Lutheran Overcomes Slow Start,
Beats Christian
Beats Christian
Crusaders advance to Harvard Sectional with 4-1 Regional win over Royals ...
| Northern Illinois Sports Beat http://www.northernillinoissportsbeat.com |
Photo by Cody Cutter
Rockford Christian's Ashley Ancona (right) loses the ball while Lutheran's Julie Buzzard and
Miranda Lofgren (13) defend. Lutheran won the Rockford Christian Regional title match 4-1 over
the Lions.
Rockford Christian's Ashley Ancona (right) loses the ball while Lutheran's Julie Buzzard and
Miranda Lofgren (13) defend. Lutheran won the Rockford Christian Regional title match 4-1 over
the Lions.
By Cody Cutter
Northern Illinois Sports Beat Publisher
ROCKFORD (May 18) – It took some time, but Rockford Lutheran checked off the first
step toward making a repeat appearance at the Class 1A State Tournament.
The Crusaders scored three goals in the second half of the Rockford Christian Regional
title match against the host Lions in winning 4-1 on Tuesday night.
During the post-match huddle, Lutheran coach Scott Lofgren kept telling his players to be
less of just second-half players, and produce more in the first half. Such absences of
productivity early could haunt them in an always-tough road to a state championship,
which the Crusaders won in 2007.
Lutheran (22-1) played more like a state championship team in the second half, after
leading 1-0 in the first 40 minutes. As if it were the start of a match that was supposed to
go according to plan, just 2:08 into the second half senior forward Hillary Deppe kicked
one in for a 2-0 lead. Deppe just happened to be next to a Lion player who failed to
receive her pass before the ball rolled over to her.
Although the Lions (16-7-1) would crack the scoreboard with a Taylor Domino score 6:11
in, Lutheran kept playing on. Freshman midfielder Bailey Peck kicked one in with 17:45
left to play immediately after receiving the ball from Paige Deppe, who retrieved a Katrina
Munther kick from a tight corner area.
Only 2:42 after Peck's goal, Munther added one of her own to give her team a more
comfortable three-goal lead. She avenged a goal shot from 23 seconds earlier that was
stopped short by Lion goalkeeper Amy Hicks, who dove to her right for the stop. The
junior midfielder got her second chance, albeit unplanned, after receiving the ball from
Julie Buzzard.
“I just gave it my all and went for the shot,” Munther said. “I was actually trying to cross it
but it wasn't possible. It worked out well.”
Lutheran only had six shots on goal in the first half, one of which was the first goal of the
game by senior forward Allie Krebs with 8:33 left in the half.
“We did well. We played a very, very good game,” Christian coach Kevin Obee said. “We
kept them from shooting in the first half. Nothing too dangerous.
“We broke down and they capitalized on it.”
Krebs and Peck led Lutheran with five shots on goal. Domino led Christian with three
shots. Hicks had 13 saves, six more than her counterpart Callie Rezin's seven.
“We really picked up our intensity in the second half,” Munther said. “We connected our
passes. We brought ourselves together so that we could win.
“I'm excited for us this season.”
The Crusaders will play Genoa-Kingston on Saturday afternoon at the Harvard Sectional.
The Cogs defeated Kirkland Hiawatha 2-0 today. Hinckley-Big Rock defeated Mendota 7-
2 to advance to Harvard, as did Des Plaines Willows Academy (4-3 win over Elgin
Academy).
Cody Cutter is the Publisher of Northern Illinois Sports Beat. He can be reached at
Northernillinoissportsbeat@yahoo.com. --- Talk about what's written on our Message
Boards!
Northern Illinois Sports Beat Publisher
ROCKFORD (May 18) – It took some time, but Rockford Lutheran checked off the first
step toward making a repeat appearance at the Class 1A State Tournament.
The Crusaders scored three goals in the second half of the Rockford Christian Regional
title match against the host Lions in winning 4-1 on Tuesday night.
During the post-match huddle, Lutheran coach Scott Lofgren kept telling his players to be
less of just second-half players, and produce more in the first half. Such absences of
productivity early could haunt them in an always-tough road to a state championship,
which the Crusaders won in 2007.
Lutheran (22-1) played more like a state championship team in the second half, after
leading 1-0 in the first 40 minutes. As if it were the start of a match that was supposed to
go according to plan, just 2:08 into the second half senior forward Hillary Deppe kicked
one in for a 2-0 lead. Deppe just happened to be next to a Lion player who failed to
receive her pass before the ball rolled over to her.
Although the Lions (16-7-1) would crack the scoreboard with a Taylor Domino score 6:11
in, Lutheran kept playing on. Freshman midfielder Bailey Peck kicked one in with 17:45
left to play immediately after receiving the ball from Paige Deppe, who retrieved a Katrina
Munther kick from a tight corner area.
Only 2:42 after Peck's goal, Munther added one of her own to give her team a more
comfortable three-goal lead. She avenged a goal shot from 23 seconds earlier that was
stopped short by Lion goalkeeper Amy Hicks, who dove to her right for the stop. The
junior midfielder got her second chance, albeit unplanned, after receiving the ball from
Julie Buzzard.
“I just gave it my all and went for the shot,” Munther said. “I was actually trying to cross it
but it wasn't possible. It worked out well.”
Lutheran only had six shots on goal in the first half, one of which was the first goal of the
game by senior forward Allie Krebs with 8:33 left in the half.
“We did well. We played a very, very good game,” Christian coach Kevin Obee said. “We
kept them from shooting in the first half. Nothing too dangerous.
“We broke down and they capitalized on it.”
Krebs and Peck led Lutheran with five shots on goal. Domino led Christian with three
shots. Hicks had 13 saves, six more than her counterpart Callie Rezin's seven.
“We really picked up our intensity in the second half,” Munther said. “We connected our
passes. We brought ourselves together so that we could win.
“I'm excited for us this season.”
The Crusaders will play Genoa-Kingston on Saturday afternoon at the Harvard Sectional.
The Cogs defeated Kirkland Hiawatha 2-0 today. Hinckley-Big Rock defeated Mendota 7-
2 to advance to Harvard, as did Des Plaines Willows Academy (4-3 win over Elgin
Academy).
Cody Cutter is the Publisher of Northern Illinois Sports Beat. He can be reached at
Northernillinoissportsbeat@yahoo.com. --- Talk about what's written on our Message
Boards!
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