Loyola Academy goalkeeper Maggie Avery, seen here during the regular season, played a starring role in her team’s win over Maine South in a Class 3A regional final. PHOTOGRAPHY BY GEORGE PFOERTNER
This game will forever be a keepsake for Loyola Academy’s Maggie Avery.
The junior goalkeeper, a three-year varsity starter, wound up being a heroine on two fronts, when the host Ramblers edged Maine South 2-1 on penalty kicks in a Class 3A regional championship game on May 19.
Avery was placed into a unique position — a duo role — when the game went to PKs.
First, as a keeper, she made a crucial diving save.
Then, as the team’s fifth shooter, she blasted in the deciding goal to give LA a decisive 3-2 edge in the PK shootout.
“A pressure cooker,” said Avery, sporting bright orange neon shoes and smiling from ear to ear after the win.
Maine South goalie Kati Kons had no chance against Avery’s powerful right-foot shot. It hit the back of the net in a blink.
“What a moment for our keeper. Fantastic!” said LA head coach Craig Snower.
Going a little bit against the book only magnified Avery’s heroics.
“I’ve had my goalies kick PKs before,” said Snower. “But usually, I always have them go first. So they can get it out of the way.
“But Maggie just didn’t want to do that,” the coach added. “She wanted to go last.”
Sophomore defender Faith Craddock and junior midfielder Cate Shellenback had the other “makes” for LA in the PK session.
The No. 3 seeded Ramblers (17-6-0), who now have won 13 regional titles, will take a 10-game win streak into the Glenbrook North Sectional on May 23. They will face No. 2 Evanston in a semifinal at 7 p.m. No. 1 New Trier will face No. 4 Glenbrook South in the other semifinal at 4:30 p.m.
Snower tipped his hat to the No. 6 seeded Hawks.
“Maine South came out fired up,” said LA coach. “And I thought we were a little off in the first half.”
Lauren May put the Hawks up 1-0 with 12:24 left in the first half.
Giving up a goal was rare sight. During six games in the month of May, LA had outscored its opponents 25-1.
The second half was a different story. With the wind behind them, the Ramblers had a number of scoring opportunities.
Junior standout Stephanie Ramsey eventually knotted the game 1-1 with 6:20 remaining on the clock. It was her 14th goal of the season to go along with 15 assists.
The Ramblers came within an eyelash of winning this contest in regulation. With five seconds left on the clock, Shellenback booted a long pass to forward Maggie Brett (22 goals on the season) who dribbled down the left side and unloaded a shot that was deflected by Kons.
Then, a few milliseconds later but not before the horn sounded, Ramsey riffled a shot into the net. It was immediately — and properly — waved off.
“I knew time had run out,” said Ramsey, who had 18 goals and seven assists during her sophomore season. “I thought what’s the harm. I thought Maggie was going to score on the play. I was there just in case.”