Grace Williams just wanted to fit into her new surroundings at St. Charles East.
The junior forward, a transfer from Neuqua Valley, was a very good player coming to a very good team. But she didn’t take it for granted that the puzzle pieces would fit.
“From the start when I transferred here, I knew they were good,” Williams said. “I knew I had to work hard, earn my place and hopefully help the team.”
She’s done that. And so much more.
Williams continued her ascent Friday night, scoring two goals in the second half to lead the host Saints to a 3-1 victory over St. Charles North in a Class 3A sectional final.
In the playoffs, Williams has been a difference-maker for St. Charles East (20-4-2), which avenged two regular-season defeats in ousting the top-seeded North Stars (19-3).
It’s the second straight sectional title for the Saints, who play at 6 p.m. Tuesday in the Barrington Supersectional against the host Fillies, a 7-0 winner over Dundee-Crown.
A dynamic and gifted player at the top of the formation, Williams has made an oversized impact for the Saints. On Friday, she scored her team-best 23rd and 24th goals.
Williams, who has scored five goals in the state playoffs for the second-seeded Saints, would break a 1-1 halftime deadlock with a goal in the 41st minute.
Sophomore goalkeeper Kara Claussner attempted to clear the ball, but Williams lunged and got a piece of the ball. The shot and deflection soared over Claussner’s head.
It was a stunning go-ahead goal only 36 seconds into the second half.
“I just threw myself into it,” Williams said. “I saw her take the touch and turn her body. I told myself she is going to go this way and hoped to get something on it.”
Williams’ goal echoed St. Charles North’s fast start as junior midfielder Bella Najera scored in the second minute for the North Stars.
“We came out with a lot of intensity,” Najera said. “We wanted to be the first one to score. We thought our momentum would carry after that.
“Unfortunately, they had more opportunities.”
Junior midfielder Ella Stehman contributed a goal and assist for the Saints.
Stehman’s header in the 24th minute off a pass from senior defender Madison Flanders created the early equalizer that altered the momentum.
Stehman said the Saints had to match the intensity of the North Stars and convince themselves internally they were capable of beating their archrival.
“I feel like we just wanted it more,” Stehman said. “The way they scored right at the start, I didn’t think that threw us off.
“It pushed us in the right direction. Before, I felt like there’s a feeling whenever we play North that we are really nervous. (Friday) everyone was really confident.”
Off an assist from Stehman in the 67th minute, Williams put the game on ice.
After a corner kick by senior midfielder Yazmin Martinez, Stehman created a volley that Williams put away, certifying her assimilation into the program.
The process started a year earlier as Williams attended the sectional championship game involving the same two teams.
“I think (Friday) was all about our mentality and wanting it more,” Williams said. “Coming off the two-loss streak against North, we knew we had to bury them.”
Tuesday’s supersectional is another rematch for St. Charles East. Last season, Barrington’s 1-0 victory ended the Saints’ undefeated run.
“We have to go into the game the same way we played (Friday),” Williams said. “This was one of our best games of the year. Our energy was great.
“We have to go into Barrington and finish our shots.”
Patrick Z. McGavin is a freelance reporter for the Naperville Sun.