Virus upends Barrington's golden run
By Mike Garofola
Barrington won the state title for its first time in program history in 2017 in one of the most dramatic finals ever in Class 3A competition. Then the Fillies raised the championship trophy one year later.
That put Barrington in a select group of Class 3A clubs that claimed consecutive state titles: Naperville North (2012-2013); New Trier (2003-2004 and 2014-2016); and the gold standard of St. Charles (1996-2000).
Barrington’s double doubled the Mid-Suburban League state championship team roster to four. The league earlier celebrated championship seasons from Palatine, led by the current dean of league managers Willie Filian.
The big stage at finals weekend at North Central College in Naperville was not always filled with gold. There were a handful of detours along the way.
Barrington won nine-straight games in advance of the 2013 championship weekend, outscoring its rivals 37-2, but the Fillies fell 1-0 to eventual state champ Hinsdale Central.
They ended the season win a win over Buffalo Grove in the third place game.
Two years later, it was deja vu all over again. Undefeated in nine straight with a 27-1 goal differential, Barrington was stopped cold in the semifinals, this time to 2015 champ New Trier 1-0 in overtime.
The Fillies advanced into the supersectionals from 2009 to 2019 and advanced to the Final Four on five occasions.
"It was heartbreaking at times not to see some very good Barrington teams get into the state tournament, but in reality, it's a record of success to very proud of,” said Barrington manager Ryan Stengren. “And the fact is we were beaten by some excellent teams in those supersectionals.
Stengren, who was about to begin his 13th year in charge this season before the coronavirus ended spring sports, has helped his clubs earn five state trophies and eight-consecutive MSL titles while amassing a 245- 45-20 record.
"You have to have the players in order to do what we've done here at Barrington," began Stengren.
"The commitment, desire and work ethic has to be there at all times. Plus the commitment from parents and administration is equally important, and we've had all of that.”
The 2017 championship team might have been Barrington’s best.
"Our first 11 was almost entirely made up of seniors, many of which went on to play in college. It all began in the back. That's where you win championships."
The back four of seniors Jackie Batliner, Kayla Keck and Haley Tausend, along with sophomore Madi Rosen, was as stingy as can be. Put them in front of keeper Samantha Schmitz, who conceded just seven goals on the season while collecting 24 clean-sheets and you have a defensive juggernaut.
Batliner, Keck and Tausend all played at an elite level. Batliner, Tausend, and midfielder Sophia Spinell play at DePaul, Eastern Michigan and Miami (Ohio) respectively.
Before doing so, Batliner earned her second IHSSCA all-state award, as did Spinell following a season in which bagged 17 goals and an astounding 26 assists.
Anna Brodjian, who bagged several game-winners that season, continued her career at Wisconsin-Whitewater, while Sydney Bowling (Utah), Maesyn Poidomani (Purdue) Ellie Stodola (Indiana) and Keck (SMU) play college club soccer.
"We had incredible depth on that team, and the leadership from that senior group was so amazing, (they) set the tone for the next group that came through," said Stengren.
The underclassmen on that team wound not argue their coach’s point.
"That was an amazing team, but it was the seniors and the way they led the team on and away from the field that stands out most to me," recounted Rosen.
"They made a young player like me feel comfortable right from the start, always helping me out, and providing the type of support needed to play on a team with such great talent, and against so many great teams all year long."
Rosen further illustrated the leadership she spoke of when she replayed a critical moment in the Fillies state championship match with New Trier.
"There was a controversial call late in the game that gave New Trier a PK because of a foul called on me," begins Rosen, selected to the 2019 IHSSCA All-State team.
"All I could think of at that moment was how I let down my team, and especially our 12 seniors, and how their dream of a state title was about to end.
"Haley (Tausend) came up to me, gripped my shoulder so tight, and said 'There's still five minutes to go. Let's get ready.’
"She was so calm. Her mindset was already getting ready for that last five minutes of regulation. She really helped me snap out of it," continued Rosen.
The Trevians missed the spot-kick, and Schmitz came to the rescue in shoot. Conversions from Michayla Herr, Keck and Spinell gave the Fillies the victory after 100 minutes of scoreless play.
The following season, the only returning senior starters (Herr amd Schmitz) led the way for a big group of sophomores and juniors. The Fillies marched into the state finals after stunning then-no. 1 St. Charles North in the supersectional round.
"Nobody really expected us to get as far as did after losing so much talent from that 2017 team," Stengren said.
"That next group coming through wanted to make their own mark in program history. They worked so hard. After a somewhat slow start to the season, and several games in which we had to grind out victories, we were back in the state final."
Herr, who went on to play at Wisconsin the next fall, bagged the game-winner in the Fillies semifinal win over Naperville North. Then it was Schmitz in the final once again who was brilliant in yet another memorable shootout victory.
Schmitz has since gone on to play at Harvard.
"Again, it was Herr, Schmitz and Lauren Caffe (out all year with an ACL) who were just great senior leaders, and in fact it was (Michayla) gave us an impassioned speech before that final that inspired all of us," said Rosen.
"She said New Trier was here to prove our win the year before was a fluke and that they were the better team. We needed to go out there to prove 2017 wasn't a fluke, and we were just as good, if not better than any other team."
The next generation of talent watched their peers who lifted the 2017 state trophy began to make their mark on the 2018 club before making a huge footprint in the Fillies history books.
The hope of a third-straight state title was dashed with a shootout loss to Naperville North that ended the sensational careers of the last set of players from the 2017 club: Christine Batliner, Ashley Rocco, Ashley Prell, and Rosen all moved on.
Prell is now playing at Illinois, Batliner (Marquette) and Rocco (SMU) play club. Rosen attends Loyola, where she played in 12 of the 20 games last fall.
The 2020 version of Fillies soccer came into the new season as the no. 1 rated team in the state in the Chicagoland Soccer First 50 poll and nation (TopDrawerSoccer.com).
"We began the season as the no. 1 team, so I guess that's how the 2020 season will go in the books, but I would have rather we played out the season to see how it would all shake down," Stengren said.
"I was so looking forward to see how this team would eventually come together. It’s sad for players such as Tina (Teik) and Juliana (Moreno), who have been with me since their freshman seasons, not to get that chance to play one last year.
"Tina and Jules have meant a lot to this program, and right from the very start they showed they belonged with the varsity in so many ways."
Teik will continue playing next fall at Yale, while Moreno will attend Loyola.
For the second time in two years, Stengren will say goodbye to another wonderful group of seniors: Ashley Armando (South Carolina), Alexis Armando (Indiana), Leah Eisenbarth (Wisconin-Whitewater), Ellie McAuley (Illinois), Rebecca Shomaker (Wisconsin)
Natalie Urso (Purdue), Hannah and Julia Welsh (Tennessee).
"There are a lot of reasons for the success at Barrington, but in my opinion, it all comes back to Stengren, and our coaching staff," suggest Rosen.
"He treats every player the same (whether) you start, play part-time, or sit on the bench. It's that feeling of us all being family that helps build that special bond between all of us.
"He truly does coach us for life."
By Mike Garofola
Barrington won the state title for its first time in program history in 2017 in one of the most dramatic finals ever in Class 3A competition. Then the Fillies raised the championship trophy one year later.
That put Barrington in a select group of Class 3A clubs that claimed consecutive state titles: Naperville North (2012-2013); New Trier (2003-2004 and 2014-2016); and the gold standard of St. Charles (1996-2000).
Barrington’s double doubled the Mid-Suburban League state championship team roster to four. The league earlier celebrated championship seasons from Palatine, led by the current dean of league managers Willie Filian.
The big stage at finals weekend at North Central College in Naperville was not always filled with gold. There were a handful of detours along the way.
Barrington won nine-straight games in advance of the 2013 championship weekend, outscoring its rivals 37-2, but the Fillies fell 1-0 to eventual state champ Hinsdale Central.
They ended the season win a win over Buffalo Grove in the third place game.
Two years later, it was deja vu all over again. Undefeated in nine straight with a 27-1 goal differential, Barrington was stopped cold in the semifinals, this time to 2015 champ New Trier 1-0 in overtime.
The Fillies advanced into the supersectionals from 2009 to 2019 and advanced to the Final Four on five occasions.
"It was heartbreaking at times not to see some very good Barrington teams get into the state tournament, but in reality, it's a record of success to very proud of,” said Barrington manager Ryan Stengren. “And the fact is we were beaten by some excellent teams in those supersectionals.
Stengren, who was about to begin his 13th year in charge this season before the coronavirus ended spring sports, has helped his clubs earn five state trophies and eight-consecutive MSL titles while amassing a 245- 45-20 record.
"You have to have the players in order to do what we've done here at Barrington," began Stengren.
"The commitment, desire and work ethic has to be there at all times. Plus the commitment from parents and administration is equally important, and we've had all of that.”
The 2017 championship team might have been Barrington’s best.
"Our first 11 was almost entirely made up of seniors, many of which went on to play in college. It all began in the back. That's where you win championships."
The back four of seniors Jackie Batliner, Kayla Keck and Haley Tausend, along with sophomore Madi Rosen, was as stingy as can be. Put them in front of keeper Samantha Schmitz, who conceded just seven goals on the season while collecting 24 clean-sheets and you have a defensive juggernaut.
Batliner, Keck and Tausend all played at an elite level. Batliner, Tausend, and midfielder Sophia Spinell play at DePaul, Eastern Michigan and Miami (Ohio) respectively.
Before doing so, Batliner earned her second IHSSCA all-state award, as did Spinell following a season in which bagged 17 goals and an astounding 26 assists.
Anna Brodjian, who bagged several game-winners that season, continued her career at Wisconsin-Whitewater, while Sydney Bowling (Utah), Maesyn Poidomani (Purdue) Ellie Stodola (Indiana) and Keck (SMU) play college club soccer.
"We had incredible depth on that team, and the leadership from that senior group was so amazing, (they) set the tone for the next group that came through," said Stengren.
The underclassmen on that team wound not argue their coach’s point.
"That was an amazing team, but it was the seniors and the way they led the team on and away from the field that stands out most to me," recounted Rosen.
"They made a young player like me feel comfortable right from the start, always helping me out, and providing the type of support needed to play on a team with such great talent, and against so many great teams all year long."
Rosen further illustrated the leadership she spoke of when she replayed a critical moment in the Fillies state championship match with New Trier.
"There was a controversial call late in the game that gave New Trier a PK because of a foul called on me," begins Rosen, selected to the 2019 IHSSCA All-State team.
"All I could think of at that moment was how I let down my team, and especially our 12 seniors, and how their dream of a state title was about to end.
"Haley (Tausend) came up to me, gripped my shoulder so tight, and said 'There's still five minutes to go. Let's get ready.’
"She was so calm. Her mindset was already getting ready for that last five minutes of regulation. She really helped me snap out of it," continued Rosen.
The Trevians missed the spot-kick, and Schmitz came to the rescue in shoot. Conversions from Michayla Herr, Keck and Spinell gave the Fillies the victory after 100 minutes of scoreless play.
The following season, the only returning senior starters (Herr amd Schmitz) led the way for a big group of sophomores and juniors. The Fillies marched into the state finals after stunning then-no. 1 St. Charles North in the supersectional round.
"Nobody really expected us to get as far as did after losing so much talent from that 2017 team," Stengren said.
"That next group coming through wanted to make their own mark in program history. They worked so hard. After a somewhat slow start to the season, and several games in which we had to grind out victories, we were back in the state final."
Herr, who went on to play at Wisconsin the next fall, bagged the game-winner in the Fillies semifinal win over Naperville North. Then it was Schmitz in the final once again who was brilliant in yet another memorable shootout victory.
Schmitz has since gone on to play at Harvard.
"Again, it was Herr, Schmitz and Lauren Caffe (out all year with an ACL) who were just great senior leaders, and in fact it was (Michayla) gave us an impassioned speech before that final that inspired all of us," said Rosen.
"She said New Trier was here to prove our win the year before was a fluke and that they were the better team. We needed to go out there to prove 2017 wasn't a fluke, and we were just as good, if not better than any other team."
The next generation of talent watched their peers who lifted the 2017 state trophy began to make their mark on the 2018 club before making a huge footprint in the Fillies history books.
The hope of a third-straight state title was dashed with a shootout loss to Naperville North that ended the sensational careers of the last set of players from the 2017 club: Christine Batliner, Ashley Rocco, Ashley Prell, and Rosen all moved on.
Prell is now playing at Illinois, Batliner (Marquette) and Rocco (SMU) play club. Rosen attends Loyola, where she played in 12 of the 20 games last fall.
The 2020 version of Fillies soccer came into the new season as the no. 1 rated team in the state in the Chicagoland Soccer First 50 poll and nation (TopDrawerSoccer.com).
"We began the season as the no. 1 team, so I guess that's how the 2020 season will go in the books, but I would have rather we played out the season to see how it would all shake down," Stengren said.
"I was so looking forward to see how this team would eventually come together. It’s sad for players such as Tina (Teik) and Juliana (Moreno), who have been with me since their freshman seasons, not to get that chance to play one last year.
"Tina and Jules have meant a lot to this program, and right from the very start they showed they belonged with the varsity in so many ways."
Teik will continue playing next fall at Yale, while Moreno will attend Loyola.
For the second time in two years, Stengren will say goodbye to another wonderful group of seniors: Ashley Armando (South Carolina), Alexis Armando (Indiana), Leah Eisenbarth (Wisconin-Whitewater), Ellie McAuley (Illinois), Rebecca Shomaker (Wisconsin)
Natalie Urso (Purdue), Hannah and Julia Welsh (Tennessee).
"There are a lot of reasons for the success at Barrington, but in my opinion, it all comes back to Stengren, and our coaching staff," suggest Rosen.
"He treats every player the same (whether) you start, play part-time, or sit on the bench. It's that feeling of us all being family that helps build that special bond between all of us.
"He truly does coach us for life."