Senior midfielder Brittany Dazzo knew Elgin was running out of time Wednesday night and that she needed to do something about it.
With the Maroons trailing host Huntley 1-0 with less than six minutes remaining in a Class 3A regional semifinal, Dazzo tied the game on a free kick with 5:03 remaining.
Dazzo then helped Elgin survive the penalty-kick shootout by converting her attempt in a 2-1 victory.
Elgin (11-7-1) advanced to face Jacobs at 3 p.m. Saturday in the Huntley Regional championship game.
“Having five seniors who have been on the team since freshman year, I really just wanted to win for them,” Dazzo said. “I saw the opportunity and we needed to capitalize because it really was do or die at that point.”
Dazzo had just missed tying the game midway through the second half when her 22-yard free kick caromed off the crossbar. It was easily out of the reach of the goalkeeper, but Dazzo booted it a bit too high.
“I was getting frustrated with myself that I couldn’t finish,” she said. “I got the next opportunity, and I’m used to taking the kicks there because I’m left-footed and it’s easier to curve it in.
“The goalie tried to reach it and almost made a great save, but I got it past her.”
Huntley (7-9-1) came out strong in the second half. Alyssa Xanos misfired wide right in the opening minute before Brenna Keegan gave the Red Raiders a 1-0 lead with 34:46 left to play.
Huntley had opportunities to extend the lead, but couldn’t finish.
“I think giving up the one late is harder to accept, especially when we’re not finishing our chances,” Huntley coach Matt Lewandowski said. “I think we had more than enough chances to win the game and put it away, but soccer is fickle. It doesn’t always work out the way you want.”
It couldn’t have worked out any better for the Maroons in the shootout as Kylie Graves, Dazzo, Brenda Acuna, Andrea Escamilla and Emily Graves all buried their chances.
The Red Raiders missed an attempt early in the shootout, but converted four overall so the Maroons needed to be perfect.
Emily Graves delivered the game-winner after her sister Kylie got the Maroons started.
“We have confidence in each other so seeing them capitalize makes it easier,” Emily Graves said. “I knew I could do it and kept it simple. I just stepped up to the line and hit it.”
Last season, the Maroons were involved in a few shootouts, but this was their first this year.
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“We practiced a lot since we hadn’t had any this year,” Elgin coach Alicia Knoll said. “We always tell them to just go up and shoot it like you’re shooting at me or our goalkeeper and play the game.”