DEERFIELD — If contrasting styles make for great battles, the natural corollary is that personality and sensibility mark the specific roles.

As Deerfield’s keeper, senior Lauren Gottlieb knows her role is incumbent upon her state of mind and presence of being. 

“It says everything about your personality if you’re a keeper,” she said. “A lot of the position is just bravery and a willingness to go through the ball, or go through anyone who is in your way.

“I like being safe, but I also have to be willing to get in front of the ball no matter what it takes. From there it’s just about relying on your defense to get out of any dangerous situations.”

Playing against an elite and diversified attack in New Trier, Gottlieb put in a signature performance.

The senior posted nine saves and thwarted multiple scoring chances from the Trevians, who are ranked sixth in the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25. It was a significant first match in Central Suburban League South Division for Deerfield on Tuesday night. The Warriors were moved from the North Division after last season.

In posting her fourth shutout of the year, Gottlieb extended her program record to 29 clean-sheets. Deerfield (4-1-2, 0-0-1), ranked second in the Chicagoland Soccer Class AA Super 7 poll, withstood near constant pressure -- the ball was almost continually in their defensive third.

New Trier (5-1-1, 0-0-1) held an 11-1 advantage in shots on goal.

The ball took some unkind and very unfortunate bounces for the Trevians, most significantly a penalty kick by forward Josie Noble in the 51st minute that ricocheted off the far post.

“I think we’re finally finding out that when we have the ball in the final third, we really have to concentrate on finishing and capitalizing on our opportunities,” New Trier midfielder Annie Paden said.

“The weather out here was crazy, and we obviously had some bad luck with the PK. I think just trying to get in the back of the net is going to be our next big board planning practice.”

The Trevians were sharp and explosive off the opening jump. 

Moving the ball beautifully from side to side and through the middle of the field, New Trier was repeatedly able to get to the right edge and create dangerous crosses into the box.

Midfielder Sybil Evans blasted a low-liner in the third minute from about 17 yards that marked the first of Gottlieb’s classic saves.

The Warriors’ two centerbacks, Sophia Peiser and Addison Soroka, were under constant duress and forced to make repeated clearances.

New Trier returned seven starters from its supersectional qualifier last year. The team has two significant senior additions, both Division I recruits making their high school debuts after playing club. 

Forward Jaime Elias, a Texas Tech recruit, is rangy and mobile, and created a lot of pressure on the left wing for the Trevians. Idaho recruit Basie Shannon, at a towering 6-foot-1, is a superb two-way threat as a defender and holding midfielder.

New Trier also has a standout freshman class led by midfielder Addy Randall, who showed great technique on the ball and shot creativity. She repeatedly got to the right edge.

But Gottlieb had all the right answers, whether staying earthbound or leaving her feet. She had great composure in the box. 

She recorded four saves in the first half and five in the second. The three-year starter is a familiar and comfortable presence, secure in her place and confident in her abilities.

“The big thing I’ve learned these three years is how everyone’s trusted me, how supportive everyone is and our team dynamic,” Gottlieb said. 

“I think every year, even though it's different people, we all really get more comfortable with each other and rely on each other. I think that helps me become more confident in myself.”

New Trier appeared on the verge of the vital breakthrough, after Elias was tripped and fouled inside the box working the left edge.

Noble’s penalty kick sailed slightly right against the wind.

A Chicagoland Soccer All-State forward and Wake Forest recruit, Noble said the Trevians have to work through adversity and occasional duress to find their way forward.

“We’re obviously disappointed in the result,” she said. “We definitely had the ball most of the time. It’s on us, and me, for not capitalizing on the opportunities that we had.

“We still have lots of stuff to work as a team. We have great chemistry on and off the field, and we just need to work on translating that to our play.”

Deerfield entered the match after its first loss, a disappointing 1-0 defeat at Mundelein on Monday night.

“We had a greater volume of opportunities against Mundelein that we didn’t finish, and we turned the ball over. They finished a chance with 10 minutes left,” Deerfield coach Rich Grady said. “There were a lot of things we didn’t like about our performance. Our message to the girls was that tonight it was not about the result. 

“It was about how we were going to respond. Let’s worry about us, and fix what we can fix. We did a lot better tonight, winning 50/50 balls, not being back on our heels and working hard on and off the ball.”

New Trier’s defense has been near airtight. It has six shutouts and conceded just one goal through seven games. With Shannon, Honor Dold, all-stater Clara Deliduka and Kennedy Cosgrove, the Trevians are physical, fast, and very rangy.

Deerfield star Emily Fox felt cornered and harassed every time she touched the ball. The two-time all-state midfielder, a Saint Louis recruit, fought off double teams every time the ball was in her vicinity.

“Obviously New Trier is a good team, and I thought we matched their physicality and their work rate,” Fox said.

“It felt like every time I did get the ball, I had to dribble a lot, or get through their defenders. It was definitely hard to get shots off. We kept trying, and fortunately my defense helped get me those balls.”

Fox showed how electrifying she is given just a sliver of space. In the 34th minute, she burst down the left edge and hammered a left-footed ball from about 22 yards that was on line but skipped over the top of the goal.

In the 60th minute, Fox created the Warriors’ best scoring chance, getting loose on the left edge and blasting another howitzer from about 26 yards.

New Trier freshman keeper Annie Fowler elevated and snared the ball to prevent a spectacular goal.

“We are coming off our spring break, and we haven’t really had a practice,” Fox said. “We still need to figure out how we’re going to attack.

“I think that’s something we’re working on, and I think we are going to really grow from here on out.”

The balance of the game was played in the Warriors’ end. Paden had a free kick from 25 yards that skipped wide left. Gottlieb made two spectacular diving stops, one off of Noble, in the final 12 minutes.

New Trier had another shot hit off the bar.

For their superb performances for each side, Lauren Gottlieb and Jaime Elias shared the Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match distinction.

The Central Suburban League South Division is arguably the state’s toughest conference with three teams ranked in the top 10 — no. 5 Glenbrook South, no. 6 Trevians and no. 9 Evanston.

Glenbrook North is listed as an honorable mention team, Deerfield, which ranks high in the Super 7 poll, is the only Class AA team in the division.

This was game one of what promises to be an electric conference slate.

The match was the second disappointment for New Trier in the past five days. The Trevians were upset 1-0 March 29 at Class A Columbia, which moved up to second in the Illinois 10 poll after the win.

“We are definitely going to be working on putting the ball in the back of the net,” Noble said.

Starting lineups

New Trier
GK: Annie Fowler
D: Kennedy Cosgrove
D: Clara Deliduka
D: Basie Shannon
D: Honor Dold
MF: Sybil Evans
MF: Addy Randall
MF: Annie Paden
MF: Charlotte Dellin
F: Josie Noble
F: Jaime Elias

Deerfield
GK: Lauren Gottlieb
D: Addy Margulis
D: Sophia Peiser
D: Addison Soroka
D: Sam Block
MF: Avery Kingsepp
MF: Jessie Fisher
MF: Emily Fox
MF: Lauren Jones
MF: Leah Cohen
F: Ryane Emory

Chicagoland Soccer MVPs of the Match: Lauren Gottlieb, sr., GK, Deerfield; Jaime Ellis, sr., F, New Trier

Scoring summary

First half
No scoring

Second half
No scoring