Warriors' youngsters step up

When a soccer team has a pair of attacking players like Bri Rodriguez and Vanessa DiBernardo, other top-quality offensive threats can sometimes get lost in the shuffle.

Waubonsie Valley freshman Megan Green is one of those players.

Green had a goal and 2 assists in Saturday's 4-0 win over visiting Naperville North in the Warriors' second game played without DiBernardo, who will sit out roughly the next 10 days with a leg injury.

"We definitely have to pick it up because she's not there. She's a huge part of our team," Green said of DiBernardo. "We all have to work harder, but we can do it."

Green and the other seven freshmen on the Warriors' roster have blended in and contributed greatly to this year's 15-0-1 team.

"Our goal at the beginning of the season was to know how each other played, and to know what the person next to you is going to do," said Warriors junior Rachel Bostick. "I'm really impressed with how the freshmen have stepped up this year."

Green now has 6 goals and 6 assists on the season, while senior Jessica Blake scored her eighth goal. Freshman Kerri Skotnicki scored her first goal of the year, junior Jessie Morgan netted her second, and the junior Rodriguez contributed her 17th assist of the season.

Warriors goalkeeper Claire Hanold made 3 saves in earning her 14th shutout of the year for a team that has not given up a goal since its third game of the season, played back on March 24. Waubonsie has outscored it opponents 55-3 thus far this year.

"I think we came out a little too defensive-minded, but Waubonsie is just so skilled and they possess so well. They control the tempo of the game," said Huskies coach Brent Terada.

The Warriors scored twice in each half, with Morgan finishing on a ball sent across the goalmouth by Green in the game's 11th minute. Blake finished on a Bostick assist in the 17th minute of play.

Naperville North (6-7-2) came out hard in the second half before Green made it 3-0 in the 46th minute and then had the assist on the game's final goal by Skotnicki in the 68th minute of play.

Despite the loss the Huskies got strong performances from outside back Jamie Meno, and Adrienne Schertz and Jess Arabia fought well in trying to neutralize Rodriguez at midfield.

"They're just so good," Terada said. "They're the best team I've seen playing girls high school soccer."