Huntley Raiders notch another big win
It may be a little premature to call Thursday's 2-1 victory over New Trier the biggest in Huntley girls soccer history.
But the victory certainly ranks up there.
The Red Raiders (6-0) scored both goals in the first half and held off a very late drive from the Trevians (2-1-1) to advance to the semifinals of the Pepsi Showdown at South Barrington.
Huntley goalkeeper Sara Hoffman made just 4 saves, but 2 came in the game's final 30 seconds. The final save was off Amber Fry's free kick, which Hoffman nabbed after it floated in the air for a while. As soon as Hoffman had the ball, the official blew the whistle ending the game.
The fourth-seeded Red Raiders will take on No. 1 seed St. Ignatius in Saturday's semifinals at Oak Park-River Forest High School. St. Ignatius downed Lake Zurich 2-0 Thursday. A win on Saturday would put Huntley in the title game on Sunday at Toyota Park against either Homewood-Flossmoor or Loyola.
"It just hung there," Hoffman said of her final save. "They were coming hard. We were doing everything we could to keep them off us."
New Trier had outscored its opponents 10-0 in its first 3 games of the season and boasts 3 state titles in the past 6 seasons. But Huntley was not intimidated.
Aimee Wronski (Emily Konior assist) scored at the 16th minute and sister Corinne Wronski nailed the game-winner in the 35th minute giving Huntley a 2-1 advantage going into the second half. Corinne Wronski (4 goals on the season) put in a shot after both teams batted the ball around the New Trier goal box following a Huntley free kick.
Aimee Wronski scored her ninth goal of the season when she drove down the right side of the field and crossed the ball past New Trier goalkeeper Caroline Kerr (4 saves).
"We worked hard to get here," Aimee Wronski said. "We finished the two chances we needed to. Our defense held them up."
Aside from allowing Amber Fry to tie the game with a goal during the 28th minute, Huntley's defense was a wall. Sophomore Alyssa Silvestri, who assisted on Corinne Wronski's goal, anchored a solid defensive effort which did not allow a shot except for the goal in the first half.
New Trier only got 1 other shot until recording 2 in the game's final 30 seconds.
Jacobs 1, Wheaton North 1: In the Pepsi Showdown, Jacobs' Jackie Rosato scored off an assist from KC Roller in the 62nd minute to give Jacobs (2-2-1) a tie with Wheaton North. Alyssa Barnard made 6 saves in goal for the Golden Eagles.
Bartlett 3, CL South 0: Trish Donlan, Nicole Stevens and Fran Abate scored goals for Bartlett as the Hawks improved to 7-0 on the season with this nonconference win. Abate and Luisa Desario had assists and Erin Zaideman made 10 saves in goal for Bartlett.
Fenwick 3, Larkin 0: The Royals fell to Fenwick in the Pepsi Showdown.