Adeline Andello opened the Class 3A Munster Sectional by becoming the school’s career leader in goals.
The Mustangs junior forward/midfielder closed it by coming through with the go-ahead goal in Saturday night’s championship game.
Munster downed Crown Point 5-2 as Andello scored with less than 29 minutes left to snap a 2-2 tie. The Mustangs led 2-0 before the Bulldogs tied the score early in the second half.
“I realized this was it, this could be our last game,” Andello said. “We told each other no matter what, we had to keep the intensity up and there’s no letting down. We know how far we want to make it.”
The Mustangs (13-3-2), ranked No. 11 in the state, won their third straight sectional title. In a matchup of the Northwest Crossroads and Duneland Athletic conference champions, they will play in the 9 a.m. semifinal of next Saturday’s South Bend Adams Regional against No. 16 Chesterton. The Trojans (16-3) on Saturday night edged Valparaiso 3-2 in overtime.
Munster graduated a talented senior class, including six starters, from last season’s team that reached a semistate final, and had three senior starters against Crown Point (12-6). Mustangs coach Valerie Pflum wasn’t sure what direction the season would take after they were 1-3-1 — albeit against a challenging schedule — but they haven’t lost since.
“I don’t think anybody necessarily expected us to rise to the occasion as much as the girls did,” Pflum said. “The girls worked hard all summer. We talked about pushing ourselves and getting better. They’ve really come together as a squad.”
Senior forward Kendal Ziel and freshman midfielder Kayla Ziel had two goals each in a game that was shifted to Munster’s turf football field from its grass soccer field with the day’s rain.
Kendal Ziel opened the scoring with less than seven minutes elapsed, speeding down the left wing and shooting off the inside of the far post. Kayla Ziel made it 2-0 with 14 minutes left in the first half, putting away a rebound of Andello’s well-struck free kick from just outside the penalty box.
But Crown Point rallied.
Olivia Small drilled a free kick from 30 yards near the right sideline with five minutes left in the half and Emily Bogordos converted a penalty kick with 37:29 left after Munster was called for a handball.
But Andello put the Mustangs back in front, collecting a rebound after senior central defender and Butler recruit Jaycee Helmer’s free kick smacked off the crossbar.
“Dead balls have plagued us all year,” Crown Point coach Chris Mikrut said. “That’s something we’ve struggled with.
“Jaycee is the player that everything runs through. You can’t get the ball by her and if you do, it has to be a great play. That kid dominates the game with her services, her head balls and her leadership.”
Kayla Ziel added an insurance goal with 21 minutes left, lofting a shot from an acute angle on the left side and nestling it inside the far post. Kendal Ziel scored her second goal with 13 seconds left.
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The Mustangs also defeated the Bulldogs 2-0 on Sept. 28.
“They have a good team, a solid team,” Mikrut said.
“When they get into their attack, they’re just so fast. And not fast speed-wise, but just the way they all go. They’re all in the attack and they do that very well.”
Twitter @MichaelOsipoff