Whether Jacobs wins or loses in its first appearance in the state soccer quarterfinals Friday seems of little consequence when compared to what coach John Bardin went through four years ago.
Bardin, whose team is 24-2-1 and had never won a regional before this season, was diagnosed with cancer and had to miss the 1996 season.
“I was lucky,” Bardin said Thursday. “It was in a place that was caught right away. It was near the stomach and I couldn’t keep any food down. I thought I had an ulcer.”
Two small tumors were discovered and Bardin went through chemotherapy. Dawn Maramba, his assistant at the time and now co-head coach at Neuqua Valley, had to take over the team.
Bardin returned for the 1997 season and had what he calls “the worst season ever. We went 9-11-1.”
Since then Jacobs–not to mention Bardin–have had quite a comeback. Bardin has checkups every six months and the seventh-ranked Eagles have gone on to compile a 41-6-2 record the past two seasons. Entering Friday’s 2:30 p.m. matchup at Naperville Central against No. 4 Naperville North, Jacobs is on a 19-game unbeaten streak.
The Huskies (17-5-5), who upset then-No. 1 and crosstown rival Central Saturday and beat Lyons 2-0 in a storm-shortened supersectional, lost to St. Charles in the 1998 title game.
“I spent all morning looking at film and know that Aileen Guiney is a player,” Bardin said. “She’s one of the top 10 in the state. And Shannon Grimley’s an excellent forward.”
Bardin stresses defending against deadball plays like corner kicks and free kicks.
The Eagles have given up only one goal on a corner kick this season. Jacobs focused on that part of the game to beat Rockford Boylan in the supersectionals.
“We had practiced their plays for two days,” he said. “Our girls were confident going into the game. They’d yell, `Who’s got 17? Who’s got 17?’ They knew who to look for.
“Last year we lost games because we gave up goals on free kicks and corners.”
Bardin has a few threats of his own for this matchup. Sophomores Tiffany Boshers, Shelley Hecht and Kristen Heil have combined for 74 of the team’s 130 goals.
No. 1 St. Charles (25-2-1), looking for its fourth consecutive championship and seventh overall, kicks things off at 12:30 p.m. against Peoria Notre Dame (18-4-2). The Saints, led by Tribune All-Staters Becky Myers and Anne Poulin, have appeared in 23 state finals games and lost only twice.
No. 2 Maine South (23-0-5) tries to extend its 18-game winning streak against Lincoln-Way (20-6-1), which finished fourth last season. Hawks goalkeeper Sarah Anderson tied the state record of 15 consecutive shutouts this season–a streak broken in the 2-1 sectional semifinal victory over Glenbrook South.
The winner of that game is expected to face Quincy (18-3-2), which will be heavily favored against Public League champion Young (12-5). Both teams are making their first state quarterfinals appearance. Sophomore Adelaide Anderson has scored 26 of Young’s 48 goals this season.
