DiBernardo scores twice, Waubonsie Valley advances

Stop Vanessa DiBernardo and you've got a chance to stop Waubonsie Valley.

Sounds pretty clear and the advice has been around these parts a good 3-4 years now. But as Naperville Central found out yet again on Tuesday night, stopping the Warriors' All-America senior midfielder is not such an easy thing to do.

In the first of two sectional semifinals played at Naperville Central's Memorial Stadium, DiBernardo blasted a pair of first-half rockets past Redhawks goalkeeper Jill D'Amico as top-seeded Waubonsie Valley advanced to Friday's sectional title game against Wheaton Warrenville South.

Less than 10 minutes in, DiBernardo took a feed from talented freshman Rachel Armand, took a couple dribbles and unleashed a blast with her left foot that landed just inside the far right post.

She struck again with 16:45 left in the half - this time with her right foot - and the Warriors hung on from there for a 2-0 victory. The two teams played to a 1-1 draw early this spring.

"I had actually a lot of time to settle it and shoot it," said DiBernardo, who was pleasantly surprised with the space she had after taking a pass from Armand on the night's first score. "I just kept it low and shot it in."

Aside from using her other foot, her second goal looked an awful lot like her first.

"I guess I'm always going for the corners. She's a real good keeper," DiBernardo said of the Redhawks' sophomore goalie. "Once you get one you always want to get the next one."

The margin proved to be more than enough as Naperville Central (16-3-5) mounted plenty of pressure after getting down 2-0 but didn't create enough solid shots on goal.

"We just didn't have enough balls on frame," Naperville Central coach Ed Watson said. "We had plenty of chances to get one before the half, and that would have made a lot of difference."

Taylor Heatherly, one of 11 departing seniors for the Redhawks, missed just high on a long free kick late in the first half, just moments after Warriors keeper Allison Fox made a save on an Alex Coon shot.

"We generated attack. We just didn't generate enough quality shots," said Watson, whose team had hoped to extend the season long enough for senior Becca Ebling to return from a family trip to France. "But we had a great year and we got great leadership from all 11 of our seniors."

Armand, meanwhile, is going to enjoy each and every game she gets to play with DiBernardo this postseason.

"It's really cool," the freshman said. "It's kind of amazing I get to play with a player like that. I'm really lucky to be able to play with her for at least one year."

Watson, who has seen more than his share of big plays from DiBernardo the last four springs, said the Warrior is more than just a physical talent.

"She's physically gifted and her soccer IQ is off the charts," he said. "She's not only a great talent, but a great mind for the game."