Girls soccer: Chicago U-High ousts Aurora Central in 1A super

Alex Montalbano is a future collegiate goalkeeper.

But the Aurora Central Catholic senior simply had no chance Tuesday afternoon against Chicago University senior Anna Kenig-Ziesler at the girls Class 1A Benedictine University soccer supersectional 12-plus minutes into the second half.

Kenig-Ziesler, off a free kick roughly 25 yards from the Chargers' net, lofted the ball into the very reaches of where the crossbar meets the upper corner of the right-hand post.

It was all the scoring Chicago U-High would need in its 1-0 victory in Lisle.

"All season, we got the restart quickly," Kenig-Ziesler said. "The ref put down the ball. (The Chargers) weren't ready yet, so I knew I could hit for the post."

With the victory Chicago U-High (12-6-3) advanced to its first Final Four Friday at North Central College in Naperville.

ACC had its season close - for the second straight time to the Pioneers - at 16-7-2.

As is often the case in a postseason soccer match, the lone goal was enough.

"It was a beautiful shot," ACC coach Kristy Kane said. "That was the biggest problem, that girl (Kenig-Ziesler) just placed it perfectly."

"We were off our line and trying to get sorted," said Montalbano, who will continue her career at Coe College in Iowa. "She took advantage of the unorganized setting we were in."

The match had all the ingredients of a strategic affair.

The majority of the play centered around the midfield area.

There were countless 50-50 balls and misses on long passes.

Various scoring chances for both teams sailed harmlessly over the crossbar.

"We're a very good team," Kane said. "We pass the ball exceptionally well. We weren't finding the seams to use our speed to an advantage."

Montalbano was in full agreement.

"I think connecting passes was a big thing we didn't do," Mantalbano said. "When we did have opportunities, we didn't take advantage of what we had. We made some silly mistakes that we usually don't make."

ACC tri-captain Shannon LoPresti is bound for Lewis University next year.

"I don't think we played to our full potential," the senior midfielder-forward said. "I don't think we were going hard to the ball. I don't think our heads were in the game. It was a very important game."

Anna Dudziak, Gracie Aguirre, Avery Henry, Payton Rogers and Meghan Johnson also wore an ACC soccer uniform for the final time.