Waubonsie Valley’s reign as the best girls soccer team in Illinois has come to an end.
Naperville North knocked off the two-time defending Class AA champion 2-1 Friday evening for the Bolingbrook sectional championship. The Huskies (19-2-3) will play Hinsdale Central in Tuesday’s Benedictine University supersectional for a berth in next weekend’s Class 3A Final Four.
Waubonsie Valley, which went undefeated the last two seasons before having a 59-match unbeaten streak snapped by Naperville Central in March, finished 19-4.
The Illinois High School Association this season moved from a two-class to a three-class format in girls soccer.
“I know they wanted to three-peat, but this feels so good to stop it,” Naperville North senior midfielder Jessica Arabia said. “They were coming in here chanting, ‘We are Waubonsie.’ We were all thinking, ‘Well, we’re North.’ “
More Top Picks Heaters Patio
The Huskies stunned Waubonsie with an early goal, led 2-0 at the half and then held on through a furious final 20 minutes.
North got on the board just 2:54 into the contest when junior Rycke Guiney attempted a cross from the left side, only to watch her spinning pass ricochet off several Waubonsie players and into the back of the net.
Naperville North’s first goal may have stunned Waubonsie, but it was a prelude of things to come. The Huskies played inspired soccer throughout the first half, putting four excellent corner kicks into the goal box and firing five solid shots on goal.
After a flurry of back-and-fourth action, the Huskies added to their lead as Arabia’s 38-yard bending indirect kick bounced perfectly to freshman Hunter Drendel, who headed the ball over the reach of Waubonsie keeper Claire Hanold for a 2-0 advantage with 5:19 remaining.
“I think they were stunned we were up two goals at the half,” Guiney said. “And it was huge. But it made for a pretty scary second half.”
Waubonsie turned the tables early in the second with a flurry of scoring chances in the first 5 minutes, including a low bullet from Ali Stahlke that was turned away by a sprawling Allie Flessner. On the ensuing corner, several Waubonsie shots were turned away before sophomore Megan Green collected a rebound off the top crossbar and delivered a soft dribbler into the lower left-hand corner of the net to cut the deficit to 2-1 just 4:43 into the half.
With its season on the line, Waubonsie dominated the rest of the game, firing five shots on goal. The Warriors best chances came with 10:45 left when they had two solid shots following a corner kick turned away.
“They’re the best team in the state,” Guiney said. “And now knowing that we beat them twice this year is absolutely incredible.”