Girls soccer: Deerfield fits right in with state semifinal triumph

Playing at state for the first time, Deerfield's girls soccer team showed plenty of composure.

Mirelle Haas scored off a free kick, keeper Sari Eisen earned her 19th clean sheet of the season, and the Warriors shut out Wheaton St. Francis 1-0 in the Class 2A state semifinals at North Central College in Naperville on Friday morning.

Deerfield (22-6-1) will play Rochester (24-2-1), a 2-0 winner over Sycamore, in the state final at 1 p.m. Saturday.

Deerfield was ready to go from the start.

"We got here nice and early and walked around," Warriors coach Rich Grady said. "Over the past couple of years, we've played in college stadiums, at DePaul, at Concordia the other day, and we've been to Toyota Park. So I didn't think (the girls) would get intimidated by the atmosphere. I think they did a real good job of throwing out the hoopla and treating this like just another soccer game."

Deerfield had better possession for most of the match, often causing havoc in the offensive third of the field of Wheaton St. Francis (17-3).

The Warriors got the goal they needed in the 61st minute. Haas connected from outside the penalty area, placing the free kick inside the near post.

"When I lined up, I knew it was going to be a very important play," Haas said. "I had to keep the ball low, and I obviously didn't want to kick it over (the bar). I just aimed for the corner, put force on it and put it in. People didn't move on it, and the goalie called it wide. It went right past her into the goal. She was surprised, and everybody else was shocked."

Eisen made 4 of her 5 stops in the second half. She made her biggest save in the 72nd minute, using her leg to stymie freshman forward Hanna Rittenhouse on a breakaway.

"She took an extra touch, and that gave me the time to understand where she was going," Eisen said. "At first, I thought I was going the wrong way."

Deerfield's Gabbi Lazer marked Spartans leading scorer Kendra Pasquale (26 goals) the entire game.

"I thought we were uptight from the beginning and we didn't settle in," Wheaton St. Francis coach Jim Winslow said. "(Deerfield) was good in back. They won every ball in the air."