Libertyville senior Pru Babat wasn’t in any hurry.
After watching her teammates successfully convert the first four penalty kicks during the shootout phase against New Trier on Tuesday, Babat calmly strolled to the line for her attempt.
“I just wanted to do the same thing that I do in practice,” she said.
So Babat adjusted her captain’s arm band and wiped at the PK mark with her foot.
Then she blasted the ball into the net.
Babat’s goal clinched Libertyville’s 1-0 victory in the Class 3A New Trier Supersectional in Northfield, not that she had thought about the possible ramifications of her shot.
“I didn’t even know I was the deciding factor,” she said. “I just went up and shot my PK and called it a day. I just thought I had to make my PK.”
The Wildcats (18-2-2), who prevailed 5-3 in the shootout, will play Barrington in a state semifinal at North Central College at 5 p.m. Friday. Libertyville’s second trip to state in three seasons under coach Daniel DePaz comes after the May 22 death of Andy Bitta, who started the program and was the coach for the first of its two state titles in 1991.
Junior goalkeeper Kate Hopma made six saves against New Trier (23-4-1) through regulation and two overtime periods.
“It’s awesome to be going to state,” DePaz said. “New Trier had us back in our half for quite a while in the second half. We kept digging. We’ve been battle-tested, and we responded strong mentally and physically. I’m proud of these girls for digging deep.”
Libertyville’s strong back line allowed Babat to move from defender to midfielder this season, and DePaz said her ability to influence a game in multiple ways has been a key factor in the team’s late-season surge. The Wildcats are unbeaten in their past 16 games.
“We have some smart and quick players on defense,” DePaz said. “I think how tough she is and how she will challenge everything is why we put her in the middle. That’s where everything is going to be fought for. She’s a fantastic player.”
Babat also scored the tying goal in the 78th minute of a 4-3 overtime win against Hersey in the Glenbrook North Sectional semifinals last week.
“I try not to think about it too much and try to enjoy the moment and playing with my teammates,” she said.
Babat, who is not planning to play in college, said she didn’t have any concerns about her career ending if she missed the penalty kick on Tuesday.
“I just have been playing one game at a time,” she said. “This is nothing I haven’t experienced before.”
Molly Koch scored on Libertyville’s fourth PK attempt to set up Babat’s clincher. Koch called it a fitting moment, considering Babat helped her transition to the varsity team when she was a freshman.
“We were on the JV team together three years ago, and that’s when we got close, and we’ve been on the same team since then,” Koch said. “She’s really been a mentor to me, like a big sister. She guides me so much on the field and encourages me when I mess up.
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“I knew she was going to make that final PK. She’s been stone cold in those situations ever since I’ve known her.”
Bobby Narang is a freelance reporter for the News-Sun.