Girls soccer: Martin provides clutch goal for Naperville North at Neuqua Valley
Naperville North has been looking for someone it can count on for a clutch goal. That player might be emerging.
Sophomore Hannah Martin scored her fifth goal of the season in the 56th minute Tuesday to give the Huskies a 1-0 DuPage Valley Conference girls soccer victory at Neuqua Valley.
"Hannah's got a ton of potential," Huskies coach Steve Goletz said. "Hannah's a gifted athlete. She's good enough technically. I think she knows she can be better technically. I think for Hannah it's the mindset of knowing that she can step on the field and be the best attacking kid. We expect that out of her every day, but until she really deep-down believes that she can be that good in moments like this, in huge games, should hopefully give her confidence."
The victory gave the Huskies a 9-2-3 record, 4-1 in the DVC. They still have allowed just six goals this season, and it showed in the way the defense played against Neuqua Valley.
If they can get the offense rolling, they could have another long postseason run.
"It's been hard. I think we're working on it," Martin said. "As Goletz said we're not as good linking passes right now but the ball over the top is big for us, and with our speed and athleticism up there, I think it's really starting to work for us."
The result made the conference standings even tighter. Both Neuqua Valley and Naperville North have one league loss apiece. Wheaton Warrenville South also suffered its first defeat of the season Tuesday, 3-1 at Waubonsie Valley. Metea Valley and Waubonsie Valley each have two DVC losses.
"It's a big win for us," Martin said. "I mean they're just as good as us. They're a great program and they're physical and they played a great game tonight. I think it just comes down to that one chance and I think we had it tonight."
When she took the shot Martin couldn't see the goal through the defenders. Near the left corner of the 6-yard box, she lofted the ball toward the far post, finding net.
"It was a great team effort to get down into the corner, and I just happened to get the right turn off the corner and those girls happened to go the other way and I just took a shot, knowing that we had to put one in tonight and it was a big win for us," Martin said.
Meanwhile, the Wildcats (6-4, 3-1) regretted their missed chances.
"In the first half when we controlled the play we have to be able to finish," Neuqua Valley coach Joe Moreau said. "We can't keep them in the game with three balls dropping in the box on the corner kicks. Right there at the 6 and no one's going to get it. Want to score. But they hit a great strike for a goal. Game's over."