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Girls soccer: A super outcome for Huntley

For coach Kris Grabner and his girls soccer team from Huntley, playing in the supersectionals hasn't exactly been super lately.

The last two seasons, Barrington and St. Charles have taken turns dashing the Red Raiders' postseason hopes in the Class 3A state tournament, abruptly ending remarkably successful seasons.

But Tuesday night, the Red Raiders' main threat to taking the final step in the postseason was finally beaten, and when Huntley lifted its first-ever supersectional trophy after its 1-0 win at Barrington, the celebration never seemed to end.

Taryn Jakubowski's 23rd-minute goal held up, as her teammates defended with all their might during a furious 40-minute comeback try by the Fillies (20-3-1), who fell short in a bid for a second consecutive state tournament appearance.

Huntley will face New Trier, a 1-0 winner against St. Charles North, in a 5 p.m. Friday state semifinal at North Central College in Naperville.

"I almost cannot believe what happened - finally, we're through," said Grabner. "At some point you begin to wonder if you'll ever get to state, and for that matter, past Barrington, which has made a habit of ending our season in either the supers or sectional final for what seems forever.

"But we made Taryn's first-half goal hold up, and even though they came at us with everything they had in that second half, we did what we had to do. And that's what it's all about at this time of the season."

The Red Raiders had the first chance, and when the Creighton-bound Jakubowski was sent to the end line by Alyssa Kaufman, her header forced an initial save from Samantha Schmitz. But a split second later, Jackubowski saw the ball go in, just under the crossbar.

"I knew that Alyssa has such a great serve, so when I saw she had some space and time, I got myself into position for her serve," Jakubowski said. "And then after that, I am not sure if the ball was wet or what, but it went off the gloves of their keeper and into the back of the net."

Up until the goal and through intermission, it was an evenly played final, with plenty of purpose and desire in every challenge and sequence.

Jakubowski had the most dangerous of chances for the Red Raiders in the first period when her 25-yard blast forced Schmitz to push the attempt up and off the bar. The Fillies, meanwhile, had trouble getting anything of quality toward Huntley keeper Paige Renkosik but still managed to create trouble with a handful of well-aimed balls from set-piece opportunities and through the run of play, with both Sophia Spinell and Jackie Batliner key figures in those unnerving moments.

Just before intermission, Spinell flashed a free kick through the box which went untouched. Batliner, with some trickery, drove to the near end line before unloading a low drive which went clear through the box but found no one at the other end to finish the chance.

Grabner warned his club of how much pressure the Fillies would bring after the break in their search for a tying goal. And just after an initial sequence after a few early exchanges, the he dropped Jakubowski into the middle to add numbers on the defensive side of the ball.

Anna Brodjian, who was near perfect in her 50-50 first- and second-ball challenges, got the Fillies' attack revved up when she forced Renkosik to save a 30-yard blast. After that, with Maesyn Poidomani, Kayla Schutter, Ashley Prell, Spinell and others pouring forward, the Red Raiders faced a daunting defensive task.

An offsides flag pulled one out of the back of the net just after the hour. Later, a Barrington player was called for grabbing Renkosik's jersey, thus negating Kayla Keck's potential equalizer.

Brianna Wilder made a timely block on a Spinell close-range shot. And at 72 minutes, the senior parried away another Spinell dangerous ball sent into the box.

Wilder, along with the backline of Erin Gaitsch, Sam Heustis, Tayah Owens and Stephanie Noble, in addition to Ally Sunter, stationed just in front of the Red Raiders' backline, was tested in every direction for the last quarter-hour but stayed sturdy enough to protect Huntley's 1-goal advantage.

Everyone in the Huntley end held their breath on Brodjian's deft touch toward an open back post in the 76th minute - then gratefully exhaled when the ball went just wide. Victory arrived soon afterward.

"The game was tilted in the Huntley end the entire second half," said Barrington coach Ryan Stengren. "I thought we dominated that half, but in the end, we needed to something big at the same time, and we just didn't, get it.

"That's the way this game goes sometimes, and maybe it was just Huntley's time to go through."

The Fillies certainly have reason to hope for another deep playoff run next spring, as Barrington loses just one senior from this year's group.

But this year, it's Huntley's turn to play at state.

"I am so happy for all of my teammates, especially those who have suffered the past three years trying to get past these games and into the state tournament," said Jakubowski, a four-year striker for the program. "All I can say is it's just an amazing feeling right now to finally get there."

  Members of the Huntley girls soccer team hold their plaque following their 1-0 win over Barrington during the Class 3A girls soccer supersectional Tuesday. Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
  Barrington's Haley Tausend (18) stands close to Huntley goalkeeper Paige Renkosik as a corner kick goes into the net - though the officials ruled that it was not a goal during the Barrington Class 3A girls soccer supersectional Tuesday. Huntley went on to win 1-0. Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
  Huntley's Stephanie Noble, left, and Barrington's Ellie Stodola make contact as they try to control the ball during the Barrington Class 3A girls soccer supersectional Tuesday. Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
  Huntley's Alyssa Kaufman, left, and Barrington's Haley Tausend battle for position as they pursue the ball during the Barrington Class 3A girls soccer supersectional Tuesday. Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
  Barrington's Kayla Schutter, left, gets a foot on the ball in front of Huntley's Ally Sunter during the Barrington Class 3A girls soccer supersectional Tuesday. Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
  Barrington's Jackie Batliner, left, and Lauren Pircher (6) leap for the ball in front of the Huntley net as goalkeeper Paige Renkosik and Brianna Wilder, front, successfully defend the play Tuesday at Barrington. Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
  Huntley's Taryn Jakubowski, left, and Barrington's Michayla Herr leap for the ball during the Barrington Class 3A girls soccer supersectional Tuesday. Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
  Huntley celebrates its 1-0 win over Barrington during the Barrington Class 3A girls soccer supersectional Tuesday. Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
  Barrington's Kayla Schutter walks to join the rest of her teammates as Huntley celebrates its 1-0 victory during the Barrington Class 3A girls soccer supersectional Tuesday. Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
  Huntley celebrates its 1-0 win over Barrington during the Class 3A girls soccer supersectional Tuesday. Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
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