Girls soccer: Egeland's goal sends Stevenson past New Trier

Stevenson has advanced into the semifinals of the 4th annual Malnati's Deep Dish Pizza semifinals after its hard-fought 1-0 victory Monday night over New Trier in Northfield.

The 3 points the Patriots (6-0-0) earned with its win gives them 6 points overall in group play, with a match with Carmel on Wednesday in Lincolnshire.

The Patriots now await their Thursday night semifinal opponent after group play results.

"It wasn't the prettiest game, but we got the job done to get the three points we came here for," said senior Lily Mahdavian, who was on the 2019 club that beat New Trier (2-0) in the Malnati's final. "We got caught up playing the way New Trier (4-3-2) in the first half (came) out and played a lot more like we know we can - then it was Ellie's great goal for the game-winner."

Ellie is Ellie Egeland, who unloaded an unstoppable left-footed missile from 24 yards that Trevians keeper Caroline Hague would have no chance of stopping seven minutes from time.

"I'm a natural lefty, so after Mimi (Van Zanten) got me the ball, I put it onto my left foot, turned, and just looked to put it on frame," said Egeland.

The Trevians did well with their tactical approach of keeping numbers behind the ball, looking to counter, create dead-ball opportunities, and disrupting the Patriots' attack. However, on the other end of the park, Mahdavian and her backline mates Kaitlyn Hong, Hailey Livesay and Bri Welter would allow the Trevians one good look at keeper Mandy Meliker, who would record the shutout.