Barrington’s Pfeiffer heads home winner

Updated: May 27, 2011 10:16PM

Pretty soccer typically takes a back seat to guts in sectional title games, and Barrington’s 1-0 win over Crystal Lake South matched the trend.

“At this point you just need to get by, and it doesn’t matter what the style points are as long as you get by,” Barrington coach Ryan Stengren said. “You just have to survive.”

The Broncos (17-6-1) won their third consecutive Class 3A sectional crown and their seventh in program history, ending the Gators’ (18-8-2) pursuit of their first sectional title.

Barrington freshman Mia Calamari’s corner kick at 24 minutes found the far post, where sophomore Molly Pfeiffer headed home the game’s lone goal at Jacobs.

“Molly did a great job of making the run and getting to her spot,” Calamari said. “Our runners have been finding their spots and it has been working out really good.”

Calamari’s strong right leg was also instrumental to the finish.

“We’ve been practicing that a lot and for Mia to get that ball across on an 80-yard wide field, good for her,” Stengren said. “(Pfieffer) was right where she was supposed to be.”

Friday’s win sends Barrington back to its home field for a supersectional game against Mid-Suburban League rival Fremd (17-3-2) on Tuesday. Fremd won 2-1 over Barrington in their regular-season meeting.

Crystal Lake South goalkeeper Elizabeth Quinn continued her exceptional post-season play, flying off her line and making save after save in holding the Broncos to a single goal.

Barrington posted a 15-5 edge in shots for the game over the Gators, who refused to go quietly. “There’s not much more I can say except that I love this team,” Quinn said “They’re like a family to me and I’ll never forget this season.”

Crystal Lake South fought tooth-and-nail throughout the second half and would have tied the game if not for a timely save by Barrington goalkeeper Kelly Pedersen.

Barrington’s senior keeper secured the team’s 14th shutout when she knocked a ball over the end line at the post on a shot from point-blank range with just two minutes left in the contest.

“In the back of my mind was ‘let’s not go into overtime’,” Pedersen said. “I didn’t anticipate the shot that was taken but it was easier to save because I was in the right position.”

“My girls battled to the very end,” Crystal Lake South coach Brian Allen said. “Credit Barrington for scoring their goal and we got the one crisp chance we wanted with two minutes left, and Pedersen made a terrific save. But my girls battled the entire time and I couldn’t be prouder of them.”

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