Leary, Neuqua Valley celebrate tourney championship

After spending the past 31/2 years in Belgium, Neuqua Valley junior Noelle Leary is still adjusting to American high school soccer.

She seemed to make the adjustment pretty well Saturday afternoon when her first goal of the season gave the Wildcats a 2-1 victory against Downers Grove South and the Downers Grove South Tournament championship.

"I saw the cross coming in and it was a great cross (from Morgan Mulcahy)," Leary said. "I just ran through and I was thinking, keep it down, no happy birthday headers - where it pops straight up in the air - but I was just thinking run through it."

Leary kept the ball down, giving her teammates a reason to celebrate that had nothing to do with birthdays.

"That was a beautiful goal by Noelle in the second half," Wildcats coach Joe Moreau said. "We talk about attacking the ball in the air, and that's exactly what she did."

The Mustangs (4-2) took advantage of the wind at their backs in the first half, putting pressure on the Neuqua Valley goal and winning a penalty kick in the 15th minute. Megan Martin converted the PK for a 1-0 lead.

The Wildcats (3-0-1) evened the game just before halftime when freshman Gianna Dal Pozzo took an Allie McBride pass, cut the ball back near the penalty spot and drilled home the tying goal.

"That was extremely important because the last thing you want to do is start the (second) half down because you don't want to have to chase the game in the second half," Leary said. "From my experience it's the worst thing ever that can happen."

Despite the loss Downers Grove South coach Barry Jacobson was happy with the way his team played.

"We played well," Jacobson said. "We played a nice game. A little better first half than second, but I thought we played well. Our keeper (Amanda Meyers) played outstanding. So we had a lot of positives."

The win over Downers South added to tourney wins over Lincoln-Way Central and Hinsdale Central for the Wildcats.

"Winning the tournament is not a big deal," Moreau said. "It's that you're playing three quality programs. All three are well-coached. ... Coaching-wise, it's bragging rights between the four of us."