Girls soccer: Barrington maintains its grip on MSL Cup with last-minute goal to beat Hersey
Barrington is the champion of the Mid-Suburban League once again.
Winners each of the last 12 seasons, the Fillies were at their best Wednesday night in Arlington Heights as they continued their mastery over the league. They took a 1-0 victory over host Hersey in the 35th MSL Soccer Cup.
With extra time staring both sides square in the face, Whitney Stacey found a way to steer the game-winner through a maze of white and orange shirts in the 80th minute to give the Fillies (14-1-2) a league-best 17th league title.
“We didn't play our best in the first half — some of that of course was due to the way Hersey played — lots of pressure, energy and work rate — (but) we came out in the second half to play much better, especially in the final 20 minutes leading up to the game-winner from Whitney,” said Fillies coach Ryan Stengren.
This was the ninth time these two longtime rivals have met in the title game, and the Fillies are a perfect 9-0, including the last three seasons.
“This was a tough one tonight,” said Huskies coach Mike Rusniak.
“We played really well in the opening half, created a couple of very good chances, and later another, (but) with their constant pressure in the last 20-25 minutes of the game, you could see tired legs out there from our girls.”
The Huskies (11-7-2) were looking to flip the script on the perennial league champions, and they watched Fillies two-time all-state goalkeeper Megan Holland make a heroic save in the 23rd minute when Lexi Miyares ran freely up the center channel to get Holland all to herself.
Junior Gracie Lisota, named MSL East Player of the Year during the halftime festivities, drove her left-footed free kick onto the roof of the net from 22 yards at the start of the second half, but that would be it for the home side in its attack.
The Fillies faithful thought for sure Aybree Sanchez' wicked effort from distance had fallen into the back of the net after hitting the underside of the bar at 61 minutes, however it came straight down on the endline, where Huskies goalkeeper Sam Fetzer smothered the Sanchez attempt.
Lisota raced freely toward the near post but sent her attempt wide of the back post minutes later to keep things scoreless.
“Our confidence was great, and we were playing much like we know that we were capable of, and I feel like we knew we had a goal coming if we continued to play with a lot of energy, and urgency,” said Fillies senior Piper Lucier, named MSL West Player of the Year at halftime.
The Marquette University-bound Lucier put a couple on frame that Fetzer saved during the final five minutes of regulation, but when Lucier created a deep throw one minute from time, the Fillies had one more chance.
Sanchez' long throw into the box was kept alive by Madeline Lewis long enough to allow the ball to spill free to Lundy to bury her short-range effort.
“We had a lot of young players who have never played in the MSL Soccer Cup, and I felt like as the game went on, their play rose to the level that we needed in order to come away with the win, (but) it was an exciting and entertaining game for sure,” Stengren said.
“Although we struggled in the first half, I liked the way that we played with composure and energy to help keep us in the game,” Lucier added.
“We couldn't ask for much more from the girls, they played with a lot of heart all throughout, but in the end, we lost to a great team, that is so well coached,” Rusniak said.