Share of FVC Fox to Grayslake North
One big save, one big penalty kick and the rest was history.
Grayslake North’s girls soccer team clinched a share of the Fox Valley Conference’s Fox Division title for the first time Tuesday night.
“This was four years in the making,” said Grayslake North coach Adam DeCaluwe, who has 10 seniors on this year’s team. “It was a good group that we took on for four solid years.”
The Knights got past Hampshire 2-1 in a game decided 3-2 after 6 rounds of penalty kicks.
“We knew that this would be a tough game and (Hampshire) was a solid team,” DeCaluwe said. “To win a game like this, win conference against a good team and not coast in, shows a lot for these girls.”
Katie McGrath scored the decisive kick for the Knights.
“I’m just happy and grateful to get the shot for the rest of the team,” said McGrath who also scored a goal in regulation. “I’ve never had an opportunity like that and I was grateful to do it.”
Grayslake North keeper Brooke Sauer made the big save moments before the winning kick. On Sauer’s key stop, she stood straight up and knocked the ball away.
“You have so much adrenaline rushing through you,” said Sauer, who made 10 saves. “Because you’re not expected to make the saves, especially on the last one.
“Honestly, I usually can tell, because they look at the corners before they are going to kick the ball. But on this one, she looked straight at me. So I just guessed — and guessed right.”
Grayslake North improved its overall record to 13-6-1 — the most wins in the program’s history — and 5-1 in the FVC Fox.
Hampshire dropped to 10-7-4 and 3-2.
Grayslake Central (10-7, 4-1) can get a share the FVC Fox title with a win over visiting Hampshire on Thursday. The Rams defeated Grayslake North 2-1 last week in another contest that was settled in PKs.
In regulation on Tuesday, McGrath scored the Knights’ first goal in the 35th minute when she delivered a corner kick that found the back of net after deflecting off a Hampshire defender.
Helena VanEck tied the game at 1-1 in the 53rd minute for the Whip-Purs after taking a low cross from Natalie Starrenburg.
Hampshire keeper Haylee Moscato made 8 stops, including 3 of them in the second overtime.
The Whip-Purs made a strong push in pursuit of their first Fox title in their first year in the FVC.
“We both had our chances and both of us played very well,” Hampshire coach Pat O’Brien said. “What we’ll take away from this is being on a field that will be like what we play on in the (DeKalb) regional.
“It was there — the game could’ve gone either way in the kicks. Our group went with the flow and played what was dealt to them. I think we’ve played a real tough schedule this year.”