Elizabeth Schink was flat on the ground about 12 yards from the Columbia goal, so she wasn’t in the best position to watch her handiwork late in Saturday’s Class A state soccer championship game.
But just before she fell, the Latin junior managed to get off the biggest shot of the game. Her ball dribbled into the net inside the left post for the game-winning goal as the Romans claimed a 3-2 come-from-behind victory over Columbia at North Central College.
The state championship by the Romans (22-1-1) is the first in school history in any sport. Columbia closed at 15-6-1.
“I didn’t think I had any fuel left in me, we were all so drained,” Schink said. “I was chasing [the ball] and I just stuck my toe out. It was slow-motion [watching it go in]. It was amazing.”
After a 40-minute lightning delay six minutes into the game, Columbia grabbed a 1-0 lead as freshman midfielder Melissa Juenger looped a 30-yard shot over the head of Latin goalie Eileen Vogl.
The Eagles made it 2-0 five minutes later as senior forward Kelly Lindsay scored her 28th goal of the season following a sideline throw-in.
Latin’s Emily Maynard got her team on the board with 26:24 left to play when she skipped a shot over the outstretched arms of Columbia goalie Erin Glaenzer for an unassisted goal and her sixth of the tournament.
Maynard had a chance to tie it 14 minutes later, but her free kick sailed just over the net. However, she made up for it with 12:01 to play with a cross from the corner to sophomore midfielder Katie Shatto, who headed it in from just outside the net to tie it 2-2.
Latin last lost April 22, 3-2 in overtime to Vernon Hills. The Romans battled Niles West to a 2-2 tie April 20.
After the Vernon Hills loss, Latin rattled off 13 straight victories en route to the championship game in a run that included the Independent School League championship and a Loyola University sectional title.
Eight hours earlier Latin earned its berth in the title match as Maynard scored three goals in a 4-2 semifinal victory over Rockford Lutheran. Columbia reached the final thanks to a 5-0 rout of Decatur Lutheran with four different players scoring.
Rockford Lutheran rebounded in the evening to claim third place with 4-1 victory over Decatur Lutheran (15-9). Midfielder Alison Kopelman scored twice to lead the Crusaders (19-4-2).
