Huntley, Hoffman triumph over Crystal Lake 3-2

In a shootout situation, it's a guessing game for the goalkeeper.

Huntley keeper Sara Hoffman guessed right.

After both teams scored 4 times in the first shootout period, Crystal Lake South's Katie Burton was selected to shoot for the Gators in the second shootout session.

Burton, who scored earlier in the game, blasted a shot toward the right corner of the goal. Hoffman lunged to the right and pushed the ball out of the goal for the save.

" I just decided before the shot to pick a side where I thought the shot was going," said Hoffman. "I read it right. It is definitely a reaction thing and everything worked out."

Huntley seized the victory when Kaylee O' Brien scored to give the Red Raiders a 3-2 victory over the Gators in a Fox Valley Conference crossover match in Huntley Thursday afternoon.

"Sarah did a great job of reading that shot," said Huntley coach Kris Grabner. "Making a save in the shootout is very difficult to do."

After a scoreless first half, both the Red Raiders (8-1) and the Gators (2-3) became offensive in the second half.

Burton got South on the scoreboard when she blasted a free kick over Hoffman with 5 minutes and 9 seconds elapsed in the second half.

But the Red Raiders roared back and tied the game on a goal by Aimee Wronski with 29:16 left in the game.

Huntley grabbed control of the game when Alyse Williams scored on a penalty kick with 9:10 remaining to give the Red Raiders a 2-1 lead.

But Crystal Lake South refused to lose. Kelsey Taldone scored on a breakway shot to tie the score at 2-2 with 4:22 left.

Both teams had 13 shots on goal. South goalie Jessica Taldone, who is headed to Eastern Illinois University, had 5 saves while Hoffman pushed away 4 Gator shots.

"I am very proud of the girls," said South coach Brian Allen. "They gave me everything they had. They hung in there against a very good team. Even though we lost this game we can build on this effort."