Scoreless draw keeps
Napervilles 1 point apart
Central maintains lead over North with 2 games left in DVC race
By Matt Le Cren
NAPERVILLE – Naperville Central coach Ed Watson and Naperville North coach Steve Goletz both have pleasant dilemmas.
They each have two solid goalkeepers and can’t decide between them, so they are playing both.
Juniors Trinity Strang and Abby O’Connor have been splitting time in net for Central, while senior Rosy Viton and junior Abby Haskell share the netminding duties for North.
Just as little as separates the respective duos, so is there no clear difference between each team’s abilities.
For the second time this season, the Redhawks and Huskies played to a draw Tuesday night, this one a 0-0 tie at rainy Memorial Stadium. The two sides tied 1-1 in their first meeting April 29 at Naperville North.
Once again, the goalies played a major role in the outcome. And once again, it was O’Connor who saved the day for the Redhawks after relieving Strang at halftime.
O’Connor made three saves in the two sudden-death overtimes, including two on Cameron DeCook within 30 seconds early in the second extra session, as the Redhawks retained their slight advantage in the DuPage Valley Conference race.
“They were great shots,” O’Connor said. “They were definitely very challenging, but in my head, I’m thinking I just have to do this for my team, got to keep us in there.
“They’re fighting for me so I’m going to fight for them, and I just had to trust my training and do what I know how to do.”
O’Connor’s first big save came when she made a diving stop on a 15-yard rocket from Alexandra Jonaitis at the 29:17 mark of the second half.
But the tempo and the pressure increased in the overtime as players on both sides turned up the intensity despite tired legs from seemingly endless running.
Emily Dulik just missed winning it for North in the first overtime. She made a 40-yard run into the left side of the box, only to see O’Connor dive to deflect her shot around the post.
The second overtime brought more chances each way. Besides her denials of DeCook, O’Connor stopped Cameron Dinkla’s 27-yard free kick with two minutes remaining.
“I think it’s a collective team effort,” O’Connor said. “Everybody is doing their job to help support one another. My team did really well helping support me so I can do my job, and I can do my job for them, too.
“We worked a lot on pressure cover, and we worked a lot on communication to help us defend better against North. We know that they’re a tough team. We definitely worked on that in practice, and it was clear on the field today. I’m really proud of us.”
While the Redhawks (7-1-4, 5-0-3) did well to shut down North’s front line of Dulik, DeCook and Taylor Korosec, that effort was matched by Haskell and North’s backline of Leah Jacobs, Maggie Fitzgerald, Lucy Iverson and Norah Barry.
After Viton made three saves in the first half, Haskell had to come up with eight saves in 60 minutes.
She made four saves in the more free-flowing second half when the Huskies (6-2-2, 5-1-2) defended six corner kicks, then turned away drives from Lauren Thorne and Sullivan Schubel 50 seconds apart in the second overtime.
Haskell’s last stop was probably her most difficult. Thorne fired a blast from the top of the box with 3:20 to go. The missile was a bit too hard to catch, but Haskell immediately picked the ball up.
“This game was very tough, and we knew that coming out, so we were excited,” Haskell said. “North versus Central is very action-packed, usually.
“There’s a lot of pressure on us and the whole entire team, not just the defense. It’s hard because they were overloading the offense.
“They had a lot of people in the box, so we had to adjust and figure out how to get the ball off the line, but it’s very fun to play with that kind of intensity with all that on the line.”
Indeed, sole possession of first place in the DVC was at stake. The Huskies would have taken the lead with a victory and the Redhawks could have all but put the race out of reach had they won.
Instead, the tie allowed Central to retain its one-point lead with two games to go.
“Those were two teams that were willing to battle,” Watson said. “I liked what we did at times.
“I was not pleased with the decisions we made against Neuqua in the final third (in a 1-1 tie May 13), but I thought today we put balls in better spots, got shots from proper positioning. Just couldn’t find the back of the net.
“It was not a lack of effort, for sure. The goalies made saves that they needed to make.”
The Redhawks have not won the DVC since 2012, but they control their own destiny. Their remaining league games are home against cellar dweller DeKalb and revitalized Metea Valley which has won four of its last five games.
Beating both teams will clinch the championship, as would the combination of one Central victory and a loss by North. The Huskies finish their league slate with Waubonsie Valley (4-4-0, 4-3-0) and Metea Valley (8-5-1, 5-2-0), who are both still mathematically alive.
Click here to see the DuPage Valley Conference standings
“We’re the only team that doesn’t have a loss in conference,” Watson said. “It would have been nice to get a win, but we’re still in the driver’s seat, which is all you can ask for.
“We just have to keep plugging away.”
As does Naperville North.
“Hats off to (Central),” Goletz said. “That’s a super-athletic team, but I’m super proud of how hard the girls battled tonight.
“I told them after a tough loss to St. Charles North to bounce back and play the game they did. We didn’t find the goal, but I thought we generated some good chances.”
After a pedestrian first half, the match finished with the excitement that is typical of such crosstown encounters. Nobody was surprised about that.
“Any time you have North versus Central you’re going to have a ton of talented kids on the field, right?” Goletz said. “It’s no different this year.
“It’s such a good rivalry but also it’s a respectful rivalry. What we have as a community here in (District) 203 and how absolutely awesome our soccer programs are is a testament to our kids and our families.”
Of all the players, Haskell has the most interesting perspective of the rivalry. She transferred from Central to North last summer.
“It’s a little weird, because I know everybody,” Haskell said. “I’ve played soccer with just about everybody on the field for both teams, so it’s a little odd. But it’s actually a lot of fun to play against people you know.”
Especially when you play as well as Haskell did.
“I think I played pretty well tonight,” Haskell said. “Obviously, there’s probably some stuff I can still learn from tonight. I’m always improving.”
Haskell and O’Connor both know that their teams could face each other again in the playoffs. A third such meeting will have to produce a winner and the keepers are ready.
“It’s definitely going to be a lot of pressure on both teams because both of us want to win so bad,” Haskell said. “Two ties now; one of us wants to come out on top.”
While it’s hard to say who would have an edge, the Redhawks may have a slight advantage in momentum if they win the DVC.
“(Controlling our destiny) is super empowering for the team,” O’Connor said. “It motivates us. Because we haven’t won it in so long, we want it that much more. We have a very special group of girls this year, and it’s going to be our year.”
And if the Redhawks and Huskies have to square off in the state tournament?
“If we do, we’re going to come back even tougher,” O’Connor said. “Each time we come back and face them we’re stronger, and we’re better than we last were.”
Starting lineups
Naperville North
GK Rosy Viton
D Leah Jacobs
D Maggie Fitzgerald
D Lucy Iverson
D Norah Barry
M Madison Korosec
M Cameron Dinkla
M Nora Fitzgerald
F Taylor Korosec
F Cameron DeCook
F Emily Dulik
Naperville Central
GK Trinity Strang
D Samantha Sharp
D Malia Velker
D Ella Burke
D Sophia Skoubis
M Sullivan Schubel
M Megan Norkett
F Emma Irle
F Molly O’Rear
F Madelyn Boogerd
F Lauren Thorne
Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match – Abby Haskell, jr., GK, Naperville North
Scoring summary
First half
No scoring
Second half
No scoring
First overtime
No scoring
Second overtime
No scoring
Napervilles 1 point apart
Central maintains lead over North with 2 games left in DVC race
By Matt Le Cren
NAPERVILLE – Naperville Central coach Ed Watson and Naperville North coach Steve Goletz both have pleasant dilemmas.
They each have two solid goalkeepers and can’t decide between them, so they are playing both.
Juniors Trinity Strang and Abby O’Connor have been splitting time in net for Central, while senior Rosy Viton and junior Abby Haskell share the netminding duties for North.
Just as little as separates the respective duos, so is there no clear difference between each team’s abilities.
For the second time this season, the Redhawks and Huskies played to a draw Tuesday night, this one a 0-0 tie at rainy Memorial Stadium. The two sides tied 1-1 in their first meeting April 29 at Naperville North.
Once again, the goalies played a major role in the outcome. And once again, it was O’Connor who saved the day for the Redhawks after relieving Strang at halftime.
O’Connor made three saves in the two sudden-death overtimes, including two on Cameron DeCook within 30 seconds early in the second extra session, as the Redhawks retained their slight advantage in the DuPage Valley Conference race.
“They were great shots,” O’Connor said. “They were definitely very challenging, but in my head, I’m thinking I just have to do this for my team, got to keep us in there.
“They’re fighting for me so I’m going to fight for them, and I just had to trust my training and do what I know how to do.”
O’Connor’s first big save came when she made a diving stop on a 15-yard rocket from Alexandra Jonaitis at the 29:17 mark of the second half.
But the tempo and the pressure increased in the overtime as players on both sides turned up the intensity despite tired legs from seemingly endless running.
Emily Dulik just missed winning it for North in the first overtime. She made a 40-yard run into the left side of the box, only to see O’Connor dive to deflect her shot around the post.
The second overtime brought more chances each way. Besides her denials of DeCook, O’Connor stopped Cameron Dinkla’s 27-yard free kick with two minutes remaining.
“I think it’s a collective team effort,” O’Connor said. “Everybody is doing their job to help support one another. My team did really well helping support me so I can do my job, and I can do my job for them, too.
“We worked a lot on pressure cover, and we worked a lot on communication to help us defend better against North. We know that they’re a tough team. We definitely worked on that in practice, and it was clear on the field today. I’m really proud of us.”
While the Redhawks (7-1-4, 5-0-3) did well to shut down North’s front line of Dulik, DeCook and Taylor Korosec, that effort was matched by Haskell and North’s backline of Leah Jacobs, Maggie Fitzgerald, Lucy Iverson and Norah Barry.
After Viton made three saves in the first half, Haskell had to come up with eight saves in 60 minutes.
She made four saves in the more free-flowing second half when the Huskies (6-2-2, 5-1-2) defended six corner kicks, then turned away drives from Lauren Thorne and Sullivan Schubel 50 seconds apart in the second overtime.
Haskell’s last stop was probably her most difficult. Thorne fired a blast from the top of the box with 3:20 to go. The missile was a bit too hard to catch, but Haskell immediately picked the ball up.
“This game was very tough, and we knew that coming out, so we were excited,” Haskell said. “North versus Central is very action-packed, usually.
“There’s a lot of pressure on us and the whole entire team, not just the defense. It’s hard because they were overloading the offense.
“They had a lot of people in the box, so we had to adjust and figure out how to get the ball off the line, but it’s very fun to play with that kind of intensity with all that on the line.”
Indeed, sole possession of first place in the DVC was at stake. The Huskies would have taken the lead with a victory and the Redhawks could have all but put the race out of reach had they won.
Instead, the tie allowed Central to retain its one-point lead with two games to go.
“Those were two teams that were willing to battle,” Watson said. “I liked what we did at times.
“I was not pleased with the decisions we made against Neuqua in the final third (in a 1-1 tie May 13), but I thought today we put balls in better spots, got shots from proper positioning. Just couldn’t find the back of the net.
“It was not a lack of effort, for sure. The goalies made saves that they needed to make.”
The Redhawks have not won the DVC since 2012, but they control their own destiny. Their remaining league games are home against cellar dweller DeKalb and revitalized Metea Valley which has won four of its last five games.
Beating both teams will clinch the championship, as would the combination of one Central victory and a loss by North. The Huskies finish their league slate with Waubonsie Valley (4-4-0, 4-3-0) and Metea Valley (8-5-1, 5-2-0), who are both still mathematically alive.
Click here to see the DuPage Valley Conference standings
“We’re the only team that doesn’t have a loss in conference,” Watson said. “It would have been nice to get a win, but we’re still in the driver’s seat, which is all you can ask for.
“We just have to keep plugging away.”
As does Naperville North.
“Hats off to (Central),” Goletz said. “That’s a super-athletic team, but I’m super proud of how hard the girls battled tonight.
“I told them after a tough loss to St. Charles North to bounce back and play the game they did. We didn’t find the goal, but I thought we generated some good chances.”
After a pedestrian first half, the match finished with the excitement that is typical of such crosstown encounters. Nobody was surprised about that.
“Any time you have North versus Central you’re going to have a ton of talented kids on the field, right?” Goletz said. “It’s no different this year.
“It’s such a good rivalry but also it’s a respectful rivalry. What we have as a community here in (District) 203 and how absolutely awesome our soccer programs are is a testament to our kids and our families.”
Of all the players, Haskell has the most interesting perspective of the rivalry. She transferred from Central to North last summer.
“It’s a little weird, because I know everybody,” Haskell said. “I’ve played soccer with just about everybody on the field for both teams, so it’s a little odd. But it’s actually a lot of fun to play against people you know.”
Especially when you play as well as Haskell did.
“I think I played pretty well tonight,” Haskell said. “Obviously, there’s probably some stuff I can still learn from tonight. I’m always improving.”
Haskell and O’Connor both know that their teams could face each other again in the playoffs. A third such meeting will have to produce a winner and the keepers are ready.
“It’s definitely going to be a lot of pressure on both teams because both of us want to win so bad,” Haskell said. “Two ties now; one of us wants to come out on top.”
While it’s hard to say who would have an edge, the Redhawks may have a slight advantage in momentum if they win the DVC.
“(Controlling our destiny) is super empowering for the team,” O’Connor said. “It motivates us. Because we haven’t won it in so long, we want it that much more. We have a very special group of girls this year, and it’s going to be our year.”
And if the Redhawks and Huskies have to square off in the state tournament?
“If we do, we’re going to come back even tougher,” O’Connor said. “Each time we come back and face them we’re stronger, and we’re better than we last were.”
Starting lineups
Naperville North
GK Rosy Viton
D Leah Jacobs
D Maggie Fitzgerald
D Lucy Iverson
D Norah Barry
M Madison Korosec
M Cameron Dinkla
M Nora Fitzgerald
F Taylor Korosec
F Cameron DeCook
F Emily Dulik
Naperville Central
GK Trinity Strang
D Samantha Sharp
D Malia Velker
D Ella Burke
D Sophia Skoubis
M Sullivan Schubel
M Megan Norkett
F Emma Irle
F Molly O’Rear
F Madelyn Boogerd
F Lauren Thorne
Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match – Abby Haskell, jr., GK, Naperville North
Scoring summary
First half
No scoring
Second half
No scoring
First overtime
No scoring
Second overtime
No scoring