Girls soccer: Davies plays through pain, makes big saves for Glenbard East

Glenbard East goalkeeper Faith Davies is scheduled for meniscus surgery on her right knee after the season, and she tweaked the knee again just before Friday's Class 3A Glenbard East girls soccer regional final against York.

All of that does nothing to explain how Davies saved two penalty kicks in the third-seeded Rams' 4-3 shootout victory after 100 minutes of soccer ended 1-1.

"Faith did amazing," Rams senior Katie Hansen said. "You couldn't ask more from a keeper. The odds are against her and she stopped a ton. So proud."

The Rams took the lead in the 12th minute when Montana recruit Hansen sent a free kick from 50 yards out into the York penalty area. There senior teammate Mimi Camacho one-timed it off the bounce into the York net for her 19th goal of the season, tying Camacho for the team lead with junior Lindsey Novak.

"Thunder and Lightning we call them," Overbey said. "Lindsey's got the speed but also plays very physical, and Mimi's just as fast as can be."

York evened the score in the 42nd minute when junior Caila Ward tucked a knuckling free kick just inside the far post from 21 yards.

"Faith, all-everything goalie, amazing, but that shot was amazing," Overbey said. "There was nothing to be done on that shot. She put it in a perfect spot."

When neither team scored in the two overtime periods, the game went to penalty kicks to determine that the Rams will play Downers Grove North at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday in the York sectional semifinals.

When the first group of five shooters each wasn't enough, Hansen stepped up for Glenbard East's sixth shot, burying it and putting the pressure on the limping Davies. The Illinois-Chicago recruit guessed left and dove to make the save and end the game.

"I was really happy that Katie put that one in there because at that point the pressure is on me and I know that (the Dukes) have really strong kickers and they're a really strong team overall, so I was just hoping for the best."

It was the third consecutive regional title for the Rams (16-4-3).

"It never gets old," Hansen said. "This feeling is awesome. Especially for a game like this against York, a lot of people played on other (club) teams with them. ... So it was more personal and it was so evenly matched."

The loss not only ended the Dukes' season at 11-7, it ended the coaching career of retiring York coach Don Vana, who will yield to assistant Stevan Dobric.

"First half, I don't think we played anywhere what we wanted to do and do what we wanted to do," Vana said. "Second half, yes."

It was the fifth shootout of the season for sixth-seeded York, which won just one of them.