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Stevenson edges out Naperville Central
Updated: May 20, 2011 8:06AM
Slowly but surely, Stevenson’s girls water polo team watched the lead they had built dwindle and diminish until it was gone.
But despite surrendering a three goal lead to trail by one with less than four minutes to play, the host Patriots found a way to turn the tables behind Lisa Michalowski’s 14 saves and three goals by Karen Lowry – including the game-winner – in an 8-7 overtime victory Thursday in an IHSA state quarterfinal at Stevenson.
“I was nervous but and I’m sure everyone was tired and a little worried when we lost our lead,” Michalowski said. “But we played like it was the last game we were ever going to play and worked our hardest.”
Michalowski made seven of her 14 stops in the fourth period and overtime and Lowry netted the game winner with three seconds left in the first half of overtime as Stevenson avenged a 7-5 loss to the Redhawks on May 7.
“We knew it was going to be tough, but we worked our hardest and everything was from our hearts,” Michalowski said. “We want this more than anything as a team.”
Tori St. John tied the game at 7 with 30 seconds remaining in regulation to force the game to overtime.
“I was almost crying because I felt like, ‘Oh my God, I have to score,’ ” St. John said. “I had a great shot set up for me and I had to take it and make it for my team.”
Cheyenne Montijio added two goals and three assists and goalie Lisa Michalowski made seven of her 14 saves in the fourth period and overtime for Stevenson (26-8).
Emily Sejna scored three goals, Abbey Kerth had two goals and two assists and goalie Julia Campbell stopped 11 shots, but Naperville Central was unable to overcome a 5-2 second-period hole.
Sejna and senior Lizzy Giuliani each scored twice in a 5-1 run as the Redhawks (32-2) erased the deficit to take a 7-6 lead with 3:53 left in the fourth period on goal by Giuliani.
“When you come to state you hope you do your best and when you don’t come out like you planned to it’s tough,” Campbell said. “It’s probably the worst feeling in the world right now, but I’m so proud of our team for showing so much heart in coming back.”
Stevenson will play St. Ignatius in a state semifinal at 10:15 a.m. Saturday.
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