Huntley seniors go for state goal again

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The approach Huntley’s girls soccer team has taken to this year’s postseason isn’t much different than in recent years.

It’s all business, just like it has been since the Red Raiders started their quest for an IHSA Class 3A state semifinals bid four seasons ago.

But while Aimee Wronski and the Raiders’ other nine seniors will enter the postseason stoically, they will play with urgency.

Huntley has won four consecutive regional titles and advanced to a sectional final twice in the past four seasons but lost two heartbreakers. The 10 seniors have consoled themselves with the anticipation of the next season.

This time, there are no second chances.

“We’re going in harder than we ever have because being seniors is only making us push harder,” said Wronski, who has scored an area-best 30 goals this season. “If we lose, we’re done, and we really don’t want to be done. We’re going to keep this going.”

It’s difficult to think otherwise.

Huntley is ranked No. 3 in Illinois and No. 6 nationally by ESPN RISE, and has cruised through the season. The Raiders have a shutdown defense – anchored by seniors Rachel Chapuis and Sam Zobott – a strong midfield, courtesy of seniors Bre Burry and Priscilla Jara, and a potent offense up top led by Wronski and complemented by senior Emily Konior.

The Raiders (17-1-1) picked up their fifth consecutive Fox Valley Conference Valley or Fox Division title and enter the Class 3A Jefferson Regional at 4:30 p.m. today as the top seed. Huntley faces fourth-seeded Larkin in a regional semifinal in Rockford. Should the Raiders win, they will face either second-seeded DeKalb or third-seeded Jefferson at 4:30 p.m. Friday for the regional championship. DeKalb and Jefferson play in the other regional semifinal at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday.

Should Huntley advance to the Class 3A Jacobs Sectional semifinal, it could face a familiar foe.

The Raiders would play the winner of the Barrington Regional, which features second-seeded Cary-Grove, third-seeded Jacobs and top-seeded Barrington. C-G (12-7-1) and Jacobs (19-6) play one another in a semifinal at 7 p.m. Wednesday, with the winner advancing to the regional final at 6 p.m. Friday against either Barrington or fourth-seeded Lake Zurich.

Huntley beat C-G and Jacobs this season but has not faced Barrington.

The winner of the Crystal Lake South Regional also will advance to the Jacobs Sectional and will take on the winner of the Boylan Regional. South (15-7-2) received the top seed in its regional and plays fifth-seeded Round Lake in a regional semifinal at 4:30 p.m. today.

Second-seeded McHenry (12-8) will play third-seeded Prairie Ridge (5-10-1) at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday in the other regional semifinal. Winners will play in the regional title match at 11 a.m. Saturday.

The Jacobs Sectional semifinals will be held concurrently next Tuesday.