Plains, Glenwood, Rochester: Here’s who advancing in girls soccer playoffs
RIVERTON — Pleasant Plains/New Berlin girls soccer coach Greg Bryan put his trust in Kendall Sims because of her superlative technique and poise.
The sophomore was undeterred even under the greatest pressure imaginable.
Sims converted the go-ahead penalty kick with 1 minute, 21 seconds left in regulation following a handball en route to a 1-0 victory over Sacred Heart-Griffin in the Class 1A Riverton Sectional final on Friday.
“She really steps up for us in all occasions, so there was no doubt she was the person,” Bryan said.
Plains (25-2-1 overall) claimed its first sectional title since 2009 and second overall.
The Cardinals advance to the Columbia Supersectional against Freeburg on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. Freeburg knocked off Belleville Althoff 2-1 in its sectional final.
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Plains previously bowed to SHG 4-0 in last year’s regional final.
“We knew that we were great and just coming up short to SHG was a hard one,” Sims said of last season. “But coming back and getting to play them in the sectional final and getting the result was definitely amazing.”
How it happened
Sophomore teammate Ella Wilcockson’s throw-in led to the handball in the penalty box.
“We have been working on my throw-ins all year, so to have an outcome come like that from my throw-in is something that I never thought would happen,” Wilcockson said. “I don't really have words, I'm so proud of this team.”
Sims, who had been taking penalty kicks since early in the season, calmly drained the right side of the net.
“It doesn't really have to be me taking it,” Sims said. “If anyone on our team took it, I would have had confidence in them and I know that they'd be good at putting it in the back of the net.”
SHG (15-8-1) controlled most of the match before Plains gradually applied more pressure late in the second half.
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Junior midfielder Isabella Perryman nearly scored for the Cyclones with less than 30 minutes remaining, but her shot caromed off the far post. Plains junior goalkeeper Elle Walker, who had seven saves, followed with a diving stop less than a minute later.
The Plains defense refused to break, led by the team’s only senior, Brooke Hermes, and junior Adi Fraase.
“I’m just really proud of everybody,” Hermes said. “It’s just amazing.”
Other area results
Williamsville (19-6-1) dropped to Normal U-High 2-0 in its 1A home sectional final at Paul Jenkins Field.
Aubrey Balota and Scout Minnaert each scored for the Pioneers, who improved to 14-8-2.
In Class 2A, both Maggie Gleckler and Jayda Sperry recorded the hat trick and an assist in Rochester's 9-0 win over Mount Zion in its home regional final.
Gleckler chalked up the first two goals, assisted by Mary Jane Keller and Taylor Offer. She dialed up another goal before the break on Sperry’s assist.
Offer and Charlotte Beatty each added a goal and an assist while Keller had three assists.
The Rockets (18-3-2) led 8-0 at halftime and advance to the Normal West Sectional semifinal against the host Wildcats on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m.
That sectional also includes Central State Eight Conference champion Chatham Glenwood.
The Titans (17-4-1) dispatched regional host Springfield High 4-1 and will play Saturday’s regional final winner between Mahomet-Seymour and Champaign Centennial on Tuesday at 4:30 p.m.
Makenna Yeager, Mia O'Neill, Ali Matthews and Rowann Law each registered a goal for Glenwood.
The Senators finished 13-9-1.
Contact Bill Welt: 788-1545, bill.welt@sj-r.com, Twitter.com/BillWelt.
This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: IHSA girls soccer: Plains upends SHG with Kendall Sims penalty kick
