New Trier girls soccer coach Jim Burnside has ample experience trying to defend a state championship.
After winning his first title with New Trier in 2003, the Trevians won again in 2004. They then finished second in 2005. New Trier won another state title in 2006, but despite making the state tournament in 2007, the Trevians didn’t place, much less defend.
New Trier once again is defending a state championship after finishing first in Class 3A last spring. It is scheduled to play Loyola on Friday, May 29, in the Class 3A Evanston Sectional final.
“There definitely are challenges to doing it,” Burnside said. “You have to be up for every game, no matter who you are playing. That’s really tough.”
Center back Caroline Smith, who started on defense during last season’s 31-1 campaign, said the Trevians have had to be mentally strong all season long.
“You know every team is coming at you and wants to bump you off,” said Smith, a senior. “You can’t take it easy. We’ve approached every game as an opportunity to get better, and we’ve done our best to focus on that game.”
Burnside said the biggest key to the success this spring has been the way the Trevians (23-1-1) have played together.
“We easily could be 18-2-3 or whatever, but we are getting different people on different days to step up for us,” he said. “That’s the sign of a strong team, and that is what wins games for you. [If] you don’t have a team that can help carry the load, you will lose games.”
In the regular-season finale on Friday, May 15, Fremd scored an early goal that shocked the Trevians, according to Burnside. But New Trier’s defense shut down the Vikings the rest of the way for a 3-1 win.
“They were coming at us hard and got one,” Burnside said. “We locked it down, though, and didn’t allow the momentum to build. I think that gave our offense the confidence to go forward.”
The offense picked up the defense on Saturday, May 23, in the Class 3A regional final against host Niles West. Although the Trevians didn’t break the scoreless tie until sophomore forward Natalie Laser’s goal in the final minute of the first half, they quickly poured in the goals after intermission to win 7-0.
“The longer a game is scoreless, the more you panic a little or worry, especially if it’s the playoffs,” said Smith, one of four captains. “That first goal was super key. It changed the momentum of the game. I know the defense was happy.”
Even with the extra burden of being the defending state champ, Smith said it’s been a fun final season for her.
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“Last year, we had something to prove,” she said. “But now that we started this season on top, we still are proving things to ourselves. There is extra pressure, sure, but we’ve been ready for it. We haven’t let up at all.”
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