Girls soccer: Whitney Young surprises Glenbard East

Seniors captains Amy Chiero, Lindsey Novak and Sam Johnson were the last remaining players from the Glenbard East girls soccer team's program-best third-place Class 3A roster of 2016.

For that and many other reasons, Friday brought an emotional ending for the Rams after their 1-0 home loss to Whitney Young in the finals of the Class 3A Glenbard East regional.

"Sam and Lindsey, we've been playing together since, literally, our first soccer game. It's really hard to say goodbye," said four-year starter Chiero as she fought back tears.

"We've been so strong the past four years. I've been lucky to be a part of that, especially with all of the amazing girls surrounding me. They've helped me grow so much. All of us grew and I think that in the next seasons they'll be great, too."

The No. 2-seeded Rams (18-5-2) not only were seeking their fourth consecutive regional title but were riding a six-game winning streak, five-game shutout streak and nine-game unbeaten streak that included a scoreless tie.

Essentially a nearly five-minute flurry by the No. 7 Dolphins (17-6-1) ended that.

Young senior Audrey Howaniec scored with 29:02 remaining after the Rams blocked the initial shot off a corner kick.

From that 51st to the 55th minute, the Dolphins had 4 of their 9 shots and 3 of 4 corner kicks for the game with Howaniec putting another shot off the left post in the 54th minute.

Glenbard East led 12-9 in shots, 6-4 on goal.

"They really cranked it up in the second half. I thought we had good energy, did well, but just couldn't find the answer in the final third," Glenbard East coach Kent Overbey said. "Credit to them. Unfortunately one broken play when you're at this level at the state tournament, that's where the difference is."

The Dolphins had one shot the rest of the way while the Rams kept pressuring. With 15 minutes left Elaine Wesling kept Summer Garcia's 40-yard free kick alive in the crease and Natalie Borcean blasted a shot over the net. Garcia put her 22-yard free kick just high with 12 minutes remaining and Chiero had free kicks with 6:17 and 1:20 left from 30 and 23 yards grabbed by Young senior goalie Mia Engelmann.

Young won its first regional since 2008 in its first regional final appearance since 2013.

"Our back four played about as well as you could ask," Young assistant coach Greg VonMoser said. "They put a lot of pressure. (Glenbard East's Sophia Heatly, Novak and Maddie Weltin) were just coming at us and they were relentless. The kids played better than we could have asked."

"Whitney Young was definitely the best team we played against this season," Chiero said. "They matched our energy and I wish them the best of luck going forward because they were really strong out there."

Before 2016 Glenbard East hadn't even won a regional title. Novak and Johnson were key reserves before becoming three-year starters.

This season they and senior reserves Hayden Dudek and Audrey Beckham oversaw a lineup that lost seven starters from 2018 and started two sophomores and two freshmen Friday.

"I can't say enough about the young kids and the senior leadership to even put us in a position to have a chance to win a regional championship," Overbey said. "The expectations are sky high for us and I think says a lot about these seniors and how far this program has come just these four years even."

Overbey noted how the starting senior trio contributes to each line with forward Novak, center midfielder Chiero and central defender Johnson.

Statistically, Novak had 25-26 goals and Chiero 15 assists this season. Johnson contributed to 65 varsity shutouts.

"We went into this season wanting to lead the way we wanted to be led in the past and that's made it amazing," Novak said. "It's really emotional right now but it shows how amazing this program is and how amazing all of our underclassmen are that we can be so upset. It shows how good we have it here."

Chiero, Novak and Johnson will play respectively at Denison, North Central and Elmhurst.

"This program and team, by far, the best thing I've ever been a part of," Johnson said. "It's really hard to pick a favorite (season). Going to state was a lot of fun but every year is a lot of fun when you have the girls by your side."