Girls Soccer: Joliet Catholic storms back to beat Kaneland for third straight regional title

MAPLE PARK – The mission isn’t complete yet for Joliet Catholic.

Class 2A state runners-up last season, the Angels notched another milestone for a senior class that has helped the program to three consecutive regional titles with a 3-1 victory over Kaneland in the Class 2A Kaneland Regional final May 20.

The Angels (14-5-1) trailed 1-0 at the half but fought back with goals from Emma Gruber, Sophia Aiello and Isabella Berta to spoil a bid by the Knights (15-5-1) for their first regional title since 2016 and first on their home field.

“Just making it this far [during] my three years of playing has really been so memorable,” Gruber said. “I love this team. [As seniors], we’ve all been just so close all three years. It really is something special, and having all the underclassmen pick up and play with us really is something special.

“Just amazing. I love all these girls so much on and off the field. We all just bond so well, and I think that’s what makes our team so good and [we] work together on and off the field and that really helps.”

The Angels advanced to a sectional semifinal against Benet on May 24 at Wheaton Academy.

Gruber missed the first three games of the season because of a concussion but evidently is a steady force for the Angels, who have nine seniors.

Gruber suffered a torn quad last year.

“Everyone has injuries,” Gruber said. “It’s really something you have to overcome. It’s always lingering behind you. You just have to pick yourself up and you have your team to do that, too.”

Kaneland’s offense began to gain steam midway through the first half. Brigid Gannon’s feed from the left corner on a small attack helped spark it. Gannon flipped the ball to Jade Schrader in the box and she was fouled, allowing Emily Kunzer a chance at a penalty kick. Kunzer knocked it in for a 1-0 lead with 11:20 left.

The Angels picked up their defensive pressure in the second half to limit Kaneland’s ability for offensive chances.

That helped lead to offense for the Angels. Berta’s cross that Gruber converted 10 minutes into the second half was the equalizer.

Gruber had another chance off a corner. Aiello was able to corral the rebound off Knights goalie Natalie Myers to score and give the Angels the lead.

Myers stood tall with 14:21 remaining when teammate Faith Brandonisio tried to clear a ball in the box from the ground, but tripped an Angel in traffic, prompting a set piece chance. Brynn Higgins dumped a small pass over to Berta for a quick strike, but Myers was able to save it cleanly.

Berta struck gold for an insurance goal with 8:27 left.

“Hats off to JCA. They started winning the 50/50 balls and that’s a difference-maker,” Knights coach Scott Parillo said. “Unfortunately, we go from winning 1-0 at half to losing 3-1. But a lot of credit goes to them. I told the girls I just had so much fun this year. It is a cast of characters. It truly is a cast of characters. They had me laughing so much this year through all the stuff that we had to go through.

“Over the last two years, these girls were resilient. They just made it fun and we had a blast. It’s unfortunate that it didn’t work out for us today, but we’re returning everybody but five [graduating seniors].”

The Knights graduate Kaitlyn Luetgert, Audrey Salamon, Avery Erickson, Kathryn Kurz and Faith Brandonisio.

“I feel like we have a really deep connection beyond the soccer field and I feel like that’s really important as a team,” Erickson said. “And that meant a lot to me [over my three-year career].

“The tournaments [will always stand out], for sure. My freshman year, I went to Wisconsin with this team and the tournament to Springfield was super, super fun. It was a really good team bonding thing for us.”