Lions edge Corsairs in OT to earn share of ESCC title

By Mike Garofola

Carmel, which has struggled to find a cutting edge in the attacking end, finally was able to pry open its opponent on Wednesday, if only the Corsairs could have stopped Taylor Skala.

The Saint Viator junior recorded her third hat trick of the season, with her third goal on the day coming just moments into overtime in the match in Arlington Heights.

That abruptly ended the Corsairs' hope of spoiling Saint Viator's senior day as well as its chances to win a East Suburban Catholic Conference title.

The Lions' 3-2 victory will give them a share of the 2010 ESCC title alongside Benet Academy, which beat Joliet Catholic Academy 2-1 on Wednesday.

It also give longtime boys head coach Mike Taylor, his first ESCC title on the womens' side as well as the seventh overall for the girls program.

"It's nice to see the girls grab a piece of the conference title today, and to share (it) with a terrific guy like Henry Wind (Benet head coach) is also a nice thing as well," said a gracious Taylor, just after Skala went past Carmel keeper Maddie Allen off a set piece.

"We've been practicing free-kick and dead-ball opportunities all season-long, so it is kind of rewarding to see us finish one (today) and at a great time as well," offered Taylor.

Ariana Kulinczenko, whose move to the backline has fortified the defense for the Lions (15-8-1, 9-1-0), also has shown to be a terrific provider with balls out of the back.

She was the architect of the game-winner when she pushed a low ball into space on the right side to an onrushing Skala to seal the deal for the home-side.

"We didn't come out and play very well after the break, and shouldn't have given up a 2-goal lead," Skala said.

"I would have thought scoring those two quick goals would have given us the momentum needed to carry us through, but it didn't, and Carmel didn't go away.

"But this is a great way to end a game, and to win a conference championship."

The gut-wrenching climax stole the headlines from the Corsairs (10-6-3, 7-3), who somehow stayed in the match in the first half.

Saint Viator had a handful of quality chances that went astray and plenty of hard work from the visitors' backline, as well as its players in the middle, which were forced to defend frequently, which in turn slowed things going forward.

"We have had such a tough timely lately producing very many scoring opportunities, and when we (do) we still haven't been able to get into the back of the net," said the Corsairs fine captain, Kassidy Brown,

Brown gave her club 80-plus minutes of high-energy play along the back while sending several dangerous balls out of the back, either on free-kicks or when clearing potential trouble.

Although the home side did not dominate play during the first 40 minutes, it did have the run of things for most of the half.

That included a trio of chances, from which Skala, Katelyn Hammarlund, Molly McMahon, Kathleen Kane and Keegan Griebel would all have a hand in.

Skala would nearly elevate high enough to head a well-aimed ball sent back in from Kane at 21 minutes. Then she had a go at Allen with McMahon providing the helper.

Allen would challenge strongly to meet a 50-50 ball in close to beat Skala who raced into the box to try to finish a ball from Griebel just before intermission to keep things goalless.

"We probably should have scored one to two goals in that first half, and when we didn't, and then came out so flat in the second half, you're leaving yourself open for trouble," said Taylor.

The pendulum swung back in favor of the Corsairs after the break, when it immediately tested Lions keeper Stephanie Shanahan who, in a crowd, pulled a Brown free-kick out of the air.

Later, both Lauren Bowles and Meegan Johnston were on frame to force Shanahan to react and save.

The Lions weathered the Corsairs' brief bit of pressure to go ahead at 59 minutes when Skala flicked her header over Allen - then quickly made it 2-0 after a Kulinczenko corner was kept alive by Meghan McGrath.

"Things really didn't look too good for us at the point, especially with the way we've been scoring lately, but I am real proud of the way the team hung in there and came back," said Brown.

Instead of curling up and rolling over, the Corsairs fought back with all of their might, and just four minutes after the second Skala strike, pulled themselves back into the match.

That happened when Kelly Trillhaase got just past Shanahan at the back post after the Lions keeper tried to stop Johnston's lazer from 35 yards.

This would be the precursor goal to the equalizer, scored by Lauren Lehman, who managed to be in the right place at the right time to finish a long ball sent in from the mid-line by Brown.

"Stephanie said her and (Meghan) McCabe didn't communicate very well on that play, but that's okay, because it still was a great goal for their ballclub," said Taylor.

Lions midfielder McMahon was injured during this sequence, and was helped off after suffering a knock to her head. "Molly will be fine," said Taylor.

The break between regulation and overtime would prove longer than the extra period itself with Skala scoring her 25th on the season to warm a frozen Lions faithful, which were rewarded for standing in bone-chilling wind for close to two hours.

"Winning in OT might be the best thing to happen to these girls as it will provide some experience in beating a very good team when there's a little pressure on you do so," offered Taylor.

"For us, it was such a disappointing way to end our regular season," said a downcast Brown.

"Now we have to turn our focus right away towards our regional opener next week (at Fremd, against Deerfield) and try to find ourselves for the most important time of our season."

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