One goal enough for Benet in regional win

Some good opportunities escaped Benet's girls soccer team Tuesday night, but not the one that landed on the feet of sophomore Lexie Liber almost 30 minutes into the match.

With the Redwings' Class 3A Waubonsie Valley regional semifinal match against Downers Grove North scoreless, Liber took possession of the ball and juked her way past a Trojans defender. She then controlled the ball and blasted a low shot from more than 20 yards out that just did find its way inside the left goal post and past Downers Grove North goalkeeper Courtney Chamerski.

Liber's goal stood up in a 1-0 win that sends eighth-seeded Benet (16-5) into a regional final against Waubonsie Valley, the top-seeded squad in the Naperville Central sectional. The host Warriors defeated West Aurora 7-0 in Tuesday's first match in Aurora.

"Lexie did a really nice job of finishing that," Benet coach Henry Wind said of the game's only score. "She controlled it nicely, and it was a clever shot."

It was a good thing for the Redwings that Liber completed her chance, as multiple breakaways and close-range shots came up short against the No. 9 Trojans, who were playing without injured starting goalkeeper Maddie Fitzpatrick. Chamerski made 3 saves in the first half, teamed with freshman keeper Christina Siddu for 8 more stops in the second half, and Benet also saw a couple threats bound off the goal posts.

"I had the time. No one was pressuring me, so I made the move and shot," said Liber, of her goal that came with 11:46 left in the first half. "In the first half we dominated, but in the second half we got a little bit sloppy."

Actually the Redwings controlled much of the play for the first 20 minutes of the second half, but after failing to add to the one-goal lead, Benet had to rely on its strong defense down the stretch. The Redwings have not piled up many goals this spring, but they've only allowed 2 goals in a game twice this season and are in double digits in shutouts after Claire Munaretto made 3 saves while blanking the Trojans (12-8).

"Today one was enough," Downers Grove North coach Jason Hunter said. "I thought we battled real hard the last 20 minutes of the game. But they play good defense."

Even after sweeper Kelly Diedrich was hurt against Naperville North, Benet defenders Rachel Lovely, Maria Schwabe, Colleen Lewellyan and Caytin Lewin have been stifling opponents. But against the powerful Warriors on Friday, the Redwings will be tested on defense and also will need their offense to capitalize on its chances.

"We need to finish our goals," Catherine Caniglia said after Tuesday's win. "It was pretty frustrating because we had a lot of good chances. It's gonna be real hard Friday, but we've got nothing to lose and we'll just go out hard."