Girls soccer previews
Class 3A sectional previews
Bartlett (At Streamwood's Millennium Field)
Today's semifinals
No. 1 St. Charles North (12-1-3) vs. No. 4 Geneva (10-7-3), 4:30 p.m.
All-state candidates Leah DeMoss (St. Charles North) and Emily Hinchman of Geneva will be the central figures to watch in the opener in a match that came to be after North crushed its first opponents and Geneva defeated St. Charles East on Saturday in a shootout 6-5.
No. 2 Conant (16-1-2) vs. No. 3 Bartlett (17-7-1), 6:30 p.m.
Despite having the run of play for nearly 80 minutes Friday, Cougars needed game-winner midway through second half to defeat Wheaton North 1-0 to advance into sectionals. Plenty of weapons in Cougars attack will challenge Hawks, who won their first regional crown despite giving up 4 goals in 5-4 decision over Schaumburg after building 3-0 lead.
Championship: Friday, 6:30 p.m.
Advancement: Sectional champion advances to Barrington supersectional to play Jacobs champion at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, June 2.
At Jacobs
Today's semifinals
No. 1 Boylan (16-6-1) vs. No. 1 Huntley (24-1-1), 6 p.m.
The state-ranked Red Raiders recorded their 19th shutout of the season with a win over Cary-Grove to earn its spot in today's semifinal. The three-time FVC champs have a 64-5-1 overall record during that time. The Titans captured the NIC-10 title this spring and were runners-up to Barrington at the Fillies tournament in late April.
No. 1 Barrington (18-3-3) vs. No. 3 McHenry (12-10-0), 8 p.m.
Fillies' attack has erupted during their first two postseason matches, while GK Kelly Pedersen can thank her backline mates of Emmelie Hirdes, Liz Sauer, Amy Johnson and Claire McGillem, who have been water tight all season long. Mary Kubiuk has 24 goals. McHenry posted its second-consecutive postseason upset en route to its regional title after defeating Woodstock 1-0.
Championship: 7 p.m. Friday
Advancement: Sectional champ advances to Barrington supersectional to play Bartlett champion at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, June 2
At Libertyville
Wednesday's semifinals
No. 1 Lake Forest (18-2-1) vs. No. 4 Fremd (16-4-1), 4:30 p.m.
Rachel Quon and Nicole Lipp are Scouts' dynamic duo of all-state candidates the Fremd backline of Danielle Romano, Lisa Christ, Kathleen Holmberg and Natalie Kirchner will need to keep an eye on. Vikings survived 2-1 overtime match with upset-minded Mundelein to stay alive for another day.
No. 2 Glenbrook S. (19-1-4) vs. No. 6 Hersey (11-6-3), 6:30 p.m.
Central Suburban South co-champion Titans boast their own all-state candidate in Jannelle Flaws, who scored her 38th of the season in a 2-1 victory over St. Viator last Friday afternoon.
The Huskies, just as their MSL Soccer Bowl opponent Fremd, recorded a 1-0 OT win at Warren when Kathryn Korff finished a Kristen Gierman serve.
Championship: 7 p.m. Friday
Advancement: Sectional champ advances to Niles West supersectional to play Evanston sectional champion at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, June 2.
- Mike Garofola