Boys soccer: St. Edward weathers Rockford Christian for sectional crown
Just over an hour before Saturday's Class 1A sectional championship, Genoa-Kingston's well-manicured soccer field was actually covered in a light coating of snow.
A period of sunshine left the grass slick and despite the oddities of a brief sleet, more sun, and more cloud-clover, the unusual conditions gave way to what seems the norm for Elgin St. Edward: postseason success.
However, it didn't come easily as Rockford Christian forced overtime and the Green Wave had to resort to a lot of corner possession to eat up time and squeeze out a 3-2 victory over the Mighty Lions.
It's a third straight sectional plaque for St. Edward (22-1-1) and the third consecutive year Christian's season ended courtesy of the Green Wave.
St. Ed now advances to Tuesday's 7 p.m. Benedictine University-hosted supersectional against Chicago's F.W. Parker (13-6-3), which also needed overtime Friday evening for its 2-1 victory over Cristo Rey St. Martin.
As has often been the case for the Green Wave, Josh Johansen got things started with a goal just 8:29 into the match in which St. Ed won the coin toss and opted to begin with the wind at its back. The 39-yard free kick became the senior's 32nd goal of the year.
"In all honesty I was planning on crossing to Jackson (Godfrey) near the back post but I hit it hard enough and with the wind it curved in," Johansen said.
What was most unusual for St. Edward was having an opponent respond immediately. Christian (19-7-1) took the restart right to the Green Wave net and the scramble that ensued ended with Gage Wiebe's loose-ball goal a mere 15 seconds later.
While St. Ed essentially doubled up on overall attempts, it was a literal last seconds score that led to a 2-1 halftime lead. Uriel Carachure's 12th assist produced the 11th goal of the year for Godfrey.
"Uriel played a great corner but credit really belongs to Chase (Brieger) who 'dummied' the ball drawing all the defenders to him," Godfrey noted explaining how his teammate allowed the ball to pass to him.
St. Ed has understandably been the thorn in the Lions' postseason paw. Last year Christian lost 5-2 in a sectional semifinal meeting while 2016 saw the Green Wave win 5-1 in the sectional championship. Hungry for redemption, the equalizer came with 9:33 left in regulation. Andy Volk blasted a 24-yard direct kick that knuckled just right to get by goalie Evan Sajtar.
To the St. Edward defense's credit, Rockford didn't manage even a single attempt let alone shot on goal during either of the two extra 10-minute sessions. And proving once again late is better than never, the Green Wave took the lead for the third time with just 25 seconds left in the first overtime. Brieger's 10th assist became Carson Scarnegie's seventh goal and second game-winner.
"Throughout the game our coaches were yelling about someone staying near the back post, knowing time was running out I hung out there," Scarnegie recounted. "Seeing the ball high I thought it might skim off a defender and it landed perfectly for me.
"All of us defenders work on staying composed, so it wasn't hard keeping my cool and waiting for it, but I must admit I can't put into words how great it feels to hit the one that led to a sectional trophy," Scarnegie said.
"It's almost settled down," St. Ed coach Tim Brieger said patting his heart immediately after the win. "I warned our guys that after the last couple years (and a 2-0 regular season win in late September), they'll want this and will really come after us.
"Everyone deserves credit and even though we've had success against them, I told their goalie (Jace Joiner) 'I'm glad you're a senior'. We specifically worked on misdirection shooting because I told our guys, if we shoot right at him he'll save everything," Brieger noted. "As a coach and a parent, I thought Chase had a phenomenal game. He was everywhere we needed him in that second half and in the overtime he often went from side to side."