Neuqua Valley, Plainfield North open Naperville Invitational with a bang
Nationally ranked squads meet in pool play
By Steve Millar
Neuqua Valley coach Joe Moreau is excited about the challenge that awaits his team in the Naperville Invitational.
“It’s the best tournament, arguably, in the country,” he said. “There’s a tournament in Kansas City that’s pretty strong, too, but this one is certainly right up there. It’s definitely the toughest in Illinois. We always look forward to the tournament and playing great competition.”
Last season, the top three finishers in the state in Class 3A – New Trier, St. Charles East and Waubonsie Valley – all played in the Naperville Invitational.
Those three teams are all back this season as part of a loaded field.
Moreau’s Wildcats, who enter with an 8-1-2 record, are in Group B and open tournament play at 7 p.m. Thursday against Plainfield North at Naperville Central. Conant is also in the group.
“We’ve never played Plainfield North,” Moreau said. “One of the things we like about this tournament is having a chance to play teams we’ve never played before. They’re going to be tough. They’re playing very well. Conant is a young, talented team that’s going to be tough, too. (Coach Jason Franco) is doing a great job with them.”
Opening up with Plainfield North, Moreau knows his team will have a battle at its hands. The Tigers are 9-0-2 and currently own a 7-game win streak.
Plainfield North has a big four days ahead. In addition to Naperville Invitational games Thursday and Saturday, the Tigers will play New Trier in Sunday’s PepsiCo Showdown championship at DePaul.
North has been balanced offensively, while its defense, anchored by Brooke Polonus, Karsyn Stirrett, Emily DeVaux and Abby Gustafson along with goalkeeper Emma Veselsky, has allowed just six goals on the season while playing quality competition throughout.
“They play a nice brand of soccer,” Moreau said. “They’re a really quick, dangerous team on offense and they do a really good job defending, too. We’ve got to possess the ball, our forwards need to attack the goal and we’ve got to finish. (In Tuesday’s win over South Elgin), we missed three breakaways. We have to capitalize on those chances.”
Moreau has been pleased with defense so far. The unit, which plays in front of goalkeeper Hannah Parrish, is anchored by his daughter, Sophia, along with Dannah Williams and Nicole Mondi.
Neuqua Valley has allowed just four goals.
“We’ve been playing, at times, very, very well and at times we’ve not been playing so well,” Moreau said. “The most important thing, though, is we’ve been winning.
“The last few years, we’ve gotten out of group play in this tournament, but even if you don’t get out of group play, you still play great competition the second weekend. All the teams in this tournament are tough.”
Nationally ranked squads meet in pool play
By Steve Millar
Neuqua Valley coach Joe Moreau is excited about the challenge that awaits his team in the Naperville Invitational.
“It’s the best tournament, arguably, in the country,” he said. “There’s a tournament in Kansas City that’s pretty strong, too, but this one is certainly right up there. It’s definitely the toughest in Illinois. We always look forward to the tournament and playing great competition.”
Last season, the top three finishers in the state in Class 3A – New Trier, St. Charles East and Waubonsie Valley – all played in the Naperville Invitational.
Those three teams are all back this season as part of a loaded field.
Moreau’s Wildcats, who enter with an 8-1-2 record, are in Group B and open tournament play at 7 p.m. Thursday against Plainfield North at Naperville Central. Conant is also in the group.
“We’ve never played Plainfield North,” Moreau said. “One of the things we like about this tournament is having a chance to play teams we’ve never played before. They’re going to be tough. They’re playing very well. Conant is a young, talented team that’s going to be tough, too. (Coach Jason Franco) is doing a great job with them.”
Opening up with Plainfield North, Moreau knows his team will have a battle at its hands. The Tigers are 9-0-2 and currently own a 7-game win streak.
Plainfield North has a big four days ahead. In addition to Naperville Invitational games Thursday and Saturday, the Tigers will play New Trier in Sunday’s PepsiCo Showdown championship at DePaul.
North has been balanced offensively, while its defense, anchored by Brooke Polonus, Karsyn Stirrett, Emily DeVaux and Abby Gustafson along with goalkeeper Emma Veselsky, has allowed just six goals on the season while playing quality competition throughout.
“They play a nice brand of soccer,” Moreau said. “They’re a really quick, dangerous team on offense and they do a really good job defending, too. We’ve got to possess the ball, our forwards need to attack the goal and we’ve got to finish. (In Tuesday’s win over South Elgin), we missed three breakaways. We have to capitalize on those chances.”
Moreau has been pleased with defense so far. The unit, which plays in front of goalkeeper Hannah Parrish, is anchored by his daughter, Sophia, along with Dannah Williams and Nicole Mondi.
Neuqua Valley has allowed just four goals.
“We’ve been playing, at times, very, very well and at times we’ve not been playing so well,” Moreau said. “The most important thing, though, is we’ve been winning.
“The last few years, we’ve gotten out of group play in this tournament, but even if you don’t get out of group play, you still play great competition the second weekend. All the teams in this tournament are tough.”