Girls water polo: Undefeated Naperville North rolls to sectional crown

Something called COVID-19 prevented a very talented Naperville North girls water polo team from chasing an elusive state title in 2020, but on Saturday morning the Huskies proved yet again that 2021 may very well end up being the program's magical season.

The top-seeded and unbeaten Huskies (26-0) started fast in the sectional championship against Naperville Central and then punched their way to the state quarterfinals with an impressive 13-2 defeat of their rivals in the Waubonsie Valley sectional title played at North. A solid Redhawks squad closes out the year 21-4, with three of their setbacks coming to the state's top-ranked team.

Naperville North senior star Anna Tarantino scored the first of her five goals just seconds into the match and she added three more tallies in the opening quarter as the Huskies stormed ahead 6-1 after seven minutes of play. The strong start, coupled with North's stout defense, helped send the Huskies on the road in search of a third straight state trophy.

"That's a big thing with water polo is you want to start strong, otherwise you're playing catch-up the entire game," said Tarantino, who will play Division I water polo at Loyola Marymount next year. "What's the saying, 'Defense makes the best offense?' You can't win many games without playing defense."

The Huskies extended their lead to 10-1 at the half and the margin reached 13-1 in the final quarter before the Redhawks' Allie Guccione set up teammate Amanda Blanton for the final goal of the match. Junior Annie Hunter tallied Central's first goal back in the first quarter.

"My freshman year we took third place and my sophomore year second," Tarantino said. "Obviously we lost last year (to COVID), so it was 3, 2 and now this year we're looking to finish out the countdown. We've been waiting for this. Being off the whole year kind of built up our want in this."

Claire Jansen, Sarah Crossett and freshman Kelsey Wessel each tallied a pair of goals for Naperville North, which opens play at the state tournament at Fenwick Wednesday afternoon against Lyons Township, a 14-8 winner over Mother McAuley. Center defender Wessell helped guard Central's top threat Sophia Bleuher throughout the match, and both Huskies goalies Grace Raquel and Ella Selman were sharp in the net when called upon.

Redhawks coach Jeff Plackett, who has guided the program to four state runner-up finishes, played water polo for the Huskies coach Andy McWhirter. He agrees that North's team may just be ready to win it all this spring.

"This Huskies team reminded us of the first time we played in a state championship," Plackett recalls looking back more than a decade. "We ran into a Fenwick team that year and lost 14-2. I told the girls today, I don't remember a high school team this good since we played them."

Central competed in its 18th consecutive sectional final on Saturday, with every one since 2013 pitting the two Naperville rivals against one another. This year it's the Huskies who are moving on with another crack at that elusive first place trophy.