‘No stopping her’: Chatham Glenwood sophomore's 5 goals dash defending 2A state champion
Bill Welt
CHATHAM — Rylann Law exorcised Chatham Glenwood’s supersectional demons with a flurry of goals on Tuesday.
The sophomore forward deposited five goals and the host Titans avenged two-time defending state champion Troy Triad 5-0 in their third straight supersectional showdown.
The Titans (20-4-1) previously yielded to the Knights 2-0 in their last two playoff meetings but now advance to the Class 2A state finals for the first time since 2015 at North Central College in Naperville.
Chatham Glenwood clinches third straight sectional title behind early goal by Lyla Franke
They draw Chicago De La Salle (17-3-5) in the semifinals on Friday at 11 a.m. The Meteors dispatched Oak Park Fenwick 2-0 in their home supersectional. Crystal Lake Central meets Lisle Benet Academy in the other semifinal.
“We've been working towards this all year,” Law said.
Law's historic performance
Law unleashed the opening goal on a full sprint with 16 minutes remaining in the first half after scrounging up the steal.
“We just apply as much pressure as we can to the backs and it allowed us to finish our chances that we got,” Law said.
The floodgates opened after the break.
Law once again dialed up the far post following a pass from sophomore teammate Delaney Kyes for a 2-0 lead.
“We all work really well together,” Kyes said. “She gets the ball and she goes and she finishes. There's really no stopping her. She's a phenomenal player. I love playing with her.”
‘Tough duo’: Meet the two Division I center backs for Chatham Glenwood girls soccer
Law reeled off the next three goals in a three-minute stretch and included assists from sophomore midfielder Lyla Franke and junior midfielder Makenna Yeager.
“I think we've just been working well in practice together and pushing each other to be our best,” Law said.
It topped Erin Egolf’s school playoff record of four goals in the 2009 supersectional win over Belleville Althoff.
“She made the most of her chances tonight,” said Glenwood coach Jay Lipe, who is making his ninth state appearance in his 25th season at the helm. His sixth 2A state appearance ties Lemont’s Rick Prangen for most in IHSA history. “We're proud of her but also the rest of the team. Defensively we locked them down, I felt. They had a couple little early things in the game but after that, I felt we were real solid defensively and we created some good chances and Rylann finished them off.”
Glenwood clicks from top to bottom
Triad (15-8-3) ushered just three shots on goal and two corner kicks. Glenwood junior goalkeeper Abigail Stephens had two saves.
“Pretty impressive,” Triad coach Matt Bettlach said of Law, “hats off to her.”
Law has chalked up a team-best 41 goals so far this season among an eclectic group of veterans and underclassmen. Glenwood’s prolific newcomers ultimately helped those seniors finally get their first taste of state.
“This year, we've been able to score goals,” said senior midfielder Erin Mansfield, who has been weathering a knee injury since regionals. “We have Rylann breaking records with five goals in a game, but we have our whole team that has been working so well together and it's great.”
Contact Bill Welt: 788-1545,bill.welt@sj-r.com, Twitter.com/BillWelt