Girls soccer roundup: Stevenson shows well in loss to No. 1 New Trier; Lake Zurich wins own invite

With week No. 4 of the 2026 soccer season drawing to a close, it signals the start of spring tournament time.

The high profile Malnati's Deep Dish Invite Classic starts things off followed next week by the prestigious Naperville Invite.

Stevenson opened play at the Malnati's Saturday afternoon in Northfield at host New Trier, currently the No. 1 team in the state, and the Patriots turned in a solid 80-performance in a 2-0 loss at Robert Naughton Field.

"We obviously knew coming in that New Trier is one of the best, if not the best team in the state, so I felt like we played really well even with this loss," said Stevenson junior Morgan McKelvey.

"Our effort all throughout the game was very good. They beat us to some balls and scored two really good goals, but I was very proud of the effort from everyone," added junior Abby Samson, whose work rate in the middle of the park was magnificent.

The Patriots (3-1-1) will continue tourney play Monday when they host Loyola Academy (5-0-1) who beat Lane 1-0 Saturday to stay atop group No. 1 along with their neighbor New Trier.

London McCaffery would give the home side the only goal it would need in the fifth minute with a lovely one-timer past keeper Reese Yoo, who had no chance on the opener.

Washington University commit Grace Harper, along with her backline mates Kelsey Krull, Cleo Sadler, and Rylee Shields, did well to keep the Trevians’ two-time all-state star Addy Randall (7 goals, 4 assists) from breaking out. On the other side of the park McKelvey, Samson, Emma Pop, and freshman Ariana Glavatsky all helped pressure the Trevians’ vaunted backline.

Claire Gallagher would thump her header high into the back of the net, rising up to meet a Randall corner, to double New Trier’s advantage in the 47th minute.

Lake Zurich, Libertyville win: NSC rivals Lake Zurich and Libertyville enjoyed perfect tournament results themselves.

Lake Zurich claimed its own invite championship by going 3-0-0 over three days of play.

Reilly Novak's four-goal day Thursday helped the Bears cruise past Hampshire, then in an early Saturday contest, the tourney host beat state-ranked Glenbrook North 2-1 with Zoe Chung scoring and helping on Emily Bowen’s game-winner.

Later on, the Bears (5-2-1) put the finishing touches on its championship effort with a 2-0 victory over Lakes Community.

Bowen scored both goals in this contest, with Kelly Nelson earning the win between the sticks.

The Bears host Elk Grove in a nonconference match Monday.

Lakes Community (2-4-0) was 1-2 at the tournament with its lone victory coming Saturday morning on the turf at May Whitney Field over Hampshire.

The Eagles exploded for five second half goals in an 8-0 triumph over the Whips (2-6).

"It was nice to score some goals in this game. (It) gave us a chance to get everyone into the game," said Eagles coach Kevin Kullby.

"We've had some disappointing results, but we played well in our loss to Glenbrook North on Thursday (whose) coach said we were organized, disciplined and had a lot of quality to our play," added Kullby.

"I feel like we're finally coming together as a team. There is so much more chemistry. I feel like the new players to our roster have a better idea of what is expected of them," said senior Anya Silber, the Eagles’ terrific midfielder who will attend Missouri in the fall, where she will pursue a degree in nursing.

The Eagles were off and running in the first quarter hour, scoring three with Macy Samulak's angled effort in the fifth minute the actual game-winner.

Cici Hopkins’ left-footed missile made it 2-0 before Raina Schmitt added another with help from Silber, who had three assists.

Caroline Klimas, Samulak, Leah Rojas, Brooklyn Miles, and Audrey Deck would all get their names in the scorebook, as would Grace Hener and Grace Coughlin, who shared the shutout.

The Eagles host Maine South on Wednesday, while the Whips are in Algonquin to play Jacobs on Tuesday.

"It's been a little rough for us, but I feel our schedule will help prepare us for the rest of the season, and particularly play in the FVC which begins this week," said Whips coach Brad Crim.

Reigning NSC champion and Class 2A power Libertyville is now 4-0-1 after its hard fought 1-0 victory over Lyons Township in Malnati's play Saturday morning at Bennett Stadium in LaGrange.

Senior Meghan O'Donnell claimed the game-winner halfway through the second period to give keeper Tatiana Valdez her third shutout of the season.

The Wildcats will continue group play Monday when they travel to Naperville North (4-1-0) who defeated Lake Forest, 1-0, in its Malnati's opener.