Naperville North ends Waubonsie's 3-peat bid
The reign is over, and Naperville North sits one win away from the state finals.
Naperville North knocked off two-time defending state champion Waubonsie Valley 2-1 Friday in a Class 3A sectional final in Bolingbrook.
"It feels incredible to be able to come out of the hardest sectional," said Naperville North's Jessica Arabia. "I feel like I'm on top of the world right now."
Naperville North celebrated in the wild fashion of every big-game winner, and that celebration was built on a first 30 minutes of soccer that saw the Huskies play with more intensity and stick two goals in the net before halftime.
"Our girls were so excited. They were just ridiculous all day long," said Naperville North coach Brent Terada. "They were up and ready to play the game."
"We definitely came out slow in the first half," said Waubonsie's Rachel Bostick. "After halftime we wanted it, but we just couldn't finish on our opportunities, and that kills you."
Friday's game marked the second time this year the Huskies have beaten the Warriors, and they did it largely thanks to a defense that has gone unsung all season.
"We've been waiting all year to prove that the first win wasn't a fluke game," said Naperville North defender Kristina Dolak. "We proved ourselves today."
Naperville North's defense has only given up a single goal in four postseason games, against Glenbard East, Benet, Naperville Central and Waubonsie Valley.
The back four of Dolak, Emily Janecek, Jamie Meno and Jennifer Korn, plus the defensive play of Arabia and Adrienne Schertz, have kept things locked down all season.
"Our back four is our MVP," Arabia said.
The game's first goal came when Naperville North's Rycke Guiney turned the corner on the left side and served a ball that went in off a defender in the game's fourth minute.
Naperville North freshman Hunter Drendel made it 2-0 before halftime, getting on the end of an Arabia free kick and heading it home near the goalmouth.
"Jess played a really good ball in, I saw it bounce, and their defense totally missed it," Drendel said. "I judged it right and was able to get on it."
The Warriors' Megan Green cut the lead in half in the 45th minute, pouncing on a loose ball near the goalmouth after a Bri Rodriguez corner kick.
Waubonsie pushed hard for a tying goal from there, but Naperville North's girls held firm for the win. The Huskies play Hinsdale Central, a 4-1 winner over York on Friday, in a supersectional game at Benedictine University in Lisle at 7 p.m. Tuesday.
Waubonsie bids farewell to a group of seniors that keyed a two-year run of unbeaten domination and a pair of state titles: Bostick, Rodriguez, Claire Hanold, Ali Stahlke, Kiki McClellan, Molly Thayer, Bretton Newcomb and Jessie Morgan.
"It's hard," Bostick said. "I'm going to miss them, and I think we could have gone on for three (titles)."