Girls soccer: DeCook scores twice, sends Naperville North into Class 3A state championship game
An injury kept Naperville North junior Claire DeCook from playing in the postseason her freshman year.
Her scoring will have her and the rest of the Huskies playing in Saturday’s Class 3A state championship game.
DeCook scored both goals in a 2-1 victory over Lane Tech in a Class 3A sectional semifinal at North Central College in Naperville.
Naperville North (17-5-3) advances to Saturday’s state championship game against either the winner of the Barrington/O’Fallon semifinal.
"It took a lot of work off the field and just honestly not rushing the progress,” DeCook said. “Because if you don't put in that hard of work off the field to get where you want to be on the field, that's when you'll hit a lot of setbacks and a lot of injuries. So I just feel like I’m keeping that fast pace but consistent and making sure everything’s safe. I feel like it’s so nice to be able to play in the championship now tomorrow knowing my freshman year I wasn’t able to play in the postseason.”
Brooke Welch sent a pass towards the box where DeCook was waiting with her back turned at her. DeCook buried it with 24:05 remaining in the first half.
"I trust my teammates to get in the box anytime anyone gets on line,” Welch said. “So I knew when I was end line like that someone would be there, so I just took a quick glance and I saw that Claire was there and I trust Claire and she’s proved she could score so it was great to be able to play that to her and finish it.”
DeCook’s shot off a Lane Tech defender with 25:05 left in the game gave the Huskies a 2-0 lead.
“I looked up to see where the goalie was and I just shot it,” DeCook said. “And then I couldn’t tell if it was the goalie or a defender that just got a leg on it and then it just hit far post in the net. I mean, it was definitely not going to hit side netting, but with that little touch of somebody.”
Lane Tech (22-2-2) was the runner-up in the Ed Watson Naperville Invitational and the latest top team the Huskies have had to defeat to extend this trophy run. That list includes Oswego, Benet, Neuqua Valley and Wheaton Warrenville South.
The Huskies saw their lead cut in half with 14 minutes remaining on a 13-yard shot from Rebecca LoVerde.
Luzmarie Razo blasted a shot off the crossbar with 11 minutes left that put one big final scare into the Huskies.
“I always say you have to have a little luck to get this far,” Huskies coach Steve Goletz said. “The opportunity to play tomorrow for a state championship is so special. I know the kids will remember it for their whole lives.”