Chris White entered Vernon Hills four years ago eager to play well, but also realistic about where the boys soccer program stood.
“I played with my older brother David, he was a senior that year when I was a freshman, and it was not respected” White said. “Before I got there, we were getting beat 6-0 or 7-0. But our coach had a vision and we started working harder, and just outplayed people.”
White scored a goal on a penalty kick and served a beautiful pass that Matt Gramins converted in the 74th minute Tuesday night for the dramatic equalizer that pushed the Cougars to the pinnacle in a Class 2A Grayslake North Supersectional.
But that was as far as Vernon Hills could get. The Cougars’ journey ended in the 94th minute as Latin’s Jonah Schenk scored on an indirect free kick from the left edge for a 3-2 double-overtime victory.
Vernon Hills (15-9) had recorded four straight shutouts in qualifying for its first-ever supersetional.
“Vernon Hills is an outstanding team,” Romans coach Tom Bowers said. “That White is one of the best players we have seen this year. After I scouted them, I did not know if we’d be able to stop White. He’s a great player and they’re a terrific team.”
Vernon Hills surrendered goals at the start of the first half and second half, but fought back both times.
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“This was the first game this year we were came out a little lackluster,” Vernon Hills coach Mike McCaulou said. “We showed tremendous resolve and fight to get back into the game.”
The Cougars were helped in that regard by Brennan Reback, who had 12 saves. McCaulou said that Reback was “just outstanding.”
Vernon Hills had a goal nullified with 4.5 seconds to play in the first overtime by an offside call.
“That’s soccer, and both teams have results,” Gramins said, a senior midfielder who extended the game with his third goal. “There were still 10 minutes to go at that point, and there was still plenty of time for soccer.
“We played hard, that’s a great team and we just came up a little short.”
In making the move to the Central Suburban North as the only 2A school in either division, the Cougars played primarily 3A programs.
“That’s one of the biggest reasons why we are in this game,” White said. “It was like playing a team like this (Latin) every night, and it prepared us for the state tournament and this run.”
White said he is deciding college offers between Western Michigan and Hope, having turned down scholarship offers from Loyola and DePaul. He ended his four-year varsity career with 21 goals and 11 assists.
“The thing I am going to take away from this experience is how (terrible) it feels right now,” he said. “We played against a lot of big schools, teams with academy players and club players and we only had five players on our team that played club.
“We have a lot of guys who played multiple sports, and I am so thrilled and excited at how this team came together, playing against some of the best teams in the state.”
Patrick Z. McGavin is a freelance writer for the News-Sun.