Waubonsie Valley takes regional opener

Updated: May 17, 2011 9:44PM

Waubonsie didn‘t score any goals that will end up in the highlight reel on Tuesday, but in the IHSA playoffs you take what you can get.

The No. 4 seeded Warriors gutted out a tough 3-0 victory against the Bolingbrook Raiders in the Bolingbrook Regional semifinal.

“It is the first game of the playoffs so the game is what it is and you are just happy to move on,” Warriors coach Julie Bergstrom said. “The teams were battling some wind out here and that played a factor.”

Despite a 25 mph wind in their faces to begin the game, Waubonsie (16-5-0) was still able to generate six shots in the half. The Warriors got a lucky bounce just 5:24 into the game when a cross from the far sideline was deflected into the top corner of the goal by the Raider defender.

“I think the game would have been a little different if we went into the halftime tied at zero. The pressure would be on them,” Raiders coach Martin Uscila said. “The better team won today but our girls really fought out there. There’s only so many moral victories a team can have in a season.”

With the wind at their backs in the second half, Waubonsie came out with a vengeance and pressured the No. 13 seeded Raiders (13-9-1) from the first minute. Just 52 seconds into the half, Emi Yamamoto beat the Raider keeper but it hit the crossbar and was cleared.

The Warriors finally broke through with 30:53 remaining off a free kick from 46 yards away. Jenna Romano hit a high arching free kick that got caught by the wind and floated into the goal for a 2-0 lead.

“I was definitely shocked when it went in. I knew I struck it well but I didn’t think it had enough to go (in),” Romano said. “I think we played better in the second half and we did a better job playing to feet.”

With 8:04 left Shannon Donelson put the game out of reach as she corralled a perfect pass in stride past two Bolingbrook defenders and took a right-footed shot that hit the inside of the post and bounced in.

In the second half, Waubonsie outshot the Raiders 10-1 and 16-3 for the game. Waubonsie plays Downers Grove South in the regional final in Bolingbrook on Friday at 4:30 p.m.

Downers Grove South 6, Oswego East 1

The fifth-seeded Mustangs notched five tallies in the second half, including four within a 4:12 span, to power past the 12th-seeded Wolves.

Downers South chose to go against the wind to open the half and Megan Martin found the back of the net on the first Mustang shot. However, Oswego East held tough and kept the lead at one going into halftime.

“In the first half we not only held them to 1-0 but we also competed and I’m proud of them for that,” Wolves coach Lauren Anderson said. “They (Downers South) are a difficult team and hard to deal with. This sectional has incredible talent and I think playing in big games gives our team confidence going into next year.”

The floodgates opened with 34:29 left when Sarrah Ludwig found the loose ball in the box off of a corner kick and buried it into the net. Jessica Bronke would lead the Mustangs scoring two goals.

Oswego East got their lone tally with 24:31 remaining as Brittany Brewer took a pass at the top of the box and ripped a right-footed shot into the left corner of the net for the goal.

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