The 3-0 score showed Waubonsie Valley won in lopsided fashion over Naperville Central on Saturday morning in the Naperville Invitational semifinals.
But even the Warriors know that single statistic did not tell the story.
"I just thank God for Clare (Hanold), player of the game," Waubonsie midfielder Bri Rodriguez said of the Warriors goalkeeper. "She made like three incredible saves and kept us in it in the first half. If it wasn't for those saves, we probably would have had to come back from (a deficit)."
The Warriors (11-0-1) got goals from Megan Green, Vanessa DiBernardo and Rodriguez to advance to tonight's championship game for the second straight year, while increasing their unbeaten streak to 43 games. Central (12-4) had its nine-game winning streak snapped.
Hanold, a DePaul-bound junior, made four of her five saves in the opening 40 minutes. Three of those came in the final three minutes of the half. Yet, despite all the pressure, the Redhawks found themselves trailing 1-0 at the break.
The Warriors capitalized on a free kick from 30 yards out by Rodriguez, who sent the ball to the far post where Rachel Bostick tried for a header. But Central goalie Krissy Many got to it first, deflecting it away. Catherine McClellan pushed it over to Megan Green, who scored into an open net in the 17th minute.
"It felt like we were more in control after that," Green said. "After that and then the goal by Vanessa, we knew we had it under control and we could just settle down."
Waubonsie had a few more scoring chances after that, but scrambled to maintain its lead during the final four minutes of the half. Hanold made three saves in that stretch, including one in the 38th minute where she punched the ball over the crossbar on a shot by Jackie Renn.
Both teams had one more scoring chance in the final minute, with the half ending on a free kick by Casey Short from 22 yards out that just sailed high.
Short was back at it in the 41st minute, breaking free in the middle and trying to slip a shot under Hanold, who let the ball get behind her, but reached back to corral it before Short could get it again.
The Warriors added to their lead in the 46th minute when DiBernardo scored her 10th goal of the season. Rodriguez completed the scoring with a goal in the 61st minute.
Many finished with seven saves, while Hanold finished with five to earn her ninth consecutive shutout and 10th of the season.
"The game comes down to capitalizing on opportunities," Central coach Ed Watson said. "I thought we limited their opportunities. But of the ones they got, they scored on a high percentage of them. When we did do something well, Clare was up to the task."
Central, which hadn't lost since April 4 at St. Charles East, will play in today's third-place game at 4 p.m. The championship is set to start at 6 p.m. Both games are at Naperville Central's Memorial Stadium.
The second semifinal between St. Charles East and Fremd just went to halftime with the Vikings leading 1-0. Check back here later today for a preview of tonight's championship.
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