Girls soccer: St. Charles North wins wild one over Geneva

What a difference a year can make.

During the 2017 regular season, the girls soccer teams from Geneva and St. Charles North played to a scoreless deadlock in a driving rainstorm before the North Stars eliminated the Vikings from postseason action for the third consecutive year in the sectional finals last May.

Despite again playing in miserable conditions, the Upstate Eight Conference River Division rivals struck early and often, combining for 12 goals during the North Stars' 7-5 victory Tuesday night in St. Charles.

Even the most experienced St. Charles North players were a bit surprised by the offensive nature of the match.

"I've never seen anything like that," said North Stars senior captain Hailey Rydberg, who joined her sophomore sister, Sami, and senior teammate Gia Wahlberg with 2 goals each. "It's awesome that we can score seven goals but it also tells us that we can't quit and let them score five on us."

Gia Wahlberg opened the night's scoring just 4 ½ minutes into the action on the North Stars' first shot of the game.

Midway through the first half, Hailey Rydberg converted on a penalty kick to extend the North Stars' lead to 2-0.

Just 18 seconds later, Geneva (2-2, 1-1) got on the board when junior forward Stephanie Howe deposited a loose ball in front of the North Stars' net to make it 2-1.

From there, the teams combined for 5 more goals over the final 18-plus minutes of the opening half.

Sami Rydberg, Claudia Najera and Gia Wahlberg found the back of the net for the North Stars while Liv Tegge and Jenna Dominguez added goals for the Vikings - the latter coming with 11 seconds remaining.

St. Charles North (5-0-1, 1-0) led 5-3 at the intermission.

"I would say that it was an atypical game," said North Stars coach Brian Harks.

The Rydberg sisters - Hailey and Sami - each netted goals during the first 9 minutes of the second half as the North Stars' lead swelled to 7-3.

Howe notched her second and third goals of the game within a 1-minute, 37-second span late in the second half to close out the scoring.

"We don't normally give up five goals," said Hailey Rydberg. "I think it was some lack of communication. We got a little confused matching up."

Geneva sophomore keeper Katie Montgomery recorded 12 of her 19 saves in the second half as the North Stars peppered 35 shots during the wide-open affair.

"With as many points up on the board, I still don't feel that the scoreboard told an accurate tale of that game," said Harks. "Both teams had some opportunities that they didn't capitalize on.

"Obviously when we look at defense, we look at a defensive mindset from all 11 players - not just the back line. This is definitely a game where I'll be excited to watch the film and see the areas we can improve on."

Geneva coach Megan Owens saw plenty of positives from her team despite the loss.

"We made some mistakes and we beat ourselves at certain times," said Owens. "North exposed those mistakes. They're the No. 1 team in the nation right now and we hung with them.

"It was a crazy scoring, intense game but that's what makes it fun. I'm excited. I think it bodes well for the talent on my team."