Girls Soccer: Ally Peterson’s goal good enough for banged-up Barrington

Updated: May 4, 2012 10:24PM

Barrington earned a trip to this year’s MSL Cup game with Friday’s 1-0 win over Prospect, but a Fillies team at less than full strength had to earn it.

On a choppy grass field lacking width, and against a Knights team that played well from start to finish, Barrington got a first-half goal from Ally Peterson and made it stand up in advancing to Wednesday’s Cup game against defending Mid-Suburban League champion Hersey.

Had Barrington lost to or tied with Prospect, Conant would have won the MSL West and advanced to the conference title game.

“This field was difficult but everyone worked well together and helped each other out,” Barrington midfielder Sara Condon said. “Everyone worked hard and it was definitely a team effort.”

It had to be. Barrington lost one if its best players in midfielder Mia Calamari a month ago, lost leading scorer Molly Pfeiffer to injury for Friday’s game, and battled through other assorted injuries to beat a solid Prospect team.

Barrington (14-5, 10-1 in MSL play) came into this season wondering how good it could be, and the Fillies gave coach Ryan Stengren some answers on Friday.

“These girls just persist and find a way,” Stengren said. “That’s what I take away from it. We keep finding a way. Prospect plays with a lot of heart and I’m just proud of what we’ve accomplished so far this year.”

Prospect (10-6-3, 4-5-2) brought the attacking heat to Barrington throughout the first half, but couldn’t find a goal. The game’s lone goal came when Megan Fox crossed a low ball from the left side through a crowd, where Peterson buried it at the far post.

Prospect keeper Megan McCabe is one of the best around, and she had trouble locating the ball in the crowd.

“It slipped through me and it was out of reach, there was a tussle in front of the goal, and I didn’t even see the ball until it rolled into the net,” McCabe said. “But we’re playing well. We’re making those chances but we’re just not getting those last touches at the goal.”

Abby Taplett helped lead a Barrington back line that kept the slate clean in front of keeper Hannah Luedtke, for the team’s 13th shutout of the season. Barrington has only given up 10 goals in 19 games this year.

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