Hersey 2, Fremd 0

Rosie White was working relentlessly to control the ball for Hersey midway through the second half of the Mid-Suburban League Cup at Fremd on Thursday night

White's hard work resulted in a foul on Fremd. Although it didn't produce a goal, it showed the lengths Hersey was willing to go to achieve a goal its girls soccer program had never attained.

Thanks to 2 dead ball goals in the second half by junior Kristen Gierman and another stellar defensive effort the Huskies celebrated their first MSL title with a 2-0 victory.

Getting a hold of the MSL title trophy was something White and Jackie Drees pursued since they were freshmen on the varsity when Hersey lost its first try at an MSL title 4-0 to Barrington.

"Compared to our freshman year we have such a better work ethic and that's what won it for us," said White, the MSL East player of the year. "It feels great to get rewarded for all of our hard work."

It wasn't easy as Hersey (15-2-4) had to win for the second time this season at defending and six-time MSL champion Fremd (14-3-1).

But the Huskies, who won the first meeting 2-1 two weeks ago, got their 13th shutout behind Gierman, White, Amanda Slove, Andrea Perkins, Kathryn Korff and keeper Julia Fredian.

"To beat a team like this in a big match, it means a lot," said Hersey coach Brad Abel. "For some of the girls it was truly now or never."

Hersey -- which had five all-conference seniors in Drees, White, Slove, Sarah Stoltzner and Chelsea Santora -- was fine with a scoreless tie at halftime against the wind.

"I know we were all really nervous," White said.

"I know I had jitters today," Gierman said. "A lot of us were very nervous and also excited at the same time."

Gierman, who has 14 assists, helped calm those jitters in the first two minutes of the second half. Her free kick from just inside midfield resulted in a handball about 20 yards from the goal.

Gierman then hooked her free kick over the Fremd wall and into the left side of the net for the only goal Hersey needed with 38:34 left.

"I worked a lot on that one before the game (with Fredian) and I was able to repeat it," Gierman said. "I didn't want to put it in the wall. I tried to bend it around as best I could."

Fremd did have some solid chances but a header off a wild scramble in front popped over the bar. Kaitlyn Kinsella turned and fired from 18 yards but Fredian made a leaping save at 14:10.

"They put us under tremendous pressure," said Fremd coach Steve Keller of Hersey's defense. "When you have no time to play that does a lot to you. We weren't able to settle down and play and I think we panicked a little bit."

After Maeva Waterman was taken down in the box, Gierman sealed it with a penalty kick at 8:18 that deflected off a diving Allison Norenberg.

"We're going to enjoy this one for a little bit," Abel said.