The most striking thing about watching Naperville North senior Norah Barry play defense is not what you see. It’s what you don’t see.
Rarely will you see a player beat Barry one-on-one or even get a dangerous shot off. As for giving up goals, well, that happens once in a blue moon.
“I’m definitely trying to keep the player in front of me,” Barry said. “I don’t think there’s anything specific that I try to focus on other than trying to do my best and be in the right spot for my teammates.”
Barry was at her best again Monday night, helping the host Huskies shut out a powerful Libertyville team that had scored 28 goals in its first four games. The matchup of the top two teams in the state in the Lou Malnati’s Deep Dish Classic ended in a 0-0 draw.
“It’s exciting playing such a competitive team,” Barry said. “It makes the environment really fun. We knew Libertyville was going to be a tough opponent, so we were just excited for the opportunity to play them.”
Top-ranked Libertyville (4-0-1), which returned 12 players from the team that finished third in Class 3A last season, figured to be the stiffest test yet for No. 2 Naperville North (9-0-1), which has allowed only two goals.
The game featured plenty of end-to-end action, but the Wildcats didn’t come close to scoring. Naperville North goalkeeper Abby Haskell, an SIU-Edwardsville recruit, made four saves but was rarely tested.
Barry and senior center back Lucy Iverson made sure of that. They helped the Huskies turn in their best defensive performance of the season.
“I would say so,” Barry said. “When we’re playing a tough team, obviously it’s more intense. I think that our whole team was aware that we had to be locked in this whole game. That really helped our defensive play.”
Barry is always locked in. Naperville North coach Steve Goletz has come to rely on her.
“Norah is in the right place at the right time all the time,” Goletz said. “Norah prides herself on being in the right spot. She prides herself on moving her feet and making sure her body is in between the goal and the player at all times. She does so much for us that goes unnoticed.”
This season represents the end of an era at Naperville North. Barry’s older brothers, Jack and Myles, each played on two state championship teams there. Jack played soccer at St. Thomas, while Myles is playing basketball at Loras.
Norah Barry plans to go to St. Thomas, too, but has decided not to continue her soccer career.
“I’ve always looked forward to high school since I was a little kid,” Barry said. “I just think this would be a good place to end.”
Of course, Barry would like to end her career with a state championship. It’s not out of the realm of possibility, especially if she and the Calvin-bound Iverson continue to play at such a high level.
“Norah is a great kid,” Goletz said. “She’s a great leader. We have so many of those kids here. But to have two center backs that have been so rock solid and steady for the last couple years is such a fortunate piece for me.
“I always say to some of the kids that aren’t getting as much playing time as I’m sure they want, it’s an invaluable experience to watch those two play because they’ve both done such an amazing job.”
Matt Le Cren is a freelance reporter for the Naperville Sun.
