PND outlasts Springfield to reach first state title game
- Rodrigo Perez
- 2 days ago
- 4 min read
NAPERVILLE — The final whistle of any sporting event can bring thoughts of transcendental highs and crushing lows.
When the final whistle was blown in the Class 2A state semifinals between the Peoria Notre Dame girls soccer team (25-1-1) and Springfield, PND coach Ben Ralph only had one thought.
“We’re in the final, we made history, no other Notre Dame girls team has ever made it to the state championship game and with the pedigree of this program,” Ralph said after a 3-2 overtime victory that clinched a championship meeting with St. Ignatius at 4:45 p.m. on Saturday.
After getting whiffs of a state championship final at different points during PND’s storied history, this iteration of the program was the one that pushed the mark further. Despite trailing twice against the Senators, the Irish kept finding a way back at North Central College.
In all, 100 minutes of physical soccer action were played under a sizzling Naperville sun and, when the final whistle was blown, it meant more than just the end of the match.
Lessons learned
Falling to Troy Triad in 1-0 semifinal decision last season taught the Irish a valuable lesson; something as simple as a corner kick can end seasons.
“I feel like that taught us both how dangerous we could be on set pieces as well as how hard we needed to work to defend them,” midfielder Abigail Chaddock said.
A corner kick last season led to much heartbreak for Peoria Notre Dame as Triad scored their only goal via a towering header. Not wanting history to repeat itself, the Irish improved their set pieces throughout the season and defeated Springfield in similar fashion.
With 8:08 to go in the second half of overtime, the Senators’ defense under pressure deflected a ball out of play, giving the Irish a corner kick.
Stepping up to the corner of the field, forward Maddie Stickelmaier crossed a weighted ball that flew through the air and found its way to Chaddock. Despite heavy congestion in the 18-yard penalty area, Chaddock positioned herself perfectly to connect with the ball and send it straight into the back of the net.
“After last year ended, they really wanted this, you can see it in their eyes and I’m so happy for them, but we just told them the job’s not done,” Ralph said. “We’ve got one more game.”
Larson’s floater
Chaddock’s goal that sealed the victory for Peoria Notre Dame was made even more special considering the setbacks the Irish had to overcome against a crafty Springfield team.
Playing with speed down the flanks, the Senators used the agility and quick change in rhythm of junior forward Kamyrn Hoffman and freshmen forward Addie Maddox to deal damage against the Irish.
Bringing the ball back into play via a throw-in, Maddox launched the ball forward for Hoffman who blasted a shot from about 20 yards out. Leaving the Irish down by a goal with 18 minutes to go.
“Honestly, I feel like the experience last year playing in the third place game, we knew we couldn't do that again,” Chaddock said. “We stuck together, we never turned on each other because it's easy in a stressful moment to yell at each other, and we didn't do that.”
Trailing midway through the first half, PND continued to take advantage of Springfield’s insistent high press, playing long balls forward looking to hurt the Senators via counterattacks.
As the half started to fade, Springfield allowed Peoria Notre Dame to have more of the possession, opting to defend a little closer to their goal posts.
With six minutes left in the half, Shea Larson pounced on a loose ball in a dangerous position and produced a shot that looked like a cross but ended up punishing the Senators lax defending in the box. Putting forth a shot that floated above the keeper Lydia Auble who just got a hand on it, Larson’s floater drew the match and both teams headed to the locker rooms leveled.
“I tried to play it towards the back post, so as to be a little more dangerous,” Larson said. “I think I improved the most on beating opponents wide and playing the ball and getting more confidence.”
Chaos in the box
Back from the break, it didn’t take the Senators long to regain consciousness as midfielder Zoe Wall sneaked a low shot past keeper Rylie Bare. Despite another rung added to the ladder, PND continued to generate chances, constantly finding space to shoot at Auble.
Even though the Irish were finding their way to the Senators goal, it seemed like Auble had a gravitational pull of her own that pulled the ball towards her, saving the Senators any harm. The magnetic pull was broken when a ball off a corner ping ponged around the 18-yard box and into the path of defender Allie Stickelmaier who tied the game.
The deadlock couldn’t be broken in regular time so the game was brought into overtime. After a cautious first half, the Irish found a way to comeback and led for the first time in the match.
“That’s what I’m really proud of, the mental toughness as well as the hard work that it took,” Chaddock said. “To stay composed and continue to connect passes and not just kick the ball along.”
Eight physical and heated minutes proceeded as Peoria Notre Dame wrote their name in the history books.
“The crowd was loud and it was very physical,” Larson said. “We just had to fight through the whole game.”
One more game
Reaching their first state final in school history, a school that has always fallen short of their ultimate goal will now have a chance at greatness. PND will face St. Ignatius in the first-ever state championship game appearance for either team.
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