Fans show support

This was a soccer season to build upon.

The best year in North Shore Country Day history ended with a 3-0 loss to Francis Parker in the Class 1A regional championship game in Winnetka Oct. 21.

The shutout snapped a record nine-game win string for coach Kyle Jones' squad. The Raiders reached the regional finals for the first time in school history and set a single season school mark with 11 wins in what turned out to be an 11-5-1 season.

Jones detected some nerves from his players in front of the largest crowd of spectators this season, even though the Raiders played on their home turf.

They also missed a penalty kick -- but the coach said all that did was keep the game scoreless on their side in the second half.

"I think part of it was that it was the biggest game our lads have ever played in," Jones said. "I think we were affected a little by the occasion. But now that's an experience we can use in the future. Until you're actually in a situation like that, it's hard to prepare for it."

The Raiders will lose seniors Alex Whitmore, Peter Callahan, Matthew Thomas, Chris White, Joe Tucker and Matthew Morrison to graduation and it won't be easy to replace this record-setting group.

"The seniors were just superb for us," added Jones. "Their character was excellent and they put in four years of hard work, with this season as the result. They'll definitely be missed."