St. Charles North a regional champ
After every match, St. Charles North’s girls soccer players choose one of their own to receive a little blue truck, a sort of traveling trophy within the team unit for the players feel has worked the hardest in the match.
Lauren Koehl has gotten to take the truck home three times this year, and the most recent just might be the most memorable of the hat trick. Koehl capped a solid all-around performance by scoring the crucial first goal in her team’s 2-0 victory over Elk Grove in the Class 3A regional title match played on the North Stars own field.
“It’s whoever’s a hard worker in the game or someone who stands out,” Koehl said of the parameters needed to earn the truck, which is handed to the recipient as part of the post-match team discussions. “It can even be someone who’s vocal on the sidelines or someone who’s a vocal leader.”
Koehl’s truck-worthy performance helped her entire team get their hands on the regional championship plaque, something that’s happened 9 straight years at St. Charles North, which has only been competing in the girls soccer tournament for 11 seasons.
So which is better — the truck or the plaque?
“I think they’re both equal,” Koehl said.
All was in good fun, and clearly winning the regional was the highlight of the night for all the white-shirted North Stars, though they owed their victory to some stellar play by their redshirted goalie, senior Kendall Karr.
Sixteen minutes into the second half, Kelli Hubly played in Michelle Calmeyn, who slipped and got to her feet and was still one-on-one with only Karr to beat. Calmeyn shot and Karr made the point-blank save.
“Usually when I make saves like that, I don’t think, I just go,” Karr said. “I just don’t overanalyze anything and go with my instincts.”
St. Charles North hadn’t had many scoring chances to that point, though Sammy Gage fed Sophie Pohl 8 minutes into the second half and Pohl shot wide with Elk Grove keeper Melissa Solorio advancing.
Solorio came up huge again 19 minutes into the half when she made a foot save on a Pohl shot that looked to be headed into the net.
But 5 minutes after that save, the North Stars took the lead. Lisa Manski played a leading pass to Koehl, who had an initial shot saved by Solorio. The rebound came back to Koehl, who headed St. Charles North into the lead.
“I was just kind of there at the right time and it was a good ball from Lisa,” Koehl said. “It just so happened that it popped up and I was there.”
Sammy Gage wrapped up the match with 13 minutes to play when she sent a rasping free kick from 25 yards into the goal. The North Stars (13-3-1) advance to Tuesday’s St. Charles East sectional semifinals, where they face Schaumburg at 6:30 p.m.
“We’re still in our town,” St. Charles North coach Ruth Vostal said. “Last year, when we went to the state tournament, all these people in the community, it didn’t matter which side of the (Fox) river, were sending us good-luck messages. And those people will be there next week to support us in what is another homelike match.”
Elk Grove (10-7-5) started well and pushed the North Stars throughout the first half. That solid play continued through Koehl’s goal.
“I think it was a pretty even game in the first half, and even into the second half,” Elk Grove coach Dan Klaus said.
The Grenadiers graduate three players — Carin Fearing, Anne Klancnik and Calmeyn.
“Hopefully the girls can understand, every game of the season, what they have to do,” Klaus said. “I think that’s the biggest lesson coming from this season. Every day has to be like what just happened here.”