TROY โ Makenna Yeager left the soccer field for the final time in her high school career Tuesday in disappointment after Chatham Glenwood lost 2-0 to Troy Triad in the Class 2A Troy Supersectional.
The Titans were Class 2A state champions and she was eager to return to Naperville for a chance to defend that title, but Yeager, who has brought home numerous trophies to Glenwood High School including two regional and district titles in girls soccer, a Class 3A girls basketball runner-up trophy and last year's soccer state championship, was able to put the season and her team's accomplishments in perspective.
“I think this team had a really great season,” the senior midfielder said, “We lost a lot of seniors and we weren't sure if we'd get this far. I'm really proud of all the girls. We put in a really good effort and I'm proud of what we did and what we accomplished.”
“It was so close, but it's frustrating to lose.”
Glenwood's loss was the toughest to accept: A penalty kick late in the first half was stopped by Triad goalkeeper Payton Hartman, then London Looby scored to end the game scoreless with just 2 minutes, 20 seconds left.
Alina Aylan added a goal in the closing seconds of the game and Triad (21-4-1) beat Glenwood (17-7-1) 2-0 in the Class 2A state semifinals at North Central University in Naperville.
“Yeah, we played better and better as the first half went on and we created a lot of chances, it's just that they didn't go our way,” Glenwood coach Jay Lipe said. “Part of it was three things: They kept us at bay, their goalie made some big saves and we missed some chances that would normally result in goals.”
“Yeah, that's frustrating because when kids play that well, they deserve a good result. Tonight just wasn't our good night.”
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of 33rd A minute later, Glenwood junior Laila Franke tried to take a penalty kick, which Hartman appeared to stop easily by diving to her right.
“The game could have gone either way,” Triad coach Matt Betlach said. “It was a crazy game.”
But after Triad pressured the Titans defense early and often, it was Glenwood that dominated time of possession late in the first half and converted several scoring chances.
The Knights regained momentum as the second half began.
“I thought we played well in the last 10 minutes of the first half and had some shots on goal,” Jaeger said. “Then we went to halftime and our start (of the second half) wasn't how we expected it to be. We started slow and we couldn't make any passes.”
A throw-in eventually came into the box and Looby used her left foot to beat Glenwood goalkeeper Abi Stevens in the 78th minute.Number With 45 seconds left, Aylan added another point with an assist from teammate Emma Correale.
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The day after news broke that Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer Bill Walton had died at age 71, Bettlach quoted the two-time NBA champion before his team's game.
“'Learn from yesterday, dream about tomorrow,'” Bettlach said, quoting Big Red. “'Make today your masterpiece.'”
“I heard that this morning… and I thought those words were just so fitting for today.”
Contact Ryan Mahan at 788-1546; ryan.mahan@sj-r.comTwitter.com/RyanMahanSJR.