Chloe Grundhofer was a steady defensive sidekick last season as she watched her older sister, Grace, star during Lincoln-Way Central’s run to third place in the state in Class 3A.
But Grace, the 2022 Daily Southtown Girls Soccer Player of the Year, graduated. It means that Chloe, now a senior defender, knew she had to pick up some of the slack.
“She was definitely the loudest person in the back and she organized everybody,” Chloe Grundhofer said of Grace. “We’re kind of having a tough time organizing without her, but we’re getting used to it and I think we’re going to be good once we settle in.
“I definitely learned a lot from her. I wouldn’t be half the soccer player I am without her. I just take what she’s said to me and try to lock it onto myself.”
Grundhofer was a lock Monday for the Knights in a Windy City Ram Classic semifinal.
She led the defense to its fourth straight shutout and also scored the go-ahead goal in the second half as Lincoln-Way Central pulled away late for a 3-0 victory over district rival Lincoln-Way East at Reavis in Burbank.
Madi Watt and Bowling Green recruit Christine Erdman also scored goals, while Sofia Jumes recorded the shutout for the Knights (4-0).
Lincoln-Way Central will take on Lockport (4-0) — a 2-1 overtime winner over Glenbrook South — at 6 p.m. Thursday at Reavis in the championship game of the 32-team tournament.
Mattea Arroyo made four saves for Lincoln-Way East (3-1).
The Knights allowed just eight goals last season, and Chloe Grundhofer was somewhat of an unsung hero on that team.
Erdman, a fellow defender, pointed out that Grundhofer’s dependability on the back line will be even more important this season.
“She’s so reliable,” Erdman said. “She knows how to get her body around it. I can trust her in a one-on-one situation. She knows how to judge the ball and everything.
“She’s positive and a very good communicator. She knows how to pump everyone on the whole team. She’s great.”
After scoring just one goal last season, Grundhofer has already matched that total. She broke a scoreless tie Tuesday with 15:45 seconds remaining.
Madisyn Kenworthy’s corner kick curled off the post and Grundhofer pounced on the rebound, knocking the ball home.
“It was amazing,” Erdman said.
The heroics came just a few minutes after Grundhofer was on the sideline in a lot of pain.
“I landed halfway on the turf and halfway on the track and landed sideways on my foot,” she said. “I got back in. It was mostly just adrenaline and wanting to win.”
The Knights took off from there, with Watt and Erdman both scoring off corner kicks by Kenworthy in the final 12 minutes.
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Lincoln-Way East had one golden chance to take the lead early in the second half. Madison Dziedzic took a pass from Brooklyn Mortell and ripped a shot off the right post.
Aside from that, the Knights’ defense — led by Grundhofer, Erdman, Abby Sudkamp and Southern Indiana recruit Brittney Veugeler — held the Griffins without a shot on goal.
“I’ve got to give them credit,” Lincoln-Way East coach Mike Murphy said of the Knights. “They’re a very good, solid team.
“I told (Lincoln-Way Central coach) Sean Fahey I think they’re a better team this year than last year when they took third in the state. I think they’ll be a very hard team to beat, but I look forward to playing them two more times.”
And Fahey realizes that Grundhofer is one of the reasons the Knights are tough to beat.
“Chloe’s Chloe,” Fahey said. “She’s super tough. She’s great in the air. She’s very balanced. She reads the game well. And she’s tough as nails, obviously.”
Steve Millar is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
