JCA earns spot in state tournament final with 7-1 win over semifinal foe St. Ignatius

Forward Morgan Furmaniak records another hat trick while midfielder Breanna Ciemny contributed two goals

PALATINE – The Joliet Catholic Academy girls soccer team continued its dominant postseason run with a resounding 7-1 win in the Class 2A state semifinal match against St. Ignatius of Chicago on Friday.

With the win, JCA (16-1-1) earned a spot in Saturday’s state final match at 4:15 p.m. at Hoffman Estates High School.

Like they have all season, the Angels started out fast with their signature quick passing, zipping by St. Ignatius (15-6-1) defenders. JCA midfielder Breanna Ciemny opened the scoring barely seven minutes into the match, controlling a high pass off the chest at the edge of the box and blasting the ball into the net for the quick 1-0 lead.

“It just came to me and I tried to make a touch and not mess up,” Ciemny said.

The JCA defense was stifling Wolfpack attacks early, with players such as Brynn Higgins and Natalie D’Andrea stopping possessions in their tracks. Still, St. Ignatius appeared to have an opportunity about 12 minutes into the match when midfielder Lauren Tiemann found space on what looked like a breakaway but was called offside.

JCA came right back five minutes later when forward Emma Gruber ran through the St. Ignatius defense and got off a clean shot, which hit the crossbar. The Angels quickly recovered possession, and within a matter of seconds, the ball rolled to forward Morgan Furmaniak who took a shot and scored JCA’s second goal.

With just under three minutes to play in the half, Ciemny received the ball again on the right side of the field, but instead of making one of her deadly crosses, she cut back toward the middle and took a shot, which found the back of the net for her second goal and a 3-0 lead.

While Ciemny scored only five goals this season, JCA coach Oscar Valdez said she has been most helpful to the team making runs on the outside and crossing the ball for her teammates to score. Still, he said he knew Ciemny always had scoring ability to show off when needed.

“She will do a lot of work passing and everything,” Valdez said. “She can score. I was just happy for it to come through today.”

About 30 seconds after Ciemny’s score, JCA tacked on another goal when Furmaniak’s run at goal forced the St. Ignatius keeper off her line. Furmaniak then calmly passed the ball to Gruber, who tapped it in for the 4-0 lead going into halftime.

The Wolfpack tried to bounce back in the second period with a quick chance a little over a minute in, but a header hit off the upright.

JCA kept its momentum going with a little over 30 minutes to play, when Furmaniak found midfielder Alaina Wildenradt, who turned and fired for the Angels’ fifth goal.

Furmaniak got another chance at goal about ten minutes later when she found space on a solo run and scored her second for a 6-0 lead.

St. Ignatius forward Mia Cadichon ruined the clean sheet, however, when she scored with just under 11 minutes to play.

Just a minute later, Furmaniak answered with her third goal to earn yet another hat trick this postseason and her 39th goal this year. The score secured JCA’s 7-1 margin of victory and a spot in the state tournament final.

Furmaniak conceded she wasn’t expecting to score this much in a state semifinal, but added, it was “an amazing feeling.”

Valdez said his team is excited to play for a chance at a state title, which would be the first in the program’s history, after completely losing the 2020 season.

He added that he is aware Triad (22-0-1) is “amazing,” having watched some film on the team, which will provide the Angels with one final test on the road to a state championship.

“For the last game, whoever goes to the finals, it’s going to be whoever wants it the most,” Valdez said.