New Trier is so overtime, tops Barrington
Trevians will defend state title against Neuqua Valley on Saturday
By Matt Le Cren
NAPERVILLE – Jackie Welch used her head in more ways than one Friday night.
The New Trier defender noticed that Barrington had sussed out her team’s strategy on corner kicks after the Trevians had failed on their first seven such opportunities.
So when New Trier got an eighth corner, Welch tried something different and succeeded, nodding home Kelly Maday’s serve from the left with 2:29 left in the second overtime.
That goal held up as the only tally in a 1-0 Class 3A state semifinal that put the defending state champion Trevians back in the title game.
New Trier (26-1-1) will try for its second-straight state title and fifth overall at 7 p.m. Saturday at North Central College when it faces Neuqua Valley, which beat Collinsville 3-1.
“We kept switching up our corners,” Welch said. “We had two back-to-back corners at the end there and Maggie Armstrong, and I actually switched our runs.
“I think that they knew our corner (strategy). They came to our spot before we were already there so I think switching our runs may have confused their defense a little, and we wanted it so badly. Restarts, you have to take advantage of those in the playoffs.”
Maday sent her corner kick high and to the back post, where the 5-foot-11 Welch rose up and powered the ball down. Barrington goalkeeper Hannah Luedtke dove valiantly but was unable to prevent it from sneaking inside the right post.
“She got her head on it, and that was the difference,” said Luedtke, who made three saves and played superbly despite taking a beating from several collisions in the box. “I got a touch on it, but it wasn’t enough to get it around the post.”
Such was the heartache suffered by the Fillies (21-2-4), who played well enough to win and had the better of play during regulation, only to see the Trevians end their season for the second-straight year. They will play Collinsville in the third-place game at 5 p.m. Saturday.
“I think we left everything we had out there and sometimes it just doesn’t go your way and that’s what happened tonight,” Luedtke said. “Obviously, the best thing about this is knowing that tomorrow is our last game.
“Knowing that, we want to come out here and play as a family and come out strong and see what we can do.”
The Fillies did everything but win against the Trevians, outshooting the champs 11-4 in regulation before New Trier dominated the two overtime periods.
But New Trier junior goalkeeper Dani Kaufman kept her net empty by making six saves and punching away several other dangerous balls.
Kaufman made back-to-back saves in the 30th minute, diving full out to deflect a header by Jenna Szczesny, and then getting back up to stop the rebound by Kelsey Muniz.
But Kaufman wasn’t in the game when Barrington had its best scoring chance. She was forced to leave after getting a yellow card as a result of a collision in the box with Szczesny.
The Fillies were awarded a penalty kick and junior backup Michelle Sokal had to come into the game cold to face Barrington sophomore Sophia Spinell.
Spinell’s drive hit the top of the left post and caromed high into the air. It was eventually knocked over the end line by a defender, but the Fillies could not get a shot off on the ensuing corner kick.
“You can’t miss a penalty chance,” Barrington coach Ryan Stengren said. “We had the game.
“It was a good game. The last two years it’s been a really good game with them. They made a play and we didn’t make a play tonight, but I’m very proud of what my kids did tonight.”
Sokal didn’t get a hand on Spinell’s penalty kick, but Kaufman was proud of her effort.
“I had faith in Michelle,” Kaufman said. “I give her credit for saving that. She made herself big and the girl hit the post. After regulation I ran up and gave her the biggest hug I’ve ever given her.”
Kaufman was not as happy about the yellow card.
“I was confused on the call,” Kaufman said. “I believe the ref called that I intentionally ran for their player while I was trying to protect myself.
“I don’t know what the ref sees but I can see from my perspective that I see a girl sprinting as hard as she can toward me and me going toward the ball. There’s only a collision that can happen.”
That was a metaphor for this meeting of the last two one-loss teams left.
“They were a really good team, and they definitely pushed us,” Welch said. “We had to leave everything on this field in order to beat them, but it just comes down to everything mental in your heart.
“I think our grit came out at the end. We were a little slow at the beginning but I think as we figured out what to do, we were each pushing each other.”
That impressed New Trier coach Jim Burnside
“The girls just kept grinding,” Burnside said. “I love that about this team. You’ve got to fight through those things that don’t go your way.
“It’s a battle to get here. [Barrington] is a great team with great athletes. Our girls just kind of dug deep.”
Starting lineups
New Trier
GK: Dani Kaufman
D: Megan Murdoch
D: Jackie Welch
D: Caroline Smith
D: Katie Sadera
M: Adena Kerzner
M: Celia Fre
M: Bina Saipi
F: Maggie Armstrong
F: Natalie Laser
F: Kelly Maday
Barrington
GK: Hannah Luedtke
D: Jackie Batliner
D: Lauren Pircher
D: Kayla Keck
D: Haley Tausend
M: Megan Fox
M: Kelsey Muniz
M: Sophia Spinell
M: Ann Marie Niro
F: Jenna Szczesny
F: Kayla Schutter
MVP of the Match: Jackie Welch, D, New Trier.
Officials: M-Lorry Salasche, Cory Forema, John Bouc, 4th Mark Kenar
Editor's note: Batavia, Fremd, Hinsdale Central, Neuqua Valley, Plainfield North, St. Charles East, Saint Viator and Wheaton Warrenville South high schools helped make Chicagoland Soccer's state finals coverage possible.
Trevians will defend state title against Neuqua Valley on Saturday
By Matt Le Cren
NAPERVILLE – Jackie Welch used her head in more ways than one Friday night.
The New Trier defender noticed that Barrington had sussed out her team’s strategy on corner kicks after the Trevians had failed on their first seven such opportunities.
So when New Trier got an eighth corner, Welch tried something different and succeeded, nodding home Kelly Maday’s serve from the left with 2:29 left in the second overtime.
That goal held up as the only tally in a 1-0 Class 3A state semifinal that put the defending state champion Trevians back in the title game.
New Trier (26-1-1) will try for its second-straight state title and fifth overall at 7 p.m. Saturday at North Central College when it faces Neuqua Valley, which beat Collinsville 3-1.
“We kept switching up our corners,” Welch said. “We had two back-to-back corners at the end there and Maggie Armstrong, and I actually switched our runs.
“I think that they knew our corner (strategy). They came to our spot before we were already there so I think switching our runs may have confused their defense a little, and we wanted it so badly. Restarts, you have to take advantage of those in the playoffs.”
Maday sent her corner kick high and to the back post, where the 5-foot-11 Welch rose up and powered the ball down. Barrington goalkeeper Hannah Luedtke dove valiantly but was unable to prevent it from sneaking inside the right post.
“She got her head on it, and that was the difference,” said Luedtke, who made three saves and played superbly despite taking a beating from several collisions in the box. “I got a touch on it, but it wasn’t enough to get it around the post.”
Such was the heartache suffered by the Fillies (21-2-4), who played well enough to win and had the better of play during regulation, only to see the Trevians end their season for the second-straight year. They will play Collinsville in the third-place game at 5 p.m. Saturday.
“I think we left everything we had out there and sometimes it just doesn’t go your way and that’s what happened tonight,” Luedtke said. “Obviously, the best thing about this is knowing that tomorrow is our last game.
“Knowing that, we want to come out here and play as a family and come out strong and see what we can do.”
The Fillies did everything but win against the Trevians, outshooting the champs 11-4 in regulation before New Trier dominated the two overtime periods.
But New Trier junior goalkeeper Dani Kaufman kept her net empty by making six saves and punching away several other dangerous balls.
Kaufman made back-to-back saves in the 30th minute, diving full out to deflect a header by Jenna Szczesny, and then getting back up to stop the rebound by Kelsey Muniz.
But Kaufman wasn’t in the game when Barrington had its best scoring chance. She was forced to leave after getting a yellow card as a result of a collision in the box with Szczesny.
The Fillies were awarded a penalty kick and junior backup Michelle Sokal had to come into the game cold to face Barrington sophomore Sophia Spinell.
Spinell’s drive hit the top of the left post and caromed high into the air. It was eventually knocked over the end line by a defender, but the Fillies could not get a shot off on the ensuing corner kick.
“You can’t miss a penalty chance,” Barrington coach Ryan Stengren said. “We had the game.
“It was a good game. The last two years it’s been a really good game with them. They made a play and we didn’t make a play tonight, but I’m very proud of what my kids did tonight.”
Sokal didn’t get a hand on Spinell’s penalty kick, but Kaufman was proud of her effort.
“I had faith in Michelle,” Kaufman said. “I give her credit for saving that. She made herself big and the girl hit the post. After regulation I ran up and gave her the biggest hug I’ve ever given her.”
Kaufman was not as happy about the yellow card.
“I was confused on the call,” Kaufman said. “I believe the ref called that I intentionally ran for their player while I was trying to protect myself.
“I don’t know what the ref sees but I can see from my perspective that I see a girl sprinting as hard as she can toward me and me going toward the ball. There’s only a collision that can happen.”
That was a metaphor for this meeting of the last two one-loss teams left.
“They were a really good team, and they definitely pushed us,” Welch said. “We had to leave everything on this field in order to beat them, but it just comes down to everything mental in your heart.
“I think our grit came out at the end. We were a little slow at the beginning but I think as we figured out what to do, we were each pushing each other.”
That impressed New Trier coach Jim Burnside
“The girls just kept grinding,” Burnside said. “I love that about this team. You’ve got to fight through those things that don’t go your way.
“It’s a battle to get here. [Barrington] is a great team with great athletes. Our girls just kind of dug deep.”
Starting lineups
New Trier
GK: Dani Kaufman
D: Megan Murdoch
D: Jackie Welch
D: Caroline Smith
D: Katie Sadera
M: Adena Kerzner
M: Celia Fre
M: Bina Saipi
F: Maggie Armstrong
F: Natalie Laser
F: Kelly Maday
Barrington
GK: Hannah Luedtke
D: Jackie Batliner
D: Lauren Pircher
D: Kayla Keck
D: Haley Tausend
M: Megan Fox
M: Kelsey Muniz
M: Sophia Spinell
M: Ann Marie Niro
F: Jenna Szczesny
F: Kayla Schutter
MVP of the Match: Jackie Welch, D, New Trier.
Officials: M-Lorry Salasche, Cory Forema, John Bouc, 4th Mark Kenar
Editor's note: Batavia, Fremd, Hinsdale Central, Neuqua Valley, Plainfield North, St. Charles East, Saint Viator and Wheaton Warrenville South high schools helped make Chicagoland Soccer's state finals coverage possible.