Vikings edge Andrew on Baffes' goal

It wasn’t easy, but the Homewood-Flossmoor girls soccer team is prevailed to see another day.

Andie Baffes’ goal with 24 minutes to play in the second half was all the Vikings  needed in their 1-0 victory over Andrew Tuesday in the Class AA Lincoln-Way Central Sectional semifinals.

H-F, which advanced to their third consecutive Class AA sectional final with the win, will face rival Marian Catholic on Thursday. The Vikings (22-3) earned a hard-fought 1-0 victory over the Spartans earlier this spring.

“Any time we play Marian, we all know it’s going to be a tough game,” Homewood-Flossmoor coach Todd Elkei said. “I’m sure there will be a great crowd out there, so it will be a good atmosphere to play in.”

H-F goalie Emily Oliver posted her 19th shutout against Andrew. Oliver will need to come up big against Marian. The Spartans knocked off top-seeded Lincoln-Way Central and Lincoln-Way East to earn a spot in the final.

It marks the first sectional finals appearance for Marian since 1999.