Girls soccer roundup: Mundelein surprises Warren to win regional crown; Barrington, Lake Zurich among others advancing

The 2025 postseason is well under way, and at regional venues all across 2A and 3A play, area soccer teams claimed important victories to advance into sectionals, which are set to begin next week.

Here's a look then at some of the play from over the weekend.

Several powers rolled into the sectionals after turning in dominating performances, with, as expected, a surprise or two along the way.

Barrington, Lakes Community, Lake Zurich and Libertyville had an easy time of it.

MSL champion Barrington (16-1-2) won the 20th regional title in program history with a 6-0 victory over regional host Dundee-Crown.

Megan Holland collected her 15th shutout on the season, while three-time all-state forward Piper Lucier added a goal and assist, as did sophomore AJ Sanchez.

Next up for the Fillies will be Mundelein (10-6-3) who stunned NSC rival Warren 2-1 to claim the Rockford Auburn regional crown on Friday afternoon.

Sam Biesterfeld converted her 16th minute spot-kick, and teammate Carlie Bestler doubled the Mustangs’ advantage at 60 minutes before Addison Stanciak pulled one back.

"The girls executed our game plan, fought for early balls, and never quit to beat a very talented and well coached team in a game that could have gone either way," said a proud Mustangs coach Alix McArthur, who will meet Barrington in its sectional opener at 4 p.m. Tuesday at host Warren.

The Warren defeat would end the brilliant career of three-time all-state forward Stanciak, who broke countless scoring records this season, including the single season record for goals with 28.

Stanciak will play at St. Louis University in the fall.

Top seed Libertyville (16-1-3) won its own regional title Friday when it smashed Palatine, thanks in part to three goals from junior Shea Krakowski, with teammates Charlotte Harrison and Danica Meller adding to the scoreline.

Krakowski, now with 23 goals on the season, will lead the Wildcats into the Fremd sectional where it will face Glenbrook South (9-6-2) at 5 p.m. Tuesday against Glenbrook South (9-6-6) who ended the season of No. 4 Stevenson (10-5-3) at the Glenbrook South regional.

Lakes Community avenged a loss in penalty kicks to Lake Forest by turning the tables on the host Scouts with a thrilling victory 3-2 in penalties to send the top seed into the Class 2A Deerfield sectional next week.

Hannah Rojas and Michaela Hopkins would give the NLCC champion Eagles (15-2-0) a 2-1 advantage at the half, but the Scouts would equalize at 55 minutes to eventually send this contest into shootout.

Once there, Michaela Hopkins, Raina Schmitt, Rojas, and Cici Hopkins would convert to give Kevin Kullby's club a 4-2 advantage for the victory.

"It really was a case of déjà vu all over again for us, but thankfully the PKs went our way this year," said Kullby, who guided the Eagles to their first regional crown since 2012.

Next up for the Eagles will be No. 4 St. Viator (11-11-1) who would repay a Vernon Hills (8-10-1) club, who one year ago dashed the hopes of-then No. 3 St. Viator in their sectional semifinal victory in penalty kicks.

The Lions took home the Amundsen 2A regional crown on Friday afternoon following its 2-1 win over the host Vikings, who finished at 9-7-3.

Lake Zurich won easily on Friday at the Machesney Park regional with a 5-1 triumph over Hononegah (12-7-0) and will now face FVC champion Huntley (17-1-3) on Tuesday in its sectional semifinal at Warren at 6 p.m.

The No. 4 seed Bears (16-2-2) were led once again by sophomore Reilly Novak, who netted two goals, and now has four in the postseason, with another three assists.

No. 2 seed Fremd (12-6-3) proved to have too much firepower for its MSL rival Rolling Meadows (8-10-2) during a 9-0 win in Hoffman Estates at the Conant regional.

"I feel like we're playing with a lot of confidence right now after we struggled through a stretch of 11 games in nine days," said Vikings junior Gia Gillespie, who along with Lily Mayer, Sami Serpico and Gwen Zimmerman had a hand in seven of the nine goals scored.

The Vikings’ 14th regional title sends them into their own sectional Tuesday to face MSL rival and No. 5 seed Hersey (13-7-2) who earned a hard-fought 2-1 win over No. 3 seed Glenbrook North (16-4-2) at William Lutz Field.

Once again it was Gracie Lisota to the rescue on this sunny Saturday afternoon in Northbrook with the junior's double. Her second goal was the game-winner in the 77th minute ensuring victory for the MSL East champions.

"In a high stakes game like this one (to) have a player like Gracie to come through when we need it most is something every team would like to have," said Huskies coach Mike Rusniak.

Lisota would bag all three in the Huskies’ 3-1 regional semifinal victory over Elk Grove on Thursday, and with the two Saturday she now has 23 on the season.

No. 6 seed Maine South surprised host Loyola Academy to defeat the No. 4 Ramblers (14-6-2) on Friday in Wilmette at Hoerster Field.

The Hawks (12-6-3) will now face the reigning 3A state champ New Trier (21-1-3) on Tuesday evening at the New Trier sectional.

Regional and sectional host Deerfield (14-9-2) would concede an early goal to Carmel Catholic senior Norah Belmonte in Class 2A action before scoring the next three en route to a 3-1 victory Saturday afternoon at Adams Field.

Next up for Deerfield will be reigning 2A state champion Crystal Lake Central (15-4-1) who ended a magnificent season for Grayslake North (11-4-2) with a 4-1 triumph.

Not to be forgotten is the continued remarkable play from DuKane Conference champion Wheaton Warrenville South who earned its 24th regional title in program history following a 2-0 victory at Willowbrook on Friday.

Anna Ittersagen gave the Tigers (17-1-2) a one-goal advantage into the intermission before Kelsey Clousing put the finishing touches on the win over Upstate Eight Conference champion South Elgin for the 14th shutout of the season for Marilyn Dixon.

Guy Callipari’s club will now move on to the Glenbard West sectional where it will face the host Hilltoppers (12-6-4) on Tuesday who won the West Chicago regional crown over Wheaton North.

South Elgin (15-8-2) would enjoy a marvelous season that saw them win nine of its last 10 games, and its last six in a row before its regional final defeat.

UEC West player of the year Neveah Gyurko (23 goals) and teammates Christina Slovik (15 goals) and Avi Hernandez (20 assists) all return next spring.