Providence’s Alyssa Thulin couldn’t believe the horrible timing she dealt with Friday morning. The junior midfielder awoke on the biggest day of the season to this point — and she was sick.
Sick enough to warrant a trip to the doctor, a visit that didn’t provide Thulin any encouragement that she would be able to play soccer in a few hours.
“I woke up feeling really miserable,” Thulin said. “I went to the doctor and he told me I had strep throat. I went home, rested up and got here right before warm-ups.
“I didn’t think I was going to be able to play, but I got here and I was able to play and I tried my best.”
Thulin felt well enough to rescue the Celtics and help keep their undefeated season alive.
Her goal sparked a big comeback as Providence erased a 1-0 halftime deficit and pulled out a 3-1 victory over St. Laurence in the Class 2A Kankakee Sectional championship game.
Gabby Tylka and Maggie Wolniakowski also scored for the top-seeded Celtics (22-0-2), while Thulin and Giuliana Savarino each added an assist and Claire Wajda made four saves.
It’s the second straight sectional title and third in program history for Providence, which will take on Peoria Notre Dame (24-1-1) at 6 p.m. Tuesday in the downstate Washington Supersectional.
It’s a rematch of last year’s supersectional, won 4-0 by Notre Dame.
“It’s been really amazing,” Thulin said. “My freshman year, we barely won five games. To go to supersectionals last year and to do it again, and hopefully win supersectionals this year, it’s just amazing.”
Valerie Dominguez scored a goal and Marissa Amador finished with nine saves for second-seeded St. Laurence (18-5-2).
The Vikings led 1-0 at halftime before Thulin came through, volleying in Savarino’s corner kick to tie the game with 29:21 to go.
“I wasn’t feeling well at that time, so it felt really good to get that first goal and get us all energized,” Thulin said. “After we scored that first goal, we got our energy back and realized we were still in this.”
Just 41 seconds later, Tylka — a freshman midfielder — gave the Celtics the lead.
Providence coach Mike Taylor was confident things would turn around once his team broke through.
“Alyssa, being out here with strep throat, played awesome,” Taylor said. “She started it off, putting that ball in the back of the net. We know once we score that first one, you’re not stopping us.”
Thulin ranks second on the team with 16 goals and third with 15 assists.
When Tylka heard about Thulin’s illness, though, she was concerned. To say the least.
“I was like, ‘How am I going to play in the middle?’” Tylka said. “I didn’t know if she was able to walk or what was going on. She really pulled through. It was insane.”
Tylka credits Thulin with helping her score 10 goals as a freshman. The duo has quickly developed a bond in the midfield.
“Alyssa, I’m always looking up to her,” Tylka said. “We’re always connecting in the middle. Coach (Taylor) says that the engine of the car is in the middle and that’s her for us.
“She’s always there, passing and getting assists for us and then scoring goals, too.”
Thulin was thrilled to be there to provide the power Friday night. It’s something she didn’t think was going to happen earlier in the day.
“I just had to think to myself, ‘You need to go out 100%. Just ignore it, as hard as it may be, because you need to play for the team,’” Thulin said. “I didn’t want to miss this game.
“I’m really happy I got to play.”
