Naperville Central’s Eleanor Kane is one of the most highly regarded freshman defenders in Illinois and prides herself on being in the right position at the right time on the back line.
But sometimes it’s OK to be in the wrong position at the right time.
That was the case when Kane parked in front of Neuqua Valley’s net to await a corner kick from freshman forward Emerson Burke with six minutes left in the first overtime of a DuPage Valley Conference game in Naperville on Tuesday.
“I was actually a little out of position,” Kane said. “I was supposed to be parallel to the goalpost, but I was more inside of it. It was kind of an out-of-position play.”
A Neuqua Valley defender knocked Burke’s kick back toward the net, where it fell into a crowd of players that included two defenders and freshman goalkeeper Quinn Sigal. Also there was Kane, who said she got the inside of her left foot on it.
“I was really surprised,” Kane said. “I thought it was going straight in the goal. I think there was two defenders kind of on the goal line and there was a lot more behind me, but I couldn’t tell.”
Nobody could tell whether Kane’s shot crossed the goal line before Neuqua Valley freshman defender Addison Guskey cleared it. Then the referee ruled it had, giving Kane a golden goal and visiting Naperville Central a thrilling 4-3 victory.
That touched off a delayed celebration by the Redhawks (5-2, 1-1), who snapped a two-game losing streak.
“It’s very important to us,” Kane said. “Our first DVC game was a tough loss in overtime to Waubonsie. This is our first win, so we’re heading upward.”
So is Kane, who has been a teammate of Burke’s ever since they began playing soccer a decade ago.
“She’s amazing,” Burke said. “She’s a great leader, and she knows how to direct the back line, which is super big for us.”
Neuqua Valley’s Grace O’Malley (29) and Naperville Central’s Emerson Burke (20) go for the ball during a DuPage Valley Conference game in Naperville on Tuesday, April 9, 2024. (Trent Sprague / Naperville Sun)
Junior forward Bella Brozek scored the first two goals for Naperville Central. Junior midfielder Rebecca Ruggiero’s 25-yard shot off an assist from freshman midfielder Nicole Sacek with 3:46 left in regulation tied the game at 3-3, six minutes after junior midfielder Chloe Orlow had given Neuqua Valley (2-4, 0-1) a 3-2 lead.
Kane’s goal was the first of her high school career, which is off to a great start.
“I cannot say enough about Eleanor Kane’s play,” Naperville Central coach Troy Adams said. “She is just outstanding. She’s organized, and she’s the type of kid that wants to keep learning. She’s got a couple of club national titles, but she still wants to learn.”
Kane is still adapting to the pace and physicality of varsity soccer, but she’s a quick learner. She played all 84 minutes against the Wildcats, who twice had one-goal leads in the second half.
“It was excruciating,” Kane said. “It was so long with the overtime. I think the trick to it is just to really pace myself and go 100% to the ball when I really need to.”
That’s how Kane came to be the only Naperville Central player near the ball when Burke launched her corner kick.
“I was aiming for the top of the 6 because that’s where we try to (have) our main ball-winners,” Burke said. “Honestly, at practice my corners go everywhere. But that was like a dream corner kick. I’m just super happy for Eleanor. I was really happy for her to get that goal.”
So was Kane, who realizes she plays a position that rarely gets any glory.
“I was really honored to be on varsity as a freshman,” Kane said. “I’m just really grateful for this whole experience. I love playing on varsity. I love my team. This is a great win.”
Naperville Central’s Eleanor Kane (5) challenges Neuqua Valley’s Grace O’Malley (29) for the ball during a DuPage Valley Conference game in Naperville on Tuesday, April 9, 2024. (Trent Sprague / Naperville Sun)
Kane, Burke and Sacek are part of an impressive freshman class at area schools. All three are starting for Naperville Central.
Adams is particularly pleased with Kane’s attitude.
“She’s always asking, ‘How can I improve as a player?’” Adams said. “A lot of times, you get the other end of it: ‘I’m a freshman on varsity,’ and they have a little bit of that arrogance to them. Whereas she is the epitome of what you’d want a Redhawk soccer player to be, so I cannot say enough about her in the back. And the other two freshmen have settled in as well.”
Matt Le Cren is a freelance reporter.
