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Neuqua Valley defense does it all

The Neuqua Valley defense wanted in on the action.

The Wildcats got goals from a pair of defenders - the first goal coming just 31 seconds into the match - and defeated Hinsdale Central 2-0 at the Class 3A Lewis University girls soccer supersectional.

"Defense wins championships, I guess," Wildcats goalkeeper Hannah Parrish said with a wry smile, "in more ways than one."

The Wildcats (18-3-2) will play Collinsville at 5 p.m. Friday at North Central College's Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium in the state semifinals. It is the Wildcats' first trip to state since winning the championship in 2005.

Sophomore left back Nicole Mondi wasted no time winning the lead for the Wildcats when her 32-yard shot slipped in just under the crossbar. The play was something Mondi has been working on - when her sore right hamstring allowed her to practice.

"With my hamstring I even thought I wasn't going to get there, but I just had the right form on it and it was perfectly placed," Mondi said.

"She has been working on getting the ball laid back to her and then getting the ball to the back 6(-yard box)," Wildcats coach Joe Moreau added.

The goal had an effect on Hinsdale Central (19-7).

"Even though there was that psychological meltdown, breakdown, whatever you want to call it, the girls did respond," Red Devils coach Michael Smith said. "Yeah, there was a little bit of a lull, but they said, you know what, let's go back to what we're doing."

The second goal came in 63rd minute. Lauren Ciesla's free kick near the sideline, almost like a corner kick, found center back Dannah Williams. Despite having a tooth knocked loose earlier in the match, Williams scored on a diving header.

"We game-planned to man-mark (Williams) and she still scored," Smith said.

Along with center back Sophia Moreau and right back Tatiana Espinoza, the Wildcats defense limited Hinsdale Central to 7 shots, 4 of them on goal, but none of them all that challenging to Parrish.

"They just play hard, aggressive without fouling," Moreau said, "and they cut service to the ball. They give great support angles. It's solid. You've got to trust your goalie to make a couple of saves a game, and she does that."

"I have a really solid back line," Parrish added.

Hinsdale Central noticed that too.

"Let's be honest. Give credit to Neuqua," Smith said. "Their back line is phenomenal. Their left back (Mondi), she was a player we were avoiding, trying to attack her head on. Why? Because she's that strong. Their left-sided center back (Williams), she's a phenomenal player. Their back line in itself, they're a quality group. We knew we were going to have to have some players do some special things to break them down."

Follow Orrin on Twitter @Orrin_Schwarz

  Lauren Ciesla of Neuqua Valley and Kaitlyn Livingston of Hinsdale Central vie for the ball during the Neuqua Valley vs. Hinsdale Central girls soccer supersectional at Lewis University Tuesday. Paul Michna/pmichna@dailyherald.com
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