NAPERVILLE – St. Charles North took a big step Friday.

Now it’s time to see if the North Stars can take the biggest step Saturday.

The team put in an impressive performance on both ends of the pitch in Friday evening’s 1-0 victory over Fremd in the first Class 3A state semifinal at North Central College.

St. Charles North (18-2-5) has a tall order against New Trier in the Class 3A final at 6:30 p.m. Saturday as its tries to win the title for the first time. 

The North Stars have come close to lifting the coveted state trophy twice in program history with second place finishes in Class AA in the two-class system in 2004 and in Class 3A in 2012. The program also claimed 3A third place honors in 2010.

New Trier, led by a host of academy players, defeated Edwardsville 2-1 in the final game of the semifinal session Friday. The Trevians (24-2-4) have not lost since a 2-1 setback against Naperville North on April 16. They head into the championship match on a 16-0-1 run during which they have only allowed the goal Friday.

New Trier (25-2-4) seeks the seventh state title in program history – all under the direction of coach Jim Burnside.

St. Charles North coach Brian Harks was all smiles after the game. He was fully enjoying his first trip to the Final Four. He is 150-19-16 at the helm in this ninth season.

“It’s something special, because there are so many quality soccer programs in the state of Illinois,” Harks said. “This is a really special feeling to be here with this group of girls and do anything we can tomorrow.”

Fremd (16-5-5) must now regroup and focus on the next task ahead. 

The Vikings play Edwardsville at 11:45 Saturday morning in the third place game. The loss was only its second in its last 14 games. The other came against New Trier.

Coach Steve Keller said St. Charles North was the better team Friday, but noted the defeat shouldn’t diminish his team’s run to the state finals. The Vikings reached Final Four for the fourth time in program history. They finished fourth in Class 3A in their most recent trip in 2011.

“It’s a game to enjoy,” Keller said. “Hopefully, the girls appreciate that. Obviously, it’s a great feat to get to this point. We wanted to win and get a chance to play for the state title, but that’s why you play the game. We’ve been on a kind of a hot streak in terms of the ball bouncing our way, but it didn’t today.

“The second half of the season the girls started to believe in themselves more. We preached to them that the talent is here, so it was a matter of them believing. 

“I think a big key was dropping Gwen (Zimmerman) -- we had her at striker for most of the year, so dropping her to the middle really solidified things for us. Sammie Serpico stepped up into that role and with her pace, she was dangerous for us. That was kind of our formula these last six or seven games, and it worked out. Unfortunately, today we ran into a really good team that got us.

“We knew we had to make a push forward. Whether we lost 1-0 or 5-0, a loss is a loss. So, we were trying to get that tying goal. That was the whole concept, moving a few girls up and going for it. We applied the pressure but couldn’t break through. They are a stingy defense and a great team.”

The well-played game between two evenly matched teams turned on a miscommunication by a Fremd defender and senior goalie Emily Gordon, who ended with three saves. St. Charles North senior forward Laney Stark took advantage of the small window and burst between the players to tap in a shot from six yards in the 14th minute for the only tally. The North Stars’ backline and goalie Lauren Korioth made the lead stand with stellar play.

Stark, a Wisconsin-Green Bay recruit, said she saw the slight opening and tapped in the shot with a soft touch of her right foot. For her heads-up play and quick decision-making, Stark was named the Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match.

“The ball was coming through (past) the two defenders, so I saw the goalie and the centerback have some miscommunication,” Stark said. “The goalie was telling her to get out. The defender was telling the goalie to come out, so I just wanted to get a touch on it and try and score. I barely hit it.

“Just going through it and sending in a goal early is very important for our team, setting the momentum early and showing we can score and be out there with the other team.”

Stark joked that it was her second favorite goal of her career, calling her victorious goal against St. Charles East last season in the playoffs her favorite. Stark said the North Stars have to play another near-perfect game in Saturday’s state championship.

“We have to stay focused on the little things, just the same things we talked for our last game and this game, from winning the air ball, connecting to feet and finding the open people and not forcing the long balls,” Stark said. “If we do that, we will be okay. It will be a grind, a game worth watching. We’re excited to play.”

Harks said Stark, who was also a standout point guard on the basketball team, is a marquee player capable of altering a game in a flash. She leads the North Stars with 19 goals.

“Laney is a really special player,” Harks said. “She’s able to get herself in tight spots and come up big.

“She’s had a lot of big goals in her high school career but this is arguably the biggest. She has a knack for being composed under a ton of pressure and for finishing opportunities.”

Keller said the setting for the goal was unfortunate but is a part of the game. He noted his team had several chances to even the score.

“The mistake came on our end, and it really cost us,” Keller said. “We did everything right after that, but we couldn’t find the back of the net.”

St. Charles North goalie Lauren Korioth picked up her 10th clean-sheet of the season. The made four saves and shook off a tough crash after coming off her line to stop an onrushing Zimmerman early in the match.

“It was really stressful for me in the back, and it was really intense. I feel like our backline held up really well,” Korioth said. “Everyone was on point. I saved a couple that were definitely close balls, so it’s a lot to take in.

“We’re really proud of ourselves, but we definitely are not done yet. We have a big game tomorrow, and we want to show out to people. Our mentality has to be strong. We have to have a good mindset. We will have to work our butts off Saturday.

“Kyra (Treanor) in the back really held her own. Our backline was on point. Everyone did their jobs.”

St. Charles North freshman Aubri Magana said the backline played one of its best games of the season. Fremd made a big push up-top in the second half, but St. Charles North’s defenders held firm. Kayla Floyd also played a key part in the shutout, providing a helping hand to slow down Fremd’s offensive attack of Serpico, Zimmerman and Natalia Wala.

“We really just had a connected backline, and we all work together really well. That helps us get the ball out and clear it,” Magana said. “After our goal, we knew we had to lock down and not let anything get past us. Obviously, we knew they really wanted it, so we had to play hard to win this game.”

Magana had a hand in holding the lead when she knocked away a shot in the 59th minute.

“I just knew in that moment I had to clear it out,” Magana said. “The whole second half we had to lock it down and make sure nothing got past us.”

Harks said his defense turned in another gutsy performance. The backline of centerbacks Treanor and Abby Sims and outside backs Chloe Kirsten and Magana handled every push by the Vikings.

“I think you knew against a really tough opponent that it was going to be a battle,” Harks said following the landmark victory. “Being down a goal, Fremd really started throwing players forward, and I was super impressed how our backline and defensive presence all over the field just stayed composed and denied scoring opportunities.

“The defense has been tremendous and really jelled to play as one unit. Every now or then, one player would get beat, but they have this ability to work for each other and hunt in packs. So even if one was beat, then another player was there to help.”

Fremd closed out the semifinal with a Molly Rodino bouncing, curving shot that required Korioth’s attention with five minutes left. Teammate Bella Scesniak’s shot from 55 yards fell harmlessly at the near post. The keeper fell on the ball for safekeeping with 50 seconds remaining.

“We had some chances, but we just couldn’t score,” Zimmerman said. “It’s frustrating, because we played well. We can’t get down on ourselves for Saturday. We have to be ready and play strong for 80 minutes.”

Senior defender Maddie McMillan agreed with her teammate.

“We were in their end for most of the second half, and we put so much pressure on them,” McMillan said. “They did a great job of managing the lead. We have another tough game tomorrow. We have a chance for third place.” 
 
 
Starting lineups

St. Charles North
GK: Lauren Korioth
D: Aubri Magana
D: Abby Sims
D: Kyra Treanor
D: Chloe Kirsten
MF: Keira Kelly
MF: Kayla Floyd
MF: Juliana Park
MF: Megan Hines
F: Kaitlin Glenn
F: Laney Stark
 
Fremd
GK: Emily Gordon
D: Lia Digirolamo
D: Gemma Gillespie
D: Bella Scesniak
D: Maddie McMillan
MF: Cami Tofilon
MF: Ava Catherall            
MF: Natalia Wala
MF: Gwen Zimmerman                   
MF: Sophia Kennedy
F: Sammie Serpico
 
Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match: Laney Stark, sr., F, St. Charles North

 
Scoring summary

First half
St. Charles North: Stark (Kirsten), 14’
 
Second half
No scoring