Girls soccer: Overtime goal is golden to Downers Grove North

Mia Marconi knew how much Downers Grove North needed the golden goal in the second overtime period Tuesday.

"I just felt that we were so close at the end of the (first) overtime, the first 10 minutes, and I was really tired, wanted to get it over with," said Marconi, a Trojans senior forward and team captain. "So I was like, I'm going to throw my body at this. Just get a foot on it. That's all that needed to be. It was a beautiful cross and just a foot, that's all that goal needed. And I was there."

That goal off an Alexis Parker cross arrived just 23 seconds into the second overtime. It gave Downers Grove North a 4-3 West Suburban Silver girls soccer victory against Glenbard West in Downers Grove.

Marconi's goal gave the Trojans (2-4, 1-0) a much-needed victory after a rough start to the season.

"We needed it very badly," Marconi said. "We were coming off a tough loss against our cross-town rival (Downers Grove South). We played our hearts out that game too, had a couple of great chances and just fell short. So this was really just a confidence booster as we go into Neuqua (Valley) on Thursday. And a conference win is just a good way to start."

The Trojans got off to a good start to the game. Abbie Peterson scored in the fifth minute and Marconi gave the Trojans a 2-0 lead in the 22nd, both goals against the run of play.

"I think we played well most of the game, we just didn't finish," Glenbard West coach Adam Szyszko said. "... I think their first two goals, and credit to them, I think they were kind of fluky, but they scored. They finished. They put them in the back of the net. I think we controlled play most of the first half. We just didn't put them away."

Glenbard West (3-3, 0-1), playing without four regular starters, fought back.

Katie O'Shea scored the Hilltoppers' first goal in the 28th minute, and a Caroline Hennessy free kick in the 37th minute evened the game going into halftime. When Hennessy, an Illinois State University recruit, scored again in the 42nd minute, the Hilltoppers had a 3-2 lead to protect.

"The fight we have is outstanding. The character our girls are showing, I love it," Szyszko said.

But the Trojans got over the disappointment of giving up the lead and pushed for a third goal of their own. Downers Grove North tied the game again in the 72nd minute, with Marconi assisting on a Parker goal to make it 3-3 and send the game to overtime.

"They played and controlled the ball like we wanted to in the second half. We had great chances," Trojans coach Brian Papa said of his players. "And we didn't give them many chances. Thankfully, we were able to come back and win the game. But wow, that's all I can tell you. We can't give up three goals and expect to win anything. We've got to do something better than that."