BLOOMINGTON – Back on May 22, 2026, in the Edwardsville IHSA Class 3A regional final, Edwardsville goalkeeper Genny Burroughs made two critical saves to help the Tigers win a penalty kick shootout over Belleville West 3-1 that put the Tigers into the sectional semifinals.
Ten days later, she did it again, making two critical saves in another penalty shootout, while Anna Maxim, Grace Hughes and Gabby Thompson all scored in the shootout to give the Tigers a 3-1 win in the shootout, and a 1-0 win in the match over New Lenox Lincoln-Way Central in the Bloomington super-sectional quarterfinal match Monday evening, June 1, 2026, at Bloomington High School.
The win advances Edwardsville to the state finals for the second time in the last three seasons, and puts the Tigers into the state semifinals on Friday evening against the winner of Hinsdale Central and Winnetka New Trier, whoever wins the River Forest Dominican University super-sectional, at 5:30 p.m.
Both teams had opportunities in regulation and the 20 minutes of extra time, but did not score a goal, forcing the shootout. Maxim and Hughes scored two of the first three rounds of the shootout, while Burroughs stopped the third shot by the Knights. Burroughs then made the key save on Lincoln-Way Central’s fourth shot, allowing Thompson to hit the ball in the back of the net on Edwardsville’s fourth shot to give the Tigers the win 3-1 and advance to the state semifinals.
The Knights end their season at 18-3-1, while the Tigers go to 16-3-2, and will play either the Red Devils or Trevians in the state semifinals on Friday at North Central College in Naperville in a 5:30 p.m. kickoff. The winner faces Naperville Central, Wheaton-Warrenville South, Gurnee Warren, or Palatine William Fremd in the state championship game Saturday at 7 p.m., while the third-place game will be played at 11:30 a.m., also on Saturday.
