Girls soccer: Buescher, Naperville North step up to defeat Neuqua Valley for sectional title

As a defender, Naperville North senior Emily Buescher knows all about pressure.

She put that knowledge to use while putting the ball at teammate Claire DeCook’s feet in what proved to be the game-winning play as the Huskies defeated Neuqua Valley 2-1 in Friday’s Class 3A Naperville North sectional championship game.

Naperville North (15-5-3) advances to the Streamwood supersectional at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday where Wheaton Warrenville South (19-1-2) awaits.

“It’s a great feeling and I think we have a really, really special group,” Buescher said. “Like we do everything together, you know. We just want more games together so that in of itself is a blessing and to do that on our home field, which is just amazing, especially as a senior. You know, I leave really soon so the fact that I get to spend just a few more days with these people makes me so happy.”

Buescher sent a long ball toward DeCook that resulted in a handball call with just 3:09 remaining in a 1-1 game.

DeCook then buried the penalty kick, something she’s done with frequency this spring. She also made one earlier in the week in the sectional semifinal win over Benet.

“It's really nice because freshman year here and my stomach probably drops, and this year I was like, ‘Oh my God, this is our chance to get ahead,’” DeCook said. “My mindset was positive. It would be so positive that I only thought about this is how we get our lead, and it was just an amazing feeling.”

Neuqua Valley (16-4) had fought back to tie the game at 1-1 with 25:01 remaining after junior Sydney Michalak fired in a 25-yard shot on a ball that was headed out her way.

“We knew at halftime that our problem was giving them time and we were not wanting it enough,” Neuqua Valley coach Arnoldo Gonzalez said, “We were not taking our chances because we weren’t connecting. In the second half we were connecting and creating chances, but unfortunately didn’t capitalize on more than that one.”

Naperville North took a 1-0 lead with 13:53 remaining in the first half on a play that started with a corner kick from Abby Penn.

Penn sent it across the box and it ultimately popped out in the direction of DeCook, who lined it into the back of the net.

“It got jumbled somewhere,” DeCook said. “I just saw that they cleared it in between someone's legs. and I just saw an opening and everyone had their back to me, so I just decided to look up and shoot it.”