UNION TWP. | Andrean failed to protect a two-goal halftime lead against Times No. 10 Hanover Central in Tuesday's second game of the Class A Wheeler girls soccer sectional.
But coach Tony Pagorek said he wasn't too nervous about it.
"We haven't had a game like this," said Pagorek, whose 59ers upset the defending sectional champion Wildcats 3-2 to advance to Thursday's semifinals. "They came back but we had to get our composure and stay focused. For us it is all about shot selection, and I knew it was only a matter of time."
The Niners will play Marquette Catholic, 4-0 winners over Westville.
Andrean senior Taylor Berglund lofted in the game-winning goal with 10 minutes, 48 seconds remaining. From about 40 yards out, she received a pass from teammate Liz Krilich and dropped one over the head of Hanover keeper BJ Sakelaris.
"I was just waiting for it to drop," Berglund said. "When it was in the air, I was thinking it could be the game-winning shot. Then I thought our team could hold them the rest of the way."
The 59ers (6-7-1) broke it open early, scoring a pair of goals within 44 seconds.
Junior Rachel Bryan beat Sakelaris for the 1-0 lead at 27:45 of the first half, and just 44 seconds later, Bryan assisted on a goal to senior Molly Churilla.
The Wildcats (11-4) finally got on the board with 38:10 remaining on a free kick by sophomore Melissa Balkema. She hooked a shot into the upper left corner on a free kick from about 25 yards, pulling Hanover within 2-1.
With 32:56 remaining, Andrean was called for a hand ball in the box. Pagorek left the coaching box to argue and was given a yellow card.
"It's my first yellow card in six years as a girls coach," Pagorek said. "I'm normally pretty calm."
Hanover's Blayr Poston cashed in on the penalty kick, rifling a shot to the lower left corner past Andrean goalie Maddie Mandich to make it 2-2.
Pagorek credited the defense of freshman Natalie Nowesnick on Poston throughout the game as a factor in the victory.
"I think that was great," Pagorek said. "She has speed and a knack for winning balls. She's become a one-man shut-down player, which is great for a freshman."
In the opener, Marquette Catholic broke open a scoreless game with three goals in the final 20 minutes of the first half.
Senior forward Allison Westbrook took advantage of a Westville defensive breakdown to tally the first goal with 20 minutes remaining in the half. She added another goal 11 minutes later off an assist from freshman Maggie Mellen, who scored just before the half make it 3-0 Blazers. Mellen added a second goal 10 minutes into the second half off an assist from Westbrook.
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