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North Stars edge out Waubonsie Valley
Updated: April 22, 2011 2:00PM
For much of the contest between No. 3-rated St. Charles North and
No. 4-ranked Waubonsie Valley it was like a prizefight with a lot of jabs just
testing the opponent.
But once the host North Stars scored with 21:48 left to be played, the game
became much more intense as Waubonsie Valley tried finding the counter-punch and
the SCN defense got bruised but never went down. As a result, the 1-0 victory
allowed North to improve to 6-2-0 overall while the Upstate Eight Conference
crossover match evened Waubonsie Valley's ledger at 3-3-0.
"Coming off last year's loss, this was one of the matches we seniors really
wanted," explained Lisa Manski, whose matchwinner proved to be the difference.
"This is one outcome we really wanted to change. For the most part we had great
team defense and (goalie) Kendall (Karr) saved our butts several times."
Despite St. Charles North technically having more overall attempts (11-9) and
shots on frame (6-3), the hosts couldn't breathe safely until the very last 10
seconds. Seven minutes after the go-ahead goal, the Warriors' Megan Green hit
the right post and another seven minutes later, another shot caromed off the
crossbar and down before the North Stars cleared it. And with just under a
minute, another Green blast sailed just over the net and off the field goal
upright.
"We hit every post possible and their goalie had a foot save," Waubonsie Valley
coach Julie Bergstrom said before a "what can you do" shrug. "We moved the ball
pretty well, we just needed to make something happen in our favor."
"We got really unlucky," said Green. "We came out with a lot of
heart but just didn't put it away. We needed to get a lead early or not give up
a silly goal."
From the opposite, SCN's Alex Gage didn't consider her team-best sixth assist to
be anything other than what the North Stars work on as Manski headed it home
from 10 yards out.
"I just put it up there," Gage explained before Manski added "and I ran at it
and headed it hard as possible."
"We've got a lucky drill where we set up situations and we try to find an open
player," Gage added. "Some may call it chemistry, but a lot of chemistry is
practice. If I can contribute to the team's success with an assist, that's all
that matters to me."
"It's certainly a good win for us considering Waubonsie has won the past however
many," SCN coach Ruth Vostal said. "But I also think both teams will grow a ton
between now and the post-season."
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