Girls soccer: Trujillo's goal sparks Wauconda over Crystal Lake Central

Three years ago as a freshman, Cici Trujillo played for an emerging Wauconda girls soccer team and scored her only varsity goal. Since that time, she stepped away from the soccer field and had to deal with COVID.

However, she returned this season and was on the JV team until she was given an opportunity to play on varsity again in the state tournament.

The timing was right as she scored her second career goal and the game-winner to lead fifth-seeded Wauconda past No. 4 Crystal Lake Central 1-0 in a regional final of the Class 2A Wauconda sectional Friday in Crystal Lake.

"I had taken a little bit of a break," Trujillo said. "This is something that I dream of. Getting the one goal to win the regional."

Trujillo received a pass from Katie Karecki and finished a kick with her left foot inside the box in the 58th minute.

"I knew that I had to take a touch," Trujillo said. "I knew that the keeper was tall and if I shoot it high it would've been saved. I just went wide, got the touch and then scored it with my left, which I'm actually a righty. But, I have a little bit of both. I was surprised to see it go in like everybody else was surprised."

Wauconda (10-5-2) is now 10-0-2 over its last 12 matches.

"It's grit and toughness," Wauconda coach Beau Shogren said. "Some of our girls emptied the tank out there today. We had a feeling about this team. We played good soccer against Warren, Lake Forest and Stevenson. We just couldn't find the end of a cross or a chance. We knew and kept telling the girls in that stretch, 'you've got to feel like you're playing better.' We were all nodding in agreement that we were feeling good. It was taking that momentum into conference and now here we are. It's paying off here at the end."

Bulldogs' keeper Mackenzie Arden earned her 11th shutout this season as she made 4 stops.

Wauconda will play top-seeded St. Viator (9-2-1) at the Forest View Educational Center on Tuesday for the sectional semifinal. The Lions shutout Lakes 2-0 on Friday.

Crystal Lake Central (13-4), which won the Fox Valley Conference title, had its chances, but the Tigers were stymied by Wauconda's defense various time in the match.

"It was a lot of different things," Crystal Lake Central coach Sarah Fack said. "It was just things didn't go our way unfortunately. It was a bad game for that to happen. We've had some really good momentum the last few weeks. After the water break in the second half, we started to come together a little bit. A lot of stuff combining, just didn't go our way. These girls have done nothing but just work their tails off. It was unfortunate to end it here like this. They should be really proud, especially our seniors being their last season, and they've accomplished so much. This year, we really pulled together as a team with a ton of underclassmen. Our senior leadership was amazing to see."