Sahana Raju couldn’t play during Benet’s run to the sectional semifinals last season because she was sidelined with a torn ACL.
The Redwings are once again making a significant postseason run, and this time the sophomore defender is in the thick of the action.
“It’s so impressive,” Benet sophomore midfielder Ashley Polanco said. “I know ACL tears are terrible and it’s hard to come back the same.
“I’m just so proud of her that she was able to come back stronger and better.”
Raju showcased her prowess at both ends of the field on Tuesday. She held her own marking star senior forward Jordyn Washington and also scored the final goal as third-seeded Benet beat second-seeded Oswego 2-0 in the Class 3A Naperville Central Sectional semifinals at Memorial Stadium.
Benet (19-2) will attempt to win its first 3A sectional title when it plays top-seeded Naperville Central (19-0-1) in the final at 6 p.m. Friday.
“When we won the regional championship against Metea last year, I was obviously on the sideline cheering for (teammates), and it was a great experience,” Raju said. “Being able to play in a game like this is even better. Honestly, just to contribute to my teammates and the win is just an amazing feeling.”
As a center back, Raju was the leader of Benet’s effort to contain Washington, an Alabama A&M commit who scored 26 goals this season. Washington took the first shot for the Panthers (19-2-3) and then went more than an hour without getting another one.
“Jordyn is an amazing player,” Raju said. “I knew going into this game it was going to be hard to defend her. We watched our film. She’s amazing and very talented, and I think it was just trusting my teammates and trusting myself in the way I play and what my coaches tell me.
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“I was kind of forcing her backward into help and trusting that my teammates have their other players, which they did.”
After senior forward Ivana Vukas scored off an assist from junior forward Preslie Petersen to give the Redwings a 1-0 lead with 33:42 left in the first half, the Panthers had to attack with more urgency. But they mustered only three shots in the first half as the 5-foot-10 Raju stood tall. Benet senior goalkeeper Giada McGlynn made eight saves overall to record her 12th shutout.
“I kind of just play with my heart,” Raju said. “I try to get my rhythm, but at the end of the day, in a big game like this, you kind of just got to with your heart and play for your teammates.”
Raju’s biggest play came on offense when she headed home a corner kick from Polanco to make it 2-0 with 23:52 remaining in the first half. It was Raju’s second goal of the season but first on a corner kick.
“I’m grateful for the coaches that they give me an opportunity to go up there,” Raju said. “I know every ball is a winnable ball, and I finally got to put one away today.
“It was big. I’ve been trying to get one all season, so that was definitely a great moment for me. I’m happy I got Ashley an assist because she’s been giving me great balls all season.”
Polanco, who handles corner kicks with Vukas, felt similarly about Raju.
“She just goes 100% to every ball,” Polanco said. “If we lose a ball, I know I can count on her to get the ball. Today, I gave her a corner, and she finished it, and I was beyond happy for her.”
So was Benet coach Gerard Oconer.
“On corners, she’s just always been so close,” Oconer said. “She just couldn’t quite time them, so at some point she was due. Obviously, you couldn’t time it any better today. That was a huge goal.”
Raju nearly scored a second goal 18 minutes after her first. This time she headed a Vukas corner kick off the crossbar.
“We send her up for corners knowing she will get under the ball, and she did,” McGlynn said. “She made contact with almost every corner.
“We were missing her last year. She recovered fully, is back and better than ever.”
Now the Redwings get their stiffest test — and greatest opportunity — against Naperville Central’s high-powered offense.
“Our coach said you can either be nervous or excited,” Raju said. “I think we’re going into it excited. We know it’s a big stage to step on, but we’re excited to compete.”
Matt Le Cren is a freelance reporter.