Wildcats see 10-match win streak snapped by rival Warriors

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By Paul LaTour

If nothing else, Neuqua Valley's veteran players know the most important victories do not come in the regular season – even when playing your No. 1 rival.

They learned that last season after the Wildcats defeated Waubonsie Valley in the regular season on their way to the Upstate Eight Conference crown.

The Warriors got their revenge by beating the Wildcats in a four-overtime sectional semifinal battle that stretched across two days because of a storm.

After Monday's 2-0 loss to the host Warriors, the Wildcats are left to hope they can reverse the way last season's scenario worked out.

"We're definitely going to learn from our mistakes," junior Megan Oyster said.

"We didn't play our game. But hopefully we come back, see them next time (in the playoffs) and beat them. We're totally motivated to get out there and play better, play harder and play stronger."

The Wildcats (10-1-1, 4-1 UEC) had their 10-game winning streak snapped, losing to Waubonsie (7-0-1, 4-0) for the seventh time in their past eight meetings.

The frustrating part for Neuqua was that both of Waubonsie's goals came on almost identical plays that were not unexpected.

Vanessa DiBernardo scored in the 31st minute, picking up her team-leading 10th goal.

DiBernardo sprinted through the middle to catch up to a through ball from freshman Rachele Armand and put it behind Wildcats goalkeeper Lauren Noonan.

The Warriors made it 2-0 in the 64th minute on a goal by Jenna Romano, a near-duplicate play of the first goal.

This time it was Hannah Klancic sending a perfect through ball to Romano, a midfielder who was in the open when she scored from 10 yards out, beating Alexa Wilde, who replaced Noonan for the second half.

"We were a little late at stepping up to the ball and they played it through," Oyster said of the goals. "That's the way they play, so that's the way they are going to score."

While the Wildcats put some pressure on the Warriors for much of the second half, they couldn't get anything past Allison Fox, who finished with six saves.

Noonan made two saves, including one diving to her left to deflect a DiBernardo shot wide of the goal. Wilde had three saves.

Neuqua coach Joe Moreau wasn't pleased with his team's first-half effort.

"In the first half we played soft," Moreau said. "(Waubonsie) really played much more aggressively and had the better of the play.

"In the second half, we played more aggressively, but we just didn't work the ball to feet like we've been doing all season long.

"We were trying to play balls long, and that's just not what we've been doing. We're not effective that way."

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