Lake Forest 1, Antoich 0 (2 OT)
Backing down was one thing the Antioch girls soccer team refused to do Thursday.
The Sequoits left everything on the field, but they eventually lost to Lake Forest 1-0 with two seconds left in the second overtime of the North Suburban Conference championship match at Lakes High School in Lake Villa.
Morgan McConachie scored the game-winner -- her first goal of the season.
"You can't fault anything," said Sequoits coach Charlie Trout. "We played very well and kept them out for 100 minutes. We had one missed play back there and their girl had 1 great shot -- and my goalkeeper (Katie Budd) did the best she could and it went in the net."
The Sequoits (11-4-2) who won the NSC Prairie Division title, acquitted themselves well against the Scouts (13-3).
"If we can play a team like this one, then we can make a good run in the playoffs," Trout said. "Lake Forest is a good soccer team. We stepped up and did a nice job defensively. We made a few counters with a couple of good looks."
The Sequoits created several solid scoring opportunities.
Kia Miller took a 25-yard free kick in the 99th minute that Scouts keeper Finley Amato (5 saves) saved by leaping up and pulling down the ball.
As time was running down in the second overtime, the Scouts' Haleigh McPeek sent a ball through the defense that McConachie converted.
"It was a cross and the ball was on the ground," McConachie said. "I just went near post and it went in. I thought the goalie left it open. But she did get a hand on it."
Budd made 10 saves.
"Katie Budd gives us the opportunity to be every game as a goalkeeper," Trout said. "She's a phenomenal keeper, talks and does everything.
The Sequoits' defense in front of Budd was exceptional, especially since Jen Zak played only the first 10 minutes. Zak is recovering from a deep bruise of her Achilles' tendon that she suffered two weeks ago, and her playing time is limited.
Other Sequoits who stepped up included sweeper Katrina Holm, Tamra Davila, Jenna Krumpos, Yasmine Bessette, Natalie Gonzalez and recently promoted freshman Lauren Tiffany.
"It was really hard, because Jen (Zak) wasn't in," Holm said. She's a big part of the team. I think we adjusted very well and tried our best.
"We thought it was a lucky goal and we're thinking it was a tie with the way we played. Our defense has a way of pulling us through."
"It was a long game and Antioch makes it tough because they run hard and work their tail off," said Scouts coach Ty Stuckslager. "Their keeper (Budd) played an amazing game and kept them in it.
"Antioch created a couple of situations. Luckily, we mopped up and they didn't get many great opportunities against us. It was a challenging game as in most championships.
"We moved the ball around but we never got anything out of it. Credit Antioch for stopping us. I thought we got a lot more opportunities towards the end of the game. In the end, it was hard to withstand all that pressure."