Trojans complete sweep of Gators

Cary-Grove's Korey Kronforst (21) celebrates with teammate Sally Tashjian (3) after scoring the game-winning goal late in the second half against Crystal Lake South in an IHSA Class 3A Regional semifinal Tuesday. (Lauren M. Anderson - landerson@nwherald.com)

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CRYSTAL LAKE – To say that the outcome Tuesday was to make up for last season or to complete a three-game sweep were understating the accomplishment.

The No. 2-seeded Cary-Grove girls soccer team’s 1-0 victory against No. 3 Crystal Lake South in an IHSA Class 3A South Regional semifinal was more than just payback for last year, when South ended the Trojans’ season in the same round. And the win was more than simply C-G’s third of the year against the Gators.

It was validation of what C-G coach Ray Krystal already knew about his team: that the Trojans (18-2) have a tireless work ethic and a win-at-all-cost mentality that could serve them well when they face top-seeded Huntley at 11 a.m. Saturday for the regional title.

“These girls are not willing to accept anything less than the high level they hold themselves to,” Krystal said. “ ... They really have a never-say-die attitude.”

It showed in the single goal the Trojans pushed through for the final margin.

Freshman Korey Kronforst, who had drilled a shot into the South goal with 19 minutes remaining, only to see it get called back on a hand-ball violation, buried the Trojans’ lone goal into the high right corner of the net with 7:46 remaining in the match.

“I knew we could come back and get another one,” Kronforst said. “We didn’t want [South] to end our season, so we just kept looking for our opportunities.”

Meanwhile, C-G goalkeeper Alex Holland came up with several highlight-reel saves to keep the Gators (10-11) at bay.

South’s Danielle McDonald nailed a shot with 33:11 left in the second half directly at Holland that the goalkeeper deflected high over the crossbar.

South forward Ashley Ross tried 2 minutes later on a breakaway, but the point-blank shot landed right in Holland’s arms.

“The rest of the team was playing so well that I had to do my part,” said Holland who made eight saves for her 12th shutout of the year.

“Every once in a while, there has to be a hero in soccer matches,” South coach Brian Allen said, “and Alex was that hero today.”

South goalkeeper Jessica Taldone turned in a strong performance in her varsity finale with seven saves, including three on point-blank blasts in the match’s waning minutes.

The Trojans will face Huntley for the first time this season, and the match will feature two of the area’s best soccer teams. C-G and Huntley have a combined 40-3-1 record, and each played a tough non-conference schedule.

The Gators, although their season ended, still walked off the field as winners in the eyes of their coach Tuesday.

“I am so proud of them,” Allen said. “The character and the class showed through in this group all season. That is part of what makes this loss so tough.”