It’s not true that a goalkeeper’s worth can be assessed simply by saves and goals allowed.
Take the performance of Naperville North junior Alli Novak on a cool, very windy (gusts up to 50 m.p.h.) Friday at No. 8 Lake Zurich in St. Viator’s season-opening tournament.
She needed to make only four saves, but Novak made two other significant contributions in lifting the Huskies (2-1-1), who got first-half goals from Elise Landiak and Katie Anderson, to a 2-1 victory.
Halfway through the opening 40 minutes, Novak came way off her line to stop a threat by talented Lake Zurich freshman Rachel Brown.
The teams changed ends for the second half, giving the Bears (2-1) the advantage with the wind blowing heavily from the southwest.
Lake Zurich cut its deficit to 2-1 on a penalty kick from midfielder Brittany Garrett. Her chance came after a teammate was tripped in the penalty area.
Under pressure Novak made a nice save on a shot by Sam Janus and then caught a break when Megan Sue’s shot from 40 yards hit the crossbar.
With five minutes left Novak came up big when she handled a high, wind-blown corner kick flawlessly to choke off another Bears threat.
“The wind was just insane, it was all over the place,” said Novak, a backup goalie last season for Naperville North.
On getting beat by Garrett’s penalty kick, Novak said: “I got to the right side, but I didn’t get there quick enough. It was just unlucky.”
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asutton@tribune.com
