WINNETKA — The Maroons of University (Chicago) were hungry after their 7-0 defeat of host North Shore Country Day on Friday afternoon.

Not for more goals.

For food.

“Do we want Chipotle?” Maroons coach David Vadeboncoeur asked his squad along the sideline following the Independent School League-opener for both sides at Skokie Playfield.

Together they roared “Yes!”

University senior midfielder and Swarthmore-bound Lucy Aronsohn turned in a fully sated performance on the pitch, scoring a pair of goals and providing as many assists.

“Silky skills,” Vadeboncoeur said of Aronsohn, who dribbles adroitly, passes smoothly and practically jukes midfielders and defenders out of their cleats. “So much of what Lucy does in games is innate.

“We’ll miss her immensely next year.”

Maroons sophomore forward Ana Rossi also struck for a brace in sunny, pleasant conditions, as University — the fourth place finisher at the Class A state tournament last spring — improved to 2-2-1 overall.

“Ana, she’s our future,” said Aronsohn. “She doesn’t give up on plays, and she’s making strides, getting better and better. Lots of grit, too.”

North Shore Country Day (2-2-0) wasn’t at full strength for the match.

Junior Margaret Fitzgerald, the only goalkeeper on the roster, committed to attend a Model United Nations conference. Senior back Isabel Roberts and junior back/midfielder Reese Meyers — a Chicagoland Soccer All-State Watch List selectee, like Aronsohn — were unavailable, per Raiders coach Rebekah Kauffman.

“The girls did their best, some at new positions,” said Kauffman.

Emergency keeper and junior defender Zahra Omar got the start but left due to injury in the 30th minute. Sophomore Claire Borovicka guarded the net for the rest of the match.

“They stepped up, helped the team,” she continued. “We like to be tested; it’s the best way to get better. U-High has been incredibly talented for a number of years.”

Aronsohn scored the first goal in the sixth minute, sneaking an 18-yard far-post shot past Omar. 

A little more than a minute later, Aronsohn fed a sweet lead pass to junior back Elspeth LaCroix-Birdthistle, who converted a five-yard shot to make it 2-0.

The visitors scored three more goals before intermission. 

Rossi tallied her first goal from 10 yards off a 30-yard assist from senior defender Orly Eggener; Rossi’s 35-yard, unassisted goal upped the advantage to 4-0; and an Aronsohn-to-Leyla Yates connection, ended with a five-yard goal to complete the scoring in  the first 40 minutes.

“They have several fast forwards,” said North Shore Country Day freshman centerback Lucia Bullock-Puzon, who played well beyond her years in both halves. She stymied a slew of University rushes and notched more than a handful of steals and interceptions.

“Lucia,” Kaufman said, “reads the game well, stays calm and composed. I like the way she anticipates and positions herself to step forward while making plays.

“She could play a ton of positions for us.”

Four other Chicagoland Soccer All-State Watch List picks — North Shore Country Day senior forward Daisy Stone, junior midfielder Kate Connolly, senior midfielder Carly Lissner and junior midfielder Marina Bullock-Puzon, Lucia’s older sister — also saw action on Friday afternoon.

Stone’s speed and dribbling skills make her dangerous.

Connolly epitomized the Raiders’ refusal to back down late, going all out to win 50/50 balls and working hard to boot a shot-on-goal with her team trailing 7-0.

Connolly had a foot in another chance in the waning moments, delivering a sharp cross to a sprinting Stone.

“We can learn from this,” Stone said. “We’ll look forward to our next game.”

Added Connolly, “We played a very good team today.”

University netted its final two goals in the 55th and 63rd minutes. The latter tally prompted the officials to truncate the second half. 

An interception by reserve freshman Claire Ziegler preceded her goal from about 20 yards, and Aronsohn — a Chicagoland Soccer co-MVP of the Match with Rossi — thumped a high, 35-yard shot from straight up-top to cap the scoring.

“I appreciated how well everyone stepped up today, especially those who played at positions they weren’t accustomed to playing,” said Vadeboncoeur.

University’s winning keeper, sophomore Lilah Henger, collected her two saves in the second half.

North Shore Country Day’s keepers, Omar and Borovicka, each stopped a shot.

Afterward, Aronsohn and Rossi couldn’t stop thinking about their impending trip to a certain fast-casual restaurant.

“I usually get the burrito bowl, chicken only, at Chipotle,” Aronsohn said.

“That’s also my typical order,” said Rossi.

Both teams entertain Independent School League foes Tuesday. University takes on Woodlands at 6 p.m. and North Shore Country Day faces Regina Dominican at 4:30 p.m.

Footnotes

Aronsohn committed to Swarthmore, where 2023 University (Chicago) graduate Charlotte Sims competed as a sophomore defender last fall. Sims earned Centennial Honor Roll recognition in ’24, having demonstrated excellence in both athletics and academics (3.4 GPA or higher). … University defeated North Shore Country Day 8-0 in Chicago in last year’s meeting. … Raiders junior back Dixie Oelerich made a trio of sturdy plays near the end of the first half Friday afternoon, disrupting a dribbling Maroon twice in one minute and forcing another turnover a few minutes later. … Kauffman, a former
Stevenson keeper now in her third year as Raiders head coach, also serves North Shore Country Day as an assistant athletic director. … Connolly, on varsity rookie Lucia Bullock-Puzon: “She’s amazing.” … Lucia Bullock-Puzon, on her transition from life as a middle-school student-athlete to life as a ninth-grader who’s had an immediate impact as a North Shore Country Day starter: “My teammates were very welcoming.” … Vadeboncoeur, on Aronsohn: “Our program has been fortunate to have her as a part of it.” … Mike Pilger, North Shore Country Day’s boys soccer coach, is Kauffman’s assistant. There might not be a more positive man in Illinois high school sports than Mr. Pilger, who was quick to praise the home side’s well-executed plays and shout streams of encouraging words to purple-clad athletes throughout Friday afternoon’s match. “He’s the best, isn’t he,” Kauffman said. … North Shore Country Day (2-2-0) is three wins shy of matching last year’s win total (5-7-1) with at least nine matches left on the schedule. … University went 13-5-1 en route to its Class A fourth place finish under coach Josh Potter last year.

Starting lineups

University (Chicago)
GK Lilah Henger
D Maya Pytel
D Orly Eggener
D Laurel Farmer
D Elspeth LaCroix-Birdthistle
MF Isolde Wedemeyer
MF Aerianna Rai-Marchant
MF Lucy Aronsohn
F Ana Rossi
F Isolde LaCroix-Birdthistle
F Leyla Yates

North Shore Country Day
GK Zahra Omar
D Lucia Bullock-Puzon
D Dixie Oelerich
D Alana Duffield
D Lexie Smith
MF Abby Hardy
MF Kate Connolly
MF Carly Lissner
MF Marina Bullock-Puzon
F Alexia Conine
F Daisy Stone

Chicagoland Soccer MVPs of the Match: Lucy Aronsohn, sr., MF,
University (Chicago); Ana Rossi, so., F, University (Chicago)

Scoring summary

First half
University — Aronsohn (unassisted), 6’
University — E. LaCroix-Birdthistle (Aronsohn), 7’
University — Rossi (Eggener), 30’
University — Rossi (unassisted), 32’
University — Yates (Aronsohn), 36’

Second half
University — Claire Ziegler (unassisted), 55’
University — Aronsohn (unassisted), 63’