Dominating play not enough for Metea Valley
Jenna Kentgen and her Metea Valley teammates were constantly attacking the Lockport defense during Wednesday’s Class 3A Naperville North sectional semifinal.
The problem was that none of the attacks, especially several prime opportunities in the first half, were successful in netting a goal.
Lockport (17-5) took advantage of all those missed opportunities, scoring less than 90 seconds into the second half and then holding on for the 1-0 victory.
The Porters advance to Friday’s sectional title game against the host Huskies, while the Mustangs finish their season with a regional championship and a 17-5 record.
“We dominated the whole game and didn’t score,” Metea Valley coach Pat Feulner said.
“One cross and one shot. What can you say? We had a ball in the box how many times? The ball was bouncing around but just didn’t go in.”
Most of the Mustangs’ opportunities ended off target or in the hands of Lockport keeper Cortney Jerzy, who ensured the Porters would get their third consecutive 1-0 shutout.
Kristina Tomaras had a wide-open chance with 1:54 left before half but shot high. Then, with only 1:17 on the clock, Kentgen cranked a shot off the bottom half of the crossbar that caromed out of harm’s way.
“In 22 years I guess I’ve seen it all,” Feulner said. “But I don’t know if I’ve seen it as bad as tonight. To dominate a team like that and not have something to show for it is disappointing.”
Ally Brehm netted a cross from Lexi Cozzi for what proved to be the game-winning goal at the 38:36 mark of the second half. Brehm’s become quite the nemesis for a couple Naperville soccer teams now; she also scored the lone goal to beat Naperville Central last week.
“In soccer when a team has some close chances they’re confident and pumped up,” Brehm said. “But they didn’t score so we made sure to change the mood of the game and came out in the second half to let them know they weren’t on top.”
The Mustangs almost rebounded with the equalizer midway through the second half as a scrum in front of the net produced to shot attempts, but both were denied. Kengten had a solid cross attempt in the 74th minute and the team’s final corner kick came at the 78th minute but neither would bear the all-important tying goal.