Roundup (Tuesday, May 28)
Class 3A supersectionals
At Barrington
Barrington 2, St. Charles North 0
Defender Madi Rosen delivered a brilliant second half wonder-goal to seal yet another supersectional defeat on St. Charles North and send host and twotime defending state champion Barrington to its third-consecutive Class 3A Final Four appearance.
Ellie McAuley struck just after the opening whistle of the game, and Rosen doubled the advantage after the break in the Fillies win. After the goals, the hosts defended with all their might Tuesday night before a big home crowd at Barrington Community Stadium.
The Fillies (21-1-1) will play fellow no. 1-seed New Trier on Friday night at North Central College in Naperville in a state semifinal match that will be a rematch of the 2018 and 2019 state finals, which ended with Barrington shootout wins.
"We've been training so long for a chance to get back into that (championship) game, knowing if we could win here tonight at home we would be going back to state with an opportunity to win a third-straight championship," Rosen said.
"It's amazing to think we beat a great team like St. Charles North once again, and for the seniors who are four-year players, it is just really something else."
This contest featured the two teams that have been 1-2 in the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25 all season long. Both entered the game with near spotless records, and each were ranked in the top five teams in the country by Top Drawer Soccer.
"Brian (Harks, St. Charles North coach) has what I felt all along was the best collection of attacking players around, beginning with CeCe Wahlberg, Claudia Najera, Sami Rydberg, and Sarah Andrey," said Barrington head coach Ryan Stengren. "We knew we would have our hands full, and in order for us to advance we had to keep a careful eye on each of them, while defending as well as we could as a team."
Knowing the no. 2 North Stars (19-2-1) were capable of striking at any moment, McAuley's opener for Barrington at just two minutes gave the home team an edge that forced Harks to ask his club to chase the game early on.
"An early goal always sets you back a little, but we have so much experience and players who have been through everything," Harks said. "I knew we would be okay. It was just a matter of playing with composure and getting back to what we do best."
Rydberg nearly equalized when she found the post in the 6th minute.
Barrington answered with two posts of its own. Rosen collected a Tina Teik helper and unloaded a left-footed cracker off the back post; then Christina Batliner sent Rebecca Shomaker through with the same result in the 13th minute.
"It was so important for us to come out quick and sharp, and we did that with Ellie's goal and then created two really good chances," said Batliner, who was magnificent outside Rosen as the Fillies right outside back.
St. Charles North's intentions were clear after they were unable to get back even before the intermission. The extra energy and urgency the North Stars brought after the break meant a 40-minute rough ride the Fillies managed to manage.
"Our backline stayed organized, even when (North) began to send more numbers," said Stengren. "We didn't play around with the ball when it got through; we just sent it back the other way which I feel began to frustrate them, especially after Madi's goal."
Barrington's junior keeper Leah Eisenbarth, in the first supersectional game of her career, made a strong save on a 30-yard blast from Wahlberg at 42 minutes and held on to the ball with confidence.
In the 57th minute, Rosen took advantage of time and space to hit a 35-yard guided missile that exploded into the far right corner to make it 2-0.
"Normally when I have the ball and coming across like that I always look to cross the ball," she said. "But when I saw all of my teammates marked, I thought 'Oh well, let's have a go.'"
Rosen, a natural left-footer, scored with her powerful right-footed attempt.
St. Charles North continued to battle. Wahlberg went endline and forced Eisenbarth to turn away her angled shot. The North Stars followed with three corners, all of which the Fillies defended. A Grace Barresi shot was saved at the near post to end the chances for good.
"It's tough getting to this game two-straight years and leaving without advancing to state, but it doesn't take anything away from a team that has just an incredible group of young women who were a joy to coach and watch play," Harks said. "I am so proud of all of them and couldn't haved asked for anything more from them this season and tonight."
Stengren allowed himself just a moment to savor the win.
"Just an incredible night of soccer from an incredible group of girls, who fought and battled to beat a great team," he said. "But it's not over. Tomorrow we'll begin training for Friday and yet another rematch with New Trier, who will be after us after beating them twice in a row for the state title." -- Mike Garofola
Fremd Supersectional
New Trier 2, Stevenson 0
Trevians star junior Emma Weaver recorded a goal and an assist as the no. 4 Trevians qualified for their sixth-consecutive state finals appearance with the victory.
Weaver broke open a scoreless game by forcing a Stevenson turnover and smashing home a ball from about 18 yards in the 59th minute.
She put the game away by pushing the ball down the right flank and crossing a ball that forward Alex Wirth converted in the 69th minute.
The game marked the third matchup between the two schools. They played twice six days apart in the Lou Malnati’s Deep Dish Classic. New Trier (21-2-5) won the pool play game 2-1.
Stevenson (22-2-2) earned a spot in the championship as the wild card entrant and went on to the title after beating New Trier in the final after taking down fellow Final Four member Naperville North in the semifinals.
New Trier ended the Patriots’ 17-game winning streak. The Trevians advance to the second semifinal Friday against top-ranked Barrington. New Trier has lost to the Fillies on penalty kicks in the state championship game the last two years.
-- Patrick Z. McGavin
Reavis Supersectional
Lyons 2, Andrew 1 (OT)
Lyons senior midfielder Eileen Murphy scored her second goal with 4:34 left in the first overtime as the Lions defeated Andrew in Burbank to earn their first state finals berth since the 2007 Class AA quarterfinals.
The Lions (18-2-1) will play at 5 p.m. Friday at North Central College against Naperville North (13-5-4), which finished third in 3A in 2018 and was a 2-1 winner over the Lions April 20 in Naperville. Since then Lyons has won 10-straight matches.
Murphy’s 27-yard blast for the game-winner came after she put the Lions in the lead with a 20-yard header off sophomore Ava Dallavo’s left-wing corner kick with 19:22 left in regulation.
The Illinois-bound Murphy, who has a team-high 22 goals, also had both tallies in the
Lions' 2-1 Glenbard East Sectional title victory over Young.
Andrew senior and Loyola recruit Megan Nemec broke free down right wing and tied the game with 5:02 remaining for Andrew (21-6-1), which finished fourth in 3A last season.
Lyons lost starting senior outside defender and DePauw-bound Grace Truax to a left knee injury with 7:15 remaining in the first half. Playing in her place the rest of the way was sophomore reserve Elli Kosonovich, who has been part of the regular defensive rotation since being promoted from the sophomore level one month into the season.
-- Bill Stone
Class AA supersectionals
At Hinsdale South
Benet 4, Fenwick 0
The no. 6 Redwings (22-3-1) earned their first trip to the finals. Abby Casmere scored twice to lead (22-3-1). Mia Tommasone and Sarah Bozych added a goal each. Jaimee Cibulka had two assists, and Kayla Brannigan and Cami Picha each chipped in with a helper. Eva Frantzen and Ava Rogers combined to earn the shutout in goal.
Benet faces Triad (19-3-2) in the semifinals at 1 p.m. Friday.
Class 3A supersectionals
At Barrington
Barrington 2, St. Charles North 0
Defender Madi Rosen delivered a brilliant second half wonder-goal to seal yet another supersectional defeat on St. Charles North and send host and twotime defending state champion Barrington to its third-consecutive Class 3A Final Four appearance.
Ellie McAuley struck just after the opening whistle of the game, and Rosen doubled the advantage after the break in the Fillies win. After the goals, the hosts defended with all their might Tuesday night before a big home crowd at Barrington Community Stadium.
The Fillies (21-1-1) will play fellow no. 1-seed New Trier on Friday night at North Central College in Naperville in a state semifinal match that will be a rematch of the 2018 and 2019 state finals, which ended with Barrington shootout wins.
"We've been training so long for a chance to get back into that (championship) game, knowing if we could win here tonight at home we would be going back to state with an opportunity to win a third-straight championship," Rosen said.
"It's amazing to think we beat a great team like St. Charles North once again, and for the seniors who are four-year players, it is just really something else."
This contest featured the two teams that have been 1-2 in the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25 all season long. Both entered the game with near spotless records, and each were ranked in the top five teams in the country by Top Drawer Soccer.
"Brian (Harks, St. Charles North coach) has what I felt all along was the best collection of attacking players around, beginning with CeCe Wahlberg, Claudia Najera, Sami Rydberg, and Sarah Andrey," said Barrington head coach Ryan Stengren. "We knew we would have our hands full, and in order for us to advance we had to keep a careful eye on each of them, while defending as well as we could as a team."
Knowing the no. 2 North Stars (19-2-1) were capable of striking at any moment, McAuley's opener for Barrington at just two minutes gave the home team an edge that forced Harks to ask his club to chase the game early on.
"An early goal always sets you back a little, but we have so much experience and players who have been through everything," Harks said. "I knew we would be okay. It was just a matter of playing with composure and getting back to what we do best."
Rydberg nearly equalized when she found the post in the 6th minute.
Barrington answered with two posts of its own. Rosen collected a Tina Teik helper and unloaded a left-footed cracker off the back post; then Christina Batliner sent Rebecca Shomaker through with the same result in the 13th minute.
"It was so important for us to come out quick and sharp, and we did that with Ellie's goal and then created two really good chances," said Batliner, who was magnificent outside Rosen as the Fillies right outside back.
St. Charles North's intentions were clear after they were unable to get back even before the intermission. The extra energy and urgency the North Stars brought after the break meant a 40-minute rough ride the Fillies managed to manage.
"Our backline stayed organized, even when (North) began to send more numbers," said Stengren. "We didn't play around with the ball when it got through; we just sent it back the other way which I feel began to frustrate them, especially after Madi's goal."
Barrington's junior keeper Leah Eisenbarth, in the first supersectional game of her career, made a strong save on a 30-yard blast from Wahlberg at 42 minutes and held on to the ball with confidence.
In the 57th minute, Rosen took advantage of time and space to hit a 35-yard guided missile that exploded into the far right corner to make it 2-0.
"Normally when I have the ball and coming across like that I always look to cross the ball," she said. "But when I saw all of my teammates marked, I thought 'Oh well, let's have a go.'"
Rosen, a natural left-footer, scored with her powerful right-footed attempt.
St. Charles North continued to battle. Wahlberg went endline and forced Eisenbarth to turn away her angled shot. The North Stars followed with three corners, all of which the Fillies defended. A Grace Barresi shot was saved at the near post to end the chances for good.
"It's tough getting to this game two-straight years and leaving without advancing to state, but it doesn't take anything away from a team that has just an incredible group of young women who were a joy to coach and watch play," Harks said. "I am so proud of all of them and couldn't haved asked for anything more from them this season and tonight."
Stengren allowed himself just a moment to savor the win.
"Just an incredible night of soccer from an incredible group of girls, who fought and battled to beat a great team," he said. "But it's not over. Tomorrow we'll begin training for Friday and yet another rematch with New Trier, who will be after us after beating them twice in a row for the state title." -- Mike Garofola
Fremd Supersectional
New Trier 2, Stevenson 0
Trevians star junior Emma Weaver recorded a goal and an assist as the no. 4 Trevians qualified for their sixth-consecutive state finals appearance with the victory.
Weaver broke open a scoreless game by forcing a Stevenson turnover and smashing home a ball from about 18 yards in the 59th minute.
She put the game away by pushing the ball down the right flank and crossing a ball that forward Alex Wirth converted in the 69th minute.
The game marked the third matchup between the two schools. They played twice six days apart in the Lou Malnati’s Deep Dish Classic. New Trier (21-2-5) won the pool play game 2-1.
Stevenson (22-2-2) earned a spot in the championship as the wild card entrant and went on to the title after beating New Trier in the final after taking down fellow Final Four member Naperville North in the semifinals.
New Trier ended the Patriots’ 17-game winning streak. The Trevians advance to the second semifinal Friday against top-ranked Barrington. New Trier has lost to the Fillies on penalty kicks in the state championship game the last two years.
-- Patrick Z. McGavin
Reavis Supersectional
Lyons 2, Andrew 1 (OT)
Lyons senior midfielder Eileen Murphy scored her second goal with 4:34 left in the first overtime as the Lions defeated Andrew in Burbank to earn their first state finals berth since the 2007 Class AA quarterfinals.
The Lions (18-2-1) will play at 5 p.m. Friday at North Central College against Naperville North (13-5-4), which finished third in 3A in 2018 and was a 2-1 winner over the Lions April 20 in Naperville. Since then Lyons has won 10-straight matches.
Murphy’s 27-yard blast for the game-winner came after she put the Lions in the lead with a 20-yard header off sophomore Ava Dallavo’s left-wing corner kick with 19:22 left in regulation.
The Illinois-bound Murphy, who has a team-high 22 goals, also had both tallies in the
Lions' 2-1 Glenbard East Sectional title victory over Young.
Andrew senior and Loyola recruit Megan Nemec broke free down right wing and tied the game with 5:02 remaining for Andrew (21-6-1), which finished fourth in 3A last season.
Lyons lost starting senior outside defender and DePauw-bound Grace Truax to a left knee injury with 7:15 remaining in the first half. Playing in her place the rest of the way was sophomore reserve Elli Kosonovich, who has been part of the regular defensive rotation since being promoted from the sophomore level one month into the season.
-- Bill Stone
Class AA supersectionals
At Hinsdale South
Benet 4, Fenwick 0
The no. 6 Redwings (22-3-1) earned their first trip to the finals. Abby Casmere scored twice to lead (22-3-1). Mia Tommasone and Sarah Bozych added a goal each. Jaimee Cibulka had two assists, and Kayla Brannigan and Cami Picha each chipped in with a helper. Eva Frantzen and Ava Rogers combined to earn the shutout in goal.
Benet faces Triad (19-3-2) in the semifinals at 1 p.m. Friday.