Bremen rolls to win over Griffins

Updated: May 13, 2011 9:40PM

Bremen co-op’s girls water polo team picked a great time to play one of its best games of the season.

The Red Jaguars dominated on both ends and rolled to a surprisingly-comfortable 15-7 win over Lincoln-Way East in the semifinals of the Lincoln-Way North Sectional.

Second-seeded Bremen (22-7) will meet top-seeded Homewood-Flossmoor in today’s final.

Nora Plank and Emma Martinus led the Red Jaguars with five goals each. Hannah Schultz added three, Jessie Mroczek two and Vasi Vasilopoulos made 11 saves.

Zoe McCabe scored four goals to lead East (17-9).

“Our girls really wanted it,” Bremen coach Sue O’Sullivan said. “(East) is a great sectional team and we knew it could turn at any time. We played hard for four quarters.”

Both offenses struggled early as Bremen held a 2-1 lead late in the first quarter. The Red Jaguars took off from there, going on a 5-1 run to take command. Plank and Martinus each scored twice during the spurt.

Bremen poured it on by scoring eight goals in the second half, thanks to great passing and outside shooting.

It was just the beginning of an exciting day for Bremen’s players, many of whom changed into prom dresses in the locker room after the game and headed to the dance.

“Our coaches were worried we’d be distracted because of prom,” Plank said while donning her dress, “but our team chemistry was there today and we played great.”

Brittany Becvar added two goals for East and Trish Paul made eight saves.

“We were a little sloppy,” East coach Jen Klein said. “We didn’t play how we wanted to and Bremen played great. I’m proud of our girls, though.”

In the other semifinal, H-F rolled to an 11-1 win over Andrew.

The Vikings (28-3) were led by Rebecca Mathews (4 goals, 3 assists), Michelle Mayer (3 goals), Hannah Ongman (3 goals) and Sophie Schloen (11 saves). Anna Tenny added a goal.

“We played really well all around,” Schloen said. “We got a good lead early, but we made sure not to let up.”

Abigail Wrobel scored a goal and Jordan Bartolini made nine saves for Andrew, which finished 21-8.

H-F jumped to a 6-0 lead behind three goals from Mayer and two from Mathews and never looked back.

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