After playing club exclusively, junior midfielder Emily Tobin is trying high school soccer for the first time this season, but she has not had a chance to be on the field nearly as much as she had planned for Andrew.
A bone bruise in her knee kept Tobin out of the lineup for about six weeks.
The IUPUI recruit, however, has played in four games since her return — and has scored goals in all of them.
“It was very tough not being able to play,” Tobin said. “I definitely wanted to be out there and help the team instead of just cheering from the bench. I’m really excited to be back.”
So are the Thunderbolts.
Tobin’s goal in the first half Friday sparked fifth-seeded Andrew to a 2-0 victory over the host Warriors in the Class 3A Lincoln-Way West Regional championship game.
Bella Lemus also scored for the Thunderbolts (13-6-1), who will take on top-seeded Lincoln-Way Central at 5 p.m. Tuesday in a Sandburg Sectional semifinal.
Olivia Franczyk made 12 saves for fourth-seeded Lincoln-Way West (13-7-2).
Tobin scored in the 17th minute when she took a pass from Abbie Bosco, dribbled across the middle of the box and ripped in a high shot from 15 yards.
“I was in the moment and I just really wanted to score,” she said. “I was doing anything I could to shoot the ball and it ended up going in.”
Tobin has typically played defender in club, but Andrew planned to use her in the midfield. Some early season injuries, though, resulted in her starting the season at defender after all.
And now, she’s wreaking havoc in the midfield.
“Now that she’s back and we’re healthy defensively, we have the opportunity to put her in the middle, which is what we always envisioned,” Andrew coach Loren Zolk said. “She’s so talented and smart and she plays really good balls.
“She’s a big boost for us.”
Fellow junior Jessica Morawski said she and several teammates talked Tobin into playing this season for the Thunderbolts.
“Me and Emily used to play from when we were like 2 years old until the end of middle school,” Morawski said. “It’s great to finally have her back playing with me again.”
It was a big week for Tobin, who announced her commitment Sunday to IUPUI.
“I’m very excited about that,” she said. “It was a long time coming. It’s a really great week.”
With a heavy wind at their backs, the Thunderbolts poured on the pressure in the first half but led just 1-0 at halftime. Franczyk made 10 saves, including a leaping stop to rob Bella Milazzo.
“Olivia came in this year so confident,” Lincoln-Way West coach Joe Stephens said. “I’m very proud of the way she played. She was our heart and soul all year.
“We were happy to be only down 1-0 at halftime, but Andrew is very good defensively. (Morawski) is a stud in the back. We couldn’t take advantage of the opportunities we had.”
The Warriors, who beat Andrew 3-2 in the regular season, generated more offense with the wind in the second half but could not get a shot on goal.
Andrew’s back line of Morawski, Kylie Herrin, Alyssa Bickham and Bella Kreydich was huge in front of goalkeeper Adelynn Kreydich.
“I told everyone, ‘Don’t let up on the gas pedal,'” Morawski said. “We knew we had them. We just had to stay amped up. We had to shut down any chance they had and clear the ball.”
Lemus added a goal with 12:46 to go.
With the win, Andrew gets another shot at Lincoln-Way Central, which beat the Thunderbolts 1-0 on April 26 with a last-minute goal.
Tobin did not play in that game.
“This time I’ll get to play, so hopefully that’ll be good,” she said.
Steve Millar is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.