Class 3A Bolingbrook Sectional preview
(2) Naperville North at (1) Naperville Central, 5
By Curt Herron
Nothing separated rivals Naperville Central and Naperville North in their first two meetings of the 2021 season after they settled for a pair of 100-minute draws.
But one team will prevail Friday when the sides meet for the third time.
The winner earns a spot in Monday's 6 p.m. Lockport Supersectional against either (1) Normal or (1) O'Fallon for the opportunity to advance to next weekend's IHSA finals.
The Redhawks and Huskies played a 1-1 tie in the teams' first meeting on April 29 at North, and they played to a scoreless draw in the rematch at Central on May 18.
Naperville Central (13-1-4) drew the sectional's top-seed and finished the campaign as the undefeated champion of the DuPage Valley Conference. The team's lone loss during the season came in its third match when they fell 2-1 at Benet on April 19. The Redhawks have gone 11-0-4 since then and have won six in a row after their second tie against the Huskies.
North (11-2-3), has won four-straight games and gone 5-0-2 since suffering its second loss, a 1-0 defeat to St. Charles North on May 15. The team’s only league loss came at Waubonsie Valley.
The Huskies have won seven of their 15 sectional titles since 2011, including the last four seasons. Coach Steve Goletz's program won state championships in 2012, 2013 and 2019.
Naperville Central hopes to capture its first sectional championship since 1995, when it also last competed in the state finals and earned a second-straight runnerup trophy for coach Ed Watson.
Leading the Redhawks are junior forward Molly O'Rear (18 goals, 6 assists), sophomore midfielder Megan Norkett (10, 17) and senior midfielder Sullivan Schubel (7, 3). Junior goalkeepers Abby O'Connor and Trinity Strang have split time this season and shared seven shutouts.
"This season has been a real pleasure," Watson said. "Seeing the girls back out on the field after all that they went through this past year has been uplifting. I am sure that the third match between the (District) 203 schools will be just as exciting as the first two."
Naperville North’s offense is powered from the efforts of junior forward Taylor Korosec (17, 5), sophomore forward Cameron DeCook (8, 6) and senior forward Emily Dulik (5, 7). Junior goalkeeper Abby Haskell has only allowed two goals this season.
Several Huskies were members of the 2019 state championship team: seniors Nora Fitzgerald, Julie Grubisic, Michelle Schabacker and Dulik, and junior Ellie Gerner.
"With limited postseason experience this season, the Huskies have continued to get better and better as the season has gone on and are playing some of their best soccer when it counts most," Goletz said.
(2) Naperville North at (1) Naperville Central, 5
By Curt Herron
Nothing separated rivals Naperville Central and Naperville North in their first two meetings of the 2021 season after they settled for a pair of 100-minute draws.
But one team will prevail Friday when the sides meet for the third time.
The winner earns a spot in Monday's 6 p.m. Lockport Supersectional against either (1) Normal or (1) O'Fallon for the opportunity to advance to next weekend's IHSA finals.
The Redhawks and Huskies played a 1-1 tie in the teams' first meeting on April 29 at North, and they played to a scoreless draw in the rematch at Central on May 18.
Naperville Central (13-1-4) drew the sectional's top-seed and finished the campaign as the undefeated champion of the DuPage Valley Conference. The team's lone loss during the season came in its third match when they fell 2-1 at Benet on April 19. The Redhawks have gone 11-0-4 since then and have won six in a row after their second tie against the Huskies.
North (11-2-3), has won four-straight games and gone 5-0-2 since suffering its second loss, a 1-0 defeat to St. Charles North on May 15. The team’s only league loss came at Waubonsie Valley.
The Huskies have won seven of their 15 sectional titles since 2011, including the last four seasons. Coach Steve Goletz's program won state championships in 2012, 2013 and 2019.
Naperville Central hopes to capture its first sectional championship since 1995, when it also last competed in the state finals and earned a second-straight runnerup trophy for coach Ed Watson.
Leading the Redhawks are junior forward Molly O'Rear (18 goals, 6 assists), sophomore midfielder Megan Norkett (10, 17) and senior midfielder Sullivan Schubel (7, 3). Junior goalkeepers Abby O'Connor and Trinity Strang have split time this season and shared seven shutouts.
"This season has been a real pleasure," Watson said. "Seeing the girls back out on the field after all that they went through this past year has been uplifting. I am sure that the third match between the (District) 203 schools will be just as exciting as the first two."
Naperville North’s offense is powered from the efforts of junior forward Taylor Korosec (17, 5), sophomore forward Cameron DeCook (8, 6) and senior forward Emily Dulik (5, 7). Junior goalkeeper Abby Haskell has only allowed two goals this season.
Several Huskies were members of the 2019 state championship team: seniors Nora Fitzgerald, Julie Grubisic, Michelle Schabacker and Dulik, and junior Ellie Gerner.
"With limited postseason experience this season, the Huskies have continued to get better and better as the season has gone on and are playing some of their best soccer when it counts most," Goletz said.