High school girls soccer: Prairie Ridge's comeback falls short in Class 2A supersectional loss

RIVER FOREST – After what Prairie Ridge had done to get there, it seemed obvious that it wouldn't bow out easily from Tuesday's Class 2A Concordia University Supersectional, but again the Wolves put themselves in position to need a ferocious comeback.

In Saturday's sectional final, the Wolves needed to come from two goals down in the second half and had a freshman score the winner in the final minute to advance.

On Tuesday, the Wolves went into another two-goal hole, but this time the comeback came up just short. Wheaton Academy beat Prairie Ridge, 2-1. The Warriors (20-5) advance to the state semifinals Friday, while the Wolves end their season at 17-3.

Afterward, Prairie Ridge coach Andrew Watson reflected on his team's season.

"I think what's special about them, it's their determination, and then it's their love for each other," he said. "So you put those two together, and then they play every ball like it's their last ball.

"How fortunate am I to be coaching this team with this many, not just talented players, but girls that work hard and understand the idea of working hard and fighting for every little ball?"

Prairie Ridge's first supersectional appearance since 2013 was an even taller task, as the Wolves were without four players who were starters at the beginning of the postseason. Makena Silber and Josie Eriksen are out with injuries, while Jena Berkland and Melissa Bear had to sit after being sent off in the sectional final.

"It's next girl up – Who's going to step up next? – and that's what we do," Watson said.

That meant that a number of players who had usually been subs or lesser-used rotation players were forced into key minutes Tuesday. Reanne Weil, Cat Crounse and goal-scorer Nikki Anderson were among a number of underclassmen who were influential in the supersectional.

"It was definitely hard missing those key players, but we just had to step up and give it our all, give it everything we could for the team," Anderson said.

Prairie Ridge forced the issue early. Anderson had the best chance of the opening 10 minutes, getting in behind the defense in the eighth minute, only for Wheaton Academy goalkeeper Marta Oster to stop her one-on-one shot.

In the 24th minute, Wheaton Academy took the lead, with Sophie Lindquist stinging a low shot into the bottom corner.

After halftime, Lindquist doubled the lead, making it 2-0 with her second of the game in the 54th minute. This time she flicked a header that Wolves'goalkeeper Taylor Golt got a diving hand to, but the ball bounced off the post and trickled across the line.

"We just kept telling each other to keep our heads high and don't give up until – well never give up – but don't stop until the final whistle, because the game's not over until that whistle blows," Anderson said.

True to their recent form, the Wolves didn't go down easily. In the 60th minute, Prairie Ridge drew a free kick deep on the left wing near the corner flag. Emily Perhats served it into the 6-yard box, where Anderson volleyed it past Oster.

"It was just a perfect cross," Anderson said. "She placed it perfectly, and I just was right there to tap it in. ...

"It felt good, it felt really good. Our whole team ran up and we all celebrated. It wasn't just like my goal, it was the team's goal that put us on the scoreboard."

The Wolves kept pushing over the final 20 minutes, as heavier rain showers dumped despite the sunshine, but there was no comeback this time, and Wheaton Academy was able to see out the victory.

Golt finished with four saves, while Oster made three.

"I can't think of anything we would have done differently," Watson said. "I can't think of any changes we would have made, so that's a good feeling, knowing that they put everything on the field, and they did an amazing job."

UNSUNG HERO

Nikki Anderson,

Prairie Ridge, so., F

Anderson played key minutes and came through with the Wolves' only goal as well as their best chance in the first half, despite it being stopped.

THE NUMBER

2: Goals scored by Wheaton Academy sophomore Sophie Lindquist before the Wolves got on the board. It was the second game in a row that Prairie Ridge fell behind 2-0.

AND ANOTHER THING ...

It was an emotional final game for a class of eight Prairie Ridge seniors who were making their first supersectional appearance after four consecutive regional titles but never advancing past the sectional round. Josie Eriksen, one of the seniors who missed the game because of injury, gave a brief but impassioned speech afterward.