Green Wave, Genoa-Kingston advance

Updated: May 14, 2011 9:13PM

While the top two seeds advanced to the finals of the Class 1A Genoa-Kingston Regional, the contrast could not have been greater.

The top-seeded Green Wave of St. Edward won 8-1 in an offensive flood against Elgin Academy while No. 2 seed and host Genoa-Kingston trickled past No. 3 Hiawatha 1-0.

St. Edward, now 11-7-3, increased its 3-0 halftime lead to 5-0 before the Hilltoppers scored only to have that strike negated within 21 seconds.

The Green Wave almost got an eighth goal in the same amount of time it took Genoa-Kingston to get that semifinal’s lone goal. G-K’s Cogs take a 9-8-1 record into Tuesday’s 4:30 p.m. title contest.

With 20:51 left before intermission, Allison Kruk’s assist found Mallory Malone in the clear for a 14-yarder that ricocheted off the Hilltoppers goalie’s hands and the crossbar for St. Edward’s initial goal.

“That first goal was big because it seems like once we get some momentum, we pick it up,” Malone explained.

“Getting to the regional final is nice being that it’s my senior year, but my mom wasn’t able to make it today, so she said we weren’t allowed to finish our season today. This is the first time we’ve been able to carry over the same offensive intensity that we had in practices leading up to a game, so hopefully that’s something we’ll continue to do.”

The Green Wave’s Corey Lepoudre nailed a 19-yarder from the left wing after 29:45 and Monica Ramirez parked a 15-yarder from out front after a setup by Enza Ranallo for the 3-0 halftime which could have been at least 5-0 if a couple shots caromed differently off the crossbar.

“It was a good game for us offensively, although I’d like to have seen us finish our chances a little better in the first half,” St. Edward coach Tim Brieger said. “And I was glad to see us continue pushing to the net after halftime because I’ve learned that you can’t assume anything just because you’re up 3-0.”

The Green Wave picked up right where it left off with Malone setting up Allison Kruk 4:30 into the second half followed by a Jordyn Madden four-yard follow when another ball got away from Elgin Academy keeper Mary Elizabeth Snell. The Hilltoppers got on the board when St. Edward goalie Paige Gannon also had a ball slip away from her as Caitlin Ward tapped it inside the left post with 27:01 still to be played.

But just 21 seconds after the restart, Lepoudre use a Ramirez through ball for another Green Wave tally. After Ramirez blasted one in from 16 yards out from the right wing, Lepoudre earned a hat trick from the left wing with a high floater that dipped under the crossbar.

“There’s no question they’re a very good team and my hat’s off to them, but we’ve really progressed with each game even thought today’s score didn’t show it,” said assistant Jon Davit, who directed the team in absence of head coach Pete Glon, who had a prior commitment.

As the No. 5 seed, the Hilltoppers pulled off a 3-2 win at No. 4 Lisle in a Tuesday prelim.

“Lisle was probably our best game of the season. Caitlin’s goal was an example of the way our seniors, which include Emma (Stone), Veronica (Clements), Kacy (Rauschenberger), and Julie (Amarathithada), never quit. We’re lucky to have captains like Ashley (Barnes) and Veronica (Clements) coming back next year.”

In the second semifinal, the opening 40 minutes were a relatively even back-and-forth battle, but the second half saw Genoa-Kingston turn up its offensive attack while Hiawatha’s short-handed squad also got worn down physically.

While goalie Randi Maynard almost single-handedly kept the Hawks in the contest, it was an unfortunate fumble that enabled the Cogs’ Rachel Ellstrom to pounce a five-yarder following a scramble in front of the cage.

“When it got away from the keeper, I was waiting for it and seeing an open gap, I just put it in,” Ellstrom noted.

“Even with the lead, we knew we couldn’t let them make a comeback because we really want to keep playing.”

Goalie Nicole Crozier, one of four G-K seniors, was equally ecstatic.

“To make it back to the regional finals for my senior year means so much. Plus, my own goal for this season was getting at least five shutouts and this is No. 5.”

“I was especially pleased with our hustle,” Cogs coach Randy Tate added. “In the second half we showed a lot more desire, but we’ll need even more on Tuesday.”

Hiawatha’s season closes with a 6-9-0 record with seven seniors departing from a 16-player roster.

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