Rosary ousts Kaneland in sudden death

Three, as the Schoolhouse Rock folks used to sing, is a magic number.

With each of three corner kicks in succession midway through a second-sudden death overtime, Rosary got closer and closer to Kaneland’s goal.

That third corner kick — all taken by Kaitlin Johnson — was the decisive one, the one that found Taylor Gibson’s head and then the back of the net and the one that sent the Royals to their third straight regional title.

“Our crosses were so good all game,” Taylor said. “It was a perfect ball. As soon as sent it, I was like ‘oh my gosh, I know this is going to go in.’”

Gibson ran free through the penalty area, met the ball near the center of the penalty area and drove her header deep into Kaneland’s goal, ending the Class 2A regional championship contest with 5:20 left before the teams would have headed into a penalty kick shootout.

“I saw the ball coming right to my head and as soon as she kicked it, I knew it was going to come to me,” Gibson said.

Johnson was involved in both Rosary goals. Her corner kick cross led to Sam Duarte’s match-opening goal in the 18th minute of the first half. Then she provided the game-winning assist as well.

“I know that (Gibson and Duarte), they always have those set runs that they make, and they made them,” Johnson said.

Johnson had the pleasure of watching her corner kick move through the air and then crash into the net — which was exactly how the play was drawn up.

“Oh my gosh, when (Gibson) scored, that was the best feeling in the world.” Johnson said.

Rosary (10-10-3) advances to next week’s Burlington Central sectional, the sixth time in Kevin Callaghan’s 10 seasons coaching the Royals have won a regional title. The Royals face Freeport in the semifinals on Tuesday at 5 p.m. and are in search of their first sectional title.

“What’s even tighter about this is that (Kaneland coach Scott Parillo) and I are such good friends,” Callaghan said. “I’m glad we won. I’m proud of how they stepped up for the school. But there’s also ties I have with Scott and I know it’s tough, what they’re going through.”

Saturday’s match marked the second consecutive season that Rosary ended Kaneland’s season one match short of a first-ever regional title. Overall, the Knights have been in a regional title match the last three years running.

“We didn’t play very well today, and that’s unfortunate,” Parillo said. “We just couldn’t get it done. Three years in a row, we came up empty-handed. Compared to where we were at the beginning of the season, when we lost to (Rosary) 4-0, to this, it’s a huge improvement. But what are you going to do?”

Kaneland (12-9-3) recovered from Duarte’s goal and tied the match when Jessica Coia fed Katie Taylor for the goal.

“We showed some moxie,” Parillo said. “We don’t give up. We just didn’t follow that mark. I knew it. As soon as (Gibson) started running, I knew that was it, that was game over and that’s tough. Our senior group is pretty good and it’s tough to say goodbye to them.”