New Trier rolls past Maine East

Updated: October 29, 2011 8:53PM

Maybe New Trier doesn’t know any better.

Although the Trevians struggled to six wins during the regular season and earned a 10th seed, they are headed down the right road in the state playoffs.

One of the youngest clubs in coach Craig Fairbairn’s lengthy tenure is all grown up now after beating Maine East 4-1 at Evanston on Saturday to capture its fifth sectional championship since 2006.

Alex Underwood scored the first of his two goals in the seventh minute to put New Trier (10-10-1) for good. Andrew Cahill followed with two goals in the first half for a 3-0 lead at the break.

“If there’s got to be a time to turn it on, this is it,” said Cahill, one of the few veterans on the club.

Underwood added his other goal in the second half before No. 8-seeded Maine East (15-8-2) broke the shutout.

New Trier now plays Fremd, the No. 4 seed at the Palatine Sectional, on Tuesday at the Maine South Supersectional. The Trevians are looking to get back to the state tournament for the first time since 2009 when they finished third.

“It’s something to do with with finishing the season,” Fairbairn said of his team’s sudden stretch of good play. “They were not happy with what was going on.”

While the end was unpleasant for Maine East, the Demons should take comfort in knowing they challenged one of the state’s powerhouses in New Trier, owners of two state titles since 2006.

But the Trevians found a way to keep the Demons, one of the most prolific offenses in the state, out of the goal for much of the match. Niko Katsinis allowed only his second goal of the postseason midway through the second half.

“We turned it on,” Fairbairn said. “I couldn’t be happier, especially for these seniors.”

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