Naperville Sun’s three things to know

1. Cream rising to the top. Neuqua Valley and Naperville North are rounding into form after early struggles. Neuqua has won seven straight games, while Naperville North upset Lyons 3-2 on a last-minute goal by Olivia Stapleton and then knocked off Geneva 2-0 as Stapleton scored again.

2. Get ready, get set. The Naperville Invite quarterfinals are Thursday. Naperville North (5-4-2) will host Neuqua Valley (7-4-2) at 7 p.m., with the winner playing New Trier (14-0) or Fremd in Friday’s semifinals at Naperville Central. Waubonsie Valley (9-1-3) faces Palatine (7-4-2) at Fremd, with the winner facing Barrington (8-1-2) or Loyola (14-1). The final is noon Saturday at Central.

3. Strange, but true. Naperville Central freshman Caitlin Reice suffered a back injury when she was bucked off a horse and into a wall over spring break. “I got that email and I was like, ‘Aw, come on,’” Naperville Central coach Ed Watson said. “In 22 years of coaching I had never heard that one before.” Reice returned to the lineup last week and has played well on defense.