Girls soccer: Elk Grove nets Soccer Bowl appearance

Elk Grove advanced into the Mid-Suburban League Soccer Bowl for the first time since 2002, thanks to a little help from divisional rival Prospect on Monday night.

After falling to Schaumburg 1-0, the Grens (10-4-2, 6-4-1) suffered through an agonizing 80-minute wait - which ended with Prospect defeating Hersey 1-0. That outcome gave coach Dean Burrier Sanchis' team its long-awaited MSL East title.

"It's not the thrilling and exciting way to win a championship to advance into the MSL Soccer Bowl, but the girls are thrilled," said Burrier Sanchis. "I am very proud of their hard work and with the way they persevered in order to overcome a slow start, only to come back and win it all on the last day of the season."

Elk Grove, Hersey and Prospect each finished with 19 points in the league standings. Elk Grove advances by virtue of tiebreaker superiority: the Grens have a 1-0 win over Prospect, plus the best record against its divisional opponents at 4-0-1.

Schaumburg senior Emma Aguilar dashed the hopes of the Grens for an outright title when she struck the game-winner at 49 minutes. At Prospect, Faith Fitzsimmons' goal 12 minutes from time ended the Huskies' chances.

"The girls have been playing the best that they can of late with very simple tactics, so to fall just short here at the end might be a little disappointing," said Hersey coach Darren Llewellyn. "But I have to say that I am very proud of their discipline and fortitude."

- Mike Garofola