Marian outlasts Reavis, Sandburg advances

Updated: May 18, 2011 10:39PM

Marian Catholic’s girls soccer team was left frustrated many times by missed chances in Wednesday’s Class 3A Sandburg Regional semifinal against Reavis.

In the end, none of it mattered as the Spartans were celebrating a shootout win. After the teams were scoreless through regulation and four overtimes, Marian prevailed with a 3-1 edge in penalty kicks.

“It was hard because we wanted it so bad, but we just couldn’t place the ball right,” Marian midfielder Deanna Sizemore said. “It was all worth it at the end, though. We just believed in each other and knew we could win.”

The Spartans will meet Sandburg in Friday’s regional final.

Ninth-seeded Marian (4-8-5) scored on three of its first four penalty kicks, with Christina Franzese, Sizemore and Cecily Strezo finding the net. No. 8 seed Reavis (17-4), meanwhile, was off the mark on three consecutive kicks after Ana Valdez scored on the first attempt. The Spartans clinched the win when the Rams’ Angelina Brcic hit the crossbar.

“It was an even game and there were a lot of positives for us,” Marian coach Nasser Shahtaji said. “We’ve struggled, so this is really nice for us.”

Marian got the better of play prior to the shootout, firing nine shots on goal to Reavis’ one.

Goalkeeper Joanna Sochacka (9 saves) kept the Rams in the game with a few nice saves.

A Marian corner kick in the third overtime resulted in a Reavis hand ball in the box, leading to a penalty kick. But Hailey Losselyong’s strike sailed high.

Freshman goalie Sarah Sieracki recorded the shutout for Marian.

For Reavis, it was a tough end to a season which saw it capture the South Suburban Red title, but fall short of its first playoff win since 2006.

Sandburg 7, Richards 0

Shannon Stearns had her first career hat trick and added an assist to lead top-seeded Sandburg (18-3-1). Stearns scored in the opening minute and the Eagles never looked back.

“(The hat trick) was really exciting,” Stearns said. “When everyone can get involved like today, it’s fun.”

Morgan Manzke (assist), Meghan Carmody, Ciara O’Shea and Paige Bendell added a goal apiece for Sandburg. Victoria Kappel made one save to gain the shutout.

Ashley Solus made four saves for Richards (5-13).

GIRLS SOCCER

Class 3A Argo Regional

Hinsdale South 5, Argo 0: Argo fell in the regional semifinal.

Class 3A Homewood-Flossmoor Regional

Homewood-Flossmoor 9, Eisenhower 0: H-F (18-2) will play in the regional championship Saturday.

Mother McAuley 7, Lincoln-Way East 3: McAuley will face Homewood-Flossmoor in the regional championship Saturday.

Class 3A Marist Regional

Marist 4, Shepard 0: Jess Socha scored two goals and Ailish Rispin and Kara Bock each added a goal to lead Marist (7-8-2) to the regional championship game.

Class 2A Riverside-Brookfield Regional

Glenbard South 6, Queen of Peace 0: Peace fell in the regional semifinal.

Class 2A U-High Regional

U-High 2, Evergreen Park 0: Evergreen Park fell in the regional semifinal.

SOFTBALL

No. 1 Richards 3, Lyons 1: Brianna LeBeau (22-0) threw a four-hitter and had an RBI, while Kailie Tobin and Breanna Kaminski each had a RBI to lead visiting Richards (27-0).

No. 3 Sandburg 5, New Trier 0: Amanda Barna (5-1) threw a two-hitter, Candice Koch (3-for-4) and Lizzie Wojtowicz (3-for-4) each scored two runs and Jess Perkins (3-for-4) had two RBI to lead host Sandburg (22-5).

No. 5 Marist 5, Joliet Catholic 2: Teagan Walsh (12-5) got the win, Alyssa Sierzega had a run and two RBI and Brooke Wyderski had two home runs and three RBI to lead host Marist (22-9, 15-2) in the East Suburban Catholic Conference.

No. 6 Andrew 2, T.F. South 1: Brooke Hofer threw a four-hitter, striking out nine, Katie Christner scored two runs and Jenna Lenza had an RBI triple to lead host Andrew (23-9). T.F. South fell to 13-11.

No. 9 Oak Forest 8, Lincoln-Way West 0: Emily Norton and Colleen Sherwood (2 RBI) combined on a no-hitter, Sam Bal scored three runs and Jourdan Skirha had two RBI to lead host Oak Forest (23-4).

Shepard 10, Queen of Peace 7: Allie Alarcon had two home runs and six RBI and Katelyn Anderson had two RBI to lead visiting Shepard. Becca Doyle had a home run and three RBI and Steph Rich had two RBI for Peace (11-14).

Class 2A Beecher Regional

No. 2 Beecher 1, Manteno 0: Skyler Woods singled in Briana Bowler with two outs in the bottom of the sixth, and Mallory Ivers struck out eight in a complete game for Beecher (29-1) in the regional semifinal.

Class 1A Grant Park Regional

Grant Park 9, Illinois Lutheran 4: Illinois Lutheran fell in the regional semifinal.

Class 1A Morgan Park Academy Regional

Morgan Park Academy 8, St. Benedict 1: Morgan Park Academy will take on Christian Liberty Academy Saturday in the regional title game.

Contributing: Chris Murphy

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