Wheaton North gets the job done against Schaumburg

Up 2 goals in the second half, Wheaton North got a bit comfortable in its Class 3A girls soccer regional semifinal against Schaumburg.

Still, the Falcons held on after allowing a goal and absorbing Saxons pressure, earning a 2-1 victory at home Tuesday.

The Falcons (15-2-3) got on the board with goals from Gwyneth Phillips and Lexi Pelafas before showing why a 2-0 lead in soccer is one of the most dangerous score lines.

"We talked about this a lot, every single playoff game is going to feel like this. In 3A there are not cakewalks…," said Wheaton North coach Tim McEvilly. "When they went down 2-0 they had nothing to lose. They were more aggressive and I think my kids started to get relaxed and you can't relax when it's 2-0 in this game."

With 17 minutes left to go in the match, a broken-up Schaumburg corner allowed a bouncing ball to find Saxons left back Analicia Morales. Morales hit a half volley that the Wheaton North goalkeeper couldn't handle. It was game on for the last half of the match.

The Saxons (5-11-3) continued to press on a Falcons defensive line that seemed to allow the pressure, but with a little help from freshman goalkeeper Zoe Welsh, Wheaton North hung on.

"I think at that point our girls just decided they didn't want to go down without a fight. I think really when we scored that goal they started to believe in themselves…," said Saxons coach Greg Charvat. "We just didn't have enough firepower to get that second goal."

For most of the first half Wheaton North was on the front foot and creating chances but couldn't find the back of the net.

The best opportunity came from a long throw-in that was flicked over from Pelafas, finding freshman Kailee Sowers. Sowers couldn't get convert, reaching for the ball and putting it over the goal.

Less than 10 minutes into the second half, Phillips put the home side up 1-0. A poor clearance leaked out to the midfielder at the top of the box, and the junior hit a nice one-time shot into the top corner of the net.

Eleven minutes later Pelafas found her 16th goal of the season. A ball over the top from Margaret Hupp found the senior forward, who calmly took it down with a touch and hit a half volley past the Schaumburg goalkeeper.

The Falcons will play their final home game against cross-town rival Wheaton Warrenville South in the regional final at 6 p.m. Friday.