The following previews cover the girls' sectional semifinals on Friday, May 16.

LWC SECTIONAL

4:30pm (1) LWE vs (5) LWN

The Griffins and Phoenix resume their rivalry in an early semifinal round game at LWC on Friday. East got past North on multiple occasions during the regular season, but they would be wise not to overlook a Phoenix team that surprised LWW with a strong second half performance on Thursday.

GBS SECTIONAL

7:00pm (1) Loyola vs (4) Maine East

The Ramblers seem to be a rejuvenated bunch after navigating their way through one of the state's most difficult schedules in 2014. They nearly stunned Mother McAuley in the Catholic League Tournament last weekend and were impressing in getting past GBS in the opening round of sectionals on Thursday. On the flip side, the Blue Demons have been on a roll after beating New Trier last week and then avenging last year's sectional loss to GBN last night. East will have to stop Marta Considine and Claire Voss on the offensive end and hope that goalie Isabelle Trier has another monster performance to go along with solid showings from Maria Protic and Medina Husejnovic if the Blue Demons hope to reach their first sectional final.

LYONS SECTIONAL

7:00pm (1) Fenwick vs (4) York

The Friars coasted past Resurrection on Thursday afternoon but they will to pick up the intensity against a York team that is highly-capable of pulling off an upset if things go their way on Friday. Catie Wallace and Colleen Barron will be front and center for the Fenwick offense, while Alexa Ovalle could be the difference-maker in this contest for last year's sectional champions. The Dukes will likely call on Grace Achepohl and Perri Brinkmeier to both stave off the Fenwick offense and provide the bulk of the scoring for the West Suburban Conference side.

METEA VALLEY SECTIONAL

7:00pm (1) Naperville North vs (4) STC North

The Huskies rolled through the regular season with only one blemish on their record, so they have high hopes for the remainder of the postseason. They must beware of a North Stars' team that will likely be amped up from their dramatic 13-12 win over Hinsdale Central courtesy of Katie Difiglio's game-winning goal with six seconds left in regulation. STC North will have to contain both Jilian Eiken and Katie Horn if they hope to pull off a major upset on Friday at Metea Valley.

MUNDELEIN SECTIONAL

7:00pm (1) Stevenson vs (5) Lake Forest

The Scouts surprised Libertyville 9-5 on Thursday in the quarterfinal round, but they will have to take their game to another level if they hope to get past Stevenson on Friday in the semifinals. The Patriots put up 23 goals on Highland Park on Thursday and appear as hungry as ever to make a return to the state tournament after missing out to Mundelein in last year's sectional final. Could the two teams be destined to meet again to determine the sectional champion at Mundelein?

PALATINE SECTIONAL

7:00pm (1) Conant vs (4) Barrington

The Cougars are primed and ready to make a run at their first-ever state tournament berth, but they will have to outmatch a Barrington team that always seems to get the job done in the postseason. Conant showed no ill-effects of last week's MSL title game loss to Wheeling when they dispatched Hoffman 13-2 on Thursday night, but they will have to avoid looking ahead to a sectional final game and will have to stop Sam Gavars if they hope to get to the next round.

STAGG SECTIONAL

7:00pm (1) Mother McAuley vs (4) Richards

The Mighty Macs were the only team to earn a quarterfinal round bye in this year's playoffs, so they will have to shake the cobwebs off rather quickly if they hope to avoid an upset bid by the Bulldogs. Richards clawed their way past Stagg on Thursday night and will hope to catch last year's sectional champions by surprise.

UIC SECTIONAL

7:00pm (1) St Ignatius vs (5) Whitney Young

The defending state champions began their quest to repeat with a solid 9-4 win over Latin on Thursday evening, but they will have to be at their best when they face a Dolphins' team that snuck past Northside by one goal last night.

GBS SECTIONAL

8:15pm (2) New Trier vs (3) Maine South

The Trevians bounced back from a handful of losses in the last week of the regular season with a strong 10-1 performance against Prospect on Thursday. Now, they must deal with a Maine South team that got strong games out of both Giles Molloy and Jenna Zitkus on Thursday in an 8-5 victory over Hersey. Can the Trevians get back to the sectional title game again in 2014, or will the Hawks end up with one of their best chances to reach the state tournament for the first time?

LWC SECTIONAL

8:15pm (2) Andrew vs (3) LWC

The T-Bolts are one step away from having a chance at earning their first-ever state tournament berth, but they will have to get past last year's sectional champions (LWC) in order to do so. The Knights seem to be hitting their stride at just the right time, so it would come as no surprise to see them playing for a chance to return to Stevenson for the state tournament when all is said and done on Friday night.

LYONS SECTIONAL

8:15pm (2) Oak Park vs (3) Lyons

The Huskies and Lions needed overtime to determine the West Suburban Conference champ last week in this same pool. Will another close battle between rivals be on the cards?

METEA VALLEY SECTIONAL

8:15pm (2) Naperville Central vs (3) Neuqua Valley

The Redhawks have gotten the better of Neuqua Valley in recent meetings, but the Wildcats are more than capable of knocking off last year's sectional champions if they can get strong performances from Kaitlyn Gorski, Morgan Miller, and Issi French. Meanwhile, Naperville Central will know better than to look ahead to the sectional final round, as they seem to always know how to handle their business in order to navigate through a tough sectional field.

MUNDELEIN SECTIONAL

8:15pm (2) Mundelein vs (3) Wheeling

The Mustangs got one step closer to defending their sectional title when they got past Buffalo Grove on Thursday, but they could have their hands full when they face Mid-Suburban League champs Wheeling on Friday night in the late game.

PALATINE SECTIONAL

8:15pm (2) Palatine vs (3) Fremd

MSL West rivals meet in the sectional semifinal round when Palatine and Fremd get together for what will likely be another epic battle between the two Palatine-based teams. Expect a sold-out crowd and a fierce battle between two teams that are so close to a sectional final berth and a chance at a state tournament appearance. The Pirates won both regular season contests between the two teams.

STAGG SECTIONAL

8:15pm (2) Sandburg vs (3) Bremen

The Eagles and Red Jaguars both have a legitimate shot at a state tournament berth this year, but only one of them will make it past the semifinal round for a date with the winner of the McAuley/Richards game that takes place before this contest. Sandburg won the regular season meeting between the two squads and are back to full strength, but they will have to attempt to shut down Hannah Schultz if they hope to make it back to the sectional final round.

UIC SECTIONAL

8:15pm (2) Evanston vs (3) Lane

The Wildkits are the most-improved team of 2014 and could continue their epic rise with a win over Lane in the sectional semifinal round. However, the Indians have been in this position before and have a good deal of experience that could see them return to the UIC Sectional finals.