Girls soccer: Magiera's magic helps Wauconda edge out Vernon Hills

Ally Magiera has been a strength for Wauconda's girls soccer team all season long.

The Bulldogs' veteran goalkeeper was tested during regulation time during the Class 2A Vernon Hills regional final on Saturday. She then made three consecutive saves during penalty kicks, helping lift No. 2 Wauconda past sixth-seeded Vernon Hills 1-0. The Bulldogs prevailed 4-3 in seven rounds of kicks.

Wauconda (14-2-2) will next meet No. 3 Lake Forest (10-8-1) in the Grayslake North sectional semifinals at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Wauconda and Vernon Hills (10-8-2) played 80 minutes and two ten-minute overtimes, before heading to penalty kicks. Magiera (9 saves) made a diving stop, which was matched by Cougars keeper Alex Napierkowski (10 saves). The efforts of the two keepers left the teams tied at 3-3 after five kicks.

In the sixth round, each keeper again made an outstanding stop. Finally, Magiera made her third straight save, this time extending her hand and touching the ball, which hit the crossbar and went over the top.

"I think it was my right hand," Magiera said. "It's really hard to judge penalty kicks. You just have to watch the body language of the shooter and go with your instincts."

Wauconda freshman Olivia Kuch placed the winning kick into the corner of the net.

"It's very nerve-wracking being up there," Kuch said. "I don't normally take these. I just had to calm my nerves and take a few deep breaths. I was saying, 'You got this.' We actually practiced kicks (Friday)."

Wauconda won its first regional title since 2011, when the Bulldogs also beat Vernon Hills. The Bulldogs defeated the Cougars 3-0 on the same field a couple of weeks ago and went on to win the North Suburban Prairie Division title.

"That was a heck of a game (Saturday)," Wauconda coach Beau Shogren said. "(Vernon Hills) put the pressure on us big-time. I'm sure if you look at the quality of chances, it was in their favor. The aggression was there by both teams. It was physical. (Vernon Hills) played and coached a great game. Give the credit to them.

"I'm not disappointed in the girls' effort one bit," Vernon Hills coach Mike McCaulou said. "Being honest, I believe that we were the better team. For the majority of the game, we had the better chances. Soccer is a funny thing in that a lot of times the best team doesn't win. We knew that we would be able to compete, and we did."