Girls soccer: Barrington, Fremd advance to sectional final

MSL powers Barrington and Fremd will play for the fourth and final time in what will be the most important game of the season for both sides.

Barrington weathered a wild MSL champion, and No. 1 seed Barrington (18-3-1) would weather a wild three minute storm in the second half to defeat No. 4 seed Stevenson, 3-2 in the first sectional semifinal at Gary Scholz Stadium, before No. 2 seed, Fremd went easily past Glenbrook North, 3-1, in the second game of the night to advance.

The two long-time rivals will play in the Schaumburg sectional final this Friday at 5 p.m.

"After we had the water break in the 20th minute, we came out an won nearly every 50-50 ball, tackle, balls in the air, and just put so much pressure on them to score two quick goals - but we kind of lost our way a little after the break, and let (Stevenson) back in the game," said Fillies junior, AJ Sanchez.

On this steamy night, it would be the Fillies who looked to have fresher legs, and a higher work rate in the first half, which led to several deep throws, free kicks, and corners.

The opener would come on a free kick from the midline by Whitney Stacey to the back where Gabby Masterson found a way to redirect her header into the back of the Patriots (12-5-2) in the 34th minute.

Four minutes later, Stacey curled her in swinging left footed corner into the Patriots net.

"We knew (Barrington) would come out an play direct, look to counter, create dead-ball opportunities, and play with an aggressive, physical style," began Patriots coach Jay Bulev.

"We did not deal with it very well in the first half, but, much to the credit of this team, we came out really strong after the break, went to a 4-4-2 formation, and put a lot of pressure on them to get back within one goal, before we conceded their third goal so quickly."

Sydney An unloaded an unstoppable 30-yard cracker to halve the Fillies lead at 2-1 in the 47th minute.

Sophomore Olivia Otto immediately pulled one back for the Fillies when she ran onto a deep throw to steer in her close range attempt.

However, Morgan McKelvey brought the Patriots right back into sixty seconds later.

It would be a frantic final half hour, with both sides creating chances, that were silenced thanks to some first class defensive work.

"We could have been better in that second half, but Stevenson was a very good opponent, and I thought we met the challenge with a lot of heart, energy, and grit," said Fillies coach Ryan Stengren.

The Fillies would defeat Fremd in dramatic fashion two weeks ago in penalty kicks to win its 14th consecutive league title, one week after the Vikings won the MSL West division after its 1-0 victory over Barrington.

Fremd (15-6-1) went out to a 3-0 lead over No. 3 seed Glenbrook North, and would never look back en route to a well deserved 3-1 victory in the second semifinal.

Senior Lily Mayer got the Vikings off to a flying start when she bagged her 10th of the season in the 5th minute on a marvelous assist from Sami Serpico, who returned the favor at 20 minutes with a blistering left-footer just under the roof.

"We always talk about being the first to score, and how important it is for our confidence, and to help set the tone for the rest of the game," said Mayer, who recorded the assist on Serpico's 18th of the season.

"Sami (Serpico) has a left foot that is so dangerous, and there is not anyone around that plays the way that Gwen (Zimmerman) does, with her great speed, ability to create for herself, and others, and her incredible strength in the air," said a gracious GBN coach Seong Ha.

The Spartans (18-5-2) would enjoy its windiest season in program history, while scoring its second highest amount of goals (89) ever.

Zimmerman would add another to the scoreline in the 46th minute when she thumped a powerful header into the net from a Serpico corner.

The Vikings kept 19-goal scorer Caitlyn Panek from her reaching 20 goals, albeit with a touch of good luck when Panek rattled the bar in the 6th minute that required Ruth Helms to clear off the line.

Senior Morgan Link drove her 40-yard free kick high into the back of the Vikings net in the 58th minute to end the hopes of a shutout by Veda Vinod.