Girls soccer: Libertyville hangs on in sectional semi against Warren
Libertyville started brilliantly in Class 3A girls soccer sectional semifinal play Tuesday.
And although the Wildcats had some trouble keeping it together in the game's end stages, they're still looking forward to a Friday night sectional final at Palatine against top seed Barrington.
Senior Annie Thompson struck twice in the first half to help Libertyville past North Suburban Conference rival Warren in a 2-1 victory at Chic Anderson Stadium.
"We beat (Warren) the first time we met (3-0), so we knew they would come after us in this one," said Thompson. "It was really important for us to get the lead and make them work - only we didn't do a good enough job of protecting our 2-0 lead when they made it too close in the last 10 minutes."
Thompson's pace and work rate were still too much to overcome for the Blue Devils (14-9-2) and coach Ryan McCabe.
"This is not a game where you want to fall behind, especially against a talented team like Libertyville," said McCabe, who figures to return all but three players on this year's roster to next spring's version of Warren soccer. "But once again, you saw there's no give in this team, and I am very proud of their effort and fight, which nearly helped us get back into the game late in this match."
The opening 10 minutes provided little in the way of quality scoring chances, except perhaps a half-chance from Ellie Hauser, who collected a helper from Thompson after an enterprising run up the left side.
However, two minutes later, Thompson tricked her way to the end line, and after a masterful tightrope dribbling act down the line, she smashed a low drive off the near post. Thompson then slotted a fortunate rebound under Warren keeper Skylar Reilly, who had little time to react to the rapid-fire exchange.
Alliyah Parker was dangerous on a handful of dead-balls she unleashed for the Blue Devils, particularly in the first half. Parker, a junior, nearly found Ellen Szostak at the back post for a 17th-minute equalizer to put a scare into the fans in attendance for Wildcats (13-4-4).
Soon after, Libertyville had plenty to cheer about.
Maddie Olson chipped a lovely cross to Thompson near the top of the box. The Cats striker turned on a dime and created enough time and space to unload a nasty blast toward Reilly, who saw the shot redirected off of one of her defenders before finding the back of the net.
The 23rd-minute goal hit the Blue Devils hard, but Natalie McNally injected some energy for Warren by sending a 30-yard cracker at keeper Allison Watson. She saved the attempt, but the sequence helped send Warren into the break with some new life.
"When you're up 2-0, it's the most dangerous lead in soccer to hold," said Libertyville coach Andy Bitta. "If we could have put another in, then the game is all but over. But we didn't do that, and they knew if they could put one in, the entire complexion of the game changes for them."
Sangjun Hornewer got close at 54 minutes when her shot went just over the bar as the Blue Devils slowly gained more of the run of play. But the Wildcats' back line of Emily Olson, Ellie Daugerdas, Morgan Verbeten and Julia Neiweem did well to keep most of the play in front of them and away from Watson.
None of them, including Watson, could do anything about Parker driving her well-paced 30-yard free kick off the bar and then Watson to draw the Blue Devils closer nine minutes from time.
"We stopped playing for awhile, and they nearly took advantage of it," said Thompson.
"It's tough playing a NSC opponent at this time of the year when there's so much riding on the outcome, but we'll have to play much better Friday against Barrington, or we could be in trouble," said Bitta.