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Chicago Tribune
24-05-2025
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
Off the bench, Olivia Nelson scores twice as Andrew tops Marist for ninth straight regional title. ‘Kind of a blur.'
Junior forward Olivia Nelson has been a bit of a secret weapon off the bench all season for Andrew. Before she gets into the game, however, Nelson does her studying. And when her opportunity comes, she's ready. 'I'm monitoring the people up top in my position, especially Jules London, who I play the same spot as,' Nelson said. 'I check out the other team and see what they do and think about what we need to do to break through their defense. 'I try to keep the energy high on the bench and make it positive energy. When I get in, I want to use every moment I can on the field and I definitely want to take advantage.' Nelson made the most of her chances Friday night. She recorded the first multigoal game of her high school career, scoring twice to lift the Thunderbolts to a 4-1 win over the host RedHawks in the Class 3A Marist Regional championship game in Chicago. Emily Crotty added a goal and an assist, London scored a goal and Grace McGlynn chipped in with an assist for third-seeded Andrew (15-5-2), which won its ninth straight regional title. The Thunderbolts will take on second-seeded Lincoln-Way Central (16-3) at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday in a Joliet West Sectional semifinal. The Knights won both regular-season games between the two. Addison Woodward scored off an assist from Bridgette Kennedy for fifth-seeded Marist (11-9-2). Nelson scored the first two goals of the game and earned rave reviews from Crotty. 'Coming in and banging in two goals is not easy against a strong defensive line, but she made it look easy,' Crotty said. 'She made great runs. She was great off the ball. 'It was just great play overall.' Nelson got Andrew on the board in the 27th minute, tracking down the ball following a scramble off a throw-in and ripping in a shot from 20 yards. 'It was kind of a blur,' Nelson said. 'There was a lot of chaos, and sometimes I blank out in the moment, but we had some great connections down there. I definitely connected on the ball and finished.' Nelson scored off an assist from Crotty just under 10 minutes later, knocking a shot off the inside of the far post and in from 15 yards. That was Nelson's sixth goal of her varsity season. And what a time for her first two-goal game. 'It's very much perfect timing,' Nelson said. 'I was really excited. It means the world to me. This season has been an experience I've absolutely loved, and scoring to start us off in this game was incredible. 'Getting that first goal set us off. The adrenaline kicked up and we definitely took control.' The Thunderbolts, who led 3-0 at halftime, are looking to make another deep playoff run after winning a sectional title last year. 'We try to hit our peak toward the end,' Crotty said. 'I think, in practice, we're dialed in. We're getting to that point. I'm excited to see what this team brings us.' As for Friday's game and Nelson's heroics, it all went according to plan for Andrew coach Loren Zolk. 'I really like what 'Liv' does coming off the bench,' Zolk said. 'That's been her role all season. When the other team is starting to wear down a little bit and you bring in somebody that is that aggressive, strong and fast, it lifts our team a little bit. 'She does have a knack for scoring goals.' In addition to her prowess at finding the net in soccer, Nelson is adept at hitting balls over the net as a tennis player. 'I think tennis has helped me with footwork for soccer and vice versa,' Nelson said. 'I love doing both. I love the excitement of new teams, new teammates, new coaching and even the after soccer or after tennis stuff, just hanging with teammates. 'I love that team dynamic.'
Chicago Tribune
01-03-2025
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
New season. New team. But Lincoln-Way East transfer Karson Thomas keeps growing for Marist. ‘Have that chemistry.'
When Marist's Karson Thomas was growing up, he looked forward to Tuesdays and Thursdays. On those nights, he was able to watch his dad, Kevin, play in a men's league at Mokena Junior High or the Oaks Fitness Center. Kevin had played for Proviso East, Triton and Robert Morris. 'When I was watching him playing, I fell in love with the game,' Karson said of his dad. 'I would watch the game or shoot around or dribble around while I was watching them. 'Those guys he played with were his college teammates and they were pretty huge. But they have always been there to support me or get on me at times and they overall pushed me.' The junior guard pushed his team into the next round Friday night, scoring 14 points off the bench to lift the host RedHawks to a 74-60 win over Sandburg in the Class 4A Marist Regional championship game in Chicago. Junior guard TJ Tate celebrated his birthday by leading Marist (31-2) with 20 points and five steals. Marquis Vance totaled 13 points and 10 rebounds. Rokas Zilys scored 11 points, including a huge 3-pointer with 4:25 left in the fourth quarter after Sandburg cut the deficit to nine. Jonah Johnson paced Sandburg (16-17) with 15 points and five rebounds, while Malachi Perkins, Will Johnson and Daniel Morakinyo added 12 points apiece. Thomas spent his first two seasons at Lincoln-Way East. At the end of the 2022-23 season, he became just the second freshman in program history to play on varsity after teammate BJ Powell. But Thomas found a new home at Marist, and even though he has been coming off the bench, he still provides the type of production that a starter provides for the RedHawks. 'I don't like Karson — I love him,' Marist coach Brian Hynes said, pointing out that Thomas has been the team's leading scorer the last couple of weeks, averaging 16 points. 'He's so strong and athletic and is a great teammate. Our top six is pretty even and that means someone is not starting. He should start, but he's played that role so well.' Thomas confirmed that his role is to give the team energy. He did that Friday night for Marist in the second quarter with a pair of 3-pointers followed by a slam dunk. It gave a boost to the second-seeded RedHawks, who won their 13th regional title and will play the third-seeded host Raptors (22-8) at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday in the Rich Township Sectional semifinals. Marist has won only one sectional title, back in 1981. The 6-foot-3 Thomas, meanwhile, is enjoying his new home as the RedHawks have set a record for wins this season and are one of the top teams in the state in Class 4A. 'It wasn't really that hard of a decision,' Thomas said of transferring. 'I played with these guys. I played against them. I played with them. 'TJ and I played together back in fourth or fifth grade. I played with Marquis in eighth grade. We kind of all have that chemistry.' Tate agreed he was happy when Thomas came to Chicago to play with the RedHawks. 'He's very physical,' Tate said. 'And he is willing to do it all. When he comes off the bench, he gets things clicking.' In an era when it appears less high school athletes are getting Division I scholarships due to the transfer portal, Thomas said he has offers from Northern Illinois, Iona and Cal State Northridge. But for now, his focus in on the Redhawks. 'This season is for the seniors, but we are playing for everybody in the whole school,' Thomas said. 'I hope we go downstate and I hope we can do it next year, too.' Originally Published: February 28, 2025 at 11:45 PM CST
