soccer games aren’t decided on style points.

The Green Wave’s 3-0 victory over the host school Tuesday didn’t have a lot of pizazz, but it was good enough to defeat the Cogs and win the Class 1A Genoa-Kingston regional.

The regional title is the Green Wave’s second in the last three years and sends them to the Hinckley-Big Rock sectional for a 4:30 p.m. semifinal Friday against Rockford Christian, which beat Stillman Valley 3-0 Tuesday for a regional title.

Corey Lepoudre and Jordyn Madden each had a goal and an assist, and Kelly Trippichio had a goal for the Wave.

“The three goals weren’t awe-inspiring,” said Wave coach Tim Brieger. “Was it our best game, no, but the girls learned that sometimes you just have to be good enough to win. We’re not playing the way we played on Saturday, but we’re playing well enough to win. I’ll take the “W” whether its 8-0, 1-0, shootouts, or whatever. We’re moving on and that’s all that matters.”

It was a win for the defense, led by Katie Aiello, Emily Witt, Enza Ranallo, Rena Ranallo, and Kimmie Smith, who moved to the back in the second half. The defense ensured that Wave keeper Paige Gannon was seldom tested.

“You’ve got to love a game where Paige just stands back there,” said Brieger.

It didn’t help that Genoa lost forward Rachel Ellstrom late in the first half, but Alana Dean kept the Cogs in the game.

“That girl (Dean) single-handedly was carrying them,” Brieger said. “She did everything and was everywhere. I don’t know how she made it the 80 minutes.”

Goals by Lepoudre and Trippichio put the Wave ahead 2-0 at the break.

Neither team had a great deal of scoring opportunities in the second half until Madden took a feed from Monica Ramirez, ran up the right side, and fired a shot in the air that the Genoa goalkeeper got a hand on but couldn’t stop.