Girls soccer: In another classic, Lundy’s goal lifts Barrington over Fremd
Barrington vs. Fremd, nothing can be better during the spring soccer season.
In a highly anticipated contest between these two long-time rivals and state powers, visiting Barrington would stun the Vikings when a 78th minute goal from Skye Lundy gave the Fillies a 1-0 win at Hildebrandt Field in Palatine.
The Fillies, under pressure to claim three points after an early season draw to Hersey, came close to finding the back of the net minutes earlier, watched Lundy steer in the game-winner past a diving Jazz Ocampo to send the Fillies bench into orbit.
"We played with a lot of heart today. It was an amazing finish to an amazing game (one) that looked to end in a 0-0 draw which would basically end our chances in the division," said Fillies coach Ryan Stengren.
The victory gives the reigning league champions a 6-0-1 record, good for 19 points, while the Vikings now stand at 4-1-0 (12 points).
"It would have been a fair result at 0-0, which would given us an advantage they would be unable to overtake, but now we'll need to win (out) and hope for some help in order to have a chance," said Vikings coach Steve Keller.
Should the Vikings win the rest of their league games, and Fillies draw once, and win the rest, they still will claim top honors in the MSL.
"It was a great game to be a part of, and to play in. The ending was just unbelievable, and every one of my teammates gave an amazing amount of energy and heart," said Barrington’s Madeleine Lewis.
"It was a great game, and it had to be one that was so entertaining to watch. It was one mental mistake at the end that would cost us today," said senior Cami Tofilon, who was superb all throughout as the Vikings center-back.
This pulsating, 80-minute MSL West contest had a little bit of everything all throughout — terrific chances, fierce 50-50, first and second ball challenges, high energy, constant tactical adjustments and a work rate from both sides which was second to none.
Each side would take turns putting the other on its back foot, thanks to the efforts from the Barrington trio of: Piper Lucier, Aybree Sanchez or Lewis, or their counterparts: Lilly Mayer, Sami Serpico, and Gwen Zimmerman, who were ably assisted along the way.
"A lot of the first half was in our end, but I feel like we were a little better in the second half, especially during the last ten minutes when we could have put one, or maybe two into the back of the net," said the Fillies sophomore Sanchez.
"We had a couple of sitters in the first half that we could have put away, and they had a couple of good chances in the second half (Jazz) Ocampo (Fremd keeper) made a couple of good saves to keep in even," said Keller.
In the last quarter hour, Gabby Masterson, and Lucier went close, but it would a lovely helper from Lucier that found Lewis — whose touch away from pressure allowed her to give herself enough time and space before bagging the game-winner.
"I am proud of the effort, and please with the win (we) needed it to stay alive in the division (but) there is still a lot of things we have to clean up, so it will be back to work for us next week," said Stengren.
The Fillies are away at Rolling Meadows this Wednesday, before the start of the prestigious Naperville Invite when they host York at 5 p.m. Thursday.
Next up for the Vikings is Prospect on Tuesday, followed by its Naperville Invite opener against Downers Grove South Thursday evening.
Malnati's Deep Dish Invite:
In a thrilling final at the 7th annual invite on Saturday afternoon, Naperville North fell in heartbreaking fashion when the reigning state champion New Trier claimed a 1-0 shootout victory when the Trevians converted four spot-kicks, while the Huskies had three.
Claire DeCook, Brooke Welch, and Michelle Ryan all converted from the spot. However, the Trevians’ (12-0-2) all-state keeper Annie Fowler saved one, and watched another rattle the bar to ensure victory her 13th shutout of the season.
Huskies (6-2-2) keeper Olivia Ochsner saved the first spot-kick by the Trevians.
Ochsner and her teammates would advance into the final after a wonderful week of results, beginning with a 2-0 win over Evanston, followed by a 3-0 triumph against Lake Forest, before recording a hard fought 1-0 victory over Lyons Township on a goal from DeCook, assisted by Cameryn Lynde.
With this 0-0 draw after 100 minutes, Ochsner earned her seventh consecutive shutout.
This win in shootout gave New Trier coach Jim Burnside a IHSA-best 623 during a marvelous 28 years in charge.
Next up for Naperville North will be its Naperville Invite opener at home against Oswego on Thursday.