GIRLS SOCCER: Late goal not enough to extend historic season

Riverside Brookfield girls’ soccer team took the program a step further than it had ever gone before during 2009.

The Bulldogs won their first playoff game in school history and made an appearance in a regional championship for the first time ever as well.

These are two signs that the young program has shown improvement on a season-by-season basis.

“We always want to be a better team than we were the previous year,” said R-B co-head coach Marisa Dobbertin. “We still feel like we were a better team than we were last year.”

The Bulldogs came in second place in the Metro Suburban Conference this season after winning the league in 2008, and followed up its runnerup status in the league with a 6-0 win over Wells in a Class 2A regional semifinal on May 18 in Riverside.

However, R-B went on to see itself chase a 2-0 disadvantage against Payton last Friday at a regional championship in Riverside, before breaking through on a goal from junior forward Kristina Frampton after her shot attempt bounced over the heads of the Grizzlies’ defense, and splashed the back of the net with 2:40 remaining in regulation.

But the Bulldogs late second-half effort was not enough as Payton held on 2-1 and moved on to the Wheaton Academy sectional semifinal to face the host school.

“We really played to the very end and did not give up,” Dobbertin said. “We have to give it up to Payton. They’re a great team.”

Next year, R-B will deal with two adjustments. The first is being without fellow co-head coach James Waldo, who is moving to Kentucky this summer. The second will be revamping the MSC schedule which will now include new members Timothy Christian and Illiana Christian with remaining opponents Elmwood Park, Fenton and Ridgewood.

“Winning a regional championship next year is going to be the big push,” Dobbertin said. “Now that we know that we can come this close and that we can do it, I know it’s going to give the girls confidence. Every year it’s something new and something better. We have a tradition of being better every single year.”