It was a mixed bag for Team Chicago at today’s IYSA State Cup Semi-finals. While Team Chicago Academy-Jaguars beat Chicago Fire Jrs North 5-1, Team Chicago Academy-Botafogo lost a 3-2 overtime heart-breaker to Eclipse Select ECNL.

Maddie scored first for the Jaguars assisted by Jasmine, but CFJ North scored an equalizer before the interval. However, the Jaguars ran rampant in the second half.

The Jasmine-Maddie connection joined up again to record the eventual game-winner early in the 2nd half. Followed by a Jasmine brace, before Rachel capped it off to bring the final score to 5-1.

The Jaguars defense, including Hannah, Mary, Emma, and GK Megan, limited CFJ North to a few 2nd half chances. With the convincing win, the Jaguars advance to the championship game tomorrow at noon versus Sockers.

Meanwhile Botafogo got off to a great start when Hope D’Addario played Zoey Goralski in, and after dancing around the last defender and the GK Zoey was brought down for a clear PK and an obvious red card to the Eclipse GK. However, the referee only gave the Eclipse GK a yellow card, which turned out to be a vital moment in the game.

Meegan Johnston stepped up and banged the ball home for a well-deserved 1-0 lead. 10 minutes later Meegan played Zoey in, and this time she beat two defenders and calmly slotted the ball past the keeper for a 2-0 half-time lead.

3 minutes into the 2nd half Eclipse got a somewhat questionable PK to halve the Botafogo lead. And for most of the rest of the half Eclipse had the upper-hand. However, it looked like Botafogo was going to escape with a 2-1 win until the assistant referee conjured up a phantom PK for Eclipse with less than 5 minutes to go. 2-2 after 80 minutes and 30 minutes of overtime were to follow.

5 minutes into the first overtime half Eclipse got the game-winner off a Botafogo defensive miscue. And while Botafogo fought mightily to get the tying goal unfortunately it was not to be.