Morton goes on offensive in New Trier’s rivalry win

Traditionally a defender, New Trier junior Abby Morton is still learning about life as an attacker.

An important lesson came her way on Tuesday night: how to celebrate your first varsity goal.

Off a cross from sophomore Addy Randall, Morton bounced a header into the far corner of the net in the 22nd minute Tuesday, April 22, for what turned out to be the lone goal in a 1-0 Trevians’ victory on Evanston’s Lazier Field.

“As I’ve been learning to play this position this year, we’ve been talking about how to get up in the box and always anticipate what’s coming, even when you don’t think it’s coming toward you,” Morton said. “So I knew to get up on their back line and expect the ball was coming to me. I just saw it coming and put everything on it.”

The goal remained the difference as New Trier’s defense again held up, earning the team’s 14th shutout in 15 matches as the defending state champs improved to 13-0-2 this season.

In the early going, the Trevians have been tested, especially in the power-packed Lou Malnati’s Deep Dish Classic that ended Saturday, April 19. And Tuesday night was no different, as the Wildkits (7-2-2) came ready.

The Kits rushed the Trevians in the first few minutes, and junior Bridget Durkin’s early shot on goal from point-blank range needed an extraordinary diving save from New Trier goalie Annie Fowler to keep the Kits off the scoreboard.

“At the beginning, we were caught off guard for a second,” Fowler said. “I saw (Durkin) drive and saw her touch in (close to the net). I knew I had to cut off that space and that shot, and just dove and got it.”

From there, the Trevians found their footing, and the Kits had few chances the remainder of the match.

Working against the wind in the first half, New Trier won the possession battle. They also drew a pair of corner kicks and found the net with the Randall-Morton connection.

“We weathered the storm, but they are a good team and they are athletic and they come at you,” Trevs coach Jim Burnside said. “They took it to us (early), and Annie came up with a big save early.”

In the second half, New Trier continued to win possession and also began to rip shots at the net, primarily from the perimeter.

Burnside said Evanston’s defense collapsed successfully once Trevians attackers closed in, so they stayed back. The Trevians put eight shots on frame (plenty others off frame) in the second half, and while none found the net, the strategy kept the ball deep in Evanston territory while allowing New Trier’s defense to maintain its integrity.

Evanston managed just one second-half shot on goal, and the visiting Trevians picked up the rivalry win.

“Every team we’ve been focused on, but obviously (against) Evanston, we know to have that edge coming in,” Morton said. “Especially here (in Evanston), it’s really important to want it and play with heart.”

The victory added to a special week for New Trier, which won its own Malnati’s Classic for the first time in the tournament’s seven-year history. The Trevians bested Naperville North in penalty kicks after a scoreless draw through regular and extra time.

Randall, a midfielder, converted the game-winning penalty kick in the championship match. The sophomore has been nothing short of incredible this season. She’s been directly involved in 32 (17 goals, 15 assists) of New Trier’s 41 goals through the team’s first 14 matches.

Randall is one of six sophomores in the Trevians’ starting lineup. Noa Boeing and London McCaffery join her in the midfield, while Dami Balogun is up top, Bea Cirulis is in the defensive backfield and Fowler is in goal.

Juniors Morton and Quinn Brahm join Balogun as New Trier’s starting attackers, and their stingy back line is led by seniors Honor Dold and Kennedy Colegrove and also features junior Eleni Kanellos.

Though young, most of the Trevians’ starters saw time on the field with the state championship team a year ago. It’s no secret that New Trier is looking to return to state and defend its crown.

But that doesn’t mean it’s their focus.

“We want to repeat, but we try to focus in the present,” Fowler said. “There’s no point in worrying about a state championship that is a month away. June 7 (the final date of the state tournament) is circled on our calendar, but that takes winning every game, putting everything into every game because we know we’re not going to get there unless we put our all into every game.”

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