Injuries catch up to Waubonsie Valley

Waubonsie Valley hadn't lost since its season opener against Lyons Twp. on March 17.

The Warriors' incredible winning streak finally came to a startling end Friday night when they dropped a heartbreaking 1-0 decision to New Trier at North Central in a girls soccer Class 3A semifinal.

Waubonsie Valley (22-2-3) will look to rebound and win a third-place trophy against Lincoln-Way North at 5 p.m. Saturday.

"It's tough," Warriors coach Julie Bergstom said. "You're let down, but we'll show up and play tomorrow because they've worked hard. I just think the injuries caught up with us there. Unfortunately, it came down to one miscommunication and they got their one goal."

New Trier (30-1) avenged its lone loss of the season, a 2-1 match against these same Warriors, to move on to Saturday's Class 3A title game against upstart St. Charles East.

The Trevians got all the offense they needed at the 33:06 mark when Kelly Maday scored off a Maddie Mulford assist via a through ball.

"I think it was just urgency and determination and to just get that throw and seeing Maddie down that sideline and knowing I can count on her playing a nice through ball," Maday said. "When she gets the ball and looks up, I know I have to start making my run and doing whatever I can in my power to finish."

Maday's big finish ended Waubonsie Valley's hopes for its fourth state title and first since 2010. The Warriors had a good share of opportunities to net the equalizer, including a handful of combination attempts from Mackenzie Fuller and Kristen Dodson, but none came to fruition.

"It helped seeing them earlier in the season and knowing what we had to do this time to try to shut them down," Maday said. "I think our back line helped us with confidence all over the field."

Fuller and Dodson proved to be a lethal combination all spring, and once again they worked at pressuring the opposition, but this time they just couldn't net the equalizer. Still, it was surrendering the game-winner that stood out most and obviously sent them home for the summer

"We got beat up on our way here (to state)," Bergstrom said. "I'm proud of them. I thought they tried hard and we had to scramble."

Bergstrom made special mention of Emily Dickens and Callie Vitro, who were asked to provide more substantial minutes on the defensive side to overcome some of the team's injuries.

The two rose to the occasion to keep it a single-goal game, but the Warriors just couldn't counter and will have to turn their attention over to winning third place.