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Granite City ousts Homewood-Flossmoor
Updated: May 31, 2011 10:43PM
NORMAL, Ill. – P.J. Siar’s ability to crush free kicks helped crush the dreams of Homewood-Flossmoor’s girls soccer team Tuesday night.
Siar scored on one long free kick and assisted on the game-winner on another in double overtime as Granite City advanced to the state tournament with a 3-2 win over the Vikings in the Class 3A Normal Supersectional.
“I thought we had control for most of the game,” H-F coach Charlie Ward said. “We just had some miscommunications and made some silly mistakes that cost us dearly.”
On the deciding goal about midway through the second extra session, Siar took the free kick from the right sideline about 40 yards out, not exactly a position that would strike much fear into defenses.
But the junior’s perfect strike found Ashley Deckard unmarked at the left post and Deckard poked home her second goal of the match into the open net to send the Warriors (18-6) to the final four.
For H-F, which finished 21-3, Kelly Lewers had a goal and an assist, Haley Hruska a goal and Kelly Coderre an assist.
The Vikings got the better of play for most of the overtimes came close to scoring the winner a couple times.
Lewers fired just wide off a nice give-and-go with Hruska late in the first overtime. Earlier, Lewers shot a free kick just wide.
Granite City struck first when Siar’s free kick from 35 yards out found the net 19 minutes in. H-F answered as Lewers made a strong rush down the left side, drew three defenders and dished to Hruska, who was open in the middle and finished.
Deckard put the Warriors back in front eight minutes into the second half, and it looked like that might be enough as Granite City controlled play early in the half.
H-F commanded the rest of the period, though, and drew even when Coderre’s cross from the left side found Lewers at the right post, the senior heading it home with 11 minutes to go.
“We had the heart to fight back twice,” Ward said. “We showed a lot of character. I think we put ourselves in those positions, though. That’s the frustrating thing.”
Ward says goodbye to six seniors, including four starters.
“Everything about these seniors is phenomenal,” he said. “They led the team with heart and class and we’re going to miss them.”
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