Gators fall short of goal

Barrington's Sarah Fox (left) and Crystal Lake South's Mackenzie Taldone both headbutt the ball during the first half of the IHSA Class 3A Jacobs Sectional Championship against Barrington. (Sarah Nader - snader@nwherald.com)

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ALGONQUIN – Knowing they’d left it all on the field didn’t make it hurt any less.

Crystal Lake South’s girls soccer team had designs on a state title before bowing out to Barrington, 1-0, on Friday in the IHSA Class 3A Jacobs Sectional final.

The Gators cried because few figured they would be here in the first place, playing in the program’s second sectional final and containing the two-time sectional champion Fillies in the final match of a season that was nothing short of remarkable.

Tears come easily when something extraordinary ends.

“We showed that if you want something bad enough, you go for it,” junior midfielder Cella Albuquerque said. “We knew we were going for it.”

South (18-8-2 overall) had lofty goals and high expectations last season, but lost in a regional final to snuff out the possibility of making a state title run.

This year, after losing 10 seniors, the Gators hoped to find their way, jell at the right time and integrate all the new players into a cohesive unit.

A sectional final appearance was not on the list. It was a bonus in a season full of them.

“We just showed everyone that this is what we can do,” junior defender Emily Hamrick said.

The Gators came within one mistake of sending Friday’s match into overtime. Senior keeper Elizabeth Quinn (13 saves) turned Barrington (17-6-1) away on 13 shot attempts, but couldn’t stop the Fillies on their fourth corner kick attempt in the first half.

Freshman Mia Calamari sent the ball to the far post, where sophomore Molly Pfeiffer was waiting and headed it in for the Fillies’ only goal with 16:56 to go in the first half.

“We knew they were dangerous on set pieces,” South coach Brian Allen said. “We did what we could do and we knew if we could keep it close, we’d get our opportunities.”

Albuquerque had the Gators’ best chance in the final 2 minutes of the match. She received a pass from senior forward Kali Loescher and was one-on-one with Barrington keeper Kelly Pedersen, but Pedersen made the save.

“She’s been doing really well,” Barrington coach Ryan Stengren said. “That’s a tough situation, when you’re not being tested [constantly] and then you’ve got a point-blank shot like that, but she made a great save.”