Marion soccer team advances to regional championship

MATTOON -- After making it through flooded waters and waiting out a delay, the Marion High School girls soccer team rolled past Taylorville, 10-0, Tuesday night in the semifinals of the Mattoon 2A Regional.
Marion's reward for earning the top seed in the Marion Sectional bracket was having to travel to Mattoon, while Charleston had to go to Carbondale. Regardless, a bigger issue was a downpour that flooded the area around Mattoon High School before Tuesday's matches.
Crews worked to get the fields prepared and both matches were held. Mattoon beat Mt. Vernon in the other semifinal, 8-0, and now plays Marion on Friday at 5 p.m. for the championship -- and a berth in the Marion Sectional.
Blake Clark became Marion's all-time leader in goals scored in the rout. Clark now has 48 goals this season, topping the previous mark of 44 set by Jessie Crabtree.
Clark, who scored in 15 consecutive matches earlier this season to put herself in the state record books, gave the Lady Wildcats the lead just 27 seconds after Tuesday's match began.
Marissa Basi also reached a milestone with her 30th assist. Basi and Clark are both very close to making the IHSA's top-20 list for their marks in a season, with those numbers updated at the end of each season.
The Lady Wildcats led 4-0 after 26 minutes and were ahead 7-0 at the half.
Marion is now 16-4-3 and takes on a Mattoon squad in the title match that is 14-8 after beating Mt. Vernon. That mark ties the Green Wave's record for wins in a season.