Mia Hedrick earned more and more playing time off the bench for Lincoln-Way East as her freshman season progressed last year.
That experience has been beneficial for Hedrick, allowing the sophomore defender to thrive in her first season as a starter.
“It helped getting to know the team as someone who was new,” Hedrick said. “I was able to get incorporated into the team before I became a starter this year, so that was really helpful.
“I was playing a different role last year, coming in and playing outside mid a lot. So now I’m back in a more traditional defensive role, and it’s been different, but I feel more comfortable here.”
Hedrick helped the Griffins shut out Wheaton North for 80 minutes Thursday night and then scored in the penalty-kick shootout.
It was not enough for Lincoln-Way East, however. The Falcons won the shootout 5-3 to earn a 1-0 victory in the championship game of the Porter Cup at Lockport.
The Griffins (8-3) had 14 shots on goal, while Hedrick and the rest of the defense held Wheaton North (5-3) to just two.
Falcons goalkeeper Zoey Bohmer was the hero, though. She made 14 saves and converted the game-winning penalty kick.
“I told them that if this is the way we’re going to lose, OK,” Lincoln-Way East coach Mike Murphy said. “We did it by playing great soccer. We controlled possession.
“I think we’re playing better soccer every game, creating dangerous opportunities, and now that’s all we’ve got to do is put one away.”
It was the fourth penalty-kick shootout already this season for the Griffins, but the first time Hedrick was called upon.
She ripped her shot into the right side of the net to keep Lincoln-Way East alive in the fourth round, making it 4-3 before Bohmer ended it.
“It was my first PK, but it’s been going good in practice, so I felt confident to go up and take one,” Hedrick said. “It was really good to help out my team because I don’t get a lot of shots, so putting one in was good to move us forward, even though we didn’t get the result we wanted.”
Bre Herlihy and Ellie Feigl also converted penalty kicks for the Griffins, who are 2-2 in shootouts. They also lost the Windy City Ram Classic championship game in a shootout to rival Lincoln-Way Central.
“The worst part is two championships lost in PKs,” Murphy said. “That’s tough, but you have to end the game somehow, and you have to give Wheaton North credit. They buried all five of those.”
Hedrick, Maggie Haverstock, Olivia Desjardins and Brianna Meehan led the defense for Lincoln-Way East, while goalkeeper Lindsay Fortier made two saves.
Murphy credits Hedrick for playing a big role on a defense that has allowed only five goals.
“She’s just been solid for us,” Murphy said. “She doesn’t make mistakes. She’s constantly taking on some of the other team’s best players and doing a great job.”
The Griffins peppered the net with shots Thursday after advancing to the championship game with convincing wins — 4-0 over Lemont and 3-0 over Downers Grove North.
Feigl, a freshman, had a couple of the best chances, including one with 28:15 left when she took a long pass from Desjardins and ripped a shot from 10 yards that Bohmer saved.
“All the girls did a really good job connecting,” Feigl said. “We possessed the ball really well. We had some great shots on goal. It just wasn’t the result we wanted. But it happens.
“I think everyone worked really hard, and we’re going to keep moving forward because we have a great team.”
Steve Millar is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
