Plainfield North flurry sinks WW South

Updated: March 24, 2011 3:04PM

Plainfield North scored twice within a 1:47 span in the second half to upset host Wheaton Warrenville South 2-0 Tuesday night for arguably the biggest victory in school history.

The Tigers (1-0-1) who won 20 games last season but were upset in their first playoff game by Hinsdale Central, opened the season Saturday with a 1-1 tie against No. 4 Naperville Central.

They played much better against WW South, a team that held a 1-0 halftime lead on eventual state champion Waubonsie Valley in the sectional final last year.

Junior Callie O'Donnell scored the first goal with 32:12 left in the second half, racing onto a lead pass from Katie Cox before slotting a short shot just inside the left post.

"At halftime we decided that because of the wind we needed to play the ball more on the ground, so I think we set out and did that," O'Donnell said. "We just set out to score at the beginning because we knew that would finish them."

Actually, it was Ashley Handwork that finished the hosts with a great individual effort. The sophomore made a steal 30 yards from the net, split two defenders and rifled a 20-yard shot past charging WW South keeper Kelsey Graham into the upper left corner of the net at the 30:25 mark.

It was the second goal in as many games for Handwork, who led Plainfield North with 22 goals last season, one more than O'Donnell.

"I just got a fire inside of me, I guess," Handwork said. "I was like, it's cold and if we don't score again – winning by one goal is great, but winning by another goal is better. I really wanted to win the game because we lost last year (to them) 2-1."

Plainfield North completely dominated play in the second half, using its speed and tenacity to control much of the possession behind the midfield play of O'Donnell, Ashley Auble and freshman Heather Handwork.

WW South (1-1) had the better of the play in the first half. Katherine Fowee hit the left post with an 18-yard shot and Natalie Jensen had the wind bend a shot from the right wing past the left post. Plainfield goalie Emily Brodict made all three of her saves in the period.

"I thought the game was in the balance in the first half and I thought that we had the greater scoring opportunities," WW South coach Guy Callipari said. "We lost our legs. Certainly conditioning is a big factor.

"But you've got to give credit where credit's due. (Plainfield North) is well-coached, they're well-organized and they have speed around the park. The first goal I thought maybe was a little bit soft but certainly the second goal was worthy. (Handwork) shredded two defenders and finished with quality."

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