DEERFIELD — Highland Park coach Kate Straka is very pleased that the IHSA does not allow players to compete for an extra year in high school.

“I’m definitely ready for Emily Fox to graduate,” she said.

Fox is a burden against any team the Warriors play. Unfortunately for Straka, the Giants always seem to bring out the best in her.

“It’s really fun to score in all of these games,” Fox said. “There are a lot of fans here tonight. The atmosphere is great, and everybody is hyped up

“It was hard sometimes, because I always had players on me. But once I got free, I felt great.”

In the 60th minute, Fox broke a tie by scoring her second and final goal of the night. It powered the Warriors, who are ranked 24th in the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25, to a 3-1 victory in what is now a Central Suburban League cross-over rivalry match.

Fox, a two-time Chicagoland Soccer All-State midfielder, scored a hat-trick in the Warriors 3-1 win against the Giants last season.

That was Deerfield’s final game as a member of the conference’s North Division.

Deerfield (13-3-2) is now a member of the ultra-tough South Division.

The renewal of their neighborhood rivalry was a somber and emotional night as the schools recognized the game as part of an “Anti-Semitism Awareness” event.

In a show of solidarity, Deerfield wore the Giants’ school colors of blue and white in specially customized jerseys.

The game took a sad turn when Highland Park star forward Mia Evans suffered an apparent ACL tear near the end of the first half.

“For those who don’t know the Highland Park team, we have a huge heart, and when the person who has the biggest heart is injured, you saw a community rally around her,” Straka said.

“I’m very proud. The kids played great when part of their team was on the sidelines and hurting. Noa Cooper, one of our three captains, took it upon herself to be that leader and rally the team.”

Evans, the only forward in the Giants’ 4-5-1 formation, had several strong opportunities before she was injured.

Her departure left a void. The Giants (8-8-0) worked hard and showed tremendous resilience in standing up to the movement, pace and intensity of the Warriors’ attack.

Deerfield also had to adjust to the movement of the ball, which rocketed off the turf during the first half during when they had a 20-mph wind at its back.

“We had to learn how to adjust to the pace of the balls so that the other person could run onto it,” Fox said. “I was really proud of everyone for their hard work.”

One of the Deerfield’s significant in-season stories is the emergence of freshman Leah Cohen, who is second on the team to Fox with nine goals.

She scored two second half goals in the Warriors’ 3-0 win over Young on Friday.

“At the beginning of the season, I was new to the team. And forward was a new position for me,” Cohen said. “I’ve definitely gotten more comfortable, playing off of Emily in the middle and with Ryane Emory up-top.

“We feel very connected out there, and we work very well together.”

Cohen has also given the Warriors’ greater depth and positional flexibility. She allows Addison Soroka to play a defensive midfielder or back, depending on the matchup.

In the 35th minute, Soroka won a ball and fired it down the right edge to a streaking Fox.

The senior beat her defender off the dribble and unleashed a low-lined ball from 29 yards that handcuffed Highland Park keeper Sage Morris for the opening goal.

“We started to do better with the pace of the ball, and Addison’s ball was a really good example of what we needed to work on to make everything feel less stressful,” Fox said.

Highland Park could have folded with the combination of the traumatic injury to Evans and surrendering the late first half goal.

But the Giants fought hard and showed tremendous pride to work their way back into the game.

Highland Park took advantage of the wind during the second half, pushing numbers forward and working the ball sharply from side to side.

Midfielder Cooper energized the attack, enabling the team to regather and put the Warriors on the defensive.

The work paid off in the 53rd minute. Off a restart from about 35 yards, Cooper delivered a perfect free kick that defender Kiara Fussle nodded home.

Deerfield dug in. The Warriors have 12 seniors, seven of whom started. That coupled with the team’s impressive young players makes for a dangerous squad.

Freshman Addy Margulis has stepped comfortably into a centerback position. 

In addition to Cohen, midfielder Olivia Levin is another intriguing freshman talent.

She helped change the game with her determination, quickness and energy on the ball.

“She’s not afraid of anything, and she has a tremendous work-rate and skill level,” Deerfield coach Rich Grady said. “She always gives us quality minutes and gets things done out there.”

Levin shook up the attack and set up the game-winner by Fox.

She received the ball on the left sideline and dribbled about 10 yards before slotting a ball in space that Fox took in perfect stride.

Fox cut inside and hammered a ball from about 26 yards in the 60th minute for her second goal.

The tallies were the 17th and 18th goals of the season for Fox.

The Saint Louis recruit earned the Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match honor for her superb play.

“The goal they scored actually amped us up, and we realized we needed to get another goal back,” Fox said. “We were really determined as a team, and raised our energy in that moment.”

Fox impacts the game at every level, not the least of which is the defensive attention she generates. That means more room for the other Warriors playmakers.

Midfielder Jessie Fisher put the game out of reach in the 64th minute. She took advantage of the space afforded her and nailed a shot from about 32 yards.

“We always talk about how there are like three players on Emily all the time, and that opens it up for me since I typically sit right behind her,” Fisher said.

“It shows you what a team sport it really is, about how what one person does really helps everyone else. The attention on her is great for me, because I know I’m always open in those circumstances.”

Fox, Fisher, Emory, midfielders Avery Kingsepp and Ruby Levy, defender Madeline Stevens and keeper Lauren Gottlieb were part of Deerfield’s third place Class AA team two years ago.

With May approaching, the team is ready to put all the parts together, including two challenging conference games against Glenbrook North on Tuesday and third-ranked Evanston on Thursday.

“We’ve been getting really good results lately, and I think during the past couple of games, we’ve had really good energy and positivity,” Fox said. “We’re excited with the playoffs coming.”

Starting lineups

Highland Park
GK: Sage Morris
D: Jillian Maigue
D: Riley Waxman
D: Klara Fussle
D: Sammy Huyler
MF: Elliot Shields
MF: Noa Cooper
MF: Audrey Alberts
MF: Emma Risko-Juarez
MF: Lily Mariano
F: Mia Evans

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

Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match: Emily Fox, sr., MF, Deerfield

Scoring summary

First half
Deerfield—Emily Fox (Addison Soroka), 35’

Second half
Highland Park—Klara Fussle (Noa Cooper), 53’
Deerfield—Fox (Olivia Levin), 60’
Deerfield—Jessie Fisher (unassisted), 64’