Maximum effort,
zero goals in Naperville battle
Host Central, rival North battle 100 scoreless minutes
By Matt Le Cren
NAPERVILLE – In the end, nothing was decided.
Nobody, though, thinks this was the end.
Naperville North and Naperville Central played to a 0-0 double-overtime tie Monday night at Memorial Stadium, a predictable result given each team’s tremendous defenses and star goalkeepers.
The draw increases the likelihood that the Huskies and Redhawks could share the DuPage Valley Conference championship. However 11th-ranked Metea Valley, which beat Neuqua Valley 2-1 Monday, will have something to say about that.
Click here for DuPage Valley Conference standings
This match was just the first installment of what many think could be another terrific trilogy of games between the no. 3 Huskies (11-1-2, 2-0-1) and no. 2 Redhawks (11-0-1, 2-0-1). They could meet again in Saturday’s Naperville Invitational final and perhaps in the sectional championship game.
Both matches would be played at Memorial Stadium. It would be hard to top Monday’s match for quality and intensity, but given each team’s penchant for improving throughout the season, that’s exactly what could happen.
But first, here's the recap of the latest installment of arguably the best high school soccer rivalry in the state. It was the 76th meeting between North and Central.
“It was another great showcase of Naperville (District) 203 soccer,” Naperville North coach Steve Goletz said. “It was a lot of fun to be a part of on the sideline.”
It was even more fun for the players, especially the goalies. Abby Haskell made six saves for North while her former teammate, Abby O’Connor, stopped nine shots over 100 minutes of action for Central.
“It was exhilarating,” Haskell said. “I love playing against Naperville Central, and I’m sure they love playing against us.
“It’s always a good game no matter who is on the field for each team or how many Division I commits there are. Whatever year it is, it’s always a good game.”
This one followed the usual script -- plenty of intense action and some quality scoring chances. Who says a scoreless tie can’t be exciting?
“Nobody, that’s for sure,” O’Connor said. “It was definitely very intense out there.
“You could feel the energy. Both teams wanted to win so badly. I think the backline did really well today, working hard to help get our team going and keep that momentum up.”
Indeed, the defenses were tireless in the face of offenses that included Division I strikers on both sides. There were 28 shots; Central owned a 16-12 edge.
Central defenders Sam Sharp, Sophia Skoubis, Ella Burke and Taylor Walk had to fend off North Alabama recruit Olivia Anderson, while North fullbacks Peyton Hegner, Maggie Fitzgerald, Lucy Iverson and Norah Barry had their hands full with the likes of Valparaiso recruit Molly O’Rear, Northwestern-bound Megan Norkett and Lauren Thorne.
Anderson was the first to get a quality scoring chance, uncorking a 26-yard rocket at the 13:20 mark of the first half. O’Connor, who made five saves before intermission, leaped to tip it over the crossbar.
“When you get two high-level teams, you’re not going to have a game with this many great players that’s going to be wide-open back and forth,” Goletz said. “I think too many of them pride themselves on the defensive side of things, making it hard for the other team to score.
“We talked a lot in pregame about how it’s probably going to come down to one chance, and both sides had that chance and both goalkeepers came up big.
“I thought the first 15-20 minutes we were really good, generated a bunch of chances. I think O’Connor came up with some huge saves.”
O’Connor again had to elevate when Madison Korosec fired a 30-yard free kick on frame with 36:30 left in the second half. This time the deflected shot bounced off the crossbar.
North’s Cameron DeCook got her head on the rebound from just inside the six but nodded it high.
“Every time you make a save it feels really good,” O’Connor said. “Especially when your teammates are right behind you, hyping you up, patting you on the back, telling you ‘Great save! Good job!’
“That just makes me feel so much better, and it makes me feel confident like a good teammate.”
O’Connor saved the game again midway through the first overtime. Someone from Naperville North – O’Connor doesn’t know who – got the ball in the middle of a scramble in front of the net, but her shot was blocked and then smothered by the Carnegie Mellon commit.
“I saw the ball land on the ground,” O’Connor said. “I saw her foot come back and knew I just had to get in front of the ball.
“I didn’t know where she was going to put it. I just knew I had to put my body in front of the ball.
“That’s what I did. I got my foot in front of the ball as soon as she struck it so it wasn’t going to go anywhere and the rebound landed in front of me so I could get right on top of it.”
Naperville Central coach Ed Watson was glad to see his players were on top of things, especially against North’s dead ball opportunities. The Redhawks gave up only three corner kicks, though the Huskies had plenty of throw-ins from deep in the final third.
“In the melee over here the ball was kind of pinging around, and Abby came up with it point blank,” Watson said. “That was huge.
“I think that they did what they do, and we did what we do. There’s a familiarity for the girls. They know us and we’re pretty familiar with them.
“They’re a team that is very dangerous on restarts, and I felt that we were very good at doing what we needed to do to make it harder for them. They’re going to get chances off of them because they’re built on it, but our girls executed our game plan very well.”
That execution was solid on the offensive end, too, though Naperville Central came up empty thanks to the play of Haskell, who made two saves on long-range shots by Norkett and one on a sharp turnaround drive by O’Rear. She also came out to block on open shot by Walk early in the second half and turned away Norkett’s 28-yard grounder with 3:45 left in the second overtime.
“They were very, very athletic,” Haskell said. “Their front line, Molly and Norkett, create some amazing passes for their team, and they’re hard to play against.
“I’d be lying if I didn’t say a couple times I was a little scared, because they were coming at me pretty quickly. You just kind of zone in and play in the moment, don’t try to think about it too much.”
Watson thought his team’s attack was solid even though the Redhawks were shut out for the first time this season.
“Molly had a great shot coming into the funnel area in the first half that didn’t miss by much,” Watson said. “Megan hit a couple of really good shots early in the second half, and Haskell did a great job.”
Indeed, the SIU-Edwardsville recruit posted her 10th shutout of the season, which scuttled Central’s attempt at winning a program-record 12th-consecutive game. The Redhawks tied the school mark with Friday’s 5-1 group play Naperville Invitational win over Oswego.
“When you get a kid like Abby Haskell who comes in, you’re just super excited,” Goletz said. “Not only is she a fantastic goalkeeper, but she’s a fantastic kid who has brought so much to this team.
“To see her shine in big moments (is great). There are times when she doesn’t get tested and gets a shutout. Tonight, she earned every ounce of that.
“The backline was great, but you’re only going to be able to hold down those kids for so long without giving up chances. I thought we gave up very few chances but the chances that we did were quality, and Abby made some great saves.”
The two Abbys would love to have another chance to backstop their respective teams to victory against the other.
To do that, both teams need to win two more games to reach the Naperville Invitational final at 1 p.m. Saturday.
North hosts Oak Park and River Forest and Naperville Central hosts New Trier in Thursday’s quarterfinals.
“I was very, very happy with how we did,” Haskell said. “Of course, I would have love to have won, but I am glad that we came out of here feeling good.
“I think everyone here put out the best effort they coul, and we’ll just come back stronger next time, especially if we have to play them again on Saturday.”
While Napeville Central still hasn’t beaten the Huskies in a decade, they are drawing ever closer.
“I think our biggest takeaway is to stay hungry,” O’Connor said. “We’ve proven that we’re the better team today. We just needed a few extra minutes to put the ball away.
“I think we were more aggressive, wanting to win more, ready to go. I think our team is going to keep fighting, keep working hard in practice, because we want to win it all.”
Starting lineups
Naperville North
GK Abby Haskell
D Peyton Hegner
D Maggie Fitzgerald
D Lucy Iverson
D Norah Barry
M Cameron Dinkla
M Madison Korosec
M Ellie Gerner
F Olivia Anderson
F Taylor Korosec
F Cameron DeCook
Naperville Central
GK Abby O’Connor
D Sam Sharp
D Taylor Walk
D Ella Burke
D Sophia Skoubis
M Sarah McCracken
M Grace Granato
M Megan Norkett
F Maddie Boogerd
F Lauren Thorne
F Molly O’Rear
Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match: Abby Haskell, sr., GK, Naperville North.
Scoring summary
First half
No scoring
Second half
No scoring
First overtime
No scoring
Second overtime
No scoring
zero goals in Naperville battle
Host Central, rival North battle 100 scoreless minutes
By Matt Le Cren
NAPERVILLE – In the end, nothing was decided.
Nobody, though, thinks this was the end.
Naperville North and Naperville Central played to a 0-0 double-overtime tie Monday night at Memorial Stadium, a predictable result given each team’s tremendous defenses and star goalkeepers.
The draw increases the likelihood that the Huskies and Redhawks could share the DuPage Valley Conference championship. However 11th-ranked Metea Valley, which beat Neuqua Valley 2-1 Monday, will have something to say about that.
Click here for DuPage Valley Conference standings
This match was just the first installment of what many think could be another terrific trilogy of games between the no. 3 Huskies (11-1-2, 2-0-1) and no. 2 Redhawks (11-0-1, 2-0-1). They could meet again in Saturday’s Naperville Invitational final and perhaps in the sectional championship game.
Both matches would be played at Memorial Stadium. It would be hard to top Monday’s match for quality and intensity, but given each team’s penchant for improving throughout the season, that’s exactly what could happen.
But first, here's the recap of the latest installment of arguably the best high school soccer rivalry in the state. It was the 76th meeting between North and Central.
“It was another great showcase of Naperville (District) 203 soccer,” Naperville North coach Steve Goletz said. “It was a lot of fun to be a part of on the sideline.”
It was even more fun for the players, especially the goalies. Abby Haskell made six saves for North while her former teammate, Abby O’Connor, stopped nine shots over 100 minutes of action for Central.
“It was exhilarating,” Haskell said. “I love playing against Naperville Central, and I’m sure they love playing against us.
“It’s always a good game no matter who is on the field for each team or how many Division I commits there are. Whatever year it is, it’s always a good game.”
This one followed the usual script -- plenty of intense action and some quality scoring chances. Who says a scoreless tie can’t be exciting?
“Nobody, that’s for sure,” O’Connor said. “It was definitely very intense out there.
“You could feel the energy. Both teams wanted to win so badly. I think the backline did really well today, working hard to help get our team going and keep that momentum up.”
Indeed, the defenses were tireless in the face of offenses that included Division I strikers on both sides. There were 28 shots; Central owned a 16-12 edge.
Central defenders Sam Sharp, Sophia Skoubis, Ella Burke and Taylor Walk had to fend off North Alabama recruit Olivia Anderson, while North fullbacks Peyton Hegner, Maggie Fitzgerald, Lucy Iverson and Norah Barry had their hands full with the likes of Valparaiso recruit Molly O’Rear, Northwestern-bound Megan Norkett and Lauren Thorne.
Anderson was the first to get a quality scoring chance, uncorking a 26-yard rocket at the 13:20 mark of the first half. O’Connor, who made five saves before intermission, leaped to tip it over the crossbar.
“When you get two high-level teams, you’re not going to have a game with this many great players that’s going to be wide-open back and forth,” Goletz said. “I think too many of them pride themselves on the defensive side of things, making it hard for the other team to score.
“We talked a lot in pregame about how it’s probably going to come down to one chance, and both sides had that chance and both goalkeepers came up big.
“I thought the first 15-20 minutes we were really good, generated a bunch of chances. I think O’Connor came up with some huge saves.”
O’Connor again had to elevate when Madison Korosec fired a 30-yard free kick on frame with 36:30 left in the second half. This time the deflected shot bounced off the crossbar.
North’s Cameron DeCook got her head on the rebound from just inside the six but nodded it high.
“Every time you make a save it feels really good,” O’Connor said. “Especially when your teammates are right behind you, hyping you up, patting you on the back, telling you ‘Great save! Good job!’
“That just makes me feel so much better, and it makes me feel confident like a good teammate.”
O’Connor saved the game again midway through the first overtime. Someone from Naperville North – O’Connor doesn’t know who – got the ball in the middle of a scramble in front of the net, but her shot was blocked and then smothered by the Carnegie Mellon commit.
“I saw the ball land on the ground,” O’Connor said. “I saw her foot come back and knew I just had to get in front of the ball.
“I didn’t know where she was going to put it. I just knew I had to put my body in front of the ball.
“That’s what I did. I got my foot in front of the ball as soon as she struck it so it wasn’t going to go anywhere and the rebound landed in front of me so I could get right on top of it.”
Naperville Central coach Ed Watson was glad to see his players were on top of things, especially against North’s dead ball opportunities. The Redhawks gave up only three corner kicks, though the Huskies had plenty of throw-ins from deep in the final third.
“In the melee over here the ball was kind of pinging around, and Abby came up with it point blank,” Watson said. “That was huge.
“I think that they did what they do, and we did what we do. There’s a familiarity for the girls. They know us and we’re pretty familiar with them.
“They’re a team that is very dangerous on restarts, and I felt that we were very good at doing what we needed to do to make it harder for them. They’re going to get chances off of them because they’re built on it, but our girls executed our game plan very well.”
That execution was solid on the offensive end, too, though Naperville Central came up empty thanks to the play of Haskell, who made two saves on long-range shots by Norkett and one on a sharp turnaround drive by O’Rear. She also came out to block on open shot by Walk early in the second half and turned away Norkett’s 28-yard grounder with 3:45 left in the second overtime.
“They were very, very athletic,” Haskell said. “Their front line, Molly and Norkett, create some amazing passes for their team, and they’re hard to play against.
“I’d be lying if I didn’t say a couple times I was a little scared, because they were coming at me pretty quickly. You just kind of zone in and play in the moment, don’t try to think about it too much.”
Watson thought his team’s attack was solid even though the Redhawks were shut out for the first time this season.
“Molly had a great shot coming into the funnel area in the first half that didn’t miss by much,” Watson said. “Megan hit a couple of really good shots early in the second half, and Haskell did a great job.”
Indeed, the SIU-Edwardsville recruit posted her 10th shutout of the season, which scuttled Central’s attempt at winning a program-record 12th-consecutive game. The Redhawks tied the school mark with Friday’s 5-1 group play Naperville Invitational win over Oswego.
“When you get a kid like Abby Haskell who comes in, you’re just super excited,” Goletz said. “Not only is she a fantastic goalkeeper, but she’s a fantastic kid who has brought so much to this team.
“To see her shine in big moments (is great). There are times when she doesn’t get tested and gets a shutout. Tonight, she earned every ounce of that.
“The backline was great, but you’re only going to be able to hold down those kids for so long without giving up chances. I thought we gave up very few chances but the chances that we did were quality, and Abby made some great saves.”
The two Abbys would love to have another chance to backstop their respective teams to victory against the other.
To do that, both teams need to win two more games to reach the Naperville Invitational final at 1 p.m. Saturday.
North hosts Oak Park and River Forest and Naperville Central hosts New Trier in Thursday’s quarterfinals.
“I was very, very happy with how we did,” Haskell said. “Of course, I would have love to have won, but I am glad that we came out of here feeling good.
“I think everyone here put out the best effort they coul, and we’ll just come back stronger next time, especially if we have to play them again on Saturday.”
While Napeville Central still hasn’t beaten the Huskies in a decade, they are drawing ever closer.
“I think our biggest takeaway is to stay hungry,” O’Connor said. “We’ve proven that we’re the better team today. We just needed a few extra minutes to put the ball away.
“I think we were more aggressive, wanting to win more, ready to go. I think our team is going to keep fighting, keep working hard in practice, because we want to win it all.”
Starting lineups
Naperville North
GK Abby Haskell
D Peyton Hegner
D Maggie Fitzgerald
D Lucy Iverson
D Norah Barry
M Cameron Dinkla
M Madison Korosec
M Ellie Gerner
F Olivia Anderson
F Taylor Korosec
F Cameron DeCook
Naperville Central
GK Abby O’Connor
D Sam Sharp
D Taylor Walk
D Ella Burke
D Sophia Skoubis
M Sarah McCracken
M Grace Granato
M Megan Norkett
F Maddie Boogerd
F Lauren Thorne
F Molly O’Rear
Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match: Abby Haskell, sr., GK, Naperville North.
Scoring summary
First half
No scoring
Second half
No scoring
First overtime
No scoring
Second overtime
No scoring