Girls soccer: Warren stuns Fremd with late surge in 3A supersectional
The road to Class 3A state tournament would reach a defining moment after Warren secured its place in the final weekend of the season for the first time in program history in stunning fashion Tuesday.
Ryan McCabe's club will arrive at Benedett-Wehrli Stadium on the campus of North Central College Friday after coming back from being down 3-1 to score three goals in five minutes to claim a 4-3 victory to win the supersectional final at Barrington Community Field Tuesday night.
The trio of scoring stars Kenzie Szczerowski, Sophie Dolinar and Bri Nunez delivered the heroic late goals to carry their club into their state semifinal against top-ranked Naperville Central (21-0-1) at 7:30 p.m.
"It's all kind of sinking in right now," said an emotional McCabe, who lost his starting keeper early on, and most recently his terrific captain, Kate Mondejar to an ACL.
"When you're down 3-1 to a great team like Fremd that has some great players, it isn't looking really good when it's that late in the game."
"(But) this is a team that has never given up, and they showed a lot of heart to stay in the game, and to get us into the state tournament for the first time."
The aforementioned Nunez shocked the favored Vikings (16-7-1) with the opener in the 15th minute, but a well-aimed free kick from distance by Erika D'Angelo equalized at the half hour.
The Vikings’ all-state forward Sami Serpico bagged the first of her two goals when a lovely helper from Lily Mayer just after the intermission made it 2-1.
Serpico was at it again in the 52nd minute, with Gwen Zimmerman lending a helping hand in Serpico's 18th goal of the season.
"We made a change in our formation, and I thought we were ready to manage the lead, but you have to give Warren a lot of credit for battling, and taking advantage of the extra width of the field and all of a sudden we were fighting to keep them out of our net," said Vikings coach Steve Keller.
The freshman Szczerowski would start the Warren comeback with her 21st goal of the season with a left-footed long range blast, before Dolinar leveled one minute later at 74 minutes when she took advantage of some confusion between the Vikings backline and keeper Veda Vinod.
When it looked as if this final was headed to extra time, Nunez was allowed enough time to tee-up her effort that nestled into the back of the net with a sublime long range touch.
"I don't think any of us ever gave up, even when it was 3-1, and that's what I am most proud of," said Nunez.
"It's all kind of unreal right now," began junior Kimberly White.
"Our confidence got stronger and stronger with each goal that we scored, and for us to come back from being down to Fremd says so much about this team (and) like Bri, I am so proud of this team, and to be part of such a historic night for Warren soccer."