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The 2015 IHSA Class 1A Girls Soccer State Finals return to Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium on the campus of North Central College in Naperville on Friday and Saturday, May 29-30. Friday’s semifinals will unfold at 5:00 and 7:00 p.m., respectively. Saturday’s third-place match will begin at 3:00 p.m., with the state championship match to follow. All four matches this weekend will be broadcast live by the NFHS Network on www.IHSA.tv and rebroadcast on Comcast SportsNet Chicago (June 7, 8, 21).
Semifinal #1
ST. THOMAS MORE SABERS (13-9-2) vs.
ROCHESTER ROCKETS (23-3-0)
 Don’t let St. Thomas More’s record deceive you, James Johnson’s team reaching its first state final in school history is no fluke. A schedule filled with strong Class 2A and 3A programs led to the sub .500 record entering the State Series, but the Sabers postseason run was highlighted by a 1-0 win over defending state champ Manteno in the Super-Sectional. Senior midfielder Michaela Ward and junior forward Caroline Geubelle each have 13 goals on the year, while goalie Lexi Wallen, a key member of the school’s 2013 state championship basketball team, is the last line of defense on a stingy defense that has allowed a goal or less in 15 matches this season.
Rochester fell to Manteno in last year’s state championship match and now returns to state for the fifth time since 2006, marking the third trip under eighth-year head coach Chad Kutscher. Kutscher led the team to the lone state title in school history back in 2008. The Rocket’s explosive offense (24 goals in 5 postseason matches) features six players who have tallied double-digit goals this season, including junior forward Becca Jostes (26 goals, 21 assists) and junior midfielder Ally Milnes (14 goals, 13 assists), who scored both Rochester goals in a 2-1 Super-Sectional triumph. Rochester hasn’t allowed more than two goals in a match this season, thanks in part to junior goalie Maddie Gleeson (.76 gaa).
Semifinal #2
THE LATIN SCHOOL ROMANS (19-1-2) vs.
ALLEMAN PIONEERS (17-2-2)
The Latin School makes its third state final appearance in school history, with all three, including 2006’s Class A state title, coming under long-time head coach Thomas Bower (253 career wins). The Romans have been dominant in the postseason, winning their first four matches by a combined score of 22-1, before edging Aurora Central Catholic 2-1 in the Super-Sectional. Junior goalkeeper Catie Cronister (.70 gaa) has been in goal much of the season for Latin, playing behind a defense that has tallied 12 shutouts on the year. Senior forward Eve Favia and senior midfielder Eden Pritikin (17 assists) are the catalysts of the Roman offense, having tallied 20 and 18 goals on the season, respectively.
Randy Bollman won just four matches in his first season at Alleman in 2011, upped that tally to 12 in 2013 and 2014, and has used that success to springboard the Pioneers to the state finals for the first time in school history. Alleman’s offense has tallied six goals or more in a match 10 times this season, with much of the production coming from the dynamic scoring tandem of junior forward (and coaches daughter) Emily Bollman (32 goals, 19 assists) and senior Andria Serra (25 goals, 15 assists). Alleman’s last loss came back in April, as junior goaltender Jordan Polito (.65 gg, 82 saves) and company have posted shutouts in seven of their last 10 matches.
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TOURNAMENT HISTORY
28th annual State Series
7th year of 3-Class Series
14th year at Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium
SITE
Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium
North Central College
Naperville
Directions
SCHEDULE
Friday, May 29
Semifinal #1 - 5:00 p.m.
St. Thomas More vs.
Rochester
Semifinal #2 - 7:00 p.m.
The Latin School vs.
Alleman
Saturday, May 30
Third-Place - 3:00 p.m.
Championship - 5:00 p.m.
WATCH
All matches available live on www.IHSA.tv via NFHS Network subscription
Championship match rebroadcast on CSN Chicago:
June 7 - Noon
June 8 - 7:00 p.m. on CSN+
June 21 - Noon on CSN+
LISTEN
Currently no scheduled broadcasts
RESULTS & BOX SCORES
IHSA Girls Soccer Page
TICKETS
$6 per day
INTERACT
Twitter Coverage:
@IHSAState #IHSA
Facebook
Photos
Classic IHSA Soccer
HISTORY & RECORDS
2015 1A State Series
Record Book & Past Champions
PLAYER SAFETY
Play Smart. Play Hard.
@PlaySmartHard
#PSPH on Facebook
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