Unheralded Cougars make Scouts work for win
VERNON HILLS -- Sometimes, the seeds awarded to teams at IHSA sectional seeding meetings are misleading.
Wednesday was one of those times.
(Michael Schmidt/News-Sun)
Vernon Hills High came into Wednesday's IHSA regional semifinal match here against powerful Lake Forest as the hapless/lowly No. 16 seed -- a terrible number for a team with an 8-9-7 record.
And on the pitch at Vernon Hills High, No. 2-seeded Lake Forest nearly paid the ultimate price.
Though the Scouts survived -- barely -- with a 1-0 victory to live to play another day, not all the Lake Forest players walked off the pitch healthy.
The rough play cost Lake Forest the services of three starters, as sophomore Annie Rowell, senior Kate Affourtit and freshman Katharine McCauley all went down with injuries and all are questionable for Friday's regional final.
After a scoreless first half, the Scouts got the lone goal in the 44th minute as Kat Svigos found Megan Bourne with a perfect cross, and Bourne one-timed it home.
Later in the half, Lake Forest was thwarted on a major scoring chance when Meaghan Laughlin had a breakaway, but was denied on a diving save by Cougar keeper Amy Burton (five total saves in the game).
Vernon Hills had two solid chances to score late. In the 55th minute, Haley Bosco had a free kick from just outside the box and fired high. Then, in the 64th minute, off a cross, Lauren Clatch had a header that sailed just wide.
"That's what happens when the seedings are done four games into the season," said Lake Forest coach Ty Stuckslager . "Give Vernon Hills credit. They cut off our switches and were very physical."
The coach wasn't happy to see his three starters get injured.
"Vernon Hills didn't allow us to do the things we like to do. They played the game the way the refs let them. It was played a lot rougher than some pro games."
MUNDELEIN 6, Zion 0
MUNDELEIN NOW 15-2-4: Courtney Bestler, Kim Carroll and Lindsey Benedeck each scored twice for Mundelein (15-2-4).
Lakes 4, Johnsburg 1
Mooney Stars: A goal and an assist for Brittany Mooney helped the Eagles (13-8-1) down the visiting Skyhawks in a regional semifinal on Wednesday. Sara Bartlett, Alex Nea l and Ashley Chernich also tallied goals for Lakes.
Warren 10, Harvard 0
Jovanovic gets the trick: Sophomore Natalia Jovanovic score 30 seconds into the game on her way to a first half hat trick. It also set a school record for the quickest goal to start a game. Sophomore Kerry Eddy also tallied three goals, while senior Sarah Burkett scored two second-half goals. PREP GIRLS SOCCER
