Metea Valley freshman midfielder Mckenna Wigfield didn’t know what to expect when she tried out for the team in February.
Earning a spot on the defending Class 3A state champion’s roster seemed like a difficult, yet realistic goal.
“I was really hoping to,” Wigfield said. “I knew there were some good players on the team, but I was like, ‘I can do this.’
“I felt that I could help the team. At first, it was really intimidating going against all of these really good girls, but I just worked hard, and they were all supporting me. They were all helping me out, so it just worked out well.’
Indeed, Wigfield has thrived in the midfield, bringing skill and toughness to an offense that already included four college-bound attackers.
“Honestly, I didn’t realize I would be saying this at the beginning of the season, but she has earned every minute out on the field because she just worked really hard,” Metea Valley coach Chris Whaley said. “She’s developed as the season has gone on in different ways and started to jell with some of the girls.
“I love the way she just battles and grinds. We have others girls that are willing to do that, but she just does it the whole game, and it’s amazing. Hard work pays off.”
It certainly did on Tuesday. Wigfield scored on an amazing 40-yard shot into the wind as time expired in the first overtime to give the host Mustangs a thrilling 1-0 DuPage Valley Conference victory against Naperville North.
The fantastic finish enabled Metea Valley (13-0-3, 3-0) to extend its unbeaten streak to 30 games and remain tied with Naperville Central (7-3-1, 3-0) for the conference lead.
The Mustangs were awarded a corner kick with 20 seconds left. The Huskies (9-5-1, 2-1) cleared senior Riley Strcic’s serve, but the ball went to Wigfield, who was far from the net with under 10 seconds remaining.
“I knew there wasn’t much time on the clock,” Wigfield said. “I heard people yelling, ‘one-time, one-time,’ so I tried my best, and it ended up working in our favor.”
Wigfield’s powerful drive into the teeth of a strong wind arced over the head of leaping Naperville North goalkeeper Olivia Ochsner and just under the crossbar as time ran out.
“Shots like that are one in a million,” Strcic said. “It was an amazing chance for her and an amazing win for the team.”
It took Wigfield a moment to realize what she had done.
“It was unbelievable,” she said. “I just went through complete shock. At first, I wasn’t sure that it actually went into the net. Everyone came running toward me, and I was like, ‘Oh my God.’”
The goal was the sixth of the season for Wigfield, who has bagged the game-winner in each of the past two games. She also scored the only goal, on a power header with 1:47 left in the first half, against Glenbard West on April 26.
The Mustangs are getting used to seeing Wigfield contribute such big plays, which have come in handy since leading scorer Jordan Lange suffered a foot injury.
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“She’s always working her hardest, and she’s always trying to get first to the ball, which is a huge thing, especially in the middle,” Strcic said. “We always rely on and trust our younger players and our freshmen.
“She’s just been a great addition and someone that we can always rely on because she’ll always work her hardest.”
Wigfield, who along with senior forward Tyra King was one of two Metea Valley players named to the Wheaton North Kickoff Classic all-tournament team, said work ethic is a strength.
“I think I have really good vision on the field, so I’m able to make better decisions, and I’m willing to work for the ball, willing to go up for everything,” Wigfield said. “I think that adds a bit to the team.”
Which is more than she could have imagined a few months ago.
“It’s really cool that I can come out here and even get playing time,” Wigfield said. “It feels really great.”
Matt Le Cren is freelance reporter for the Naperville Sun.
