Fremd takes control

After surviving St. Viator 1-0 in double overtime in the same game a year ago, Fremd's girls soccer team was taking no chances this time.

"That's why we really wanted to come out playing hard right at the start," said senior Alexandra Ehr, a three-year starter for the Vikings. "We needed to start out strong and have everyone on the same page."

Ehr wrote the first chapter as she struck from 30 yards out for her 14th goal and 1-0 lead 21 minutes into the championship of the St. Viator regional.

She later added her 15th and 16th goals while junior Laura Mayer and sophomore Crystal Rohan each had one to lead the Vikings to a 5-1 triumph and their fourth straight regional crown.

But to win a second straight sectional, Fremd coach Steve Keller believes his club must step up a notch.

The Vikings (16-3-1) will face Stevenson in the Palatine sectional semifinal Tuesday at 5 p.m.

"I didn't feel we played our best," Keller said. "If we continue like this, we won't win another game. We had a lot of mental errors."

Ehr's second goal came in the final minute of the first half when she headed in a corner kick by classmate Lauren Zimmer.

"If we didn't allow that late goal in the first half, who knows, maybe the pep talk from (Chris Fischer, his assistant) and I would have changed things," said Lions coach Sam Donnelly. "The problem was Fremd came out hungry and beat us to every ball in the first half."

Mayer's half-volley upper- 90 goal from 18 yards out was her sixth of the season made it 3-0 just two minutes in the second half. Freshman Elise Kotsakis assisted.

In the 10th minute, Ehr chipped in a loose ball in front of the net for the 4-1 advantage.

St. Viator freshman Taylor Skala connected for her 18th goals on a header from short range in the 13th minute making it 4-1.

"Taylor is fast," Donnelly said. "In addition to her quickness, she has learned a lot of this season."

Rohan capped the scoring with her sixth goal this spring, a 12-yard blast.

"I was impressed by Susan Plager outside of the midfield," Ehr said.

Keller added defender Danielle Romano contributed a solid effort.

"But we've got to organize our game back there," he added. "We've got to be louder and meaner. We were a bit off."

Donnelly, a rookie coach, returns more than a dozen players from his 15-8-1 squad.

Donnelly played two freshmen, two sophomores and a junior in the backfield for the final 20 minutes.

"And they played well," he said. "Jackie Tumberger (sophomore forward) played a really hard first half.

"I been pleased this season. I want to come back and build on this for next year."