HIGHLAND PARK, Ill.– The score remained locked at zero for both the Scouts and the Giants. Tensions were high as the game headed into overtime, and both teams knew what was on the line. This was the IHSA Regional 1st Round: a do-or-die matchup.

Just a week earlier, the Scouts defeated Waukegan in a 10-0 shutout. Leading scorers included sophomore Grace Hardy and junior Ainsley Allan, and therefore all eyes were on these two superstars as the game persisted. Sure enough, it was indeed Hardy and and Allan who put in two of the three goals during the penalty kicks. These, in addition to one additional point from sophomore Katy Bondoc, proved enough to handle the one goal scored by the Giants.

Scoring aside, however, it was the superb defensive play shown throughout regulation that propelled the Scouts to their successful penalty kick outing. Goalie Sophia DiVagno’s unbelievable saves kept the Scouts in the game and added motivation to a hard-fought contest. A teammate of Sophia’s shared, “[DiVagno] is incredibly consistent, and she definitely kept us alive against Highland Park.”

Later today, the Scouts will take on Libertyville at home for the IHSA Regional Final. Although Lake Forest took the Wildcats down earlier this year by a score of 1-0, Libertyville is still coming off of a successful season (10-6), and their solid play will certainly continue into another fantastic matchup against the Scouts.