St. Charles N. jumps on Saints early
Watching St. Charles North and St. Charles East head off the field at halftime of Saturday’s Class 3A regional title match told everything about what had happened over the previous 40 minutes — and what ultimately who would win this match between crosstown rivals.
The host North Stars trotted over to hear some encouraging words from coach Ruth Vostal and to be cautioned about not letting down despite having a 4-0 lead. East’s players, had the fixed gaze and set jaw of a group of players who had just seen their season moved to the brink of conclusion.
While the teams battled through another 40 minutes, 4-0 leads are nearly unassailable — and the North Stars (15-5-2) ended the afternoon by parading their 10th regional plaque in 12 years of high school competition while the Saints’ tears began before they got back to the bench at the conclusion of their season and 4-0 loss.
“We knew we had to come out strong and we did,” St. Charles North forward Lauren Koehl said. “We shut them down the first half and then we played really well the second half.”
The first half goal blitz started in the 11th minute of the match when Kenzie Rose headed in a Kelly Manski corner kick. Throughout the match, Rose was influential, but her impact on the first half was immense — which earned her the coveted plastic lawn mower that goes to the North Stars player chosen by the team as the match MVP.
“For what we want — this just gets us one step closer to where want to be,” Rose said. “I haven’t gotten (a goal) since the start of the season. I knew today that I needed to come up big, and I did and it’s an amazing feeling to get that first goal and set the momentum the rest of the game.”
St. Charles North doubled its lead with 16:40 left when Natalie Winkates aimed a shot from the right side of the penalty area into the left side netting.
Two minutes later, Alex Gage hammered in a bouncing ball that the Saints were unable to clear from their penalty area.
And Lauren Koehl applied the coup de grace when she sprinted up the left wing with 90 seconds left in the half before hitting a hard shot into the net for the 4-0 lead.
“We’ve said that the season is a journey to get us ready for the postseason,” St. Charles North coach Ruth Vostal said. “We worked at different lineups and strengths and weaknesses and we’ve really grown in different areas.”
For St. Charles East (13-7-4), the loss ended a season in which the Saints tied the North Stars in the regular season and in which heavy defeats such as Saturday’s were rare.
“The better team won today,” St. Charles East coach Paul Jennison said. “The second half was a non-entity so we can’t have many complaints. Four-nil down at halftime, it’s very difficult to come back from. It is what it is. It’s their home field and a regional final. If you can’t get up for that, frankly, you’re not going to get anything from the game.”