Jacobs wins first regional since 2005
Usually, when Crystal Lake South and Jacobs play each other on the girls soccer field it is a closely contested low-scoring affair.
This was not one of them.
Scoring early and often, top-seeded Jacobs blitzed the second-seeded Gators 4-0 in the championship game of the Class 4A Jacobs girls soccer regional Friday night in Algonquin.
“We were very sharp tonight,” said Jacobs coach AJ Cappello. “We produced great shots off our work rate. We came out hungry and with great intensity. We didn’t have the regular season and conference season we wanted so we want to have a good postseason.”
Jacobs (15-9-3), which last won a regional in 2005, advances to the Rockford Boylan sectional to play Fox Valley Conference Valley Division rival Huntley (13-5-4) Tuesday at 7 p.m. The Red Raiders defeated McHenry 1-0 to win the Rockford Jefferson regional Friday.
The Golden Eagles didn’t waste any time in seizing control of the match against the Gators (10-13-1).
Using a great individual effort, Margaret Rivera got Jacobs on the scoreboard with only 4:38 elapsed with an unassisted goal.
Jacobs grabbed a 2-0 lead when Payton Berg scored off a rebound from Cassidy Sherman with 17:21 left in the first half. The Golden Eagles extended their lead to 3-0 off a perfectly executed corner kick from Rivera to Molly Leopold. Leopold, who was embedded in front of the net, scored to give Jacobs a 3-goal advantage.
Cassidy Sherman scored an unassisted goal with 22:19 left in the game for the Golden Eagles’ final score of the evening.
“We came out fired up and ready to play,” said Rivera, a junior. “ We were determined to win tonight. I am glad the seniors got a win in their final home game of their career. We didn’t win the conference, but winning regionals is special. This will be a memorable night.”
Senior Alyssa Koeppler was solid in the nets for Jacobs with 6 saves.
South’s best chance to score came with 11:12 left in the game when Macky Taldone broke through the Jacobs defense and fired a shot on goal from 10 yards out, but Koeppler was able to make the diving save.
Jacobs outshot South 11-10.
“We got plenty of shots on goal,” said South coach Anne Santucci. “Our problem all year is getting quality shots and getting the ball in the net. Jacobs was prepared and started the game playing with great intensity.”
Huntley 2, McHenry 1: Beth Parks’ goal off an assist from Deanna Hecht in the 87th minute lifted Huntley (13-5-4) to its sixth straight regional title and a date with Fox Valley Conference rival Jacobs in Tuesday’s 7 p.m. sectional semifinal at Rockford Boylan. Ashley Schorr took an assist from Parks to give the Red Raiders a 1-0 lead in the 46th minute at Rockford Jefferson, but McHenry tied it 9 minutes later. Jessica Galason made 4 saves in goal for Huntley.
Barrington 1, Cary-Grove 0: Barrington scored in the third overtime to defeat Cary-Grove in the Class 3A Lake Zurich regional final. “It was a hard-fought battle,” said Trojans coach Ray Krystal. “Barrington is an excellent team. (Goalie) Paige Lincicum was phenomenal this evening.” Barrington will play host Rockford Boylan at 5 p.m. Tuesday in the sectional semifinals.
John Radtke and Steve Nichols contributed to this report