NOSED OUT BY HUGHES
Sophomore midfielder scores in OT as Lincoln-Way West tops Lemont. And that broken nose? ‘I’m back with the mask.’
Lincoln-Way West’s Jaiden Hughes was thrilled she could return for the start of the season just days after having surgery to repair something that unfortunately has become a common problem.
The sophomore midfielder broke her nose for the second time in three years but is back on the soccer field sporting a mask.
“I broke it in 2021, and during tryouts this year, I broke my nose again,” Hughes said. “I just had surgery last week. Then (Thursday), I couldn’t play in the game because I got hit in the nose again.
But now I’m back with the mask.
“Two surgeries down, I’m hoping it’s the last one.”
The injury and the mask didn’t stop Hughes from producing a memorable first on Saturday.
She scored the first goal of her high school career, a golden goal in overtime that lifted the host Warriors to a 1-0 win over Lemont in a Windy City Ram Classic quarterfinal in New Lenox.
Olivia Ledvina had four saves to record the shutout for the Warriors (3-0), who advanced to take on Lockport (3-0) at 6 p.m. Tuesday at Reavis in a semifinal of the 32-team tournament.
Lauren Tracy made six saves for Lemont (2-1).
Hughes scored the lone goal just over two minutes into OT when she collected the ball in the middle of the box and ripped a high shot past Tracy and into the net.
“The curve with the wind, I was a little worried,” Hughes said. “The wind is pretty bad. I thought it was going over, but it tucked right in.
“It feels good. The adrenaline was going. I was tired, my legs were hurting. We needed that goal. I think our whole team really put in the effort and we deserved it more than anybody.”
Senior defender Julia Urbanczyk was thrilled to see Hughes come through for the Warriors.