While senior forward Ciara Hosty was playing a playoff soccer game for the first time on Mother McAuley’s new home field, school administrators were hanging decorations surrounding the field, honoring the 2023 class ahead of Sunday’s graduation.
It was another reminder for Hosty that her time with the Mighty Macs is almost over and that she needs to make the most of every moment.
“It’s bittersweet,” Hosty said. “Being able to play regionals here is amazing. I wouldn’t have it any other way. This is probably the end for soccer for me, so I’m just trying to have as much fun as I can and do the best we can.
“We’re done with school now, so these are really my last few moments at McAuley. It’s really about making memories and preparing for the end but just having fun.”
Hosty and her teammates made some great memories Wednesday night.
Paced by Hosty, who scored two goals and dished out three assists, the eighth-seeded Mighty Macs rolled to an 8-1 win over 10th-seeded T.F. United in a Class 3A Mother McAuley Regional semifinal.
Calli Edwards, Ava Grace Sales and Riley McKee scored two goals apiece for Mother McAuley (10-7-3), which will take on second-seeded Lincoln-Way East (17-4) at 5 p.m. Friday in the regional championship game. Xotchil Ramirez added two assists and Gabriella Martin made six saves.
Karen Zepeda scored a goal and Maliak Ghnaim tallied seven saves for T.F. United (12-5).
On a team with young stars like Edward, a freshman forward who leads the Mighty Macs with 28 goals, and freshman midfielder Emily Kovar, who has 10 assists, Hosty has provided a strong veteran presence.
“When I was in eighth grade, Ciara took me on a tour,” Edwards said. “So, I kind of knew her beforehand, and she’s definitely been a leader. She’s guided me through everything, talking to me in practices and helping me learn the position a little bit better.”
Hosty said the freshmen have made it easy for her to lead.
“I remember when I was a freshman and sophomore, I had a lot of great senior role models,” Hosty said. “I tried to learn from them and be the best leader I can be.
“But the young girls are great. I learn from them every day as much as they learn from me. Getting to know them off the field has been just as fun as getting to know them on the field.”
Hosty, who now has 10 goals and 10 assists, had one of each in the first half as McAuley took a 3-0 lead into halftime. She added a goal and two assists in the second half as the Mighty Macs pulled away.
“Just the energy she brings is huge,” McAuley coach Jenna Ryan said of Hosty. “When she gets the ball, she can pretty much run through anybody. We can pull her anywhere, too. We have her up top. We’ll put her at center mid if we need her there. We put her outside.
“Ciara and her fellow seniors Emily (Grzyb) and Annemarie (Clark) in the back, they’re able to make people play at the best level they can just kind of with their presence on the field.”
T.F. United had some golden chances to score the first goal of the game, but Martin came up with a couple big saves, including denying Zepeda on a breakaway.
Edwards gave the Mighty Macs a 1-0 lead in the ninth minute and they took over from there.
“We did amazing,” Sales said. “We connected every ball. We worked as a team really well. We were able to make a lot of connections that usually we aren’t able to make.
“We were building off each other’s energy. The momentum was there.”
Steve Millar is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.