Schaumburg savors victory over Conant
The scene on the pitch at Schaumburg told the story.
Saxons players were celebrating all around freshman Sarah Kozlowski, while Conant’s players were staring in disbelief.
After six long years, Schaumburg’s wait was over.
Kozlowski’s goal in the 89th minute beat the Cougars 2-1 Wednesday night, sending the Saxons into their own sectional final Friday night against St. Charles North.
The defeat ended a memorable run for the Conant seniors, who lifted two state trophies in their four years and were clearly one of the state’s top programs.
“It really is kind of hard to believe that we finally got past Conant after having them knock us out of the playoffs the past two years, and just always being a team that we just could not beat,” said Saxons coach Greg Charvat, who saw his team fall behind near the end of the first period before coming back strong against the No. 2 seed Cougars.
“I thought we did well managing the game, especially in the first 30 minutes leading up to (Sammie van de Linde’s) goal, but they came out in the second half and outworked us, won nearly every ball, continued to counter and clearly had the run of play right up to the game-winner,” said Conant coach Jason Franco. “They deserved the result they got tonight, because they were the better team.”
Knowing they couldn’t afford to give one of the top players in the state, Conant’s Courtney Raetzman, even the slightest opening, the Saxons’ tactical approach on the 29-goal standout was to mark her with senior Kelsey Steenstrup. She gave a wonderful performance, thus slowing the high-powered Cougars attack.
“It really was a team effort to stop a great player like Courtney,” said Steenstrup, who went everywhere Raetzman did in an effort to limit her touches.
“We knew this was it if we didn’t win tonight, so the effort from everyone was just amazing tonight,” said Schaumburg captain Ali Schmalz, a defender. “That’s the reason that we were able to finally beat Conant.”
Van del Linde stunned the big crowd when her bending shot from the far side went just over the outstreched gloves of keeper Brooke Schocker to give the visitors a 1-0 advantage at 35 minutes, which they carried into intermission.
But the 1-goal deficit hardly fazed the Saxons (16-2-4), who responded by delivering an impressive piece of offensive firepower after the break. If not for some strong work from freshman keeper Haley Anderson, there could have multiple Schaumburg goals in regulation.
“As the second half went on, we looked physically and mentally spent, while Schaumburg looked so much more fit and energized than us,” said Franco.
With the Saxons’ midfield clogging things up and winning first and second balls at a higher rate than their opponents, it was all one-way traffic going forward. Schaumburg sophomore Alexa Ben was the main cog in the attack, with Becky Sneddon, Teagan Eberle and Jenna Eaker each making their mark.
Just moments after Anderson turned a shot from Ben over the crossbar, Schmalz brought the Saxons even when she ran freely to finish an Eberle corner with a header.
The Cougars (18-4-0) prevented another goal, but Schaumburg kept up the pressure. In overtime, Ben hada chance on Anderson, who stopped the well-struck shot.
Two minutes later, Sneddon raced to the end line and turned, sending a low helper through the 6-yard box; Kozlowski fought off a pair of defenders to slot home the game-winner.
“Becky gave me a great ball from the side, and Jenna (Eaker) kept it alive, and I was just lucky to be in the right place at the right time,” said Kozlowski of her cool, and composed shot.
“I said before the match that in a game like this, with two great teams, full of great players, and with so much history between us, a very good team will win, and another will go home,” said Franco. “It was Schaumburg’s time tonight, especially in the last 30 minutes of regulation and almost a full extra session. But it won’t take anything away from what will go down as the most decorated, best senior class ever here at Conant.”