Girls soccer: Carmel Catholic gets past Libertyville
Though Carmel Catholic and Libertyville are only about a mile away from one another, getting them together on the soccer field doesn't seem to happen all that often.
That heightened the anticipation of their meeting Friday afternoon in a game that already had plenty at stake, the Class 3A Libertyville sectional final and a berth in the Elite Eight.
Fourth-seeded Carmel scored twice in the first half and hung on the rest of way to get past No. 3 Libertyville 2-0.
The Corsairs (16-4-1) next play New Trier (22-0-2) in the Evanston supersectional at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday. The Trevians got past Loyola Academy 2-1 in winning the Glenbrook South sectional final.
Carmel hadn't reached this point in Class 3A, but the Corsairs won the Class 2A title in 2015.
"It was a huge victory, and we haven't gotten this far before (in Class 3A)," said Carmel coach Ray Krawzak. "This is a very special team. They do it by working together as a team - and working hard. We have some really talented players but I think they're a good example of a team. They work so well together and understand each other's roles. We play like we've got 12 players out there."
Carmel has gone through several challenges, owing to illnesses and injuries. At one point the Corsairs were down seven players. But they've come together at the right time and are playing their best soccer in the postseason.
"When there were obstacles in the middle of the season, we rose to meet those challenges," Krawzak said. "Now we show up against a really strong team like Libertyville, and we played well handling that game."
On Friday, it appeared that Libertyville (13-7) might be the team scoring first. The Wildcats had the ball go off the post and followed up with another one that just missed the post in the eighth minute.
"Soccer is a tricky sport," Libertyville coach Shannon Etnyre said. "Especially when it comes down to emotions and high school girls. We go up 1-0 in the eighth minute, yes, the game could've changed. But with (Zenaya Barnes) being a special player it could've been 1-1. You just have to take care of the opportunities you get. Sometimes that's how it rolls."
Carmel responded two minutes later when Skyler Thomas chipped a ball toward the goal. Barnes stepped in and head-flicked it into the goal for a 1-0 Corsairs lead.
"I was able to head it in," Barnes said. "I was making a run. I knew where the ball was going and I wanted to follow it."
Carmel added another goal in the run of play in the 34th minute. Caitlin Teehan scored on a give-and-go from Sarah Galla for the 2-0 advantage.
Libertyville tried to make a push in the second half. The Wildcats had several chances and saw a shot go off the crossbar. Carmel keeper Sophia Sarkis made 10 of her 12 stops in the second half.
The Corsairs' defense led by Ciara Thomas stepped up and denied a handful of Wildcats' opportunities, with back-liners Maddy Splitt, Lily Sykes and Morgan Smola providing key support.
"We just know our jobs very well," Thomas said. "If someone messes up, we're just there to get it for each other."
Libertyville put together a very strong season and worked hard together to achieve at the highest levels. The Wildcats seemed to turn the corner going into the postseason and had a classic victory over its North Suburban Conference rival Stevenson in the sectional semifinal.
"The girls were prepared all week and you could tell they were in the right mindset," Etnyre said. "It could've been better. It's one of those things you know what your team has to give. Today really wasn't their best effort. It's tough because you know what they have to give - and (Carmel) had more.
"I'm still proud of the season the girls put together, especially after we lost a couple of key seniors last year. This is a team that came together and bonded so well. It's sad to see the season the end. I wanted more from them, and they wanted more from themselves. Carmel is a great side, I wish them the best and I hope they can take the Evanston supersectional and get themselves to state."