Girls Soccer: Wheaton North nips Wheaton Warrenville South, 1-0

There certainly was plenty of nervous energy and excitement at Red Grange Field on Monday night.

That's basically what happens when crosstown rivals Wheaton North and Wheaton Warrenville South meet for their annual DuPage Valley Conference girls soccer match.

Exuding lots of confidence, the upstart Falcons blanked the Tigers, 1-0.

"Give credit to North, they played a pretty good game," Wheaton Warrenville South coach said. "The played to their strengths and have some kids up top that can make you pay for mistakes, and that's what they played to. They didn't have to be pretty but efficient, and that's what they were collectively as a group."

It was the third consecutive victory for Wheaton North while Wheaton Warrenville South has been held scoreless for two consecutive matches and last scored on a penalty kick in the first five minutes of a 2-1 loss to Naperville Central on Apr. 11.

"We came on the field and we knew something simple," Wheaton North coach Tim McEvilly said. "We didn't have to be magical tonight. We are as talented and as good a team as Wheaton Warrenville South and we can play with these teams."

Wheaton North (7-4 overall, 1-1 in the DuPage Valley Conference) scored the lone goal of the contest early in the first half. Speedy sophomore Linnae Giuliano sent the ball toward Kate Wiegman who was able to get past the last Tigers' defender where she sent a shot past Wheaton Warrenville South goalkeeper Kelsey Graham for what proved to be the game-winner.

"It put more pressure on them and took some off of us," Giuliano said. "But still we didn't want to change our approach in the game just because we had the lead."

Wheaton Warrenville South (4-4-1 overall, 1-2 DVC) had plenty of scoring chances but was unable to finish any of its attempts. The closest the Tigers came to scoring came with just under 20 minutes remaining in the first half. A shot from junior forward Kate Fowee clanked downward off the crossbar and appeared to cross the the end line of the goal, but the officials kept the play live and keeper Emily Kelly collected the shot attempt. There were plenty of other scoring tries the rest of the way, including a 25-yard desperation shot with 13 seconds left from Mary Heaton that Wheaton North's freshman keeper, Emily Barry, gathered in to seal the victory.

"I really feel bad for our girls," Callipari said. "The shot differential was big but again it's a situation where the game might not be fair perhaps, but it's honest in that you have to produce on both ends."

It proved to be sweet revenge for the Falcons who lost 1-0 to the Tigers last season. It also was a big night for the Falcons' defense, led by Anne Dena, Sarah Weatherred and Madie Fagan.

"Sarah's gotten markedly better the past two weeks and she's putting pressure on winning balls in the air," McEvilly said. "Madie (Fagan) and (Anne) Denz are very difficult to beat. They step to balls actively and they can move forward with the ball. They had impressive efforts again tonight."

In doing so, they helped preserve the shutout for Barry who never appeared rattled even though the game featured bragging rights on the line and would prove pivotal in conference play. Barry did get knocked to the ground a couple times, and on both occasions the clock had to be stopped so she could be briefly attended to, but she would never leave the contest.

"They pressured us a lot but our back line really stepped up," Wheaton North midfielder Sidney Sharkey said. "And our keeper had the best game of her life. When she went down I was like 'You need to stay in, we only have two minutes left.' She played awesome and I was so happy for her."

Barry also won over her coach.

"It was her first taste of playing a crosstown game and there were moments where she stepped when she didn't need to step," McEvilly said. "But for the final 40 minutes she was composed even though she was being challenged. Nothing ever got to her which really is impressive."

Both teams are playing in the Naperville Invitational later this week. Wheaton North has matches with St. Charles East and New Trier on Wednesday and Thursday, respectively, while Wheaton Warrenville South will face Benet and Sandburg.