Last-minute goal lifts C-G

Cary-Grove’s Alyssa Praszek (left) embraces Korey Kronforst after she scored the winning goal Tuesday in the Trojans’ IHSA Class 3A Jacobs Regional semifinal against Jacobs in Algonquin. (Lauren M. Anderson – landerson@nwherald.com)

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ALGONQUIN – Korey Kronforst found the ball on the right side of the field with a minute separating her Cary-Grove girls soccer team from overtime against Jacobs and ensured the extra session would not be unnecessary.

Kronforst took a long pass from teammate Liz Bart and sent the ball wide into the left corner of the Golden Eagles’ net, breaking a tied match and sending the second-seeded Trojans into the IHSA Class 3A Jacobs Regional championship game against Crystal Lake South with a 2-1 victory against Jacobs in a regional semifinal Tuesday night.

Top-seeded South defeated No. 4 South Elgin 4-0 in Tuesday’s other semifinal to set up the third meeting this season between the Trojans and the Gators.

“It was a close game and it definitely was hard to score,” said Kronforst, a sophomore forward. “I had to get a lucky touch and get in front of it because they were strong and fast on defense.”

Kronforst had taken three similar shots earlier in the game – two prior to Jacobs’ equalizer at the 6:45 mark in the second half and another just afterward.

Her previous attempts had gone wide and before Kronforst nabbed the go-ahead goal, overtime appeared imminent.

“She truly is and can be a difference-maker,” C-G coach Ray Krystal said.

Kronforst put the Trojans (13-7 overall) on the board in the first four minutes of the match, sending a header off a pass from teammate Allie Simon into the No. 3 Eagles’ net for a 1-0 advantage with 36:49 left in the first half.

It took Jacobs until the 6:45 mark in the second half to respond.

The Eagles (10-12-1) labored through the second half and out-shot the Trojans, 4-2, before converting an opportunity.

Senior midfielder Kelsey Quitschau sent a pass from the far right side of the box across to sophomore defender Jess Tennant, who was waiting at the left goal post to tie the game at 1.

Despite the Eagles double-marking Kronforst, she seized her opportunity anyway.

“She’s a really good player,” Jacobs coach A. J. Cappello said. “All she needs is a little bit of space to make something happen.”

Kronforst wanted more than simply the win – another crack at South was just as important, especially since the Gators beat the Trojans twice during Fox Valley Conference Valley Division play this year.

“I’m so excited,” she said. “I know we’ll be ready.”