Girls soccer: Hull helps seal St. Charles East's regional championship
Calling an additional goal insurance when a team has the lead is an old sports cliché.
But it paid off for St. Charles East in its Class 3A regional title match with Wheaton Warrenville South Friday night in Hoffman Estates.
Christina Hull put the Saints up 2-0 in the 65th minute and that score was the difference-maker in the Saints' 2-1 win.
Hull's goal became crucial 12 minutes later when WW South midfielder Audrey Seibert found the back of the net.
The victory earned the Saints their fifth regional title in a row and a berth in the Schaumburg sectional next week. St. Charles East (21-5) will face Conant, winner of its own regional, in the second semifinal contest next Wednesday.
Hull's score in the penalty box came on a cross from Ellie McCaslin on the right end line.
"Whenever Ellie goes end line, the thought is to get into the box," said Hull. "I was in the right place at the right time."
"Not much of the game was played in the middle third but certainly in both ends. Both teams were looking for mistakes to occur and give credit to where it is due," WW South coach Guy Callipari said. "22 (McCaslin) did a nice job of rolling a couple of defenders. She took advantage of us playing a little soft defensively perhaps and getting it on the face of the goal."
After taking five shots on goal that were stopped by Tigers goalkeeper Abbie Brennan, St. Charles East finally got on the board with 7:39 to play in the first half.
McCaslin fired a 35-yard rocket past Brennan for the score.
"I got the ball from Margaret (Harper) and I saw a midfielder coming from my left so I turned around on her and she kept going to my right," McCaslin said. "The whole midfield was open so I just let her rip."
"We talked about before the game, the importance of the first goal. Getting it was crucial, kind of eased things a little bit but it took a while," said St. Charles East coach Vince DiNuzzo. "The second goal was even more important because that created the separation."
The Saints' stingy defense disrupted WW South's attacks throughout the game.
"They played really good defense," Callipari said. "It was really difficult for us to get really clean good looks at goal which is what they are known for - very disciplined in the back."
Jennifer Aablue's shot with less than five minutes to play in the half was WW South's best chance to score in the first 40 minutes. Aablue's attempt was over Saints keeper Grace Griffin's head but she extend her hand to deflect the ball over the net.
The Tigers tightened up their defense in the second half giving St. Charles East few scoring opportunities until Hull's goal.
WW South finishes the season with a 12-5-2 record.