Girls soccer: Big 2nd half sends Burlington Central to sectional crown

Burlington Central's road back to the state tournament hasn't been easy, but the Rockets keep finding ways to march on.

For the second straight game at the Class 2A Rochelle sectional, Burlington Central found itself tied at halftime - this time against Crystal Lake South on Friday in the championship match.

And for the second straight game the Rockets delivered with their season on the line, this time on goals by Megan Majewski and Maddie Menke in a 3-minute stretch for a 3-1 victory.

"We are staying positive, just trying to think it's coming," Majewski said. "Don't put your head down, stay with it. You have to keep your cool and keep working as a team."

Burlington Central (23-2) will play at 4 p.m. Tuesday in the Class 2A Streamwood supersectional. The Rockets will face the winner of Saturday's St. Viator sectional title game between Wauconda and St. Viator.

Friday marked the 14 straight win for Burlington Central who took third in the Class 2A state tournament last year.

"We knew we had it in us," sophomore Zoey Kollhoff said. "We knew we weren't going to walk off this field giving nothing less than our best. We really played together as a team and that's it. We knew it was going to come."

Kollhoff opened the scoring with 19 minutes left in the first half, cutting across and controlling a ball from Majewski, making a quick cut and then firing into the back of the net.

"Megan played a beautiful ball in," Kollhoff said.

Crystal Lake South answered 90 seconds later on a goal by Abby Wiegand.

The Gators are used to coming back, doing the same thing to beat Crystal Lake Central and Sycamore in their last two wins.

"We respond really well to giving up a goal," Gators coach Jay Mueller said. "We've done that quite a few times this year. We've been making a living of coming from behind and we've managed to scrape by but it's a dangerous way to play the game."

Gators keeper Marissa Fetters, who kept her team close making several difficult stops, came off her line to break up a Rockets chance early in the second half.

"She has been an absolute star for us," Mueller said. "I can't say enough about how much she's progressed."

The Gators then had one of their best stretches of the match with several good looks including shots by Taylor Bittenbender, Lilli Sisler and Emma Chudik that missed high.

Burlington Central recovered and began to control possession again. After Majewski nearly scored on a cross from Kollhoff with 16 minutes left, she got the ball back shortly after.

Cutting across the 18-yard line, Majewski took the first touch with her right foot to get by a defender, then quickly hit the ball off the inside of her left foot to the back right post for a 2-1 lead.

Before the Gators could look for the equalizer, Menke made it 3-1 with her goal on an assist from Jordan King.

"It was important for us to keep going and keep going and never take our foot off the gas," Rockets coach Jessica Arneson said. "It's (sectional title) relieving for a couple minutes and then it's who do we have next. They are mentally tough and they are highly, highly motivated."

Rockets keeper Erin Rafferty made 6 saves.

Crystal Lake South ends its season at 13-7.

"It's been an amazing season," Mueller said. "It's been quite a ride with how far they've come from the beginning of the season and the fight they have showed the last two games."