New Trier tops Neuqua Valley on penalties
Trevians reach final, will meet Naperville North on Saturday
By Matt Le Cren
NAPERVILLE – New Trier goalkeeper Megan Dwyer couldn’t have been more nervous going into the shootout against Neuqua Valley on Friday night at Memorial Stadium.
Teammate Whitney Hoban was too tired to be nervous.
Both players came up huge as the undefeated Trevians (11-0-2) edged the Wildcats (7-5-0) on penalty kicks after a 100-minute 1-1 draw at the Naperville Invitational semifinals.
New Trier, ranked second in the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25, will play Naperville North (11-2-3), which ousted Barrington 1-0 in the other semifinal, in the championship match at noon Saturday.
Dwyer, a junior, saved two penalties in the shootout, while Hoban converted the game-winner as the Trevians won the shootout 4-3.
“I’m really nervous when it comes to PKs,” Dwyer said. “It’s not normally my specialty, but I was energetic.
“I was ready for it and I wanted to do it for my team, so it was exciting.”
Dwyer began the shootout by diving to her right to deflect Neuqua Valley star Alyssa Bombacino’s kick into the left post. Katelyn Nardulli, Danielle Hopkins and Erin McCarthy all made their penalties before Dwyer repeated her earlier save by diving to the same side to knock Kayla Monis’ offering into the woodwork.
It was the first time Dwyer has saved two penalties in the same shootout.
“It’s difficult to know which side they’re going to, so sometimes you just have to guess,” Dwyer said. “I guess I guessed right.”
The exhausted Hoban went to the right with her shot, which beat Neuqua Valley goalie Yanel Ortiz to end a marathon match that was played mostly in the rain and entirely in temperatures in the mid-to-low 40s.
Both teams played their second match in 24 hours. Fourth-ranked Neuqua Valley (7-5-0) bore a little heavier burden after playing two overtimes in Thursday’s 2-1 quarterfinal win over Metea Valley.
New Trier's Hoban scored on a penalty kick in the Trevians’ 4-1 quarterfinal defeat of Naperville Central, an experience that became beneficial Friday. Three of the first four New Trier shooters – Sydney Parker, Nicole Kaspi and Emma Weaver – were successful on their kicks, so when Dwyer stopped Monis, it meant the game rested on
Hoban’s tired foot.
“It helped that yesterday (New Trier coach Jim) Burnside made me step up to the plate and take a PK,” Hoban said. “That definitely helped with my confidence.
“Before we even went to PKs he said I was five (the fifth shooter) and he was like, ‘Are you good with that?’ I said, ‘Honestly, I can’t even think because I’m so tired.’
Maybe that was a good thing.
“At this point there was not a lot of nervous energy that can come out of you,” Hoban said. “We’ve had four games in five days and at that point it’s just kind of do what you have to do. (Burnside) had kept us late (after practice) on Wednesday perfecting our (penalty) technique.”
The Trevians had to do a lot to knock off the upset-minded Wildcats, who took the lead on Bombacino’s goal with 6:44 left in the first half and held it for nearly 40 minutes.
The Marquette-bound senior got the ball in space and rambled up the middle of the field before ripping a 23-yard shot in between the diving Dwyer and the left post. It was just the fourth goal conceded by the Trevians, who aren’t used to playing from behind.
New Trier stepped up its effort on defense. The Trevians played all but four minutes without star defender Sydney Parker, who tweaked her knee before returning for the shootout. Burnside, who said Parker will play against Naperville North, was impressed with how his team showed composure.
“I love how our kids battled today, and the support from the bench, across the board,” Burnside said. “That was a team battle. I’m really impressed with the heart of our kids today.”
The Trevians, who earlier had a goal disallowed because of an inadvertent whistle, tied the game with 7:14 remaining in the second half. A throw-in from the left side bounced loose in front to Victoria Flannagan, who scored on a short shot.
“It’s kind of the attitude we bring to the field,” Hoban said. “Having the history that New Trier has, we have to bring a little bit of a swagger, and I think that definitely helped us coming out there and winning the 50-50s and doing the little things right.”
The Wildcats also did a lot of things right and were especially impressive defensively as they continue to play without senior leader Kailey Serna, who is out indefinitely with a broken nose and possible concussion.
“I thought it was a fun game to be a part of,” Neuqua Valley coach Joe Moreau said. “At times it wasn’t pretty, but I think both teams left it all on the field and that’s all you can ask for.
“We need to hold our heads high. To lose in PKs in this game, it’s not so bad.
“I think we proved to ourselves that we can battle with anyone. I’m very pleased with it.”
So was Burnside, who was thrilled with the play of Dwyer, a first-year starter.
“She’s just been playing so well for us this year, and I’m happy for her because last year I think she played in three games,” Burnside said. “Now she’s stepped up and playing and really loving it.”
Starting lineups
New Trier
GK Megan Dwyer
D Caroline Iserloth
D Meredith Nassar
D Nell Martin
D Sydney Parker
M Lily Conley
M Nicole Kaspi
F Victoria Flannagan
F Emma Weaver
F Grace Walker
F Whitney Hoban
Neuqua Valley
GK Yanel Ortiz
D Shannon Tagler
D Paige Munar
D Erin McCarthy
D Leah Senese
M Katelyn Nardulli
M Danielle Hopkins
M Kayla Monis
M Alyssa Bombacino
F Sydney Rushing
F Alison Dovalovsky
Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match – Megan Dwyer, jr., GK, New Trier.
Scoring summary
1st Half
Neuqua Valley – Alyssa Bombacino (unassisted) 34th minute
2nd Half
New Trier – Victoria Flannagan (unassisted), 73rd minute
Penalty kicks
Neuqua Valley
Bombacino (saved), Katelyn Nardulli (made), Danielle Hopkins (made), Erin McCarthy (made), Kayla Monis (saved).
New Trier
Sydney Parker (made), Nicole Kaspi (made), Lily Conley (missed), Emma Weaver (made), Whitney Hoban (made).
Trevians reach final, will meet Naperville North on Saturday
By Matt Le Cren
NAPERVILLE – New Trier goalkeeper Megan Dwyer couldn’t have been more nervous going into the shootout against Neuqua Valley on Friday night at Memorial Stadium.
Teammate Whitney Hoban was too tired to be nervous.
Both players came up huge as the undefeated Trevians (11-0-2) edged the Wildcats (7-5-0) on penalty kicks after a 100-minute 1-1 draw at the Naperville Invitational semifinals.
New Trier, ranked second in the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25, will play Naperville North (11-2-3), which ousted Barrington 1-0 in the other semifinal, in the championship match at noon Saturday.
Dwyer, a junior, saved two penalties in the shootout, while Hoban converted the game-winner as the Trevians won the shootout 4-3.
“I’m really nervous when it comes to PKs,” Dwyer said. “It’s not normally my specialty, but I was energetic.
“I was ready for it and I wanted to do it for my team, so it was exciting.”
Dwyer began the shootout by diving to her right to deflect Neuqua Valley star Alyssa Bombacino’s kick into the left post. Katelyn Nardulli, Danielle Hopkins and Erin McCarthy all made their penalties before Dwyer repeated her earlier save by diving to the same side to knock Kayla Monis’ offering into the woodwork.
It was the first time Dwyer has saved two penalties in the same shootout.
“It’s difficult to know which side they’re going to, so sometimes you just have to guess,” Dwyer said. “I guess I guessed right.”
The exhausted Hoban went to the right with her shot, which beat Neuqua Valley goalie Yanel Ortiz to end a marathon match that was played mostly in the rain and entirely in temperatures in the mid-to-low 40s.
Both teams played their second match in 24 hours. Fourth-ranked Neuqua Valley (7-5-0) bore a little heavier burden after playing two overtimes in Thursday’s 2-1 quarterfinal win over Metea Valley.
New Trier's Hoban scored on a penalty kick in the Trevians’ 4-1 quarterfinal defeat of Naperville Central, an experience that became beneficial Friday. Three of the first four New Trier shooters – Sydney Parker, Nicole Kaspi and Emma Weaver – were successful on their kicks, so when Dwyer stopped Monis, it meant the game rested on
Hoban’s tired foot.
“It helped that yesterday (New Trier coach Jim) Burnside made me step up to the plate and take a PK,” Hoban said. “That definitely helped with my confidence.
“Before we even went to PKs he said I was five (the fifth shooter) and he was like, ‘Are you good with that?’ I said, ‘Honestly, I can’t even think because I’m so tired.’
Maybe that was a good thing.
“At this point there was not a lot of nervous energy that can come out of you,” Hoban said. “We’ve had four games in five days and at that point it’s just kind of do what you have to do. (Burnside) had kept us late (after practice) on Wednesday perfecting our (penalty) technique.”
The Trevians had to do a lot to knock off the upset-minded Wildcats, who took the lead on Bombacino’s goal with 6:44 left in the first half and held it for nearly 40 minutes.
The Marquette-bound senior got the ball in space and rambled up the middle of the field before ripping a 23-yard shot in between the diving Dwyer and the left post. It was just the fourth goal conceded by the Trevians, who aren’t used to playing from behind.
New Trier stepped up its effort on defense. The Trevians played all but four minutes without star defender Sydney Parker, who tweaked her knee before returning for the shootout. Burnside, who said Parker will play against Naperville North, was impressed with how his team showed composure.
“I love how our kids battled today, and the support from the bench, across the board,” Burnside said. “That was a team battle. I’m really impressed with the heart of our kids today.”
The Trevians, who earlier had a goal disallowed because of an inadvertent whistle, tied the game with 7:14 remaining in the second half. A throw-in from the left side bounced loose in front to Victoria Flannagan, who scored on a short shot.
“It’s kind of the attitude we bring to the field,” Hoban said. “Having the history that New Trier has, we have to bring a little bit of a swagger, and I think that definitely helped us coming out there and winning the 50-50s and doing the little things right.”
The Wildcats also did a lot of things right and were especially impressive defensively as they continue to play without senior leader Kailey Serna, who is out indefinitely with a broken nose and possible concussion.
“I thought it was a fun game to be a part of,” Neuqua Valley coach Joe Moreau said. “At times it wasn’t pretty, but I think both teams left it all on the field and that’s all you can ask for.
“We need to hold our heads high. To lose in PKs in this game, it’s not so bad.
“I think we proved to ourselves that we can battle with anyone. I’m very pleased with it.”
So was Burnside, who was thrilled with the play of Dwyer, a first-year starter.
“She’s just been playing so well for us this year, and I’m happy for her because last year I think she played in three games,” Burnside said. “Now she’s stepped up and playing and really loving it.”
Starting lineups
New Trier
GK Megan Dwyer
D Caroline Iserloth
D Meredith Nassar
D Nell Martin
D Sydney Parker
M Lily Conley
M Nicole Kaspi
F Victoria Flannagan
F Emma Weaver
F Grace Walker
F Whitney Hoban
Neuqua Valley
GK Yanel Ortiz
D Shannon Tagler
D Paige Munar
D Erin McCarthy
D Leah Senese
M Katelyn Nardulli
M Danielle Hopkins
M Kayla Monis
M Alyssa Bombacino
F Sydney Rushing
F Alison Dovalovsky
Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match – Megan Dwyer, jr., GK, New Trier.
Scoring summary
1st Half
Neuqua Valley – Alyssa Bombacino (unassisted) 34th minute
2nd Half
New Trier – Victoria Flannagan (unassisted), 73rd minute
Penalty kicks
Neuqua Valley
Bombacino (saved), Katelyn Nardulli (made), Danielle Hopkins (made), Erin McCarthy (made), Kayla Monis (saved).
New Trier
Sydney Parker (made), Nicole Kaspi (made), Lily Conley (missed), Emma Weaver (made), Whitney Hoban (made).