Geneva's team is loaded with seniors, but it was a sophomore who ultimately stole the show in the opening round of the playoffs.
Sophomore Ella Howard found the back of the net twice in two minutes in her first playoff game as the fifth-seeded Vikings defeated 11th-seeded Glenbard East in the Class 3A Glenbard East regional semifinals on Tuesday. won 4-0.
Howard said it gave him confidence as an underclassman to help his upperclassmen teammates extend their seasons by at least one more game.
“It definitely feels good to be a piece of the puzzle and help the seniors have a good last season,” Howard said. “It definitely gave me more motivation to do my best so they can have the best season.”
Howard's first goal came 59 minutes into the game. After grabbing Glenbard East's goal kick, Olivia Hagan tapped the ball outside the box to a sophomore, who slotted the ball into the left side of the net to make it 3-0.
Two minutes later, Howard scored again from inside the box. Lily Coates sent a free kick into the box, the ball ricocheted a few feet before connecting to Howard, who once again slotted the ball into the net to make it 4-0.
“I think it bought the energy of the team in the second half, so it felt really good,” Howard said. “It felt really good to be able to bring them closer and it was really motivating for the team.”
The Vikings (12-7-2) got off to a quick start in the game after Evin Chocolat slipped the ball past a Glenbard East defender and into the bottom right corner of the goal for a 1-0 lead. 9 minutes into the game.
Nine minutes later, the Vikings scored again on a corner kick. With the wind blowing against her, Audrey Stred crossed the ball into the box and headed it in to a waiting Caroline Madden for a 2-0 lead.
“As soon as I got up in the air, I knew I had a shot, and I think Audrey did too, so I just had to make sure I got the right angle to score,” Madden said. “It was definitely a big energy booster. We've been working on finishing off set pieces, so it gave us some momentum.”
Vikings coach Megan Owens said it was good to see the team come together as a team and play with confidence in the first playoff game of the season.
“We played our game. A lot of different players were creating opportunities on offense, so it was good to see,” Owens said. “The first round of the playoffs comes with some nerves and stuff, so it was nice to see things go well. It gives us a little bit more confidence going into Friday.”
Geneva will play No. 4 seed Wheaton-Warrenville South on Friday for a chance to win the region. The Tigers defeated Lake Park 3-0 in the district semifinals.
The teams met on April 4th, with WWS winning 3-1 in the Duquesne Conference matchup in Geneva. But the Vikings are excited to show how much they've grown as a team since that loss.
“We know what they bring since we played them at the beginning of the season. We've changed a lot since then,” Madden said. “We're definitely a much improved team, so I'm looking forward to playing against them and seeing how we've grown and how they've grown.”
On the other side of the field, the Rams finished the season with an 8-5-7 record. Despite the loss, Glenbard East coach Athena Triopolis said her team continued to fight throughout the entire 80-minute game.
“This group understands that they can play against any team, whether they're losing or not,” Tripoulis said. “What I told them at halftime was we needed one more goal and one more goal to turn it around. And they're always great kids, fighting until the final buzzer. I won’t stop.”
With his departure, the Rams said goodbye to nine seniors who played with him all four years. Triopolis said he hopes the freshmen who joined the program this year will help keep East competitive next season, but it will be difficult to replace the seniors.
“These group of girls are some of the best I have ever coached,” Triopolis said. “I know they will continue to do great things after football is over.”
Caroline Madden, 20, of Geneva and Makenna Madden, 20, of Glenbard East, during a Class 3A Glenbard East regional semifinal soccer game Tuesday, May 14, 2024, at Glenbard East High School in Lombard. Mr. Gibbons (8 years old) plays ball.
Ella Howard, 14, of Geneva scores a goal against Glenbard East during the Class 3A Glenbard East regional semifinal soccer game Tuesday, May 14, 2024, at Glenbard East High School in Lombard. age) responds.
Jazlyn Hamilton, 10, of Glenbard East and Rayna Hamilton, 10, of Glenbard East, during a Class 3A Glenbard East regional semifinal soccer game at Glenbard East High School in Lombard on Tuesday, May 14, 2024. Yonehara (16 years old) plays ball.
Evin Chocolat of Geneva after scoring a goal against Glenbard East during the Class 3A Glenbard East regional semifinal soccer game Tuesday, May 14, 2024, at Glenbard East High School in Lombard. (19 years old) smiled.
Geneva's Cameron Bishop (2) hits the ball against Glenbard East during a Class 3A Glenbard East regional semifinal soccer game Tuesday, May 14, 2024, at Glenbard East High School in Lombard. Shoot.
Caroline Madden, 20, of Geneva heads the ball off a corner kick during a Class 3A Glenbard East regional semifinal soccer game Tuesday, May 14, 2024, at Glenbard East High School in Lombard. against Glenbard East, where he scored a goal.
Glenbard East's Christina Chiero (00) hits the ball against Geneva during a Class 3A Glenbard East regional semifinal soccer game Tuesday, May 14, 2024, at Glenbard East High School in Lombard. Save.
Audrey Stred, 5, of Geneva and Makenna Stred, 5, of Glenbard East during a Class 3A Glenbard East regional semifinal soccer game Tuesday, May 14, 2024, at Glenbard East High School in Lombard. Gibbons, 8, plays ball.
Geneva's Jordan Forbes (0) of Glenbard East in the box during a Class 3A Glenbard East regional semifinal football game at Glenbard East High School in Lombard on Tuesday, May 14, 2024. Playing ball with Sam Anderson (17).
Hope McKenna, 15, of Glenbard East beats Audrey Audrey of Geneva during a Class 3A Glenbard East regional semifinal soccer game Tuesday, May 14, 2024, at Glenbard East High School in Lombard. Challenging Stred (5 years old) for the ball.
Margaret Anderson, 6, of Geneva, plays Jamie of Glenbard East during a Class 3A Glenbard East regional semifinal soccer game Tuesday, May 14, 2024, at Glenbard East High School in Lombard. He challenges Quirk (5 years old) for the ball.
Caroline of Geneva smiles after scoring a header against Glenbard East during a Class 3A Glenbard East regional semifinal soccer game Tuesday, May 14, 2024, at Glenbard East High School in Lombard. Mr. Madden (20 years old).
Ella Howard, 14, of Geneva scores a goal against Glenbard East during the Class 3A Glenbard East regional semifinal soccer game Tuesday, May 14, 2024, at Glenbard East High School in Lombard. age) responds.
Evin Chocolat, 19, of Geneva raises the ball against Glenbard East during a Class 3A Glenbard East regional semifinal soccer game Tuesday, May 14, 2024, at Glenbard East High School in Lombard. carry it onto the field.