Junior defender Mackenzie Loomis has the perfect alliterative name for St. Charles East.
It says everything.
One of the best two-way players in the state, she’s always looming for the Saints. And the 5-foot-10 Loomis, using her size and physical toughness, is a critical part of the action.
“I think my playing style is lively and very adaptive,” said Loomis, who wields influence as a central player. “I like to switch it up and be unpredictable with my choices on the field.”
Loomis was a good choice Tuesday night, powering the top-seeded Saints to their 12th shutout with a 4-0 victory over Batavia in the Class 3A West Chicago Sectional semifinals.
St. Charles East (20-3) advances to the sectional championship game at
1 p.m. Saturday against St. Charles North (15-3-2), a 4-3 semifinal winner over Geneva.
Fifth-seeded Batavia (9-8-4) entered on a four-game unbeaten streak.
But Loomis helped neutralize the hot Bulldogs, who have been keyed by Avery Solomon. The senior midfielder scored two goals in a 3-1 win over Wheaton North for the regional title.
“I think with the help of my teammates, I can rise to the occasion and take advantage when an opportunity presents itself,” Solomon said. “Our regular-season record wasn’t what we wanted, but that’s the beauty of the playoffs.
“That record doesn’t matter. It’s how you play each 80-minute match.”
Senior midfielder Kara Machala started the scoring for St. Charles East in the 47th minute with her 10th goal.
“I saw that nobody was open at the top, so I decided to take a shot while I wasn’t being pressured,” Machala said. “I think we calmed down after we got that goal and kept the energy.”
The dynamic between Machala and Loomis has been a centerpiece of the Saints’ exceptional season.
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Loomis is the team’s fourth-leading scorer with nine goals and three assists. Five of her goals are headers off either corner kicks or free kicks engineered by Machala.
The two also connected in the Saints’ 2-1 comeback victory over Schaumburg for the regional championship.
“Loomis is an amazing player who really excels in the air,” Machala said. “We are really dangerous when she gets on the end of set pieces.”
Loomis has size, range and superb anticipation skills. Working off Machala’s precision passing and service game, Loomis has turned the set piece into an art form.
“Over time, I have seen corner kicks as opportunities for headers as well as set pieces,” Loomis said. “I have grown with a fearlessness to get my body over the line.
“With some of our games this year, we have had a one-header goal that has affected the whole game.”
The rivalry Tuesday between Loomis and Solomon was one of the fascinating games within the game.
“I consider myself selfless, a little scrappy and humble,” Solomon said. “I am always willing to do whatever it takes to help the team win.”
Freshman forward Tatum Smith and senior forward Grace Williams, however, put the game out of reach with insurance goals.
The Saints’ high-powered attack has obscured a disruptive, highly capable defense.
Sophomore Sidney Lazenby has started every game but one at goalkeeper. She made four saves. And seemingly every time Batavia threatened, Loomis was there to deflect or knock the ball away.
“Our back line has improved every practice because of the amount of playing time we have had together since my freshman year,” Loomis said. “We know each other’s styles.
“We work well together and we can anticipate.”
That talent is prioritized in the biggest moments.
“I have lots of self-discipline,” Loomis said. “I do my best to apply the tips and advice I learn in practice to the game.”
Patrick Z. McGavin is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.