Contorno's OT goal sends Lemont to state

Lemont celebrates its Class 2A supersectional victory over U-High.
(Michael R. Schmidt/Herald News)

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Tammy Contorno had waited four years to make school history, so the Lemont midfielder didn’t hesitate when she got a loose ball just 19 seconds into the second overtime of Tuesday's Class 2A girls soccer supersectional.

Contorno’s shot from 33 yards out sailed over U-High goalie Fraser Brown (four saves) and into the upper left corner of the net to lift Lemont to a 1-0 victory at Benedictine University and its first state semifinal berth.

‘‘In the first overtime, I saw that a hard shot over the top would go in because seeing how the keeper was playing I knew she couldn’t handle those kinds of shots,’’ Contorno said. ‘‘I just wanted to rip one. I told the girls before we go out, ‘You guys just rip them as hard as you can and one is going to go in. I just shot it and when I saw it went in, it was unbelievable.’’

Lemont (20-5) outshot U-High 13-6 in regulation and had the run of play in the first overtime, but couldn’t break through, thanks to the Maroons' defense led by Emily Kuo.

U-High (18-4-1) packed in its defense, but the Indians did not take any long shots until Contorno’s attempt.

‘‘That was the first shot we had from the outside,’’ Lemont coach Rick Prangen said. ‘‘That was just effort. I give credit to Tammy Contorno for stepping up big her senior year to get a finish like that to win a supersectional title. For them to go to state is well deserved.’’

It was the second straight year U-High lost in the supersectional. Contorno can relate because Lemont lost 2-1 on penalty kicks to Homewood-Flossmoor in last year’s supersectional.

‘‘I’ve been a four-year varsity player and each year we’ve gotten better and it’s just amazing to be part of the team to get [to state],’’ Contorno said. ‘‘I’m so excited.’’

Lemont goalie Erin Stahurski made two saves for the shutout.