Eagles soar past Mother McAuley
Updated: May 25, 2011 10:31PM
Midway through the second half of Wednesday’s sectional semifinal, top-seeded Sandburg found itself locked in a one-goal game with underdog Marist.
Then the Eagles found their killer instinct.
Sandburg scored twice in a 2½-minute span and added another goal in the closing minutes to turn it into a 4-0 rout in the Class 3A Mother McAuley Sectional at Brother Rice.
“We definitely stepped it up,” said sophomore Morgan Manzke, who scored two goals. “It was a great team effort. We know we’re going to have a tough game Friday and we wanted to play a good game to prepare for it.”
The Eagles (19-3-1) advanced to Friday’s final against Homewood-Flossmoor, a 2-0 winner over Lincoln-Way North in a game shortened because of lightning.
Shannon Stearns started the Sandburg surge with just over 21 minutes to go, finishing after Emily Osaba made a strong rush and sent a cross to a wide-open Stearns on the right side of the box.
With 18:42 to go, Manzke delivered the backbreaker. Camped out in the middle of the field, she took a Meghan Carmody pass and fired a perfectly placed shot into the upper left corner of the net to make it 3-0.
“I was wide open for a shot and it just went exactly where I wanted,” Manzke said.
Sioban Mulvey added the fourth goal with 2:28 left.
Marist (9-10-2) played a great first half, only surrendering a goal when Osaba was taken down in the box and given a penalty on a close call.
Manzke converted the penalty kick to give the Eagles the lead with 12:29 left.
Osaba, a freshman, was a key part of Sandburg’s attack all night.
“She played really well,” Sandburg coach Desi Vuillaume said. “She’s come a long way this year.”
Victoria Kappel made three saves to record her 18th shutout of the season.
The RedHawks’ best chance to draw even came early in the second half when Allison McGugan strongly struck a free kick on target from 45 yards out, but Kappel denied her.
Tori Jercich made two saves for Marist.
Homewood-Flossmoor 2, Lincoln-Way North 0: Homewood-Flossmoor (20-2) prevailed behind goals from Sammi Farkos and Kate Vendrely. Chrissy Coderre had an assist. The game was delayed by lightning with 34:13 left in the second half and called an official game after an hour delay. The Phoenix, which got three saves from Michelle Balcerzak, finished 17-7-1.
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