Rebuilt Barrington bests Naperville North
Fillies get shot at repeat title after Herr’s late rebound goal
By Matt Le Cren
NAPERVILLE – Barrington star Michayla Herr had somewhere to be Friday night.
But she wasn’t in so much of a hurry that she didn’t take care of business first.
The Wisconsin-bound midfielder, one of just two seniors in the Fillies’ lineup, scored on a rebound with 4:41 remaining in the second half as Barrington edged Naperville North 1-0 in a Class 3A state semifinal at North Central College.
The victory lifted the defending state champion Fillies (20-3-2) into Saturday night’s title match against New Trier, which beat Andrew 4-0 in the other semifinal. It will be a rematch of the 2017 final.
The Barrington triumph also denied Naperville North the chance to match the school's boys side title from the fall.
Immediately after the game, Herr and goalkeeper Samantha Schmitz rushed back to school for Friday night’s graduation ceremony.
“Last year (the seniors) didn’t make it to graduation because our game was at 7 p.m.,” Herr said. “So we’re getting lucky to get to that tonight.”
There was nothing lucky about how the Fillies got back to the title game despite turning over the majority of their starting lineup. Barrington surprised many pundits after it reloaded on the fly after winning its first state title.
“I’m excited to be back (in the final),” Herr said. “Who knew? It’s once in a lifetime.”
Now it’s twice in a lifetime of the Fillies program after Herr finished one of the few scoring chances either team had.
Herr’s goal, her 13th of the season, came on an unlucky bounce for the Huskies after a great effort from Barrington sophomore Rebecca Shoemaker, who got loose in the left side of the box and ripped a 15-yarder on frame.
Naperville North goalkeeper Maddie Hausmann, who only had to make one save and a few clearances of corner kicks up until that point, lunged to her left to make the stop.
But Shoemaker’s shot had so much pace on it that Hausmann was unable to hang onto the ball, which rolled near her feet as she attempted to cover it.
Into the breach stepped Herr, who booted the ball into the net. It was just the second goal Naperville North (20-4-4) had allowed in the playoffs and the 15th overall.
“I was like, ‘This goalie is going to have to make a great save to keep her hands on that,’” Herr said. “So I was just following up, because I knew it was a really hard shot.”
When the ball popped free, Herr reacted quickly and got to the ball a split second before Hausmann could secure it.
“She was really close to me,” Herr said. “Honestly, it’s a little bit of a blur.
“She (put) her hand (toward it), and I was just there. I saw the ball, and I kicked it.”
With that, Herr kicked the Huskies out of contention for their third state title in seven seasons.
Naperville North, which plays Andrew for third place, will take home the ninth trophy in program history Saturday.
“I’m just so happy to be a part of this game, and I’m forever indebted to these kids for getting Naperville North girls soccer back to this stage and to bring another state trophy back home,” Naperville North coach Steve Goletz said. “It’s not the one we really wanted to play for tomorrow, but it’s still a great celebration and a testament to the team we have.
“It stings, but all of the memories and all of the moments these kids have created this year will be what we all remember.”
Those who witnessed the match will remember it as yet another hard-fought, physical battle between two defensive-minded squads that know each other well.
This was the third meeting between the two powers this spring. They tied 2-2 in the season opener at Naperville North and the Huskies won 1-0 in a Naperville Invitational semifinal at Memorial Stadium.
This game produced just nine shots, only five of which were on frame. Two of them came back-to-back during a scramble in the crease that resembled a load of wash tumbling in a dryer.
The play happened in the opening minute of the second half when Christine Batliner sent a corner kick in from the left side. Hausmann could not get a handle on the ball, which fell in behind her.
Two Fillies took whacks at it from inside the six, but North defender Alyssa Siebers blocked both attempts.
The Illinois State-bound Siebers epitomized the Huskies’ determination, not only with her play but with her pain tolerance. She suffered a dislocated thumb with 18:39 left in the second half but popped it back in place and returned to the game a short time later.
Siebers took responsibility for Barrington’s goal.
“That was just crucial for them,” Siebers said. “They had to hit it perfectly on our goalie.
“She had it, and we let it go, but it’s not her fault. I should have stepped (in on Shoemaker) and my sister (Jessica) should have covered. It’s a team thing, but they just got lucky on that play.”
But as Goletz pointed out, it’s not the first time a game between the Huskies and Fillies has been decided in such fashion.
“We won 1-0 last time on a bounce that goes to (Shaina Dudas), and she scores it,” Goletz said. “Their kid did the same thing today.
“When you play against great programs, you knew it was going to be a dogfight. As I told the kids, it’s a great life lesson, because you can do everything right and still not get the ball to bounce your way.
“And that’s what they did tonight. Hopefully once the sting goes away, they will remember this for being a great game.”
That it was, especially if you like defense. Naperville North’s back four of the Siebers twins, Sarah Stokes and Reilly Riggs was superb, allowing only six shots.
But Barrington’s line of Batliner, Juliano Moreno, Madi Rosen and Kate McGreevy was even better. They allowed only three shots, and Schmitz recorded just two routine saves.
“Their defensive effort was great,” Alyssa Siebers said. “I don’t know if they were necessarily better than our attack but tonight they were great. They really did shut us down.”
Rosen and Batliner were two-way threats. Both take corner kicks, and Batliner was particular impressive in blanketing Naperville North’s speedy Dudas out on the left wing.
“Batliner did a great job on Dudas,” Barrington coach Ryan Stengren said. “Our backline has just gotten better and better.
“We lost three out of the four defenders (to graduation), and they were very good defenders. And this team has just grown. You know what’s funny is there is so much more room for growth for this group, too.”
Indeed, it is a lineup that includes two freshmen, three sophomores and four juniors. Yet the Fillies have gotten on a roll late in the season, upsetting unbeaten and top-ranked St. Charles North in the supersectional and now avenging one of their regular season defeats to the Huskies.
“All season long it was a focus on getting a little bit better every single game,” Herr said. “We knew it was a possibility, because we had a great group of girls coming in, even though we lost a bunch (to graduation).
“We knew we could take the youth and teach them the Barrington brand, and we could get back here. It was game by game.”
On Friday it was half by half and the process worked as the Fillies played better in the second half and got stronger as the game wore on.
“Our halftime talk was really good,” Herr said. “We knew that we had more to give, and we knew that they were going to come out even harder, and we had to match that and stick with our physicality.
“We knew it was only 40 minutes left, and it was the most important 40 minutes of our season.”
It was exactly that for Naperville North as well. Though it didn’t end the way Alyssa Siebers wanted it to, she still held her head high.
“I’m super proud of the way we played as a team,” she said. “We battled for every single ball.
“We never stopped. We gave everything we had. We just couldn’t finish one tonight.”
Starting lineups
Naperville North
GK Maddie Hausmann
D Reilly Riggs
D Jessica Siebers
D Alyssa Siebers
D Sarah Stokes
M Paige Sylvester
M Katelynn Buescher
M Leah Shumate
F Hannah Martin
F Megan Benmore
F Shaina Dudas
Barrington
GK Samantha Schmitz
D Christine Batliner
D Juliano Moreno
D Kate McGreevy
D Madi Rosen
M Ashley Rocco
M Michayla Herr
F Ellie Mcauley
F Ashley Prell
F Jen Devona
D Tina Teik
Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match – Michayla Herr, sr., M, Barrington.
Scoring summary
Second half
Barrington – Michayla Herr (unassisted) 76th minute
Fillies get shot at repeat title after Herr’s late rebound goal
By Matt Le Cren
NAPERVILLE – Barrington star Michayla Herr had somewhere to be Friday night.
But she wasn’t in so much of a hurry that she didn’t take care of business first.
The Wisconsin-bound midfielder, one of just two seniors in the Fillies’ lineup, scored on a rebound with 4:41 remaining in the second half as Barrington edged Naperville North 1-0 in a Class 3A state semifinal at North Central College.
The victory lifted the defending state champion Fillies (20-3-2) into Saturday night’s title match against New Trier, which beat Andrew 4-0 in the other semifinal. It will be a rematch of the 2017 final.
The Barrington triumph also denied Naperville North the chance to match the school's boys side title from the fall.
Immediately after the game, Herr and goalkeeper Samantha Schmitz rushed back to school for Friday night’s graduation ceremony.
“Last year (the seniors) didn’t make it to graduation because our game was at 7 p.m.,” Herr said. “So we’re getting lucky to get to that tonight.”
There was nothing lucky about how the Fillies got back to the title game despite turning over the majority of their starting lineup. Barrington surprised many pundits after it reloaded on the fly after winning its first state title.
“I’m excited to be back (in the final),” Herr said. “Who knew? It’s once in a lifetime.”
Now it’s twice in a lifetime of the Fillies program after Herr finished one of the few scoring chances either team had.
Herr’s goal, her 13th of the season, came on an unlucky bounce for the Huskies after a great effort from Barrington sophomore Rebecca Shoemaker, who got loose in the left side of the box and ripped a 15-yarder on frame.
Naperville North goalkeeper Maddie Hausmann, who only had to make one save and a few clearances of corner kicks up until that point, lunged to her left to make the stop.
But Shoemaker’s shot had so much pace on it that Hausmann was unable to hang onto the ball, which rolled near her feet as she attempted to cover it.
Into the breach stepped Herr, who booted the ball into the net. It was just the second goal Naperville North (20-4-4) had allowed in the playoffs and the 15th overall.
“I was like, ‘This goalie is going to have to make a great save to keep her hands on that,’” Herr said. “So I was just following up, because I knew it was a really hard shot.”
When the ball popped free, Herr reacted quickly and got to the ball a split second before Hausmann could secure it.
“She was really close to me,” Herr said. “Honestly, it’s a little bit of a blur.
“She (put) her hand (toward it), and I was just there. I saw the ball, and I kicked it.”
With that, Herr kicked the Huskies out of contention for their third state title in seven seasons.
Naperville North, which plays Andrew for third place, will take home the ninth trophy in program history Saturday.
“I’m just so happy to be a part of this game, and I’m forever indebted to these kids for getting Naperville North girls soccer back to this stage and to bring another state trophy back home,” Naperville North coach Steve Goletz said. “It’s not the one we really wanted to play for tomorrow, but it’s still a great celebration and a testament to the team we have.
“It stings, but all of the memories and all of the moments these kids have created this year will be what we all remember.”
Those who witnessed the match will remember it as yet another hard-fought, physical battle between two defensive-minded squads that know each other well.
This was the third meeting between the two powers this spring. They tied 2-2 in the season opener at Naperville North and the Huskies won 1-0 in a Naperville Invitational semifinal at Memorial Stadium.
This game produced just nine shots, only five of which were on frame. Two of them came back-to-back during a scramble in the crease that resembled a load of wash tumbling in a dryer.
The play happened in the opening minute of the second half when Christine Batliner sent a corner kick in from the left side. Hausmann could not get a handle on the ball, which fell in behind her.
Two Fillies took whacks at it from inside the six, but North defender Alyssa Siebers blocked both attempts.
The Illinois State-bound Siebers epitomized the Huskies’ determination, not only with her play but with her pain tolerance. She suffered a dislocated thumb with 18:39 left in the second half but popped it back in place and returned to the game a short time later.
Siebers took responsibility for Barrington’s goal.
“That was just crucial for them,” Siebers said. “They had to hit it perfectly on our goalie.
“She had it, and we let it go, but it’s not her fault. I should have stepped (in on Shoemaker) and my sister (Jessica) should have covered. It’s a team thing, but they just got lucky on that play.”
But as Goletz pointed out, it’s not the first time a game between the Huskies and Fillies has been decided in such fashion.
“We won 1-0 last time on a bounce that goes to (Shaina Dudas), and she scores it,” Goletz said. “Their kid did the same thing today.
“When you play against great programs, you knew it was going to be a dogfight. As I told the kids, it’s a great life lesson, because you can do everything right and still not get the ball to bounce your way.
“And that’s what they did tonight. Hopefully once the sting goes away, they will remember this for being a great game.”
That it was, especially if you like defense. Naperville North’s back four of the Siebers twins, Sarah Stokes and Reilly Riggs was superb, allowing only six shots.
But Barrington’s line of Batliner, Juliano Moreno, Madi Rosen and Kate McGreevy was even better. They allowed only three shots, and Schmitz recorded just two routine saves.
“Their defensive effort was great,” Alyssa Siebers said. “I don’t know if they were necessarily better than our attack but tonight they were great. They really did shut us down.”
Rosen and Batliner were two-way threats. Both take corner kicks, and Batliner was particular impressive in blanketing Naperville North’s speedy Dudas out on the left wing.
“Batliner did a great job on Dudas,” Barrington coach Ryan Stengren said. “Our backline has just gotten better and better.
“We lost three out of the four defenders (to graduation), and they were very good defenders. And this team has just grown. You know what’s funny is there is so much more room for growth for this group, too.”
Indeed, it is a lineup that includes two freshmen, three sophomores and four juniors. Yet the Fillies have gotten on a roll late in the season, upsetting unbeaten and top-ranked St. Charles North in the supersectional and now avenging one of their regular season defeats to the Huskies.
“All season long it was a focus on getting a little bit better every single game,” Herr said. “We knew it was a possibility, because we had a great group of girls coming in, even though we lost a bunch (to graduation).
“We knew we could take the youth and teach them the Barrington brand, and we could get back here. It was game by game.”
On Friday it was half by half and the process worked as the Fillies played better in the second half and got stronger as the game wore on.
“Our halftime talk was really good,” Herr said. “We knew that we had more to give, and we knew that they were going to come out even harder, and we had to match that and stick with our physicality.
“We knew it was only 40 minutes left, and it was the most important 40 minutes of our season.”
It was exactly that for Naperville North as well. Though it didn’t end the way Alyssa Siebers wanted it to, she still held her head high.
“I’m super proud of the way we played as a team,” she said. “We battled for every single ball.
“We never stopped. We gave everything we had. We just couldn’t finish one tonight.”
Starting lineups
Naperville North
GK Maddie Hausmann
D Reilly Riggs
D Jessica Siebers
D Alyssa Siebers
D Sarah Stokes
M Paige Sylvester
M Katelynn Buescher
M Leah Shumate
F Hannah Martin
F Megan Benmore
F Shaina Dudas
Barrington
GK Samantha Schmitz
D Christine Batliner
D Juliano Moreno
D Kate McGreevy
D Madi Rosen
M Ashley Rocco
M Michayla Herr
F Ellie Mcauley
F Ashley Prell
F Jen Devona
D Tina Teik
Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match – Michayla Herr, sr., M, Barrington.
Scoring summary
Second half
Barrington – Michayla Herr (unassisted) 76th minute