West Aurora, Batavia drop openers
Wheaton Warrenville South coach Guy Callipari employs a novel two-platoon system for his girls soccer team.
Batavia discovered the hard way there is little, if any, discernible dilution of talent when the second squad comes in.
The Tigers scored twice in less than four minutes bridging the end of the first half and the beginning of the second half during their 4-1 victory over Batavia in the second semifinal of the Class 3A Waubonsie Valley regional on Tuesday night in Aurora.
"Just to get out of the (Bolingbrook) sectional we're going to have to rely on our depth," Callipari said. "We found we had a lot more depth (than Batavia)."
The Tigers (15-5-2), the fifth seed in the sectional complex, will meet two-time defending Class AA state champion Waubonsie Valley on Friday night for the regional title. The Warriors (16-3), the fourth seed, manhandled West Aurora 8-0 behind three headers from Rachel Bostick - all off corner kicks - in the first match.
Batavia and West Aurora, the No. 12 and 13 seeds, respectively, closed out their seasons at 6-6-2 and 12-8-3.
WW South and Batavia were in the midst of a scoreless draw late in the first half, though the latter dominated shot attempts and time of possession. WW South senior captain Brigette Kragie changed the Tigers' outlook with less than three minutes to play in the half, converting a 15-yarder with her off foot to break the deadlock.
"I've been in that situation before," Kragie said of the teams' bid to break the ice. "I have been working on a turn and hit. It was lucky to slip underneath of (the Batavia keeper). It wasn't an easy shot to save."
Fifty-one seconds after the intermission, freshman Lexi Peterson doubled the Tigers' lead by scoring off a rebound.
"(The first shot) hit the post, and I just flicked it in," Peterson said. "It was great to get that goal right before halftime."
"That first goal right before the half and the other one to start the second half - that was just demoralizing," Batavia coach Jim McAlpin said. "We've had difficulty scoring all year."
Thirteen minutes later, Nicole LaPetina upped the Tigers' lead to 3-0 with a low runner to the right side.
With the Tigers' second unit ready to deploy, Batavia senior Libby Cooper answered 22 seconds later. But the Tigers' second unit maintained the cushion for the final 25-plus minutes, with freshman reserve Kate Fowee concluding the scoring in the 68th minute.
In the opening match, Waubonsie Valley and its seven Division I recruits put on a clinic. Megan Green, Hannah Klancic, Ali Stahlke, Bri Rodriquez and Kristina Tomaras all scored to augment the Bostick hat trick.
The carnage could have been far worse, but West Aurora keeper Michelle Castaneda made several spectacular saves.
"It's definitely a one-game-at-a-time approach," senior Kiki McClellan said. "There's definitely more pressure being the defending state champions. Every team is coming after us."