Girls soccer: Barrington blanks South Elgin

Megan McClure must know what it's like to be a target in a shooting gallery.

Barrington pelted the South Elgin goalkeeper with shots all evening long. McClure stood tall and made some great saves, but the Fillies found the back of the net enough for the win.

Jen Devona and Rebecca Shomaker scored and the Fillies' midfield stifled the Storm as Barrington came away with a 2-0 win in the semifinals of the Class 3A Rockford Guilford sectional.

The Fillies moved one step closer to a state title 3-peat. They can take the next step Friday when they face Cary-Grove for the sectional title. The Trojans defeated Rockton Hononegah by the identical 2-0 score.

The combination of McClure and the wind howling across Swanson Stadium made it difficult for the Fillies to finish chances.

"We moved the ball around really well," said Barrington coach Ryan Stengren. "We played smart. We were a very smart team with the weather and the way the other team was playing. We created a lot of chances. The score wasn't indicative of all the chances we created.

"Their goalie played very well. I was very impressed with their goalie."

Devona scored near the midway point of the first half to give the Fillies all the offense they needed. Her shot from the right side of the net about 10 yards away nestled into the far side of the net.

Just about 40 minutes later, Shomaker added an insurance goal. She quickly accelerated through the defense and beat McClure with a shot on the ground from about 10 yards out.

Meanwhile, Barrington's defense and midfield wouldn't give the Storm anything. South Elgin didn't record a shot on goal in the second half and the ball barely crossed midfield.

Offensively, the Fillies kept up the pressure, firing 7 shots in the second half alone. That didn't count Tina Teik missing just high after a great cross from Devona. Teik also hit the crossbar late in the first half.