Girls soccer: Barrington just misses state title again

The sensational season of Barrington ended in heartbreaking fashion Saturday night when the Fillies fell short in their bid to lift the Class 3A state championship trophy.

Marquette-bound Kiley McMinn steered in the eventual game-winner in the 98th minute to give downstate O'Fallon (21-3-1) a hard-fought 1-0 victory to claim its second state title in three years - with McMinn scoring the game-winner in 2021 over Lyons Township.

"O'Fallon is a very good team. It was like playing a club soccer team (who) in a back-and-forth game like this one came down to finishing chances," said a disappointed Fillies coach Ryan Stengren, who for the second straight year lost in the state final match.

"It was a great game. (Credit) O'Fallon, they played great, so did we, unfortunately we fell just a little short," said senior Ellie Sanchez, who has played brilliant soccer along the back line for the program that she proudly wore the Fillies shirt for the past four seasons.

"I have been so fortunate to be a part of a team, coaching staff and program that have given me four years that I will never forget. These are my best friends and family, and I'll never forget being a part of Barrington soccer," continued Sanchez, who will play in the fall at North Dakota State University.

As expected, the Fillies' (23-1-2) intentions were clear in the opening stages of this contest with a high tempo approach designed to deny the Panthers time and space, while pushing them back toward their own goal.

Kate Lubinsky would have the best chance in the first half through some wonderful combination play from Sarah Sarnowski, then Brooke Brown, only to have Panthers keeper Kendall Joggerst make the save.

Sarnowski tested Joggerst near the half-hour mark - as did Brown after the senior was sent through by Sarnowski.

A late, questionable offsides flag dashed the hopes of a potential 1v1 situation for Sarnowski in the 65th minute - while on the other side of the park at Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium in Naperville, the Fillies' all-state keeper Megan Holland made a brilliant stop on wicked drive from McMinn.

The last 5-6 minutes of regulation saw the Panthers enjoy all of the play, which the Fillies weathered quite well.

Once in extra time, it was the Fillies who were on their front foot, doing their best to pry open a stingy Panthers back line.

However, with penalty kicks nearing, Panthers sophomore Allie Treadway delivered an inch-perfect cross to McMinn, who, with terrific composure, sent the Panthers fans into orbit with her 49th goal of the season.

"It's been tough here the past two years, but this team has accomplished so much, and will hopefully look back on this season knowing it was a very special year for all of them," said Stengren, whose club lost in shootout a year ago to Metea Valley.

LIBERTYVILLE 2, LINCOLN-WAY EAST 1: Libertyville capped a marvelous season by claiming a 3A third place trophy Saturday afternoon after its 2-1 victory over Lincoln-Way East at Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium on the campus of North Central College in Naperville.

Junior Molly Koch netted the eventual game-winner in the 66th minute on a lovely ball from Jenna Krakowski to give the Wildcats (18-3-2) their seventh state trophy.

"It was a tough loss yesterday to Barrington (5-0) in our semifinal, but that result does not define our season which is something we all should be proud of, especially when we really didn't know what kind of year we would have with so many new players on our roster - (many) of which (us) seniors didn't really know," said Wildcats senior co-captain Pru Babat, who needed nine stitches to close a wound to her forehead she sustained in a collision with teammate Maddy Kopala.

Babat, who will attend the University of Kentucky and major in kinesiology, is one of seven seniors on the Wildcats, including Krakowski, who like Babat was on the 2019 third place state team, and wears the captains armband with pride as well.

"It's been an unbelievable year. (One) in which hard work and some great chemistry that we developed turned our team from being the underdog into a team that made it to the state tournament, and came home with a state trophy," said Krakowski, who will major in prelaw at the University of Tennessee.

Krakowski's younger sister Shea bagged the opener for the Wildcats with her team-high at 16th of the season at 61 minutes.

- Mike Garofola