Homewood-Flossmoor blanks Macs, claim regional

Updated: May 21, 2011 4:37PM

Homewood-Flossmoor had seen this movie before; the second-seeded Vikings, playing a No. 7 seed in the regional championship. It was a film fresh in the squad’s mind, as last season the two-seeded Vikings fell to seventh-seeded Stagg in a 1-0 heartbreaker, ending the team’s streak of four-straight regional championships.

Saturday, facing seventh-seeded Mother McAuley in the regional championship, the sequel was far better for H-F. The Vikings defeated the Mighty Macs 2-0 in the team’s home Class 3A regional championship.

“We got over a hurdle we didn’t get over last year,” H-F coach Charlie Ward said. “It was a hurdle that haunted us a little bit, but now that we got over it, I think we will play some better soccer.”

Twelve minutes into the game, Haley Hruska found Kelly Lewers 15 yards out. Lewers posted on a McAuley defender, turned and blasted a shot top shelf, inches above the outstretched hands of Might Macs goalie Steph Bert to make it 1-0 H-F (19-2).

“We came out knowing we had to attack the keeper,” Lewers said. “I had a nice connection from Haley and put one on and got lucky.”

Kruska wasn’t Lewers’ only connection of the game, as Ali Farkos fired a pass from midfield directly on to the foot of a streaking Lewers behind the defense, 13 minutes into the second half. Lewers fired low left and found the back of the net to make it 2-0 H-F.

“Me and Kelly always know where the other is on the field and she was exactly where she needed to be,” Farkos said. “Now that we’re over the mental obstacle of last year, I think we’re going to have a nice run from here.”

Due in large part to a stifling H-F defense, McAuley (10-6-3) was only able to muster two shots on goal the entire game.

“We only made two little mistakes, but against a good team, they’ll hurt you,” McAuley coach Evan Strehlau said.

H-F will take on No. 3 seed Lincoln-Way North May 25 at 7 p.m. at Mother McAuley in the sectional semifinals.

“It feels amazing to get over last season’s loss, but we’re not done yet,” Lewers said. “We beat North last time we played them, but they always play us tough and it should be a good game.”

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