St. Edward geared up for state
The St. Edward girls soccer team qualified for the state finals once before, but this weekend’s trip to the Class 1A tournament in Naperville is already guaranteed to yield a more permanent souvenir.
“This time we’re coming home with something,” coach Tim Brieger said of a state trophy.
When Brieger’s Green Wave qualified for the state finals in 2008, they did so in the final season of the two-class system in Illinois soccer. Teams had to win a state quarterfinal in Naperville in order to advance to the Final Four, thereby earning a state trophy. The 2008 team was denied hardware by virtue of a 1-0 loss to Herscher in a Friday quarterfinal.
Under the current three-class system, sectional champions advance directly to the Final Four. Quarterfinals no longer exist. Thus, returning to Elgin Saturday with a state trophy is already a guarantee for the 2011 Green Wave.
That fact was not lost on freshman forward Monica Ramirez, who assisted on both goals in Tuesday’s 2-1 sectional title victory over Rockford Lutheran in two overtimes. Monica’s older sister, Bianca Ramirez, was a member of the 2008 team.
“Now I get to rub it in her face,” the younger sibling playfully jabbed, bearing an ear-to-ear grin. “We went farther than she did.”
But which trophy will St. Edward earn?
“I hope we bring something big home,” said junior goalkeeper and captain Paige Gannon. “I can’t put into words how exciting this is. Our team worked so hard to get to his point and they deserve it. I’m just so excited to go downstate.”
St. Edward (14-7-3) will face Marquette High School (17-5-1) from Alton in Friday’s second semifinal at Naperville Central High School at 7:30 p.m.
The winner advances to the state championship game on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. against the winner of Friday’s first semifinal between Herscher (18-1-1) and Willows Academy (16-3-2).
The St. Edward attack has been fortified this season by an outstanding freshman class that includes leading goal scorer Allison Kruk (10 goals, 9 assists), midfielder Corey Lepoudre (9, 8) and Ramirez (9, 6). They join senior Mallory Malone (9, 5) and juniors Jordyn Madden (6, 4) and Kelly Tripicchio (4 goals) in a balanced attack with multiple options.
Gannon sports a 1.7 goals against average in 23½ games in net. She plays behind a solid defense led by seniors Katie Ayello and Enza Ranallo.
Marquette’s two main offensive weapons are freshman Caroline Hoefert (16, 14) and junior playmaker Cassie McFadden, who has 12 goals to go with her 25 assists. Junior goalkeeper Haley Hopkins has held opponents to 24 goals in 24 games.
St. Edward ended the regular season with 2 straight losses, including a 1-0 defeat against fellow semifinalist Willows Academy. Two weeks and 4 postseason victories later and the players are coursing with confidence. “This team is incredible,” Ramirez said. “We all pulled it together. I feel like we’re a well-oiled machine.”