The Rockford Christian girls soccer team saw its magical season come to an end just one win away from a state tournament berth after its 9-0 loss to undefeated and top-ranked Johnsburg in Monday’s Class 1A Woodstock Marian Super-Sectional.
“When you have a postseason run that exceeds expectations a bit, sometimes it ends like this,” Rockford Christian head coach Eron Harvey said. “Sometimes it ends with a thud.”
After vaulting through regionals and sectionals, led by striker Ava Reese and goalie Avery Malcolm, and a slew of strong forwards and defenders, Rockford Christian (15-9) was shut out by Johnsburg, and gave up a season-high nine goals.
Johnsburg (18-0) is deep, and has been led by Elizabeth Smith, who came into the game with 32 goals. Smith reportedly left with an injury in the first half and did not return, but it didn’t affect the final tally.
“They were good; very good,” Harvey said of the Skyhawks. “They just have a lot of weapons, and they know how to use them.”
So it’s the Skyhawks that will take the spot in Thursday’s Class 1A girls state soccer semifinals in Naperville.
“It’s been such a great season, and we’ll remember that part,” Harvey added.
Jay Taft is a Rockford Register Star sports reporter. Email him at jtaft@rrstar.com and sign up for the Rockford High School Sports Newsletter here at rrstar.com. Jay has covered a variety of sports, from the Chicago Bears and Blackhawks to local youth sports, since the turn of the century at the Register Star.
This article originally appeared on Rockford Register Star: Rockford Christian bows out of girls soccer postseason just shy of state
Reporting by Jay Taft, Rockford Register Star / Rockford Register Star
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