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Girls soccer: Neuqua Valley, St. Charles North finish even

Neuqua Valley sophomore Danielle Hopkins made her high school soccer debut on Wednesday.

It didn't take long for her to make an impression.

Barely a minute after coming on as a substitute in the 31st minute, Hopkins intercepted a clearing pass and scored the game-tying goal against St. Charles North.

That tally was enough for the host Wildcats to salvage a 1-1 tie at Nike Park despite being outshot 18-4.

“We wanted to play her at a position she might be more comfortable with,” Neuqua Valley coach Joe Moreau said of Hopkins. “We were looking at her as an outside back, but we played her at attacking mid and she did a nice job and gave us some good minutes.”

Hopkins, who played club soccer last year, wasn't expecting to find the back of the net so soon. She's just happy to get some playing time on a team stacked with talent.

“I was really surprised, but it felt amazing,” Hopkins said. “I was just in the right place at the right time. I was focused on getting it in the back of the net.”

Hopkins' shot was one of only two the Wildcats (0-1-1) put on frame against the unbeaten North Stars, who probably should have emerged victorious. They would have if not for the play of Neuqua Valley goalkeepers Yanel Ortiz and Kasey Gillespie, who combined to make 9 saves.

A missed penalty kick in the 59th minute didn't help the St. Charles North cause, either.

“I thought that game went back and forth,” St. Charles North coach Brian Harks said. “I definitely thought Neuqua started off with a little bit more of the momentum and it took a little bit for our girls to get comfortable, but obviously you've got to tip your cap to Neuqua.

“They're very talented from top to bottom and they made us work. They allowed us to see what we still need to work on.”

The North Stars (2-0-1) had taken a 1-0 lead just three minutes before Hopkins scored. Junior forward Gia Wahlberg stole the ball from a defender, raced into the left side of the Neuqua box under pressure and beat Ortiz with a hard shot.

“I would say that's one of her better features as a player,” Harks said. “She's talented on the ball in creating opportunities, but I think her work ethic and drive to get the ball when we don't have it is one of the things that really impresses me, and her teammates feed off of that as well.

“That was a hustle play and that's a great way to earn one.”

The goal was the second of the season for Wahlberg.

“I really like to do that with defenders, especially because not a lot of forwards do that,” Wahlberg said. “It's not very popular, so when you are able to press like that, I was just in the right spot at the right time. I timed it pretty well and just used that extra touch for the shot.”

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