The Rematch: MICDS gets Villa in Second OT of District Soccer Semifinals

Mary Institute Country Day School and Villa Duchesne battled through 104.02 minutes of soccer in clearly what could be classified as one of the all-time greatest prep games ever played.

Seven days ago, the Rams and Saints met for the Metro Conference championship, and Villa prevailed 1-0, scoring with a shade less than two minutes in an 80 minute match.

This time, more than half way through the second sudden death overtime, freshman Klasey Medelberg found a tiny space to squeeze through and blasted a shot to the right of keeper Hanna Benben for a 1-nil victory, giving the Rams a place in the Class 2, District 5 championship game against Visitation Academy. The Vivettes won 1-nil over the host Westminster Christian Academy team in the early game yesterday.

By the time the two teams dragged themselves off the field for the final time, darkness was nearing. Both teams dreaded going to penalty kicks to decide a winner.

“We just wanted to get it over with,” said an obviously exhausted Medelberg.

To set the record straight, the game featured the two finest goalkeepers in the region: Benben of Villa and Campbell Torchin of MICDS. Neither disappointed, both stopping open shots from point-blank range.

Torchin, who will go to Loyola-Marymount in Los Angeles, but not to play soccer enjoyed the game from her vantage point.

“This certainly was a battle of the goalies,” said the senior leader for the Rams. We are just grateful this thing did not go to penalty kicks.”

Were the girls beat from the two-hour match. “Oh my God, I’m exhausted said high-scoring sophomore Caroline Militello.

Like in any heavy-weight match, defense usually carries the day. Players, with huge skill levels like Militello, Claire Ringenberg, Megan Hilleman and Anne Marie Murphy were all held scoreless. It wasn’t as if they didn’t have some chances.

At the 50 minute mark of the match, Murphy was open and alone and her blast was past  keeper Torchin but bounced off the right goal post.

Both keepers robbed up front attackers with one slide save after another.

Villa felt like they were playing a player short. Steady Ashlyn Hilleman got caught up in a big time collision two minutes into the game, and never returned. “The rest of the girls just stepped up and took her place,” said Tim Twellman, Villa coach.

A salute goes out to Cara Scozzafava and Kaitlin Springer who kept the pressure up for Villa the entire game.

Cassie Collins and Izzy Howerton played strong games for MICDS while Blaire Stillwell looked solid in a relief roll.

No rest for the weary. The championship will be decided on the Westminster field Wednesday, starting at 4:30 p.m. The Villa season at 12-6-2 is complete, the lofty MICDS season at 17-7-0 rolls on.