New Trier meets Waubonsie Valley in the Naperville Invitational quarterfinals feeling really good about where it's at as a team, and for good reason. 

The match kicks off at 7 p.m. Thursday at Fremd High School in Palatine

Coach Jim Burnside's Trevians have allowed just four goals and posted 13 shutouts during an 11-2-3 start.  

While the past doesn't guarantee future success, it's interesting to note that four-of-six Burnside teams that yielded four or fewer goals in their first 16 matches while recordeding at least 13 shutouts have won IHSA championships (2004, 2006 and 2014-2015). The other two claimed second place finishes (2017-18). 

His 2004 team, which allowed just three goals all season, still holds IHSA records for the most shutouts (28) and most consecutive shutouts (16).

The other three New Trier teams that played for IHSA titles, the 2003 and 2016 champions and the 2005 runnerup, had 12 shutouts and yielded either five or six goals through their first 16 matches.

The Trevians hope history repeats itself.

"We've been playing well," Burnside said. "The girls are coming together, and we're learning where we want people on the field. We're middle to late middle of the season, and we're just kind of figuring out the best way to take advantage of the skills that we have. 

"Our defense has been playing great. It's a fun group of kids that works hard, and they continue to learn each and every day, which is fun as a coach."

During their recent run of success, the Trevians have used a starting lineup from a group of players that includes keeper Annie Fowler, defenders Kennedy Colegrove, Clara Deliduka, Honor Dold and Basie Shannon, midfielders Maeve Driscoll, Sybil Evans, Josie Noble and Annie Paden in the midfield and forwards Charlotte Dellin, Jaime Elias and Addy Randall.

Third place finishes in 1997, 1998 and 2019 are also a part of New Trier’s rich history. New Trier ranks first in the IHSA for state-qualifying teams (16), trophies (12) and sectional titles (22). The Trevians are tied for second behind St. Charles East in state titles (six) and for second place finishes to Barrington (three). Those marks were accomplished under Burnside, who took over in 1997, and the coach that he followed, Bob Ward. The Trevians hope to capitalize on that history this season and return to the IHSA finals for the first time since 2019.

New Trier fell one win shy of that goal in 2021 and again in 2023 with supersectional losses to Libertyville. New Trier was eliminated after a shootout following 100 minutes of scoreless soccer last season and 1-0 in double overtime in 2021.

New Trier will host a Class 3A sectional with the winner meeting the Hinsdale Central Sectional winner in the Dominican University Supersectional in River Forest. New Trier received a no. 1 seed. Waubonsie Valley was ranked sixth in the Plainfield North Sectional.

The Trevians have won their last three matches, defeating previously unbeaten St. Charles North and then Bolingbrook in Naperville Invitational group play and then handed visiting rival Evanston its first defeat Saturday.

"We've got smaller goals to take us throughout the season, but then we have over-arching goals," Burnside said. "This is a team that's looking to go as deep and as far as they can. 

"It's tough, because we've got a tough sectional with good teams. But we've come out and kind of proven ourselves over the last couple of weeks. Beating Lane and then beating York, who was undefeated, and then beating Evanston, who was undefeated."

Burnside likes the characteristics that this year's team demonstrate and that gives him hope that they can continue to perform at a high level and perhaps even be in the mix on the final weekend of the season once again.

"It's a constant growth mindset. Each day, they want to get a little bit better," Burnside said. "And they don't dwell on setbacks. They shed them, learn from them and move on. 

"They really blend hard work with being nice kids, who are great teammates."

Waubonsie Valley is enjoying one of its best seasons in several years and is 9-2-2 after going 3-0-2 in its last five matches. The Warriors defeated St. Charles North 2-0 on Saturday to claim its spot in the Naperville Invitational quarterfinals.

Burnside is all too familiar with the Warriors' program, which has been led since 2001 by Julie Bergstrom, who won IHSA Class AA titles in 2007 and 2008 and a Class 3A title in 2010. The Warriors also took a Class 3A third place trophy in their last state appearance in 2014, when the Trevians beat them 1-0 in the semifinals enroute to their fourth state championship.

The starters for the Warriors in their victory over St. Charles North were goalkeeper Lauren Bornhoff and Taylor Ahmadian, Katie Chapman, Macy Evans, Zoe Evans, Cecilia  Galarza, Emerson Hallihan, Ava Kus, McKinley Ladd, Eleanor Oster and Chloe Shaffer.

"They're always an athletic team, and Julie does a phenomenal job of getting them organized and getting them behind a singular goal," Burnside said. "We've played them many, many times over the years, and I know what they're going to be. They'll be organized; they'll be aggressive."

Burnside is getting close to his 600th victory at New Trier. He is the second-winningest girls coach in IHSA history behind Mark Longo, who won 608 matches and retired from coaching at Notre Dame (Quincy) after last season.

"The administrative support and the parents that we've had have been great, but it really does come down to the kids," Burnside said. "Over the years the talent and the attitude and the drive, I feel blessed to be a part of a program for so many years. It’s been a lot of fun."

The winner meets the victor between Hinsdale Central and host Barrington.

The Naperville Invitational semifinals take place at Naperville Central on Saturday morning. The Redhawks host the championship match at 6 p.m. Monday.