Naperville North senior Molly Depies launched a long-range lob over the St. Ignatius goaltender's outstretched arms as the first-quarter buzzer sounded, and the ball dropped in.
That rainbow goal earned the Huskies captain the Naperville Sports Weekly May Play of the Month, NCTV17 announced Sunday, June 14.
The play came during the IHSA girls water polo state third-place game on Saturday, May 23. Huskies goalkeeper Rugi Stackevicius made a save, then found Depies, who heaved the high-arcing shot from distance. It splashed through to give Naperville North a 3-1 lead after one quarter.
Naperville North went on to beat St. Ignatius 8-7 in a back-and-forth contest, claiming the state third-place trophy. Depies scored twice in the game, including a second-half goal that put the Huskies ahead 6-5.
Head Coach Andy Bax finished his first season leading the program with a 31-2 record. Both losses came against eventual state champion Stevenson, which beat the Huskies 9-7 in the state semifinal. Stevenson hadn't lost to an Illinois team since Naperville North beat them in the 2022 state final.
The Play of the Month award, sponsored by Trunnell Insurance, is selected from weekly NSW Play of the Week winners highlighted on NCTV17's prep sports program. Depies' rainbow goal first earned Play of the Week honors before being elevated to the monthly award.
