Richards pays back Oak Lawn

Updated: May 13, 2011 11:09PM

Richards coach Marie Strelka acknowledged her team had additional motivation beyond their neighborhood rivalry to defeat Oak Lawn on Friday.

The Bulldogs had suffered a 3-1 defeat to the Spartans earlier in the season.

“Oak Lawn is our crosstown rival,” Strelka said. “We weren’t prepared for that earlier game and didn’t show them our full potential.”

A more determined Richards squad took to the field and took down host Oak Lawn 3-1 in a quarterfinal of the Sandburg Regional. The Bulldogs (5-12) advance to play the host Eagles on Wednesday.

Jasmin Figueroa scored two goals, while Brittany Wagner had what was the game-winner for Richards.

It was appropriate Figueroa leading the charge. On the way over to the game, the senior emphatically informed her teammates on the bus that she didn’t want this to be her last game.

“She was really pumped up,” Strelka said.

Oak Lawn scored the game’s first goal. Michaela Sheeran converted a pass from Britney Samson for a 1-0 lead at 12:03 of the first half.

The Spartans (4-9) nearly made it 2-0 moments later, but Bridget Niemiec misfired on a close-in opportunity.

“It was good to see us score first,” Oak Lawn coach Karyn Horn said. “I thought the momentum would be on our side.”

That wasn’t the case, though. Figueroa notched the equalizer with 3:42 remaining in the first half, converting a loose ball off an indirect kick by Tricia Tuxford.

The Bulldogs took advantage of a strong breeze at their back to pretty much dominate the second half.

Wagner gave Richards the lead on a strange goal. Tuxford let fly a direct kick from approximately 25 yards that caromed off the near post, across the crease and right to a charging Wagner who buried the shot for a 2-1 lead.

The Bulldogs defense wouldn’t give an inch the rest of the way, with Tuxford, Jocelyn Wayer and Jasmine Serrano providing blanket coverage.

Figueroa scored an insurance goal with 13.6 seconds remaining.

“At the intermission I said to them, ‘This is it. This could be the last half of soccer for the season,’ ” Strelka said. “We had to stay aggressive. The wind helped. The kids were very supportive of each other.”

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