Girls soccer: Naperville North puts trust in defense to earn share of DVC title
Even more than most girls soccer teams, Naperville North trusts in its defense.
On Tuesday night the Huskies' defense helped clinch a share of the DuPage Valley Conference championship. A 2-1 Naperville North victory at Wheaton Warrenville South knocked the Tigers out of contention for the DVC title but didn't end their involvement.
The Naperville North back line of veterans Alyssa Siebers and Jessica Siebers and newcomers Sarah Stokes and Reilly Riggs rarely leave the field. Along with senior goalkeeper Maddie Hausmann, they've allowed just 13 goals this season.
"It's hard physically, but it's mostly a mental game back there," said Alyssa Siebers, who again played the full 80 minutes along with her fellow starters in the back. "We just have to constantly talk. The coaches do a great job of keeping us mentally engaged. It's just staying focused for every moment."
"They've been absolutely outstanding this year," added Huskies coach Steve Goletz added. "We pride ourselves on being a very good defensive team, and graduating the group that we did that had 39 shutouts in two seasons, we knew we had some holes back there to fill and Reilly and Sarah have done fantastic."
Naperville North took the lead early. Right back Alyssa Siebers' dangerous cross was headed into the goal by a WW South defender for an own goal in the fourth minute.
"It's a big deal to get the first goal," said Alyssa Siebers, a Huskies co-captain, "especially in a huge game like this to win conference. It was a big deal."
The Huskies took a 2-0 lead in the 11th minute when a corner kick clearance fell to sophomore Hannah Martin 8 yards from the goal. Martin knew just what to do with the ball, firing it into the net for her ninth goal and sixth game-winner of the season.
"I don't know if it's youth or just not being here before, but we didn't come out with our best foot forward in the moment that called for something a little bit more special," Tigers coach Guy Callipari said.
Handing the Huskies an early 2-goal lead usually is as good as handing them the game. This time the Huskies knew they still would have their hands full.
"Knowing this Wheaton South team and knowing how Guy plays and likes to play great soccer and get numbers forward and challenge your back line to have to sort things out," Goletz said, "he does some great things tactically that I knew that 2-0 still, I felt good but I didn't feel great, right? And that's definitely respect to him and his girls."
The Tigers pushed hard in the second half to cut into the Huskies' lead, finally finding pay dirt in the 68th minute when another corner kick clearance bounced out to Tigers right back Sam Buol 25 yards in front of the net. Buol's clinical first touch launched a laser shot into the corner of the net to make the score 2-1.
"They have a great attack," Siebers said of the Tigers. "They have a ton of speed. They throw numbers at us. We had to pull some people back in to help, keep talking constantly. But they gave us a run for our money."
The Huskies (14-3-4, 7-1) will become the Tigers' biggest fans when WW South (12-6, 4-2) plays at Neuqua Valley (10-5, 6-1) on Thursday in a game that will determine whether the Huskies have to share the title with the Wildcats.