Naperville Central grabs key victory

It was no ordinary victory Naperville Central took by a 1-0 score against Wheaton Warrenville South on Tuesday afternoon in Naperville.

The victory - in a game continued from Monday after lightning caused the game to be suspended late in the first half - put the Redhawks (12-2-2, 4-0-1) in good position to claim at least a share of the DuPage Valley Conference girls soccer championship. The fifth-ranked Redhawks are tied for the DVC lead with rival Naperville North, but the second-ranked Huskies have yet to play third-place and No. 6-ranked WW South (9-2-1, 4-1).

"At this point we control our own destiny," Naperville Central coach Ed Watson said. "That's what everybody wants, to have the opportunity if you win out, you're at best a tie with North, and they still have work to do."

The one loss probably ends the Tigers' DVC title hopes.

"It's a tough road," Tigers coach Guy Callipari added. "...We could finish at 6-1 and not win the conference."

It's also another victory to pad the Redhawks' record for tonight's Class 3A Bolingbrook sectional online seeding meeting.

The winning goal came in the 54th minute. Alex Coon sent a long free kick off the crossbar, and in the ensuing scramble for the ball, junior Julianna Nania knocked it into the WW South net.

"Coach told me to hit a hard-driven ball back post, and I was half-shooting, half trying to get it back post just in case my teammates were there to hit it in," Coon said. "... Julianna was there to put it in."

WW South struggled to mount an effective bid for the tying goal.

"We're in the meat of our schedule and playing competition that is difficult," Callipari said. "We created a couple of opportunities but not enough of them. ... We're struggling to combine and have ideas up top."

Freshman goalkeeper Jill D'Amico and the back line earned their 12th shutout of the season.