Girls lacrosse: St. Charles co-op rolls over Hoffman Estates for sectional title
The St. Charles co-op girls lacrosse team defeated Hoffman Estates earlier in the season in nonconference play, but according to senior midfielder Lexi Kiefer, her team had a "really, really slow start" in that contest.
So when facing the Hawks again Friday in the sectional championship match on the Norris Stadium turf at St. Charles East, Kiefer said that she and her teammates were looking for a speedier beginning.
"We wanted a fast start," said Kiefer, "and carry that momentum over to the rest of the game."
Consider the momentum carried and the goal accomplished as the co-op squad, rostered with players from St. Charles East and St. Charles North, struck early and often in an 18-2 win over Hoffman.
St. Charles moves on to Tuesday's supersectional at Hoffman Estates, where they'll face Neuqua Valley, a 12-11 winner over Naperville North, at 7:30 p.m.
"Hoffman really gave us a run for our money in that first game," said St. Charles coach Jordyn McFarlane. "That was a great experience for us and we learned from it."
St. Charles advanced to the supersectional last season but has an objective to move on even further in the playoffs this campaign.
"We have a senior-heavy team," added McFarlane, "and these girls are ready to finish it this year. They have one goal in mind."
Senior Maddie Wiltrout scored a game-high 5 goals for St. Charles Friday, while Chiara Hurd and Kate Mongold tallied for Hoffman.
"We bonded this season as a team," said Mongold, a senior who also starred on the basketball court for the Hawks and will continue her lacrosse career next year at Northern Michigan University. "We became like a family and that became our mantra. It led us to the best record we've ever had."
Hoffman finished the season at 14-7.
"St. Charles is a really good team, " said Hawks coach Eric Gdowski. "Today was a tough day, but our girls fought hard like they've done all year. We're going to miss our senior group a lot."
Right out of the gate, St. Charles (16-2) scored four times in rapid succession.
First it was senior Makayla Thomas who found the back of the net; then Katelyn Olson assisted on a goal by Wiltrout. Next Kiefer had the helper on another Wiltrout score, and Olson scored one of her own to make it 4-0 with less than 8 minutes played in the game.
St. Charles led 10-1 at halftime, and quickly extended the advantage in the second half. Kiefer, Annika Anderson, Olson and Sami Balara scored quickly and on defense, sophomore Mia Fiandaca made a steal that led to another Kiefer tally.
The St. Charles back line took it the rest of the way, allowing only 1 Hawks goal in each half.
On attack, Olson had 4 goals, Kiefer and Balara 3 apiece, and Thomas finished with 2.
"Over the course of the season we've developed as a team so much," said St. Charles defensive standout Jennie Hubbard, a senior, "especially our freshman players. That's great to see, and our connections on the field have grown so much stronger."
Both Hubbard and Kiefer will continue to play lacrosse in college, Hubbard at Illinois Wesleyan and Kiefer with the University of Akron.
And according to Kiefer, St. Charles won't be resting on its laurels the rest of this postseason.
"As we've learned all year," said the senior, "every game is a new game and every day is a new day. We need to remember that what has happened in the past won't necessarily carry over to the future, so every time out we have play the entire game as if it's 0-0, keep attacking and keep scoring."