Marian shocks Lincoln-Way Central

Marian Catholic coach Nasser Shahtaji was hoping his team could just keep pace with top-seeded Lincoln-Way Central on Friday in the championship match of the Class AA Lincoln-Way Central Regional.

Those modest expectations wound up being exceeded by plenty.

Sparked by a determined second-half surge, the seventh-seeded Spartans stunned the host Knights 2-1 in New Lenox.

Marian Catholic (14-6) will face Lincoln-Way East, a 4-0 winner over Joliet Township in the championship game of the Lincoln-Way East Regional, at 5 p.m. Monday in a Lincoln-Way Central Sectional semifinal.

"To be honest, I just wanted us to stay close early on," Shahtaji said. "I felt if we could do that, we would build our confidence up and then anything could happen."

Marian Catholic received goals from Meghan Rockrohr and Kasey Cartwright.

"We came in with the mentality of trying to win every ball today," Rockrohr said. "We knew if we did that we could beat them."

For Cartwright, who punched in the go-ahead goal for the Spartans and also notched an assist on Rockrohr's tally, the regional championship was the culmination of four years of hard work.

"This is the best feeling ever," a beaming Cartwright said. "I don't know how to describe it. We hadn't won a regional in I don't know how long. I know we haven't won one in my time here, so it's a pretty big deal."

Lincoln-Way Central (12-8-3) opened the scoring when striker Allison Doyle accepted a pass from Julie Tromp and buried a crisp shot into the back of the net for her team-leading 18th goal of the season, coming with 5:51 remaining in the opening half.

The Spartans knotted the match with 28:10 remaining in the second half. Rockrohr took Cartwright's pass and flicked the ball over the head of Knights goalkeeper Jamie Panfil (4 saves).

Cartwright broke loose at midfield and weaved her way through several Lincoln-Way Central defenders to pop in a left-footed shot from about 15 yards out with 25:21 left.

"I really just saw a gap there and took a shot," said Cartwright, who is also the Spartans' team captain and leading scorer with 20 goals on the season. "We're always coached if you have a shot then take it, so that's what I tried to do."

Shahtaji had nothing but praise for Cartwright.

"Kasey was really on double duty tonight," Shahtaji said. "We had her defending their No. 5 (Doyle), who is a great player, and then she was able to contribute on offense as well. It was a tremendous performance. She (Cartwright) really is the heart and soul of our team."

Cartwright almost made it 3-1 late in regulation when she uncorked a well-struck shot from 25 yards out. The ball was stopped by a diving Panfil.

Knights coach Dan Radz was left pondering what might have been.

"We came out kind of sluggish and never really got it going," Radz said. "When you leave No. 2 (Cartwright) alone out there and let her roam around, it's pretty much time to pack up your equipment and go home.

"Marian Catholic played a great match. Give them credit. Today, they deserved it."