Girls soccer: Viator edges Deerfield; Lake Forest knocks out Carmel in Class 2A sectional

Two pulse-pounding thrillers.

Two contests that were scoreless until the final minutes, when a late goal in each decided the outcome.

That was the story Tuesday night at the Deerfield girls soccer Class 2A sectional semifinal doubleheader.

In the nightcap of the two games, Saint Viator versus host Deerfield, the Lions had a ton of chances early but couldn't get a ball past Warriors keeper Lauren Gottlieb.

The Warriors had a second half reset, but it was the Lions that prevailed, 1-0.

Viator sophomore Monica Correa scored in the 75th minute to give her team the victory.

"We had a regular season that was tough," said Lions coach Byron DeLeon. "We played very challenging teams during the season, and it was to get us ready for this."

The Lions were peppering the Deerfield goalkeeper in the first 20 minutes. They forced Gottlieb to make three difficult saves, the best one coming off a point blank drive from Viator senior Isabella Scheidecker.

But it was Deerfield that had the best chance. Freshman Bella Krummenacher hammered a shot point blank from 10 yards away, but Viator goalie Kyli Ziebka was up to the challenge.

The Warriors came out with a new mindset, though after intermission. Junior midfielder Jessie Fisher dribbled past several Lions defenders in the 57th minute but her shot bent just outside the far post.

The action went back and forth with the score tied 0-0 until Viator junior Allison Konopka found Correa free on a through ball with just over 5 minutes remaining.

The sophomore juked to her left and fired a shot that found the back of the net.

"It feels amazing," Correa said. "This was a total team effort. This team is a family - more than a family, really. It's so much more than that."

"I saw my goal and went for it," she added of the match-winning score. "When I see my opportunity I try to take advantage."

The Viator backline stood tall in the final minutes to preserve the win. Deerfield made a couple of advances into Lions territory but couldn't get off a meaningful shot.

"We have a history with Deerfield in the past," DeLeon said. "So we knew this game was going to be nothing less than a war and a battle."

"It was important that we win every battle tonight. Win every 50/50 ball, every single ball, and keep them (Deerfield) on their toes."

"I think we did that from the beginning of the game."

Lake Forest 1, Carmel 0:

In the opening match, Lake Forest scored the game's only goal from a nearly impossible angle in the 77th minute to take a triumph over Carmel.

The back and forth contest featured great goaltending from Sarah Constantine of the Scouts and Abby Tekampe of the Corsairs, but Lake Forest got the late tally to break through.

Maddie Nikolai is one of four seniors on the Carmel roster, and she might have said it best after the Corsairs came up short.

"I'm upset right now," the midfielder said, "but honestly, I'm just thankful for the whole season. The effort we put in today didn't reflect how the game turned out. I'm really proud of my teammates."

Carmel coach Stephanie Kile agreed.

"I don't think we played up to our full potential tonight," Kile said. "But this is the first time being in a sectional semifinal for all of the girls. Winning a regional is great, but this is a whole new ballgame."

Carmel had an opportunity to take the lead in the first half after sophomore forward Norah Belmonte was tripped in the box, drawing a penalty kick.

Emily Fix took the boot and, and just as it looked to be crossing the goal line for a score, Scouts keeper Constantine dove to smother the ball for a clutch save.

Fix, who played an outstanding match, wound her way through traffic in the second half and had a good look from 25 yards out, but her rocket sailed just over the crossbar.

Then in the 77th minute, Lake Forest sophomore Ava Walsh made a long run down the left sideline and, just about perpendicular to the goal, hit a drive that flew behind the Carmel keeper and into the back of the net for the game winner.

"I shot it really hard," Walsh said. "And it kind of hit the back of the post and went in."