Freshman Emma Weaver, seen here in earlier postseason play, scored both of New Trier’s goals in its 2-1 overtime victory over Collinsville in a state semifinal game on June 2 at the North Central College. PHOTOGRAPHY BY GEORGE PFOERTNER
Getting good Intel, in this age of the Internet, is pretty easy.
Prior to the Class 3A state semifinal game, New Trier star defender Sam Urban said the team read an interesting quote in an online story previewing the big girls soccer showdown between the Trevians and the Kahoks of Collinsville.
“It said that we didn’t have a prominent goal-scorer like we did last year … ,” said Urban.
Not a cut down.
Not really bulletin-board material (the article went on to praise the New Trier program).
And, just maybe … not the truth.
Following NT’s 2-1 overtime victory over the Downstate powerhouse on June 2 at North Central College in Naperville, a case could be made for Emma Weaver.
The freshman looked pretty “prominent”.
Pretty “prolific”.
The highly touted Weaver had a dream game.
In scoring both of her team’s goals, she looked very Kelly Maday-ish.
“She’s our secret weapon — but not really,” said Urban, with a smile.
No one associated with the New Trier program is surprised by what Weaver did on the steaming hot turf at North Central’s Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium. Everyone knew Weaver, who now has 14 goals and six assists on the season, was a special talent. She came to the Trevians after being a top age-group club player with Eclipse.
“She came up big time on the big stage tonight,” said New Trier head coach Jim Burnside, who watched his Trevians improve to 24-2-1 “What she did tonight is the stuff she does.”
“Under the pressure and all, she performed extremely well,” added NT junior defender Sydney Parker. “She’s just a freshman. But she’s an experienced player. She knows how to play the game.”
Weaver’s first score came in the 18th minute, when she gathered in a long feed from Urban on the left side, made a sharp cut to the inside, broke free and blasted in a shot from the top of the box.
“What she did, dribbling across the field, is very difficult to defend,” said Urban, who was credited with an assist on goal No. 1.
Weaver’s overtime goal, in the 82nd minute, was virtually a carbon copy.
Lined up on the left side, Weaver took possession near the 30-yard line, shook free on a cutback route and hammered in a shot that nicked the glove of Collinsville goalkeeper Morgan Lerch.
“I went across the defense,” said Weaver, sister of former NT standout Jess Weaver who went to play at DePaul University. “I like doing that. It messes up their dynamic.
“And I love taking people one-on-one,” she added.
Ten minutes after the game, Weaver was triple- and quadruple-teamed by sportswriters. She handled that just as flawlessly.
“To be able to put two in the back of the net and walk off the field with a win is just amazing. It’s unreal,” said Weaver. “It’s an honor to play and contribute for a team like ours. We have so many great players on this team.”
Much like Maday, a star scorer for the Trevians who is now playing Division I soccer at the University of Illinois, Weaver has the ability to strike at any time, at any place.
Burnside, who has guided New Trier to 27 straight postseason wins, made a subtle, yet strategic move in overtime. After playing on the left side in the first half and switching to the right side in the second half, Weaver went back to the left side in the extra session.
“We’re just trying to find open seams for her,” said Burnside. “Trying to get her lost. If she moves around, it becomes a little tougher for the defense. You can soften up a good team by putting your skilled players in different spots.”
“I go wherever coach tells me to go,” said Weaver, who will play for FC United instead of the Eclipse in the upcoming club season.
The Trevians once again received stellar defense up and down their lineup with defenders Parker, Urban, Megan Murdoch and Caroline Iserloth; midfielders Hope Baisley, Avery Schuldt and Lily Conley; and goalie Katy Symanietz.
They allowed their first goal in four games, when Collinsville’s Dayle McEwen slipped in a goal off Andrea Frerker’s corner kick in the 29th minute of the game.
Symanietz ended up with five saves, including a couple of real dandies. Lerch made seven stops.
New Trier, which has won three Class 3A state titles in a row, will face Barrington in the title game on June 3 at 7 p.m. The Fillies, who beat NT 1-0 during the regular season, edged Downers Grove North 1-0 in Friday night’s other state semifinal.
“We need to come out a little stronger tomorrow night,” said Urban. “We need a better mentality.
“Four-peat sounds a lot better than three-peat,” she added.