Remaining resolute: QND girls soccer team’s determination leads to spot in state title game

NAPERVILLE, Ill. — The resolve of the Quincy Notre Dame girls soccer team continues to be put to the test.

The biggest challenge awaits.

The Raiders will play for a state championship without their leading scorer and all-state candidate.

“We try to come in with a good mindset and try to control the emotions,” sophomore midfleder Lauryn Peters said. “We have to control the pace of the game and work as hard as we can.”

That’s what has gotten the Raiders to this point.

Sophie Gramke scored a little more than 13 minutes into Friday’s Class 1A state semifinal against Normal U-High at North Central College’s Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium and another stingy defensive effort made it last for a 1-0 victory and a shot at the program’s sixth state championship.

QND (22-3-3) will face Richmond-Burton (23-1-1) at 5 p.m. Saturday in the title game. The Rockets beat Lombard Montini 1-0 in Friday’s first semifinal.

“We have to be mentally focused,” Gramke said. “We know it’s going to be a hard game. We know it’s going to be against a good team. And it’s for the state title. We want to get another star on our shirts.”

The loss of junior forward Lia Quintero makes that a little more challenging.

Quintero, who has 31 goals and 13 assists this season and 70 career goals, suffered an injury to her left knee midway through the second half when she went down after fighting for possession near the flag in the left corner of the field.

She was helped off the field by trainers and left the stadium on crutches. She is expected to be evaluated by medical professionals Saturday, but QND coach Mark Longo said she would not play in the title game.

“It’s a whole lot different without Lia,” Longo said. “It’s a whole different ballgame without her corner kicks, without her speed, without her knack of scoring. Right now, though, we’re hoping for the best for her.”

The Raiders realize the challenge of replacing Quintero doesn’t fall on one person. It falls on everyone.

“We have to work together,” Gramke said. “Losing Lia is not an easy thing. She’s a team player. She distributes the ball well. She gets the ball down the field. If we don’t have her tomorrow, we’re going to have to work a little harder together.”

Gramke worked hard to give QND the lead.

Coming off the bench roughly 10 minutes into the game, Gramke positioned herself to collect a ball on the left wing, drive toward the near post and place a shot into the upper left corner of the net out of the reach of Pioneers goalkeeper Maddie Allen.

“I knew she couldn’t get it up high since she’s a shorter goalie,” Gramke said. “So I was like, ‘Upper corner will definitely be the best option for me.’”

Gramke admitted she didn’t hit the shot as clean as she’d like.

“Not exactly,” she said after scoring her second goal of the season. “I almost thought it was going to miss. But it ended up going in, so it was great.”

Her reaction mimicked that of her teammates.

“Just positive thoughts,” Gramke said. “It sets the tone for the weekend.”

So did the Raiders’ ninth consecutive shutout. Officially, the Pioneers (16-10) finished with two shots on goal, but neither truly challenged Raiders goalkeepers Addison Van Hecke and Aly Young. QND also went into a defensive shell the final 15 minutes of regulation to preserve the lead.

“The defense contained the ball and got back when they needed to,” Peters said. “We just have to work as a team and work together to build things up. It’s all about working hard.”

The effort has put the Raiders in position to match the girls basketball program for the most state titles in school history.

“It’s so, so amazing,” Peters said. “It feels amazing.”