DeKalb doesn't get many chances in loss to defending state champ Naperville North

DeKALB – The DeKalb Barbs put up a strong defensive effort against the three-time reigning state champion Naperville North Huskies but couldn’t get enough offense in a 3-0 loss at home.

“I’m proud of our performance, but there’s some things that we definitely need to clean up to present ourselves some opportunities to create a little bit more, to be more dangerous at times and capitalize,” DeKalb coach PJ Hamilton said.

The Huskies broke open the scoring on a shot that barely made it past the goal line with 9:18 left in the first half. With a group of players sandwiched in the middle of the box, the Huskies snuck a shot just over the line to take a 1-0 lead.

The Huskies added an insurance goal with 30:26 left in the game. After clanging three consecutive shots off the goalpost, Ty Konrad finally slapped one past Barbs’ goalkeeper Matt Haeseker to push the Huskies’ lead to 2-0.

The Barbs’ (6-4-3, 1-3 DuPage Valley) defense played the Huskies tight in the game, allowing only three soft goals despite spending most of the half under attack.

“We got a couple of breaks to get goals,” Huskies coach Jim Konrad said. “I’m proud of my boys because they were persistent. Things didn’t go our way. We missed a penalty kick, but they kept coming. They made it hard for us to score.”

The Huskies finished out the scoring with another soft shot with 3:20 left in the game.

The Huskies (10-2-2, 4-0) outshot the Barbs, 12-1, in the opening half, giving Haeseker plenty of work.

“I take it how it is,” Haeseker said. “It’s going to happen in soccer. There’s going to be some teams who know what they’re doing with the ball. I look at it as an opportunity.”

Haeseker charged the ball hard, cutting off any scoring lanes throughout the game. His biggest save came with 17:10 left in the half after the Barbs were called for a penalty inside the box. Huskie’s forward Ty Konrad smashed the penalty kick toward the corner of the goal, but Haeseker dove hard to his left to slep the shot away.

By the numbers: The Huskies had four shots on goal.

Beyond the stats: The Barbs didn’t get a corner kick in the game, compared with 10 for the Huskies.

They said it: “It was a phenomenal performace [by the defense],” Hamilton said. “That’s what those guys do. I thought John Hernandez was the man of the match the way he closed down space.”

Up next: DeKalb travels to Geneva on Thursday at 6:30 p.m. Naperville North hosts Washburn Rural on Thursday at 4:30 p.m.