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Metea Valley stuns Waubonsie Valley

Metea Valley has only been in existence for six years, but since it was founded in 2009 the girls soccer team had never managed to beat Waubonsie Valley.

The Mustangs struck first and last en route to a historic 2-1 victory Friday at the Class 3A Waubonsie Valley regional. As the horn sounded a crowd of Metea Valley fans rushed onto the field to start a celebration that wouldn't stop until the lights had been turned off and the parking lot emptied.

"Look at these girls," Metea coach Chris Whaley said after the game as the emotion of a regional championship washed over him. "They just love being out here and doing what they do. It doesn't take much to motivate them. They relish these opportunities."

Metea struck in the 15th minute when Madie Sandberg found a seam in the Waubonsie defense before firing a pass to Jade Eriksen-Russo as she entered the box. Eriksen-Russo settled the pass in the right corner before ripping a shot into the top left corner of the net.

Near the end of the half, it appeared No. 3-seeded Waubonsie had scored when a Morgan Kemerling header found the back of the net, but Kemerling was ruled offside and No. 6 Metea took its 1-0 lead to the break.

In the second half a Waubonsie header officially found the net when Paige Filipek took a pass from senior Emily Dickens and finished it from the center of the goalie box. The goal came in just the 43rd minute, and it appeared as if Waubonsie had some momentum. But Metea managed to grind it out before taking over in the final 15 minutes.

The Mustangs took the lead for good when Madie Sandberg unleashed a curler from more than 30 yards away that found the back of the net with 13:47 to play.

"I got the ball and I had the chance to run it up and I knew that I had a clear shot so I went with it. I got real lucky and it went in," Sandberg said.

From there Metea salted the game away by continuing to apply relentless pressure, putting 4 more shots on goal after Sandberg's winner.

Metea will host the sectional, meeting Plainfield North in a 6:30 p.m. Tuesday semifinal.

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