Giuliana Conte was a field player her whole life, but when she got to Marist, the coaches suggested she give goalkeeper a try.
Conte eventually agreed, becoming the goalie last season for the junior varsity as a sophomore and then taking over the starting role this spring on the varsity.
“They asked me because I play volleyball and my position correlates well to being a goalie,” Conte said. “I’m a libero, so there’s a lot of quick movements. I think that’s definitely what sparked them to ask me to become a goalkeeper.
“I got the confidence to do it from the coaches. They’ve been nudging me since freshman year and I finally took that jump.”
Conte and her teammates are sure glad she did. She has allowed just one goal in four games.
The junior goalkeeper came up with five saves in regulation Tuesday night and made another big stop in the shootout as the RedHawks prevailed 5-4 in six rounds to earn a 1-0 victory over host Lockport in a Windy City Ram Classic semifinal.
Addison Woodward, Julia Skol, Mia Sherry, Anna Budz and Viviana Corona scored in the shootout for Marist (4-0). Woodward, Skol and Vivian Rybak led the dominant defensive performance in front of Conte.
The RedHawks will play in the championship game of the 32-team tournament for the first time in program history, taking on Lincoln-Way Central (4-0) at 4:30 p.m. Thursday at Reavis.
“This means a lot to me to get to the championship game,” Corona said. “I’ve been playing four years on varsity and this is so great for us. We’re playing for all the seniors and we’re telling each other just to enjoy it.
“I’m enjoying it.”
Kiera Gallagher, Ashley Purpura, Ella Smith, Hayden Spodarek and Evelyn Ryniejski led the defense for Lockport (3-1), which held the RedHawks to one shot on goal through regulation and overtime. Olivia Luecke made one save.
Conte, meanwhile, gave Marist a big boost early in the shootout. After Woodward converted for the RedHawks, Conte made a save on the Porters’ first shooter, slapping away the ball.
“Oh my gosh, when you make the first save, that’s such the epitome of a great feeling,” Conte said. “Knowing that it puts you ahead, there’s no better feeling than that. It gives you so much confidence going through the rest of PKs.
“My coach always tells me that a shootout is my moment to be the hero.”
Corona also delivered when called upon to be the team’s sixth shooter, scoring on a line-drive shot to the right side. That held up as the game-winner when Lockport’s sixth shooter fired wide.
“It felt nice,” Corona said. “Even though I get nervous to do it, I enjoy stepping up for my team and risking it, even though I didn’t think I was going to make it.
“I just look at these girls and say, ‘I need to do it for them.’”
Conte did the rest as she continued to validate the decision of Marist coach Chris Roe to move her to goalkeeper.
“Since day one when I started coaching girls and have had to sometimes create goalies, I’ve asked myself, ‘What kind of athlete do I want?’” Roe said. “Probably volleyball players. Good reactions. Can jump.
“Giuliana was a really good outside mid, so I didn’t really want to take her off the field, but we had to try something. She stuck with it and she’s doing a great job. It’s been really nice.”
And Conte’s confidence in goal is growing every game.
“The volleyball experience made it a more natural transition, for sure,” she said. “The toughest part was learning how to brush off mistakes and deal with getting scored on. Mentally, it’s a tough position to play.
“But it makes it so much easier knowing these girls have my back, win or lose.”
