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Girls Soccer: Wagner’s second chance delivers Fremd past Hinsdale Central in OT
Updated: May 27, 2012 8:22AM
Caroline Wagner made the most of her second chance Saturday.
The Fremd junior converted the game-winning penalty kick to give the Vikings a 1-0 shootout victory over Hinsdale Central on the final day of pool play the Naperville Invitational.
Wagner’s first attempt was saved by Hinsdale Central goalie Riley Glenn, but the officials ruled that Glenn moved early, giving Wagner another shot. She buried it to clinch the shootout 4-2.
“It was a pretty bad shot,” Wagner said of her first try. “It wasn’t hard enough and I got lucky that we got another chance.
“I heard my coach yelling to actually hit the ball because the first time I barely even hit the ball. If you hit it with some pace it will go in, most likely.”
Nothing went in for either side through 100 minutes of regulation and two overtimes. Neither Glenn nor Fremd keeper Shannon Norris was called upon to make a tough save.
That changed in the shootout. Fremd’s first three shooters — Rebecca Freeman, Bekah Bostrom and Emily Basten — all converted, while Meghan Schick scored for the Red Devils.
But Hinsdale Central’s second shooter, Darby Moran, missed wide, giving the Vikings (5-6-1) an edge they wouldn’t relinquish, even though Glenn made a diving stop on Bri Frys after Alison Cerny converted for the Red Devils (3-6-2).
But Norris responded by stopping Casey May, setting up Wagner’s kick, after which neither side realized the game was over.
“We haven’t really talked about PKs,” Fremd coach Steve Keller said. “It’s kind of a new scenario. I think the girls were confused because they called the goalie moving early.”
Keller, whose club has struggled to score all season, said his team’s goal is to make opponents’ lives miserable and defend. The Vikings certainly did that, though Hinsdale Central coach Michael Smith said fatigue also played a part; the Red Devils were playing their third match in as many days and coming off an emotional 2-0 victory over rival Hinsdale South just 16 hours earlier.
“What’s the quote? ‘Fatigue makes cowards of us all,’ ” Smith said. “Because your body is tired and your mind doesn’t focus and then you’re not as sharp as you were two days ago.
“And still, the fact that we kept it zeroes through regulation and two overtimes, that’s a credit to the girls’ mental fortitude, however much was still there. In my eyes, after three games to come out of it with where we are at this point in time and how we’re playing, we’re in a great place for next week and the week after.”
Smith was particularly pleased with his back line of juniors Kate Kormushoff, Caitlin Smith and Katie Camden, who held the Vikings to eight shots, only four of which were on goal.
“All three of them are learning to play with each other and playing well,” Smith said. “What I like about it is they’re keeping it simple. They know their objective is to get the ball to wingers’ feet, and then defend well.”
