Underwood's game-winner lifts Libertyville

Taylor Underwood suffered an ankle injury almost a month ago, and it kept her off the pitch and out of the Libertyville girls soccer lineup for a handful of games.

But the sophomore attacking midfielder recently returned to action, and her presence is making a difference for the Wildcats.

Underwood delivered the winning goal as Libertyville got past district rival Vernon Hills 2-1 on Tuesday night.

"I love getting back out there, and getting back slowly," Underwood said. "I did have a lot of physical therapy to get back. It's getting better. I'm almost there."

She had no problem putting the recovering ankle to use against Vernon Hills. Underwood's kick was headed for the left side of the goal, from up top. Vernon Hills keeper Sydney Resnick tried to make a push-away save but the ball still found its way into the goal as Libertyville (12-4) went ahead 2-1 in the 73rd minute.

"If definitely felt pretty good when I hit it," said Underwood of her fifth goal of the season. "It was all power and I wanted to get it into the goal. I had a good feeling about it."

The Wildcats opened the scoring with an early goal, in the fifth minute. Annie Thompson, after taking a pass from Danielle Pacholski, made a move to beat a Cougars defender and slotted the ball into the lower corner.

Vernon Hills (13-8-1) tied it in the 17th minute when Haley Lieberman took a long service from Monica Bohlman and chipped the ball under the crossbar.

"We started this over the last few years, and it's fun to play," Vernon Hills coach Vince DeLuca said of the matchup with Libertyville. "It's nice because the kids know each other and they play hard out there. I think a game like this one will get us ready for the (Class 2A) regionals. Libertyville deserved the victory with the goal, but we played well."

Vernon Hills opens regional play against Antioch on Tuesday in the Grayslake North regional at 6:30 p.m.

Libertyville will host its own regional in Class 3A. The Wildcats begin by playing Mundelein next Tuesday, also at 6:30 p.m.

"This was a great game to play," said Libertyville coach Andy Bitta of going against Vernon Hills. "It's a nice game that we keep playing throughout the years.

"We do have some injuries, but we have some time to heal up now for a week."