Annie Callaghan was tired of waiting.
After sitting through a series of lightning delays Wednesday night, the Marist freshman was ready to make an impact.
“All the delays were tough,” Callaghan said. “You never knew who was going to come out stronger after the delay. Coming out of halftime, we just had to calm down. It was so exciting to get back out there and a get a goal.”
Callaghan scored the only goal as Marist defeated Lemont 1-0 in a Class 2A Brooks Sectional semifinal at Gately Stadium.
The game was called with 19:33 left due to lightning. IHSA rules state a game not can resume after 10 p.m. and is official if at least one half is played.
Nine minutes into the second half, Sheila O’Keeffe sent a pass into the box. Delaney Mulcahy’s shot was blocked, but came right to Callaghan in front of the net, where she tapped it in.
“It was just a little toe tap,” Callaghan said. “It wasn’t the prettiest goal, but I’ll take it.”
The second-seeded RedHawks (16-7-3) advanced to their first sectional final and will take on top-seeded Tinley Park at 5 p.m. Saturday.
Both teams will be looking to win their first sectional title.
“I’m so excited to help us get farther than any Marist girls team ever has,” Callaghan said. “We’ve been in (the sectional semifinals) before, but never won it. To be able to make school history for our team is amazing.
“I feel sorry for their seniors who had to have their season end without playing a full game, but we’re excited to keep playing.”
Marist and Lemont (16-4-2) sat through three lightning delays that totaled 3 hours, 15 minutes.
Marist had two good looks at goal in the first half. In the 10th minute, Callaghan took a pass from Alex Lenz and ripped a shot from 30 yards that Lemont goalkeeper Mackenzie Schuit (3 saves) was able to catch on a dive.
Schuit made a save on a bouncing shot from Claire Collevy in the 37th minute.
Lemont’s best chance came just seconds as play resumed following the first delay as Joy Drassler fired just high from the top of the box in the 16th minute.
Marist’s back line of Claire Walsh, Liz Paulmeyer and Kelly Ferguson shut down the Indians otherwise. Ashley Smialek recorded the shutout in goal.
“It’s a bad situation,” Lemont coach Rick Prangen said. “It’s a tough rule and a tough way for our season to end. I thought it was a 50-50 game. They took advantage of their chance and we didn’t. I give them credit for playing hard and advancing.”
Baseball
Brother Rice 12, Kennedy 1: Jack Guzek contributed two homers and three RBIs to lead Brother Rice (33-3) in the 4A Reavis Regional semifinal.
Marist 8, Crete-Monee 7: Matt Donahue’s RBI single lifted Marist (19-17) in the 4A Homewood-Flossmoor Regional semifinal.
Mount Carmel 5, Kelly 0: Solo homers by A.J. Lewis and Alek Thomas propelled host Mount Carmel (26-10) in the 4A regional semifinal.
Providence 7, T.F. South 0: Tom Kelley smashed a two-run double for Providence (27-9) in the 4A regional semifinal at Lockport.
Lemont 6, Manteno 3: Garrett Acton and Nick Wisz hit two-run homers to fuel Lemont (24-9) in the 3A Joliet Catholic Regional semifinal.
Lincoln-Way West 4, Morris 3: Joe Paparelli hit a two-run single for West (25-8) in the 3A Morris Regional semifinal.
Morgan Park 6, Rich Central 1: Thalame Byrd’s two-run double keyed Morgan Park (22-4) in the 3A Rich East Regional semifinal.
Softball
Homewood-Flossmoor 2, Lincoln-Way Central 1: Meagan Donermeyer pitched a four-hitter and struck out seven to put H-F (20-12) into the 4A Thornwood Regional championship.
Joliet West 3, T.F. South 2: Brittany Kooi had an RBI single to aid T.F. South (19-12) in the 4A Joliet West Regional semifinal.
Reavis 3, Hinsdale Central 0: Alyssa Baffin pitched a three-hitter and Ewelina Zahora added a two-run single for host Reavis (11-22) in the 4A regional semifinal.
Bishop McNamara 1, Joliet Catholic 0: Alyssa Callans threw a two-hitter and struck out seven for host JCA (21-9) in the 3A regional semifinal.
Oak Forest 10, Bremen 1: Caitlyn Ardema belted a three-run homer and also fanned seven to pace Oak Forest (18-11) in the 3A Tinley Park Regional semifinal.
Boys Volleyball
Homewood-Flossmoor 16-25-25, Brother Rice 25-23-18: Erin Lee put down 14 kills and Ryan Fitzgerald dished 30 assists to boost H-F (18-14) in the Brother Rice Regional championship.
Marist 25-25, Richards 15-18: Mike Burcl posted 10 kills and six blocks for host Marist (29-8) in the regional championship.
St. Rita 25-25, Stagg 21-22: Michael Long had 28 assists and Liam Kelly tacked on 10 kills to pace St. Rita (22-14) in the Marian Catholic Regional final.
Sandburg 25-25, Shepard 16-17: Jake Hanes notched 10 kills for Sandburg (34-3) in the Oak Forest Regional championship.
Steve Millar is a freelance writer for the Daily Southtown. Freelance writer Josh Krockey contributed to this story.
