Prospect can't corral Barrington
Fillies win 4th straight, have eye on conference crown
By Mike Garofola
MOUNT PROSPECT -- Barrington stayed close to rivals Fremd and Conant in the Mid-Suburban League standings after its 4-0 victory victory over Prospect at George Gaddas Memorial Stadium.
In a match that host Prospect was desperate to win to boost its ever-dimishing East Division hopes, the Lady Knights were level for nearly 35 minutes, before conceding the first of two set piece goals by 2016 MSL West Division Player of the Year Jackie Batliner.
The victory for the Fillies (11-1-0, 6-0-0) gave them 18 points, three less than Fremd and Conant, which each have multiple games in hand.
"We did a lot of things very good, especially in our build-up. We still need to get better with a couple of other things, especially in the final third. But I was really pleased with our second half effort which got better and better as the half went on," said Fillies manager Ryan Stengren.
There was no doubt Barrington performed at a high level.
"We fought hard out there tonight, and created a couple of decent chances along the way," said Prospect coach Tom Froats. "But Barrington is a very good side, and in the second half their attack was dynamic. Once it got going, we just didn't have an answer for whatever they did."
The home side hoped to keep its deficit manageable in the chase for for the top spot in the East Division. Leader Buffalo Grove was favored to beat Hoffman Estates Monday and did. When the final whistle ended the contest, the Lady Knights (4-6-1, 2-3-1) found themselves chasing eight points (15-7).
"We can't control what other teams do, only what we do. And although it's disappointing to be in a position where BG is eight points clear of us, we still have to go out and work to get at a level of play that I know we're capable of," said Froats.
"What we need to do is have a game were we can put 3-4 goals in - because if we do, I have a feeling it will be just what we need to build our confidence, and get back to were we know we all can be," said Ashley Welk, Prospect's fine sophomore midfielder.
The Fillies were not at their best during the early exchanges. They found it difficult to solve a stingy Lady Knights defense that dropped numbers and sat in to absorb pressure from a Barrington attack that had 39 goals entering the game.
When the visitors finally found their form, they passed the ball around with almost consummate ease. A lot of play ran through midfielders Michayla Herr, Sydney Bowling and Sophia Spinell. The trio threaded dangerous balls up-top to Ashley Prell and Anna Brodjian.
"We all realize that everyone we play from here on out will bring their best game, so it's important that all of us understand that, and work hard to play at our absolute best," said the junior Herr.
A pair of timely tackles from Marissa Valentini saved the home side from potential trouble inside the first quarter hour, as did some fine work from keeper Meredith Nyborg who in just her fourth start of the season did well to turn around a handful of quality attempts on frame.
A well struck corner from Grace Johannesen at 26 minutes gave the Lady Knights their best chance when it fell to Aly Kobler. But around Kobler's attempt, the Fillies continued to do their best to unlock their host's defenses.
Barrington created five corners in the first period. The last from Spinell ended with Kayla Keck firing wide in the 32nd minute.
Two minutes later, the Fillies all-state defender Batliner ran inside the Prospect defense to head Spinell's glorious free kick serve past Nyborg - then did so again at 54 minutes on a superb crossfield free kick to the back post.
"Two dead-ball goals - blame me for both, because we just didn't prepare and train well enough for a team that does that part of the game so well," said Froats.
Batliners' fifth goal of the year inspired the Fillies attack, which with some neat triangles and movement off the ball, kept the momentum swung fully in their favor and created more chances than earlier in the game.
Brodjian and Spinell forced Nyborg into action, but she had help. Just after the hour, the senior applauded a sharp clearing effort from Grace Taldone.
Sixty seconds after Stengren brought on Christine Batliner, the sophomore quickly made her presence felt when her measured long-range drive nestled into the far inside corner of the net.
Fillies keeper Samantha Schmitz helped guarantee the Fillies 11th shutout of the season, and her 10th when she stopped Sarah Mulvihill after Welk provided the helper for her 18-yard strike.
Brodjian rounded out the scoring with a marvelous low drive in the 73rd minute for Chicagoland Soccer's no. 2 rated club.
"I thought we were organized pretty well in that first half, which helped us keep it at 1-0 at the break, but we got away from that. And that's a team, that once it finds its pace, is very difficult to defend," said Froats.
A busy week for the Lady Knights continues with games at both Wheeling and Schaumburg, before they head south to compete at the Glenwood Titans Tournament in Chatham, Ill.
Barrington's schedule will depend on its result at no. 25 Naperville Central on Thursday in the Naperville Invitational quarterfinals. A win would send them into the Friday semifinals with a shot at the final Saturday.
"Our mindset going into each match is to play better then we did in the game before, and that's what we did tonight and will look to do on Thursday," said Keck.
Starting lineups
Barrington
GK- Samantha Schmitz
D- Madi Rosen
D- Kayla Keck
D- Haley Tausend
D- Jackie Batliner
M- Sydney Bowling
M- Michayla Herr
M- Lauren Caffe
M- Sophia Spinell
F- Ashley Prell
F- Anna Brodjian
Prospect
GK- Meredith Nyborg
D- Madalyn Ladd
D- Natalie Marfilius
D- Grace Taldone
D- Grace Johannesen
M- Jayln Mosley
M- Ashley Welk
M- Shawna Stokes
M- Kendra Gancarz
F- Aly Kobler
F- Ella Marzolf
Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match: Jackie Batliner, sr., D, Barrington
Referee: Mariusz Folta
Fillies win 4th straight, have eye on conference crown
By Mike Garofola
MOUNT PROSPECT -- Barrington stayed close to rivals Fremd and Conant in the Mid-Suburban League standings after its 4-0 victory victory over Prospect at George Gaddas Memorial Stadium.
In a match that host Prospect was desperate to win to boost its ever-dimishing East Division hopes, the Lady Knights were level for nearly 35 minutes, before conceding the first of two set piece goals by 2016 MSL West Division Player of the Year Jackie Batliner.
The victory for the Fillies (11-1-0, 6-0-0) gave them 18 points, three less than Fremd and Conant, which each have multiple games in hand.
"We did a lot of things very good, especially in our build-up. We still need to get better with a couple of other things, especially in the final third. But I was really pleased with our second half effort which got better and better as the half went on," said Fillies manager Ryan Stengren.
There was no doubt Barrington performed at a high level.
"We fought hard out there tonight, and created a couple of decent chances along the way," said Prospect coach Tom Froats. "But Barrington is a very good side, and in the second half their attack was dynamic. Once it got going, we just didn't have an answer for whatever they did."
The home side hoped to keep its deficit manageable in the chase for for the top spot in the East Division. Leader Buffalo Grove was favored to beat Hoffman Estates Monday and did. When the final whistle ended the contest, the Lady Knights (4-6-1, 2-3-1) found themselves chasing eight points (15-7).
"We can't control what other teams do, only what we do. And although it's disappointing to be in a position where BG is eight points clear of us, we still have to go out and work to get at a level of play that I know we're capable of," said Froats.
"What we need to do is have a game were we can put 3-4 goals in - because if we do, I have a feeling it will be just what we need to build our confidence, and get back to were we know we all can be," said Ashley Welk, Prospect's fine sophomore midfielder.
The Fillies were not at their best during the early exchanges. They found it difficult to solve a stingy Lady Knights defense that dropped numbers and sat in to absorb pressure from a Barrington attack that had 39 goals entering the game.
When the visitors finally found their form, they passed the ball around with almost consummate ease. A lot of play ran through midfielders Michayla Herr, Sydney Bowling and Sophia Spinell. The trio threaded dangerous balls up-top to Ashley Prell and Anna Brodjian.
"We all realize that everyone we play from here on out will bring their best game, so it's important that all of us understand that, and work hard to play at our absolute best," said the junior Herr.
A pair of timely tackles from Marissa Valentini saved the home side from potential trouble inside the first quarter hour, as did some fine work from keeper Meredith Nyborg who in just her fourth start of the season did well to turn around a handful of quality attempts on frame.
A well struck corner from Grace Johannesen at 26 minutes gave the Lady Knights their best chance when it fell to Aly Kobler. But around Kobler's attempt, the Fillies continued to do their best to unlock their host's defenses.
Barrington created five corners in the first period. The last from Spinell ended with Kayla Keck firing wide in the 32nd minute.
Two minutes later, the Fillies all-state defender Batliner ran inside the Prospect defense to head Spinell's glorious free kick serve past Nyborg - then did so again at 54 minutes on a superb crossfield free kick to the back post.
"Two dead-ball goals - blame me for both, because we just didn't prepare and train well enough for a team that does that part of the game so well," said Froats.
Batliners' fifth goal of the year inspired the Fillies attack, which with some neat triangles and movement off the ball, kept the momentum swung fully in their favor and created more chances than earlier in the game.
Brodjian and Spinell forced Nyborg into action, but she had help. Just after the hour, the senior applauded a sharp clearing effort from Grace Taldone.
Sixty seconds after Stengren brought on Christine Batliner, the sophomore quickly made her presence felt when her measured long-range drive nestled into the far inside corner of the net.
Fillies keeper Samantha Schmitz helped guarantee the Fillies 11th shutout of the season, and her 10th when she stopped Sarah Mulvihill after Welk provided the helper for her 18-yard strike.
Brodjian rounded out the scoring with a marvelous low drive in the 73rd minute for Chicagoland Soccer's no. 2 rated club.
"I thought we were organized pretty well in that first half, which helped us keep it at 1-0 at the break, but we got away from that. And that's a team, that once it finds its pace, is very difficult to defend," said Froats.
A busy week for the Lady Knights continues with games at both Wheeling and Schaumburg, before they head south to compete at the Glenwood Titans Tournament in Chatham, Ill.
Barrington's schedule will depend on its result at no. 25 Naperville Central on Thursday in the Naperville Invitational quarterfinals. A win would send them into the Friday semifinals with a shot at the final Saturday.
"Our mindset going into each match is to play better then we did in the game before, and that's what we did tonight and will look to do on Thursday," said Keck.
Starting lineups
Barrington
GK- Samantha Schmitz
D- Madi Rosen
D- Kayla Keck
D- Haley Tausend
D- Jackie Batliner
M- Sydney Bowling
M- Michayla Herr
M- Lauren Caffe
M- Sophia Spinell
F- Ashley Prell
F- Anna Brodjian
Prospect
GK- Meredith Nyborg
D- Madalyn Ladd
D- Natalie Marfilius
D- Grace Taldone
D- Grace Johannesen
M- Jayln Mosley
M- Ashley Welk
M- Shawna Stokes
M- Kendra Gancarz
F- Aly Kobler
F- Ella Marzolf
Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match: Jackie Batliner, sr., D, Barrington
Referee: Mariusz Folta