Geneva tops SCE in marathon title game

When St. Charles East and Geneva walked off the Elk Grove field after their regional final thriller Saturday, it was hard to tell which team had won judging from the loud and well-deserved rounds of applause both teams received.

Just a minute earlier though, it was pretty easy to tell. The Geneva players mobbed Madeline Tennant after her regional-winning goal on the ninth penalty kick, while the St. Charles East players consoled keeper Zoie Samaan who stared all afternoon in defeat.

In a regional final that lasted two hours and 40 minutes, through 120 minutes of scoreless soccer including four 10-minute overtimes, the Vikings prevailed 6-5 on penalty kicks. The PKs went all the way to the ninth shooter after Geneva converted 3 straight do-or-die kicks to keep the match - and their season - alive.

"This is such a great group of girls," said Geneva's first-year coach Megan Owens, who won her first regional title after just missing at McHenry. "It's just extra special that my first one as a coach comes with them. They are just a class act. They are coachable, they do whatever is asked of them."

Geneva won its sixth regional championship and third in a row. The fourth-seeded Vikings (10-7-3) will play top-seed St. Charles North at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday in the Bartlett sectional semifinals.

Fifth-seed St. Charles East (10-8-2) had been 2-0 in PKs this year while this was Geneva's first game decided that way.

"We had a couple great chances, they had a couple great chances, it was a great game," said Pat Feulner, who coached his last game with the Saints. "We practice shooting (penalty kicks) all week and we didn't miss that many shots all week. A lot of pressure and it comes down to one shot."

Geneva sophomore goalkeeper Katelyn Allen, in her first year at the position, didn't face many tests during the game, though she was up to the task the few times the Saints had a shot.

Allen elevated her game during the penalty kicks, turning away the first two with dives to her right.

"I was shaking a little," Allen said. "I was really scared. I told (a teammate), 'Oh my God, I don't want to do it.' Zoie is really good."

Geneva also missed its first two penalty kicks before Catherine Allon went high right for a 1-0 lead. Maggie Hoscheit tied it 1-1, then Gina Peri put the Vikings back ahead 2-1.

Geneva had a chance to win with its fifth kicker but the shot went off the cross bar.

That set up a series of one kick for each team. Three times the Saints scored, putting the pressure on Geneva to make its kick or see its season end. Abbey Schroeder, Sarah Tennant and Kait Krause all converted.

"They stepped up big," Owens said. "They were a little nervous. You are the first five it is nerve-racking but you know there is always a chance for someone behind you if you mess up. But it's one for one once you get past that. I can't speak highly enough of them."

Allen made her final save by taking the shot in the stomach.

"It was worth it," Allen said.

Then junior Madeline Tennant put an end to the marathon match with a kick that found the left side of the net.

During the match, Geneva had a couple golden opportunities, including a feed from Emily Hinchman to Demi Miller that Samaan turned away.

Both teams kept at it, despite the heat.

"Heat was really a factor today too," Megan Owens said. "We just told them to keep fighting, fight through it. They will rest easy tonight."

Geneva's Alexa Loebel got her first start and joined with Stephanie Davison to provide solid defense for the Vikings, who now get ready for their Tri-Cities rival North Stars.

"We have to gear up for that game," Owens said. "Tuesday will be a tough one but we'll have to see what we can do. They have had a phenomenal season. We'll see what we can bring to the table."

Feulner, meanwhile, leaves a school he's been coaching at for seven years to take over at Metea Valley next year.

"The kids played their butts off today but we didn't finish," Feulner said. "All season we struggled to finish. Against this team you have to finish. Both teams battled hard and I wish Geneva luck this week.

"It's not easy for me to leave but I got an opportunity to start a program. I thought I'd give it a shot. We've got a good young team and whoever takes over will have a good group to work with."