SYCAMORE — The Rochelle varsity girls soccer team may have caught No. 1 seed Sycamore off guard when the eighth-seeded Lady Hubs faced the Spartans on their home field during the IHSA Class 2A Regional Semifinals on Tuesday.

Sycamore entered the game having surrendered only six goals in 19 games. But Rochelle struck first instead of the Spartans, as Lady Hub senior Sarah Craven scored on an assist from sophomore Ayah Sbeih in the fourth minute to put Rochelle ahead 1-0.

The Lady Hubs held Sycamore scoreless for over 10 minutes before the Spartans kicked the equalizer into the Rochelle net during the 12^th minute. The remainder of the match was all Sycamore, as the Spartans totaled eight consecutive goals to cruise over the Lady Hubs by a final score of 9-1 to end Rochelle’s season at 2-14-2 overall.

Officials called the game with 7:44 remaining in the second half after junior Viviana Belmonte, who recorded 15 saves in the loss, suffered a lower-body injury near the Rochelle net.

“We started exactly how we wanted to,” head coach Brad Male said. “The girls have played well all year, so to come here and score first against the No. 1 seed was a huge morale-booster for them. I think we played some of the best soccer I’ve seen all year over those first 10 minutes.”

Sycamore’s second goal in the 12^th minute gave the Spartans a 2-1 advantage before the top seed exploded for four goals (20, 21, 22 and 24^th minutes) in five minutes to surge ahead 6-1. The Rochelle defense simply had no answers for Sycamore, as the Spartans added two goals in the 34^th minute and one goal in the 40^th minute to lead the Lady Hubs by eight at halftime.

“Once their team got its footing, the girls saw how well they communicated,” Male said. “They’re an exceptional team passing the ball and I think we need to learn from that. We need to continue looking for each other and staying spread across the field.”