Girls soccer: Waubonsie Valley celebrates win vs. Naperville North

Sarah Griffith and her Waubonsie Valley teammates whooped it up in during a spirited postgame celebration of their 2-0 upset of Naperville North on Thursday night in Aurora.

But after the screaming ended, the Warriors said they weren't surprised.

"I think we always had it in us," Griffith said. "We've just had some unlucky games, but it's not like we started the season today. We've just had it in us the whole time."

The Purdue-bound Griffith made sure the Warriors got the result they wanted out of the DuPage Valley Conference match. She set up the first goal and scored the second as Waubonsie (8-8, 4-3) snapped a two-game losing streak and got back to the .500 mark.

"We just came out with so much energy," Griffith said. "We were like, 'We have nothing to lose, we've got to win this game.'"

Naperville North (13-2-3, 4-1-2) had to win the game to have any realistic chance of catching Neuqua Valley in the DVC race. But the Huskies' offensive woes continued as they were shut out for the second straight game.

The game was scoreless until the 25:36 mark of the second half. That's when Griffith found Kennedy Metzger in the left corner.

A defender closed off the end line, so Metzger cut back into the box and hooked a 14-yard shot off the underside of the crossbar and inside the far post. It was her 11th goal of the season and just the eighth conceded by the Huskies.

"I cut it back and then I hooked it up top with the right foot," Metzger said. "It got us started and I think it was really good for us because we needed that little bit of energy to get the rest going and to help us win this game.

"You've got to come out with confidence and the ability to win and that's how you're going to do it."

The Huskies have plenty of ability but had nothing to show for it against the Warriors. Ashley Santos nearly put the visitors ahead with 32:50 to go in the second half, but her 18-yard shot skimmed the top of the crossbar.

Naperville North outshot the Warriors 11-7 and had 8 corner kicks in the second half, but Waubonsie goalkeeper Sarah Young made 5 saves to record her third solo shutout and sixth overall.

While the Huskies were the better team in the first half, the Warriors earned the victory with their play after halftime, including a beautiful restart that led to Griffith's goal with 5:53 remaining.

Natalie Massa lofted a 27-yard free kick over the defensive wall into the middle of the box. Griffith ran onto it and chipped the ball over the head of Naperville North goalkeeper Elizabeth Cablk for her team-leading 16th goal.

So is it too early to count Waubonsie out?

"It's always too early to count Waubonsie out," Griffith said. "I think we've always been a good team throughout all of our games. It just really clicked tonight."