Balanced Spartans roll on

Updated: May 26, 2011 12:38PM

In her first two high school seasons, St. Francis forward Andi Matichak racked up 62 goals and led her team to the sectional finals, where the Spartans lost both years to Wheaton Academy.

St. Francis has again advanced to the sectional title game and there is reason to think the third time might be the charm as the Spartans attempt to win a sectional for the first time.

Matichak is still scoring at a healthy rate, but this season she’s gotten a lot of help from her teammates. The South Florida recruit scored twice Wednesday, giving her 18 goals this spring, but sophomore cousins Taylor and Kaity Bucaro combined to score three more as the Spartans turned what figured to be a close match into a 5-0 victory over Glenbard South at the Class 2A Riverside-Brookfield Sectional semifinals.

“My freshman and sophomore years I did have girls that were backing me up,” Matichak said. “They were amazing at setting things up for me and the girls this year, like the Bucaros, are not only great at setting things up, but they’re not selfish and they can finish. It’s helpful because it’s like you’re not alone up there.”

Matichak gave St. Francis (17-6-2) a 1-0 lead with 32:48 left in the first half. Sydney Fox had sent a cross from the left wing that got tangled up in a defender’s legs and Matichak poked it free and past Raiders goalie Dana Jourdan.

The goal, coming on the first St. Francis first shot of the game, set an early tone because even though the Spartans only outshot the Raiders (13-6-2) by a 12-9 margin, they were efficient, converting on two of their first three and three of four during one stretch in the second half.

“We took advantage of the few shots we got and obviously finished on them,” Taylor Bucaro said. “I knew Glenbard South was a very good team, but I think that we just played good and played to how we normally do and how we’re comfortable. We played around them and just got the job done.”

The Spartans demonstrated that midway through the first half when Andrea Ravlin dribbled into the box and fed a pass to a wide-open Kaity Bucaro, who snuck a shot inside the left post for a 2-0 lead.

Then it was her cousin’s turn. Taylor Bucaro boomed a 30-yard shot from the left wing off the fingertips of a leaping Jourdan and under the crossbar to make it 3-0 at the 29:49 mark of the second half.

After Matichak scored five minutes later with a left-footed laser from 20 yards out, Taylor Bucaro scored again on a 30-yarder, this time from the right wing, to finish the scoring with 6:44 left.

“I love them,” Matichak said of the Bucaros. “They always work hard every game, every practice. They really are a big part of our team and (Taylor’s) shots were incredible.”

Sophomore goalie Jenna Ditusa had to make four saves, two of which were difficult, to record her third straight playoff shutout and 14th overall. The closest Glenbard South came to scoring was on a 30-yard free kick by Nicole Schutte that rattled the crossbar midway through the second half.

St. Francis, the No. 2 seed, will face top-seeded Nazareth in Friday’s title game. The Roadrunners (16-5-2) routed U-High 6-0 in the other semifinal.

“Nazareth is going to be a tough team,” Matichak said. “They’re good. But if we play well we have a great shot and I think it’s time for us to come home with a sectional title.”

Taylor Bucaro concurred.

“I think our chances of winning are better than last year,” she said. “This is my second time so I’m excited to see us get us far as we can.”

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