Neuqua Valley 1, Naperville North 0
Neuqua 0 1 -- 1
North 0 0 -- 0
First half: No scoring.
Second half: 1, Neuqua, Oyster (Doyle), 42nd minute.
Saves: Neuqua, Suther, 4 and Gaul, 4; North, Mahmud, 6.
Shots: Neuqua 10, North 13.
Corner kicks: Neuqua 1, North 5.

Naperville Central 1, Waubonsie Valley 0
Waubonsie 0 0 -- 0
Central 0 1 -- 1
First half: No scoring.
Second half: 1, Central, Maddi (Rubin), 78th minute.
Saves: Waubonsie, Hanold, 2; Central, D'Amico, 3.
Shots: Waubonsie 8, Central 3.
Corner kicks: Waubonsie 3, Central 2.

It's still a ways off, but folks are already getting excited about the April 20 girls soccer match between Neuqua Valley and Waubonsie Valley.

The reason, other than it's the latest installment in the District 204 rivalry? Neuqua is garnering national attention already and many are pointing to the Wildcats as a team that could knock off the Warriors, the nation's top-ranked team and two-time defending state champions.

Neuqua coach Joe Moreau isn't biting, even though his squad is ranked No. 19 by the nation's coaches and No. 6 in another national poll.

"It's preseason rankings and they really don't mean anything," Moreau said. "We don't even talk about it. Obviously the attention, and rightfully so, should be on Waubonsie Valley. They're loaded and they've got everyone back. We're still playing with different formations in practice, so I'm not too concerned about a preseason ranking."

With Injuries keeping three expected starters on the sidelines, Waubonsie Valley showed once again how much depth the girls soccer program has in its season-opening victory at Wheaton North on Monday.

Freshmen Shannon Donelson and Tina Tomaras started and a handful of other newcomers saw action in the game for the Warriors, who are ranked No. 1 in the nation in two polls.

"It felt we had good chemistry, which is good with all the new girls on the team," senior Catherine McClellan said. "It's good for them because they get that first game under their belts and then they can start to feel better about playing. I'm sure they were probably a little nervous at first."

Waubonsie, which extended its unbeaten streak to 59 games (57-0-2), played without senior Bri Rodriguez, and sophomores Hannah Klancic and Jessica Price.

Donelson made her presence known early, stopping a Falcons shot at the goal line to save a goal in the sixth minute.

ESPN Rise released its preseason girls soccer poll and Waubonsie Valley tops the list. The two-time defending state champions are said to be poised for a third straight title.

Neuqua Valley also made the poll, landing at No. 10.

If you're looking for when these teams first meet this season, it's April 20 at Neuqua.

Naperville Central junior Taylor Heatherly has recently given a verbal commitment to play soccer at Baylor.

Heatherly, a Sun All-City defender last season, narrowed her choices to Baylor, Georgetown and Yale before commiting to Baylor, located in Waco, Texas.

The Bears are coached by Marci Jobson, who is in her first year after leading Northern Illinois for the past three seasons. Jobson has an even closer tie to the area: she's from St. Charles and played for the Saints during their championship runs in the 1990s.

Another interesting trivia bit about Jobson: she scored the game-winning goal in the 1994 state championship game Her opponent? Naperville Central.