Julie Bergstrom kept mum when asked who she'd rather face: Neuqua Valley or Naperville Central.
She shook her head, careful not to give any hint of her feelings on the subject. Her Waubonsie Valley team was coming off a 4-1 sectional semifinal win over Geneva, and the Redhawks-Wildcats game was about to begin.
She hesitated, then said, "Well, one's our rival and the other is ...." Her voice trailed off for fear she was already saying too much.
But, come on, what coach has ever given an honest answer to that kind of question? The only thing Bergstrom really wanted was to see the Central-Neuqua game last roughly three hours, require four overtimes and a lengthy shootout, and feature both teams beating on each other from start to finish.
Well, the game was physical, but the Wildcats won 2-0 in regulation, setting up a sectional final loaded with storylines:
* - It's a rematch of last season's sectional final, which Waubonsie won 3-2 in a shootout on its way to the Class AA state title.
*- Waubonsie has won four consecutive games against its District 204 sisters, including a 4-0 shelling earlier this season. Neuqua, which had won five straight in the series prior to the current streak, hasn't come out on top since a 2-1 victory in the sectional semifinals on May 28, 2005, on its way to the Class AA state title.
*- Three of the most acclaimed players in the area will be on display: Waubonsie's Bri Rodriguez (the Gatorade Illinois Player of the Year) and Vanessa DiBernardo and Neuqua's talented freshman, Megan Oyster.
"You've got to try to keep the emotions under control," Neuqua coach Joe Moreau said. "But it's exciting. These are 15- to 18-year-old kids and they're friends. There are going to be emotions. In between the lines for 80 minutes it will be a battle. But when the final whistle blows, they're hugging and talking with each other."
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