Girls soccer: New Trier too much for Huntley in state semis

On the road to its first Class 3A state finals, Huntley's girls soccer team certainly did its part to drive away the ghosts of postseasons past that blocked their previous routes.

But never before was there an 800-pound gorilla waiting at the end of the road Friday at North Central College in Naperville: two-time defending state champion New Trier.

The Trevians were nowhere near the Barrington teams that had prevented the Red Raiders 6 of the last 7 years. The reigning champs launched a barrage of set pieces and dominated possession much as they did against St. Charles North in the supersectional Monday, scoring 3 second-half goals en route to a convincing 4-0 win at Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium.

"We knew coming in it would be quite a game and quite a struggle," senior midfielder Brianna Wilder said. "We had nothing to lose, kind of leave it all on the field especially it being our first time at state. I'm proud of our effort but it definitely was one of the harder games of the season."

New Trier kept intact 3 things throughout: its ability to hurt Huntley in the air, its scoreless postseason streak - which can stretch to 3 years in tonight's state championship against Collinsville - in addition to another 3 - a state title 3-peat.

"We knew they were just going to serve balls into the box and they're very good in the air," Huntley coach Kris Grabner said. "And honestly, we're not. And that was the difference."

New Trier (25-3-1) launched 10 set pieces and scored its first 2 goals off free kicks, a major reason why the Raiders (22-4-2) will fight for third place at 5 p.m. against Glenbard East.

The Red Raiders didn't have a clean game possession-wise as it showed after the first 10 minutes. Of the few chances for Huntley, like Taryn Jakubowski's turn-and-fire from 22 yards in the 24th minute that smacked the bottom right post or Aly Sunter's header that went high over the bar in the 43rd minute, it was just a bit off.

"I do think that would've had a little momentum shift, being able to be 1-1 and tied and being able to hold them would've helped out a lot," Jakubowski said. "Sometimes the game just doesn't go in your favor and it didn't work out for us."

Huntley trailed 1-0 in the 19th minute on defender Sam Urban's free kick from 38 yards, her first goal this year. New Trier carried that lead to the half with a 7-2 to shot advantage.

The Red Raiders tried to mix up their own midfield, run at New Trier and induce counterattacks in the second half but it went to no avail. It became 2-0 when Celia Frei connected on free kick 20 yards out from the left hash in the 45th minute. Between the 57th and the 65th minutes, Sydney Parker and Nicole Kaspi found the net on 2 Kelly Maday assists.

"Soccer's a rhythm game and we got clicking a bit and you just ride that wave," said Trevians coach Jim Burnside, whose team got 8 shots on frame. "We have great service, we know what each other is doing. These girls are smart, they understand to 'do my job,' and they do it really, really well. Everybody is doing their job as well they can."

"When they misplayed a ball we were not there eating it up. We misplay a ball and they're all over you. You just can't make a mistake," Grabner said. "But normally you lose a game in the playoffs and you're out. I told the girls you've done enough this season to earn the right to have a loss and play another game. Is it the game we want? No, but we get to go at it again."