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Aurora Central Catholic wins 1st regional title

Aurora Central Catholic may have never won a girls soccer regional before Friday night, but that didn't mean the Chargers were unaware what to do once the final seconds elapsed in their 2-1 victory over Lisle at the Class 1A Hinckley-Big Rock regional.

Aurora Central's bench players raced onto the field, joining the 11 who closed the match, for one big blue-and-white hug. Then they went to celebrate briefly with their fans before moving back across the field to receive their plaque.

After Chargers coach Kristy Kane spoke with the team, the team went back into the middle of the field, where they posed for photos with that plaque. In short, if you didn't know they were doing this for the first time, you'd have thought they were seasoned postseason pros.

"It is just so exciting," Aurora Central senior Jordyn Sundberg said. "As the clock was winding down, I was getting more and more excited. After going through regional championship games my freshman year and junior year and to not win, I really wanted this. This was our time and this was my last chance to do it, and I really wanted to do this, so I'm really happy we got this accomplished."

For the first time, Aurora Central (12-7) plays in the second week of the IHSA tournament. The Chargers face Chicago's Institute Health Science Charter on Tuesday at 4 p.m. in the opening semifinal of the Lisle sectional.

"I'm so looking forward to going to the next step," Sundberg said. "I'm waiting to step onto that field and to say 'this is what that feels like.'"

Sundberg scored the game-winning goal in the 12th minute of play when she took a pass in midfield, dribbled between two defenders and scored with a low shot from 15 yards on the right side of the penalty area.

That goal ended a manic opening quarter-hour of play. Lisle (11-6-1) took the lead in the sixth minute when Amy Tromp one-timed a left-wing cross into the net.

Aurora Central needed 75 seconds to tie the match on a 25-yard Gina Cortino right wing free kick that went high into the left side netting. Then Sundberg scored what proved to be the match-winning goal.

"This year, we haven't had that many come-from-behind victories," Kane said. "That's something I emphasized at halftime. I told them 'look at what you already did.' I wanted to reassure them too, in case something happened. This spring has been tough and they have overcome so much."

At halftime, Lisle regrouped, tried to eliminate some mistakes and create a second-half comeback.

"We had some mental mistakes that led to both their goals," Lisle coach Paul Kohorn said. "We fouled them in our defensive third when we didn't need to for their first goal and then we had two defenders go for the same ball and didn't have any support. Those breakdowns hurt us."

The Lions did mount that comeback and while the second goal never arrived, it wasn't from a lack of effort or chances.

"We came out and played a great second half," Kohorn said. "The thing that hurt us in our losses this season was that we couldn't finish when we had to. It hurt us all season and it turned to be our Achilles' heel tonight."

While Lisle pressed, Aurora Central keeper Bry Mandarino made every save she needed to. Sometimes that meant simply collecting the ball as it ran beyond Lisle's attackers. But there were also strong saves, including a diving stop with 18 minutes left in the match.

"She played really well, and she always does," Kane said. "She's awesome back there and we know we can count on her."

Helping to limit chances on goal was Aurora Central left back Anna Dudziak, who did not play like a freshman in working to shut down Lisle's right-sided attacks.

"Sometimes the things she does with the ball are amazing," Kane said. "You stand there and go 'did she just do that?' She has such quick feet. She is so little, but she goes against players who are twice her size and she comes away having won the ball."

Sundberg was also key through that second half, finding that small bit of extra time and space in midfield to calm the team and create an attacking platform and remove pressure briefly from the defense.

"Jordyn is such a versatile player, who is always working," Kane said. "Sometimes when you see talented players, they are not working as hard as she does. That's where it comes from. She's fast and talented, but there's a drive to do well all the time."

Lisle's season after winning the Interstate Eight championship for the first time in school history.

"We had 10 years in a row where we finished in either second or third place," Kohorn said. "This was one of the legacies they leave. Also, the seniors on this team went to state when they were freshmen, so they've had some nice accomplishments in their careers here."

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