New Trier gets statement win over rival and previously unbeaten Evanston

New Trier girls soccer coach Jim Burnside said as the Trevians merge new and experienced talent, the on-the-field product is a work in progress.

New Trier and Evanston got a look on Saturday, April 20, at what the finished product may look like.

The Trevians scored two first-half goals, controlled gameplay and employed stingy defense in a big-time 2-0 victory against the previously unbeaten Kits in Northfield.

“It was a nice win for us,” Burnside said. “We’re going up against a really good, athletic, quality opponent in Evanston with their great attack; Across the board, they are good. We came out excited and played well. The kids, they stepped it up.”

The win pushed New Trier to 11-2-3 and it was arguably its biggest triumph of the season, as well as the Trevians’ third win in as many days (2-0 against York April 18; 4-0 against Bolingbrook April 19).

Coming off a supersectional appearance (and heartbreaking loss) in 2023 and returning a slew of starters, the Trevs came into the season with high expectations, both internally and across the Illinois soccer community.

Among notable results thus far: New Trier has recorded strong wins against Warren (3-0) and Lane Tech (2-0), battled to scoreless draws against Glenbrook North and Deerfield and lost to Naperville North (1-0).

Burnside said the Trevians have a lot of talent and are still figuring out how to maximize it.

“We’re still working our way into finding our rhythm,” he said. “I think part of it is we have so many kids who can be impact players in a game. We need to allow everyone to have the impact they need to have. We have really high expectations since the first kickoff of the year, since our first practice. We’re finding our rhythm at a good time and getting to know each other. … We’re finding our way.”

Against Evanston, a local rival and also power player in the Central Suburban League South, New Trier found the back of the net early.

Senior Basie Shannon headed an Annie Paden corner kick into the net in the fourth minute. About 15 minutes later, Josie Noble’s header off another Paden service gave the Trevians a 2-0 advantage.

While set pieces are vital to New Trier’s success, Burnside said positive results from them have been inconsistent, until Saturday.

“At this time of year, any year, it’s a work in progress,” Burnside said of the plays. “You’re figuring out so many parts to a set piece, getting people moving at the right time and in the right places, getting service in the right spots. I was happy with the execution (Saturday).”

Effort played a major role in New Trier protecting its two-goal lead, but Burnside said the Trevians also kept pressuring offensively.

“We possessed well. We defended hard. We’re trying to win first and second balls, which we did a great job of,” Burnside said. “Kids across the field did a really good job of understanding and knowing our spaces and where they needed to be to defend.”

New Trier’s defensive is anchored by All-State returner Clara Deliduka, a senior, and third-year varsity player Honor Dold, a junior. Junior Kennedy Colegrove also returns to the backline, and Shannon — a senior but first-year New Trier player who previously played club soccer — completes the quartet. Junior Caroline Hague and freshman Annie Fowler split time in net, with Fowler earning the shutout against Evanston.

Noble, another All-Stater and Wake Forest commit, leads the offense with fellow seniors Sybil Evans, a captain and four-year varsity player; Charlotte Dellin, a returning starter; and Jaime Elias, a newcomer to New Trier soccer.

Sophomore Maeve Driscoll stepped up Saturday, filling in for an injured Evans, Burnside said. Freshman Addy Randall is another impact talent up top, and freshman Noa Boeing and sophomore Eleni Kanellos have also made their presence felt.

The formula adds up to state-title hopes for New Trier, which has been stopped short of state for three straight years – twice (2023, 2021) in the supersectional — after a third-place result in 2019 (no tournament in 2020).

“What we have is great seniors that really have their eye on the prize and we have a great group of returners and new people,” Burnside said. “The season has been a work in progress to get everybody meshed together and that is the job of the coaches. It’s on us and takes time to find where kids are going to be successful.

“Their expectations are high and they are starting to realize that we can do anything if we come together.”

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