Conant beats Schaumburg in triple overtime to advance to sectional final

Hailey Andress scored the game-winner for the Cougars to put them in Friday's sectional final.

Published By John Juettner on 5/26/2010

Conant’s Sam Armando (9) battles for position against a Schaumburg defender.
Story and Photos By: Alex Mayster     
      In a sectional semifinal pushed late into the night due to lighting issues, it was Conant’s Hailey Andress that put the lights out on Schaumburg’s season.   
      Andress’ goal midway through the third overtime period pushed the Cougars girls soccer team past the Saxons 2-1; sending Conant onto the finals of the Schaumburg sectional.
      The junior defender collected the ball on a dead sprint down the sideline and realized she would have an opportunity to score as the goalkeeper moved up in the box.
      From there it was a matter of getting it past Brooke Schocker, the Schaumburg goalie.
      “When she played into the space I just ran onto it as fast as I could and then just zipped it right across,” Andress said.
      Once it was about halfway, Andress knew it was headed in.
      Conant coach Jason Franco said he was happy to see the junior come away with the ball.
      “She’s deceptive,” he said. “She doesn’t really turn it on very often but when she does she can turn the corner on just about anybody. When I saw the footrace I knew that there was a chance.”
      The goal put an end to a night extended by not just three overtimes, but lighting troubles as well. There was a half hour delay during the second overtime when the lights on the field shut off unexpectedly.
      After a scoreless first period, the Saxons opened the scoring with a goal off the foot of sophomore Kelsey Steenstrup in the opening minutes of the second half.
      Conant responded minutes later on a free kick from Kelsey Foss, tying the match 1-1.
      From there, the game remained scoreless until the delay, when each team got a chance to refocus.
      “We just focused ourselves again,” Andress said. “(We) went over the keys and what we needed to do to get the victory.”
      The Cougars did just that, regrouping one overtime period later to win in sudden death.
      “I had a feeling this year that maybe we wouldn’t have that in us,” Franco said. “But it’s starting to come out at the right time and we’ll try to put together (a run) like we did last year.”
      The Cougars will meet St. Charles North at 6 p.m. on Friday for the sectional championship.
      The Saxons, meanwhile, will head home for the season.
      Schaumburg coach Greg Charvat said he was happy with the effort his team showed in their final game.
      “The girls played as hard as they could,” Charvat said. “It was just one breakdown at the end … and it cost us the game. That’s what this game is about at this time of year. Taking the chances you’ve got and capitalizing on them. Conant was able to do that tonight, and we weren’t.”

The Saxons talk strategy during the delay from the field lights going out.