High School Roundup: Brother Rice has a little extra

Brother Rice has to be Illinois' best 10-10 soccer team. Certainly, the Crusaders are the best No. 12 seed.

They'll try to prove that again Saturday morning against Lincoln-Way East, when they play the Griffins on their home field. Rice advanced to the Class 3A regional final with a 4-3 sudden-death overtime victory over Oak Lawn on Tuesday night.

BOYS SOCCER

Wade Howard headed in the game-winner 8 minutes, 4 seconds into the first overtime, converting midfielder John Stewart's pass.

The goal, Howard's second of the match, beat Spartans goalkeeper Jorge Marinez, ended Oak Lawn's surprising season and allowed the Crusaders to achieve at least one goal.

"I wanted to be at least in a regional final," Rice coach Nick Markulin said of his season's objectives.

That was accomplished in the most dramatic of ways. Oak Lawn took a 2-0 lead on goals by senior forward Mustafa Abdelrahman, and held that lead at the half. Markulin spoke up.

"Seniors, if you don't want to end your career on this note, you'd better follow some instructions," Markulin said.

Promptly, the Crusaders perked up. Before 13 minutes were played, Greg Healy, on a 25-yard rocket, and Howard, on a shot Martinez misplayed, had tied the match at 2.

Rice took a 3-2 lead 22:53 into the second half on Stewart's score from the slot via midfielder David Johnson's second assist. Oak Lawn tied the game on Matt Gorecki's header with 5:49 left in regulation.

Howard's goal came on the first good chance for either team in extra time.

Abdelrahman was ejected with three seconds left in regulation, when he knocked the ball out of a Rice player who was about to throw it in. He had been hit with a yellow card earlier in the game, so the second card was red. Abdelrahman would also have missed the regional final had Oak Lawn advanced.

"Lincoln-Way East would have torn us up without him," Oak Lawn coach Kevin Stow said.

Abdelrahman showed his skill and speed from the outset, outracing a Rice defender to a pass and beating goalkeeper Chris Vidos 5:19 into the game. The Crusaders opened defensively with four men back, finding it difficult to double-team Abdelrahman, given the trouble midfielder Ray Martinez was causing.

That combination created the second Spartans goal. Martinez took a pass from Jose Renteria off a short corner kick and fed Abdelrahman in the slot for a beautiful header goal with 2:16 left in the first half.

The Spartans closed their season with a 15-5 record.

Lincoln-Way East 5 Thornton Fractional co-op 1

Robbie McGowan contributed three goals and an assist in leading Lincoln-Way East (12-9) to the semifinal victory. Matt Crumb also scored for the Griffins.

"We wanted to get a zero (shutout), but five goals is more than we've gotten most of the season," McGowan said.

Matt Crumb also scored for the Griffins.

Fernando Leon scored the only goal for Thornton Fractional co-op.

CLASS 3A H-F REGIONAL Marian Catholic 2 Bloom Township 1

Jabari Danzy's goal with 5:45 remaining in the second half propelled Marian Catholic (7-11-3) to the semifinal win.Stefan Kremmidas also scored for the Spartans, who avenged a 4-0 loss to Bloom Township (20-4) earlier this season.

Lincoln-Way Central 2 Homewood-Flossmoor 1

Keegan Balle scored both goals for Lincoln-Way Central (8-13-2 overall) in the semifinal. Brett Lysik and Conor Bartuch each had an assist for the Knights.

CLASS 3A OAK PARK REGIONAL Kelly 2, Argo 1 (OT)

Argo (9-10-1) was beaten in the semifinal.

CLASS 3A ST. RITA REGIONAL Hinsdale Central 4, St. Rita 1

Kyle Donahue scored the lone goal for St. Rita in the semifinal loss. The Mustangs finished the season 6-12-1 overall.

Mount Carmel 2, De La Salle 1

Tony Aguilar netted both goals for Mount Carmel (12-5-4) in the semifinal.

CLASS 3A SANDBURG REGIONAL Marist 1, Reavis 0

Dillon Olson broke open the scoreless game with a goal with 12 minutes remaining in the second half for Marist (14-7). Goalie Mike Duddleston recorded four saves for the RedHawks.

Sandburg 5 Lincoln-Way North 0

Tony Madonia scored a pair of goals in powering Sandburg (14-7) to the semifinal win. Mark Tolley, Kevin Tolley and Dave Tadla also scored for the Eagles.

Lincoln-Way North closed at 4-17-3.

CLASS 3A WHITNEY YOUNG REGIONAL St. Ignatius 2, Whitney Young 0

Kevin Daly and Ben Medina provided goals for St. Ignatius (11-6-2) in the semifinal.

CLASS 2A JOLIET CATHOLIC ACADEMY REGIONAL Crete-Monee 2, Washington 1

Carlos Posada scored twice in guiding Crete-Monee (10-8-1) to the semifinal victory. Alex Posada and Danny Tucker provided the assists for the Warriors.

CLASS 2A LEMONT REGIONAL Lemont 7, Richards 0

Lemont captured the semifinal.

Tinley Park 6, Rich South 1

Tinley Park earned a spot in the championship.

CLASS 2A RICH EAST REGIONAL Morris 3, Rich East 1

Alex Ingerly scored a first-half goal for Rich East in the semifinal.

CLASS 1A PEOTONE REGIONAL Morgan Park Academy 2 Manteno 1

Morgan Park Academy (16-3) qualified for the championship behind goals from Petar Radujkovich and Kevin Fleming.

GIRLS VOLLEYBALL

No. 2 Lemont 25-25 Tinley Park 15-13

Courtney Keefe and Aubrey Sniegowski both had six kills for visiting Lemont (27-3, 9-0) in the South Suburban Blue. Becca Bograd chipped in 12 assists and four aces for the Indians.

Sarah Holup had eight assists for Tinley Park (10-14, 4-7).

Benet Academy 25-25 No. 3 Marist 19-15

Caroline Niedospial totaled 21 digs and Erin Kelly dished out 12 assists as host Marist (19-10, 8-2) came up short in the East Suburban Catholic Conference. Jacqueline Lang also starred for the RedHawks, contributing seven kills and five service points.

No. 5 Oak Forest 25-25 Oak Lawn 8-22

Dana Wettergren led a balanced attack for No. 5 Oak Forest (29-4, 10-0) with four aces and five kills in the South Suburban crossover. Paige Norkus (3 digs, 3 kills), Becky Bylina (3 kills, 5 blocks) and Dana Jordan (5 digs, 2 kills) also contributed for the host Bengals.

No. 6 Evergreen Park 25-25 Argo 7-16

Emily Sawyers (10 kills) and Casey Christopher (8 kills) led No. 6 Evergreen Park (23-4, 7-2) to the South Suburban Red home win.

Shepard 25-25, Hillcrest 16-17

Amanda Werniak powered Shepard (18-9, 6-5) to the South Suburban Blue win with nine kills, while Samantha Janc added seven kills.

Erika Swain (7 digs), Yolanda De La Torre (3 kills, 3 blocks) and Jamie Nelson (5 digs) all chipped in for host Hillcrest (9-14, 1-8).

Bloom Township 25-25 Crete-Monee 14-13

Bloom Township improved to 25-7 overall and 10-0 in the SICA South behind Jessica Boersma's eight kills win.

T.F. South 25-25 T.F. North 14-9

Emily Tortolano distributed seven assists and Marci Zegarac had five kills as visiting T.F. South (22-7, 8-0) triumphed in the SICA East.

Jen Twiddy added 12 service points for the Rebels.

Bremen 25-25 Richards 14-19

Alexa Smerz totaled six kills and seven digs in powering host Bremen (15-16 overall) to the South Suburban crossover win. Tara Tatro contributed 17 assists for the Braves, while Julie Velcich added 11 digs, five kills and four blocks.

Joliet Catholic Academy 25-25 Marian Catholic 18-14

Alyssa Warren had eight kills and six service points for host Joliet Catholic Academy (31-3, 8-1) in the East Suburban Catholic Conference.

Gina Vera tacked on 26 assists for the Angels, while Katie Hickey finished with seven kills and six digs.

Reavis 25-25 Eisenhower 12-13

Reavis (14-18, 4-4) posted the South Suburban Red victory in Blue Island as Sarah Saunders had eight assists and Kathy Krupa added five kills and five blocks.

Shelby Heffernan led Eisenhower (6-18, 1-10) with five assists and two aces.

Chicago Christian 25-25 Westmont 11-25

Visiting Chicago Christian (23-5) took the nonconference match.

Rich Central 25-13-25 Kankakee 22-25-19

Sitoria Townsend has seven kills as visiting Rich Central (14-12, 7-3) prevailed in the SICA South.

Thornton 25-27-25 Thornwood 21-29-18

Lisa Wooten had five kills and 11 digs for Thornwood in the SICA East match.

GIRLS SWIMMING

Evergreen Park 107 Oak Lawn 77

Jill Pastick posted the fastest times in the 200-yard freestyle (2 minutes, 8.58 seconds) and 500 freestyle (5:46.79) for visiting Evergreen Park in the South Suburban Red.

Other winners for the Mustangs included Brooke Telander in the 50 free (25.41 seconds) and Emily Nielsen in the 100 backstroke (1:12.64).

Oak Lawn received victories from Kristen Callahan in the 100 butterfly (1:07.43) and Lizzie Egan in the 100 breaststroke (1:13.53).

Lemont 116 Bremen 52

Visiting Lemont (6-3, 5-3) won in the South Suburban Blue as Caroline Ratulowski was first in the 50 free (26.39) and 100 free (58.14).

Melanie Waszak added wins in the 100 back (1:03.02) and 200 individual medley (2:19.34) for the Indians, while Danielle Schumacher finished ahead of the pack in the 100 fly (1:02.29) and 200 free (2:01.67).

Catherine Vivado won the 100 breaststroke (1:16.92) for Bremen.

Richards 102 Argo 65

Caitlin Flood won the 200 free (2:24:75) and Amanda Pohrebny took the 100 breaststroke (1:18:19) to lead host Richards (5-4, 3-2) to the South Suburban Red win.

Amanda Dimer won the 100 backstroke (1:11:57) for Argo.

Lockport 106 Stagg 79

Courtney Pope was a winner in the 100 free (55.37) and 100 back (1:04.37) for host Lockport in the SouthWest Suburban meet.

Molly Knowles added victories in the 100 breaststroke (1:18.44) and 500 free (5:40.60) for the Porters. Knowles was part of Lockport's winning group in the 200 medley relay (1:58.79), joining Abby Rodewald, Kaylie Webster and Chelsea Coneset.

Stagg was led by Francesca Finucane, who prevailed in the 100 fly (1:01.24) and 200 free (1:58.98). She also swam on the Chargers' winning foursomes in the 200 free relay (1:42.52) and 400 free relay (3:43.68).

Contributing: Correspondents Josh Krockey and Tim O'Brien.