Klancic finds her range against Naperville Central
The last time Waubonsie Valley senior Hannah Klancic played at North Central, she scored 2 goals to help the Warriors beat Sandburg 3-0 for the Class 3A state title.
It was also June and much warmer than the mid-30-degree evening with flurries that she and her teammates had to contend with on Wednesday.
But, like last June, Klancic was heroic with her efforts, as she scored the lone goal with 22:47 remaining to lift the Warriors past Naperville Central 1-0.
“Kristen Dodson just flicked it back and I just got the lucky touch on it,” she said.
It was a huge boost for the Warriors who lost their opener to Lyons Twp.
“I think we got unlucky in our first game and it has just taken us some time to settle down,” she said. “The first game is always crazy.”
Klancic admitted that she recalls her fond memories of a state title at North Central, but she’s looking straight ahead to the rest of this year.
“We’re still just getting used to playing with each other,” she said. “We have a lot of new people, freshmen. We just need to get things together as a team and combine our efforts.”
Naperville Central (3-1-1) had some success in possessing the ball but didn’t create enough scoring threats, and even when it did, it rarely posed a major threat to Waubonsie Valley keeper Jordan Myers.
“We possess pretty nice, but we’re not a great combination team,” Naperville Central coach Ed Watson said. “We just don’t have that type of kid who when they get the ball is crafty enough. In the attacking third you have to be crafty, and right now we’re a work in progress.”
Krissy Many and Meredith McEniff both had pretty good scoring opportunities in the second half for the Redhawks, but both came up short. Many came the closest to scoring the equalizer as her shot with 35:10 left in the contest caromed off the inside of the right post and somehow strayed away from the net.
“Krissy did a great on that ball and it’s unfortunate (it didn’t go in),” Watson said. “The ball they scored on had a really funny spin on it and it just went right past (goalkeeper) Jill (D’Amico). I thought she had it and the next thing you know it dove away from her.”
In the other game at North Central, Neuqua Valley defeated Naperville North 1-0 on a Meghan Kelly goal in the 23rd minute from the right side of the penalty area.
Courtney Keefer made 3 saves for the Wildcats (2-0).