Van Kampen’s goal lifts Naperville North past Neuqua Valley

Naperville North junior Jillian Van Kampen hasn’t been a goal scorer for the Huskies this season. In fact Van Kampen hadn’t scored all spring heading into Wednesday’s Class 3A Naperville North sectional semifinal against Neuqua Valley.

Although her intentions were to serve an almost 40-yard boot to her teammates, Van Kampen ended up delivering a perfect shot attempt with 26:59 remaining in the second half to lift the Huskies to a 2-1 victory.

Neuqua Valley sophomore goalkeeper Courtney Keefer had no chance of Van Kampen’s game-winner from the left sideline. It allowed the Huskies to advance to Friday’s sectional championship against Lockport.

“Honestly, I was crossing it,” Van Kampen said. “You can tell everyone that it was a shot and I’ll take it. One touch and I got lucky.”

Not only was it Van Kampen’s first goal of the season but her first goal as a Huskie.

“Jill’s been such a great piece of our team this year and often goes unnoticed,” Naperville North coach Steve Goletz said. “She serves the ball consistently and is such a great attacking piece. I can’t be more happy for somebody. She hit a great ball.”

Neuqua Valley (16-5-2) had a few opportunities to draw even at 2-2 but fell short. The best chances for the Wildcats may have come with less than a minute remaining as Hope D’Addario came up empty on a pair of direct kicks.

“I thought we played a good game,” Neuqua Valley coach Joe Moreau said. “We really worked the ball around and played good soccer. This is what happens in the game sometimes.”

Naperville North (20-1-2) made a statement early, scoring in the fourth minute as Zoe Swift set up Cora Climo. The lead was short-lived though as the Wildcats answered back less than 10 minutes later when Gianna Dal Pozzo delivered a header on a nice feed from D’Addario.

It was the third straight time the Huskies beat the Wildcats this season. They also stunned the Wildcats in the postseason last year.