Gators lose marathon match

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CRYSTAL LAKE – When it was over and Stevenson’s girls soccer players rushed the field, there was likely little energy left in Crystal Lake South’s players except for tears.

After playing to a scoreless tie at the end of regulation and four 10-minute overtime periods before beginning a penalty kick shootout, it was evident that both teams would settle in some way: Either for a win that seems only half as sweet or a loss that stings worse than most.

So, shed tears the Gators did after Stevenson won, 1-0, in penalty kicks in the Class AA Crystal Lake South Regional final. But the tears didn’t come from feeling defeated.

They came from losing an important match in the exact fashion no team wants to.

“There’s not one coach in the entire state that wants to win or lose in penalty kicks,” said Stevenson coach Mark Schartner after his Patriots scored three penalty kicks to the Gators’ one.

“We practice these all the time, because every coach knows any match might come down to that, but we never, ever want to see it. Especially in a match like this.”

Despite their emotions, Gators players hugged one another, talked about the success they celebrated this season and encouraged the younger players to look forward to all the future holds.

But the 11th-seeded Gators didn’t hang their heads. This wasn’t the kind of match that warrants a defeatist reaction.

Mostly void of miscues, South played perhaps its best defensive game of the season and certainly its longest, containing fourth-seeded Stevenson for 120 minutes. The Gators (13-7) passed well, communicated throughout, and fended off several dangerous Stevenson attacks that could have determined the match’s outcome long before overtime sessions became necessary.

“To have played that well and then lose in PKs, it hurts,” senior midfielder Evann Hilt said. “We did not want to let this match get into PKs. We were trying so hard not to let that happen.”

It was the third time this season South found itself in a penalty kick shootout. The Gators lost each time.

That track record certainly fueled the sense of urgency South displayed late in the second half of regulation and throughout all four overtime periods.

Stevenson (11-6-1) twice had goals called back because of offsides violations, and those calls gave the Gators hope, Hilt said.

“It was as if there was a soccer god looking down on us going, ‘Come on, you guys can win this!’ ” she said. “We thought we could.”

Stevenson’s defense, though, didn’t miss many marks. The Gators’ best chance to score came with 6 minutes remaining in regulation, when sophomore defender Katie Burton booted a free kick right to Stevenson goalkeeper Courtney Levy.

Levy grabbed the shot, but fell backward and it looked as though the ball crossed the line. The officials ruled no goal.

“Both teams had chances in regulation,” South coach Anne Santucci said, “and both of us fought very hard. I’m very proud of the way they played and the way we fought. To have to have it come down to PKs was [unfortunate].

“... But I told them [afterward] that I was proud of them. Very proud. This was an excellent group of girls that fought all season.”