New Trier drops Geneva from unbeaten ranks, enters Naperville Invitational semis
Trevians win 1-0, set up date with no. 2 Barrington
By Steve Nemeth
Considering New Trier began this season with 13 varsity newcomers eager to fill the shoes of 11 graduates, lineup variations were to be expected even with 10 returnees.
Perhaps Trevian fans may not have expected to see junior Whitney Hoban coming off the bench for Thursday’s quarterfinal of the Naperville Invitational, but the forward found herself in prime position and finished a first half opportunity for the game-winning goal in a 1-0 win over previously undefeated Geneva on Thursday in a Naperville Invitational quarterfinal.
Three-time defending state champion New Trier – entering the week as the no. 3-rated team in the Chicagoland Soccer top 25 – kept its tournament hopes alive and knocked the no. 6 Vikings into the consolation pool.
It was the kind of game involving the kind of high-powered clubs that clearly make this 20th edition of the Naperville Invitational the heaviest of heavyweight in-season tournaments --- four-of-the-top-five ranked teams in the Chicagoland Soccer poll along with nine others equals 13 ranked teams that highlight the 24-school field.
New Trier (15-1-0) advances to a 7 p.m. Friday semifinal against no. 2 Barrington (14-1-0), which was 3-0 victor over no. 25 Naperville Central on Thursday.
The 5 p.m. semifinal pits top-ranked Naperville North -- 12-0-2 after a 1-0 two-overtime victory versus no. 12 St. Charles East on Thursday -- against no. 9 Fremd – 11-1-1 after a 1-0 squeaker over no. 5 Neuqua Valley.
That creates a Final Four that sports a combined 52-3-3 record.
That goal-scorer Hoban earned Chicagoland Soccer’s MVP of the Match accolade shouldn't be a surprise for a meeting that could have been billed as "The Great Wall of Defense." New Trier entered outscoring its foes 52-4 in 15 matches while Geneva – now 13-1-0 -- had previously yielded a mere three goals while scoring 51.
“Whitney didn’t start for the first time this season, yet not only does she play great, she scores the only goal. It’s impressive to see a kid step up to the challenge of demonstrating a more-team-than-me attitude,” New Trier coach Jim Burnside said. “Overall we played great, and Geneva is another great team. They’re very athletic and came in undefeated, but records are just records. When you play soccer, every day is a new opportunity.
“Don’t get me wrong, being undefeated is very hard. I’m not saying it’s not a big deal. But I’m sure they’ll agree it doesn’t guarantee anything whenever you take the field,” Burnside added with the wisdom of 21 years of coaching.
“This was a great battle, and I’m happy that the result shows we could hang with the defending state champions,” ninth-year Geneva skipper Megan Owens stated. “Even though we’re relatively young, I knew this group would be good, I didn’t know we’d be undefeated for so long. The key is that we’ve kept improving, and today we proved to ourselves our ability to play with another of the best in the state.”
Both teams were fresh off crucial conference triumphs just two days prior. New Trier was a 3-0 road winner at no. 22 Evanston in order to improve to 4-0-0 in the Central Suburban League South Division while Geneva was a 2-0 home victor against longtime rival Batavia for a 2-0-0 ledger in the Upstate Eight Conference’s River Division.
With the Trevians boasting 12 shutouts and the Vikings owning 10 clean sheets, it’s no wonder there was almost a “next goal wins” feel from the opening whistle.
The few times someone eluded the defensive backs, either side’s goalie was ready. But with 14:47 left before halftime, New Trier broke the deadlock.
Sydney Parker, one of several Trevians capable of shifting into any position, took a ball up a sideline while patiently eyeing an opportunity for a cross.
“Our defense created a really good clear and the through-ball allowed me to split between a couple of their defenders,” Parker explained. “I was trying to use enough time and space to be able to switch the ball. Once I saw Whitney in the box, it was just a matter of playing it away from the goalie for a tip-in.”
It was the fifth assist for Parker to go with her 12 goals while Hoban chalked up her fourth goal.
“We practice crosses a ton, so I just needed to time my run to the middle,” Hoban noted. “By delaying my run a little I thought it made the goalie cheat a little more toward the side so that I could finish near-post. Having it become the difference against a quality opponent makes the score a lot sweeter.”
That strike emboldened the Trevians’ attack for the remainder of the half and on either side of the four-minute mark, Geneva goalie Emma Harkleroad had to deflect one blast wide and on the ensuing corner kick, stop a Lily Conley header. At the other end, New Trier keeper Katy Symanietz was equally occupied having to make defensive catches or rushes off her goal line.
“They never really let up at all,” Hoban said in reference to Geneva. “It can be a little intimidating to know you’re playing someone undefeated, but you just focus on making the next play. Knowing they would come at us so quickly, the key thing for us was to get it on and off our feet without hesitating.”
“Getting ahead in a game like this was important,” Parker added. “Then it’s just up to us to stick with it in being focused on denying them and trying to find more opportunities for us.”
Shortly after halftime, New Trier’s Emma Weaver had a left-wing blast that Harkleroad rejected. The Viking senior also made a stellar play with just over 13 minutes left in regulation when the Trevians’ Sam Urban drilled a direct kick through a gap in a Geneva defensive wall.
The Wisconsin-bound Urban is one of five future college players for New Trier. The others are Avery Schuldt (Dartmouth), Haley Paez (Miami, Ohio), Hope Baisley (Fordham), and Hannah Arment (St. Lawrence). Geneva’s future collegiate players include Jenni Santacaterina (Ohio), Lauren Albrecht (Miami, Ohio), Cali Stephenson (Carroll), and Harkleroad (South Dakota).
“We made a defensive mistake giving up the goal, but being young we’ll learn from it,” Owens said. “We were a little intimidated in the first half, but worked hard to create opportunities in the second half. We fought hard for the equalizer. Despite missing a couple starters, it was still a great battle.
“We’re still trying to find the best combination in back and despite using different players at times, Leah (Groven) did another great job of organizing things for us defensively.”
The Trevians didn’t allow Harkleroad much time to relax.
“Truthfully, I prefer not to have to do as much as I did today,” Harkleroad said. “It definitely sucks to lose, but it’s better to happen in this tournament than the next one. At the beginning of the season, most people may have considered us to be underdogs, but I’d say we’ve proven we’re contenders.
“Anyone who had that idea has now second-guessed themselves. We’ve got a lot of heart and skill, and when we put it together, we can accomplish great things.”
Geneva now has a Friday 7 p.m. consolation match with Naperville Central at Naperville North’s field while the Redhawks’ roost serves as the site for the winners' bracket semifinals. The Vikings then have the weekend to prep for a Monday date with no. 4 St. Charles North. On paper, it may be the most pivotal outing in deciding the UEC River Division, although it’s the first of four-straight conference dates for Geneva.
As for New Trier, a semifinal win would give the Trevians a chance to claim the Naperville Invitational for the first time since 2010, which was also when the event went to an eight-pool format. Prior to that season, New Trier won a trio of Naperville Invite crowns in 2003, 04, and 05.
Considering all the rated teams plus the unranked ones with traditions of success, it’s surprising to see the two-weekend competition produce so many clean sheets. The April 20 first-round of group play featured eight shutouts. Day two had five more with two other contests being narrow 2-1 decisions. The finale to group play had five more whitewashes.
So does four shutouts in quarterfinal matches forecast even more scoring difficulty for the semifinals and championship?
“This is simply a great tourney and every step of it is a challenge,” Burnside said. “Barrington is a great opponent and very athletic.”
Starting lineups
New Trier
GK Katy Symanietz
D Avery Schuldt
D Sam Urban
D Sydney Parker
D Megan Murdoch
M Emma Weaver
M Caroline Isleroth
M Hope Baisley
F Nicole Kaspi
F Lily Conley
F Hanna Arment
Geneva
GK Emma Harkleroad
D Emily Hauser
D Jaden Ciesielski
D Leah Groven
D Mackenzie Bennett
M Sydney Gratz
M Lauren Albrecht
M Jenni Santacaterina
F Alicia White
F Stephanie Howe
F Jenna Dominguez
Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match: Whitney Hoban, jr., F, New Trier
Game summary
New Trier 1, Geneva 0
1st 2nd --- F Records
New Trier 1 0 --- 1 15-1-0
Geneva 0 0 --- 0 13-1-0
Scoring
NT --- Hoban 10-yard finish from middle off a cross (Parker assist), 25:13 gone
Shots
NT 8 – 7 --- 15
G 4 – 2 --- 6
Shots on goal
NT 7 – 3 --- 10
G 1 – 1 --- 2
Saves (goalie)
NT (Symanietz) 1 – 1 --- 2
G (Harkleroad) 6 – 3 --- 9
Officials: Trey McClure, Dean Palmateer, Manou Chahmirzdi
Trevians win 1-0, set up date with no. 2 Barrington
By Steve Nemeth
Considering New Trier began this season with 13 varsity newcomers eager to fill the shoes of 11 graduates, lineup variations were to be expected even with 10 returnees.
Perhaps Trevian fans may not have expected to see junior Whitney Hoban coming off the bench for Thursday’s quarterfinal of the Naperville Invitational, but the forward found herself in prime position and finished a first half opportunity for the game-winning goal in a 1-0 win over previously undefeated Geneva on Thursday in a Naperville Invitational quarterfinal.
Three-time defending state champion New Trier – entering the week as the no. 3-rated team in the Chicagoland Soccer top 25 – kept its tournament hopes alive and knocked the no. 6 Vikings into the consolation pool.
It was the kind of game involving the kind of high-powered clubs that clearly make this 20th edition of the Naperville Invitational the heaviest of heavyweight in-season tournaments --- four-of-the-top-five ranked teams in the Chicagoland Soccer poll along with nine others equals 13 ranked teams that highlight the 24-school field.
New Trier (15-1-0) advances to a 7 p.m. Friday semifinal against no. 2 Barrington (14-1-0), which was 3-0 victor over no. 25 Naperville Central on Thursday.
The 5 p.m. semifinal pits top-ranked Naperville North -- 12-0-2 after a 1-0 two-overtime victory versus no. 12 St. Charles East on Thursday -- against no. 9 Fremd – 11-1-1 after a 1-0 squeaker over no. 5 Neuqua Valley.
That creates a Final Four that sports a combined 52-3-3 record.
That goal-scorer Hoban earned Chicagoland Soccer’s MVP of the Match accolade shouldn't be a surprise for a meeting that could have been billed as "The Great Wall of Defense." New Trier entered outscoring its foes 52-4 in 15 matches while Geneva – now 13-1-0 -- had previously yielded a mere three goals while scoring 51.
“Whitney didn’t start for the first time this season, yet not only does she play great, she scores the only goal. It’s impressive to see a kid step up to the challenge of demonstrating a more-team-than-me attitude,” New Trier coach Jim Burnside said. “Overall we played great, and Geneva is another great team. They’re very athletic and came in undefeated, but records are just records. When you play soccer, every day is a new opportunity.
“Don’t get me wrong, being undefeated is very hard. I’m not saying it’s not a big deal. But I’m sure they’ll agree it doesn’t guarantee anything whenever you take the field,” Burnside added with the wisdom of 21 years of coaching.
“This was a great battle, and I’m happy that the result shows we could hang with the defending state champions,” ninth-year Geneva skipper Megan Owens stated. “Even though we’re relatively young, I knew this group would be good, I didn’t know we’d be undefeated for so long. The key is that we’ve kept improving, and today we proved to ourselves our ability to play with another of the best in the state.”
Both teams were fresh off crucial conference triumphs just two days prior. New Trier was a 3-0 road winner at no. 22 Evanston in order to improve to 4-0-0 in the Central Suburban League South Division while Geneva was a 2-0 home victor against longtime rival Batavia for a 2-0-0 ledger in the Upstate Eight Conference’s River Division.
With the Trevians boasting 12 shutouts and the Vikings owning 10 clean sheets, it’s no wonder there was almost a “next goal wins” feel from the opening whistle.
The few times someone eluded the defensive backs, either side’s goalie was ready. But with 14:47 left before halftime, New Trier broke the deadlock.
Sydney Parker, one of several Trevians capable of shifting into any position, took a ball up a sideline while patiently eyeing an opportunity for a cross.
“Our defense created a really good clear and the through-ball allowed me to split between a couple of their defenders,” Parker explained. “I was trying to use enough time and space to be able to switch the ball. Once I saw Whitney in the box, it was just a matter of playing it away from the goalie for a tip-in.”
It was the fifth assist for Parker to go with her 12 goals while Hoban chalked up her fourth goal.
“We practice crosses a ton, so I just needed to time my run to the middle,” Hoban noted. “By delaying my run a little I thought it made the goalie cheat a little more toward the side so that I could finish near-post. Having it become the difference against a quality opponent makes the score a lot sweeter.”
That strike emboldened the Trevians’ attack for the remainder of the half and on either side of the four-minute mark, Geneva goalie Emma Harkleroad had to deflect one blast wide and on the ensuing corner kick, stop a Lily Conley header. At the other end, New Trier keeper Katy Symanietz was equally occupied having to make defensive catches or rushes off her goal line.
“They never really let up at all,” Hoban said in reference to Geneva. “It can be a little intimidating to know you’re playing someone undefeated, but you just focus on making the next play. Knowing they would come at us so quickly, the key thing for us was to get it on and off our feet without hesitating.”
“Getting ahead in a game like this was important,” Parker added. “Then it’s just up to us to stick with it in being focused on denying them and trying to find more opportunities for us.”
Shortly after halftime, New Trier’s Emma Weaver had a left-wing blast that Harkleroad rejected. The Viking senior also made a stellar play with just over 13 minutes left in regulation when the Trevians’ Sam Urban drilled a direct kick through a gap in a Geneva defensive wall.
The Wisconsin-bound Urban is one of five future college players for New Trier. The others are Avery Schuldt (Dartmouth), Haley Paez (Miami, Ohio), Hope Baisley (Fordham), and Hannah Arment (St. Lawrence). Geneva’s future collegiate players include Jenni Santacaterina (Ohio), Lauren Albrecht (Miami, Ohio), Cali Stephenson (Carroll), and Harkleroad (South Dakota).
“We made a defensive mistake giving up the goal, but being young we’ll learn from it,” Owens said. “We were a little intimidated in the first half, but worked hard to create opportunities in the second half. We fought hard for the equalizer. Despite missing a couple starters, it was still a great battle.
“We’re still trying to find the best combination in back and despite using different players at times, Leah (Groven) did another great job of organizing things for us defensively.”
The Trevians didn’t allow Harkleroad much time to relax.
“Truthfully, I prefer not to have to do as much as I did today,” Harkleroad said. “It definitely sucks to lose, but it’s better to happen in this tournament than the next one. At the beginning of the season, most people may have considered us to be underdogs, but I’d say we’ve proven we’re contenders.
“Anyone who had that idea has now second-guessed themselves. We’ve got a lot of heart and skill, and when we put it together, we can accomplish great things.”
Geneva now has a Friday 7 p.m. consolation match with Naperville Central at Naperville North’s field while the Redhawks’ roost serves as the site for the winners' bracket semifinals. The Vikings then have the weekend to prep for a Monday date with no. 4 St. Charles North. On paper, it may be the most pivotal outing in deciding the UEC River Division, although it’s the first of four-straight conference dates for Geneva.
As for New Trier, a semifinal win would give the Trevians a chance to claim the Naperville Invitational for the first time since 2010, which was also when the event went to an eight-pool format. Prior to that season, New Trier won a trio of Naperville Invite crowns in 2003, 04, and 05.
Considering all the rated teams plus the unranked ones with traditions of success, it’s surprising to see the two-weekend competition produce so many clean sheets. The April 20 first-round of group play featured eight shutouts. Day two had five more with two other contests being narrow 2-1 decisions. The finale to group play had five more whitewashes.
So does four shutouts in quarterfinal matches forecast even more scoring difficulty for the semifinals and championship?
“This is simply a great tourney and every step of it is a challenge,” Burnside said. “Barrington is a great opponent and very athletic.”
Starting lineups
New Trier
GK Katy Symanietz
D Avery Schuldt
D Sam Urban
D Sydney Parker
D Megan Murdoch
M Emma Weaver
M Caroline Isleroth
M Hope Baisley
F Nicole Kaspi
F Lily Conley
F Hanna Arment
Geneva
GK Emma Harkleroad
D Emily Hauser
D Jaden Ciesielski
D Leah Groven
D Mackenzie Bennett
M Sydney Gratz
M Lauren Albrecht
M Jenni Santacaterina
F Alicia White
F Stephanie Howe
F Jenna Dominguez
Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match: Whitney Hoban, jr., F, New Trier
Game summary
New Trier 1, Geneva 0
1st 2nd --- F Records
New Trier 1 0 --- 1 15-1-0
Geneva 0 0 --- 0 13-1-0
Scoring
NT --- Hoban 10-yard finish from middle off a cross (Parker assist), 25:13 gone
Shots
NT 8 – 7 --- 15
G 4 – 2 --- 6
Shots on goal
NT 7 – 3 --- 10
G 1 – 1 --- 2
Saves (goalie)
NT (Symanietz) 1 – 1 --- 2
G (Harkleroad) 6 – 3 --- 9
Officials: Trey McClure, Dean Palmateer, Manou Chahmirzdi