Waubonsie Valley 1, St. Charles North 0

If she doesn't already have a driver's license, Waubonsie Valley sophomore Vanessa DiBernardo better steer clear of St. Charles when she gets one.

There are quite a few people there that might like a word with her.

One year after she scored an overtime goal to beat St. Charles East in a Class AA supersectional game, DiBernardo repeated her supersectional heroics in a 1-0 Warriors' win over St. Charles North on Monday.

"We pressured them, they stayed strong, but we knew it would go in one of those times," said DiBerndardo. "Our goal was to shoot a lot, and their goalie was really good today."

It wasn't until the game's 89th minute that DiBernardo was able to get behind the North Stars' back line, take a pass from Bri Rodriguez, and chip a ball into goal at Benedictine University in Lisle.

St. Charles North goalkeeper Vicki Traven put forth a courageous and stellar effort, and a solid majority of her 15 saves were exceptional. The senior stemmed the tide of 9 second-half Waubonsie shots on frame.

"Vicki Traven had, like, 50 awesome saves," Rodriguez said. "She was amazing."

The defending state champion Warriors (23-0-1) extended their unbeaten streak to 55 games over two seasons, earning a 17-6 edge in shots on frame over the North Stars (18-6).

St. Charles North pressured into its attacking third through 10 minutes of play, before the Waubonsie attack began playing consistently to feet and working the ball into the final third.

Traven left her line to stuff a Catherine McClellan shot in the 13th minute, and left her feet to stop a pair of Rodriguez blasts headed for pay dirt before halftime.

"(Traven) was awesome," said North Stars coach Ruth Vostal. "She came up with big saves, over and over and over again."

"If we were able to get it to (penalty kicks), it might have been a different story."

The Warriors held the North Stars without a shot on goal in the second half to earn their 19th shutout of the year. Rodriguez, DiBernardo, and the Waubonsie attack kept steady pressure on to end of regulation.

"We were doing our best and just couldn't finish. I'm proud of our effort because we never stopped," said Warriors senior Rachel Bostick. "We just don't want to lose."

In overtime, DiBernardo broke into the penalty area behind the defense and chipped a Rodriguez feed into net from 14 yards out over a charging Traven. There was some controversy over whether DiBernardo was offside on the play, but the goal stood up.

Waubonsie Valley meets Maine South on Friday at 4 p.m. at North Central College in Naperville, where last year the Warriors constructed the school's first team state title in any sport.

"Now we know what to expect, but there's no difference in how we're going in," Bostick said. "One game at a time."

DiBernardo became the first player in the postseason to score a goal on St. Charles North, snapping a streak of 7 consecutive North Stars shutouts.

"Hayley (Nothnagel), our sweeper, was really composed, and she helped pick up anyone that got by," Vostal said. "But I thought we were solid everywhere in back."

Senior Lauren Ostarello moved up a spot in the middle of the field to help neutralize Bostick, while Maggie Hamilton and then Annette Gwozdz marked Rodriguez, and Lauren Stoecklin shadowed Rodriguez around the park.

"Everyone played awesome. I thought we kept up with them for 90 minutes," Ostarello said. "Everyone fulfilled their role this year on defense, and a lot of it had to do with coaching."

"Our coaching this year was outstanding. They know who all the good players are, who we had to shut down, and the best way to do it. They kept us prepared."

"And whether they played 80 minutes or 10 minutes, everyone played their role and we played as a team. I think this team can go so far next year."