Dellin’s playoff magic keeps delivering — and so does the Trevians defense — in sectional championship

It was a night to exercise demons for New Trier girls soccer.

Trevians coach Jim Burnside and senior Charlotte Dellin each confronted familiar scenarios that in the past resulted in disappointment. But not on Friday night in Northfield, where New Trier topped Lane Tech 2-0 to claim its third straight sectional crown.

Burnside and company conquered a weather delay, and Dellin scored the Trevs’ breakthrough goal on a free kick that was quite similar to one she took two years ago.

“I think it was definitely a redeeming moment for me,” said Dellin, who in the regional final as a sophomore also took a free kick from the left side and just outside the 18-yard box.

Then, the opportunity was off-target; this time, Dellin’s boot bent into the upper corner of the near post late in the first half.

The goal continued a playoff hot streak for Dellin, who now has scored five goals in her past three games.

Early in the second half — with Lane Tech putting significant pressure on New Trier’s defense, even striking the post with a headed corner kick — the stadium’s weather-alert system sounded. The game was in delay.

“Coming out of halftime, a team that is down and is fighting for a goal — the thing is they are fighting for their season and you have to weather that storm,” Burnside said. ” … And I got a little history with lightning delays and being up, so I wanted the girls to know what we had to deal with. I thought our girls responded extremely well.”

Out of the delay, which lasted about 40 minutes, the gameplay evened out, and it didn’t take long for the Trevians to take advantage of the pressing Champions.

With 24 minutes to go, New Trier senior Josie Noble sent a perfectly placed cross in front of the net, and freshman Addy Randall was the first to it, hammering it into the back of the net for an all-important second goal.

From there, the Trevians defense held the Champions at bay, a stretch that included a sensational save by freshman goalkeeper Annie Fowler.

Fowler and New Trier’s defense posted their 15th straight clean sheet. One of the keys to the scoreless stretch? Oddly enough, it’s the feeling of getting scored on, Fowler said.

“We don’t want to let that first goal in (amid the streak),” she said. “We’re not letting that happen.”

The Trevians advance to the supersectional for the third straight season, losing in the round each of the previous two years. At 4 p.m. on Tuesday, May 28, New Trier will take on the winner of York and Lyons, who play at 9 a.m. Saturday, May 25, with a trip to the state finals on the line.

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