This weekend's Class AA girls soccer state finals promise lots of entertainment for the fans. Among the interesting items are four teams making their first 2A appearance; two nationally ranked teams on course for a semifinal showdown; a 400-game winning coach - Barry Jacobson of Downers Grove South - seeking his first state title; and a defending state champion - Waubonsie Valley - looking to become the first team with back-to-back unbeaten seasons since New Trier in 2004 and 2005.
Here's a look at the four quarterfinal matchups, which begin at 11 a.m. Friday at North Central College:
Carmel (22-1) vs. Downers Grove South (20-6), 11 a.m.
The Corsairs, making their first appearance, enter on a 19-game winning streak for coach John Halloran. Senior forward Sara Petermann is having an outstanding season with 37 goals and 20 assists.
Getting out of the Naperville-area sectional was certainly a boon for the Mustangs, who are in the quarterfinals for the first time since 2002. They've allowed 22 goals this season, but only three have come since the beginning of May and only one in the postseason, which came in a 4-1 supersectional win over Chicago University.
Homewood-Flossmoor (24-3) vs. Belleville Althoff (23-3-1), 1 p.m.
The Vikings are also in the big show for the first time, thanks to winning 10 straight and 21 of their past 22 games, though they needed a penalty-kick victory in the supersectional victory over Lemont. They haven't lost to an Illinois team since falling in overtime to New Trier on April 5. H-F also has an unlikely ally in the quarterfinals - Waubonsie coach Julie Bergstrom is a graduate and was pleased to see her alma mater advance.
Althoff rides a 15-game winning streak into their first 2A appearance. The Crusaders played in the Class A tourney in 2004 and 2005, finishing third in '05. A pair of Megans pace the offense. Megan Pawloski has a team-high 35 goals, while Megan Jaskowiak is next with 23.
Waubonsie Valley (23-0-1) vs. Maine South (20-2-4), 4 p.m.
What more can be said about the Warriors, who enter with a 55-game unbeaten streak (53-0-2) and a 21-game winning streak? Led by Bri Rodriguez and Vanessa DiBernardo, the Warriors have five players with at least 11 goals. They've outscored opponents 93-6 and keeper Claire Hanold has 19 shutouts. Oh, and the national coaches spring poll has them at No. 3.
The Hawks may be the tournament's team of destiny, despite an unfavorable quarterfinal matchup. After trailing Hononegah 1-0 in the supersectional from the 2nd minute until the 80th, the Hawks scored in the final 30 seconds of regulation and then got the winner midway through the first overtime. That came after a penalty-kick victory over Huntley in the sectional final. They are making their second consecutive appearance and sixth overall. But the Hawks are 0-5 since losing to Naperville North in the 1988 championship game. That includes a 3-0 loss to Waubonsie in 1991.
St. Ignatius (26-1-1) vs. Normal West (26-0), 6 p.m.
This is the first 2A appearance for the Wolfpack, which became the first Chicago team to reach the quarterfinals since the IHSA nixed the Public League's automatic bid. The Wolfpack lost in the 1A quarterfinals in 2005.
The Wildcats are in the quarters for the second consecutive year after losing to Waubonsie 2-0 in their first appearance last spring. Paced by two 25-goal scorers - Natalee Brown and Rachel Wright - the Wildcats have outscored opponents 113-7, including 25-1 in the postseason. Waubonsie and the seventh-ranked Wildcats are the only Illinois teams in the coaches poll.
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