Barrington unstoppable again,
tops Elk Grove in Soccer Bowl
2-0 decision gives Fillies 7th-straight MSL title
By Mike Garofola
BARRINGTON -- When you have Barrington on the front of your kit, there's also a big target on the other side that draws everyone's aim.
Elk Grove did just that against the reigning MSL champs Wednesday night with the objective of hitting the bull's-eye at the 29th annual Mid-Suburban League Soccer Bowl.
The MSL East Division champs were in the thick of the hunt for the first 40 minutes and outworked the Fillies but found themselves down 1-0 at the break after a 31st-minute Barrington strike.
But the Fillies, ranked fourth in the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25, finally settled into the match and added to their advantage near the hour and narrowly missed twice more before recording a hard-fought 2-0 victory.
The win at Barrington Community Stadium gave the Fillies (14-3-2) a record seventh-consecutive MSL title, all via shutout. History shows Barrington has won 11 Soccer Bowls, nine for manager Ryan Stengren.
"We were not at our best in the first half, some of which was us, some because of the play by Elk Grove," said Stengren. "But we got back to playing a better brand of soccer after the break to earn ourselves another title, (the) fourth for two seniors (Michayla Herr and Samantha Schmitz who were a part of the championship team in 2015)," said Stengren.
"We respect every opponent that we play," said the Fillies classy keeper and captain Samantha Schmitz, who earned her 10th shutout of the season with the win. "It's the way we're trained to be, so we were ready to play Elk Grove tonight. But they came out really strong, and it took us awhile to get back into the game.
"We have so many young players this year. And prior to their arrival, we've had a lot of success and have played in a lot of big games like this one.
"But to those players, they have to experience what it's like to be in these games and (being) the team everyone is after."
Elk Grove (10-5-2) picked off four division rivals in a six-game conference win streak en route to its East title. The Grendadiers started out fast and looked dangerous from dead ball situations and through the dynamic play of senior midfielder Zoe Bloomquist, who took control of the center of the park to inspire her club during the first half.
"I think we took Barrington off guard with the way we played, especially with a lot of people thinking we were going to get beat so bad tonight," said Blomquist, who will play soccer next fall at the University of Findlay in Ohio.
"I'm really proud of the way this team played, not only tonight, but all throughout the last half of the season to make it here. And to know that we played about as well as we could against the defending state champions says a lot about all of us."
The Fillies had the first real chance in the 8th minute when Prell, Chicagoland Soccer's MVP of the Match, created a corner and then watched Herr skim the bar with her close-range shot.
Madi Rosen's serve over the top led to a throw deep in the Grens end and then a free kick after a foul. But Rosen sent her half-chance straight on frame for an easy save by Elk Grove keeper Rachel Kandefer
When a 25-yard carry by Blomquist resulted in Schmitz being called into action in the 14th minute, it signaled an impressive 15-minute display by the Grens which featured a high percentage of first- and second-ball winners, terrific work from all across its midfield and ferocious tackling by the backline led by Mid-Suburban League East Player of the Year Emma Slattery.
"You have to remember we were without one of top players, Emily Sitkowski tonight (due to injury)," said Grens manager Dean Burrier Sanchis. "But Zoe and our freshman Alexa Joshi more than made up for her absence with great play all throughout."
Barrington almost opened the scoring in spectacular fashion at the half hour when it fashioned its best build-up of the half. Rosen started it and then the ball went from Ellie McAuley to Prell and ended with sophomore Tina Teik, who just missed at the end.
Moments later, Prell did not miss her chance.
The junior, now with 16 goals on the season, spun free of her mark to gain space and unloaded an unstoppable curling left-footer.
Prell broke free again moments later and went wide with a 33rd-minute attempt that ended chances for both sides until the intermission arrived.
"(Stengren) reminded us at the break that we can play better than we had thus far," said Schmitz. "So we regrouped and came out and played much like we know we can."
The Harvard-bound Schmitz watched her mates double their advantage when freshman Jen Devona found the back of the net with her close-range one-timer that finished what Prell started with an enterprising run up the left side.
Teik had to be taken out of action for the rest of the evening when she suffered a severe cramp in her ankle after she attempted to latch onto a marvelous cross from Prell at the spot.
The game opened up for a now more-confident Barrington. Prell was at it once again, firing a ball off the woodwork at the 59th minute and then going wide of Kandefer with her angled attempt from 22 yards.
As they have all season long, the Grens showed their resilient nature and passion to work hard. The freshmen duo of Joshi and Aliah Mendez breathed some life into the visitors attack.
The midfielders gave the big Elk Grove student section on hand plenty to cheer about when, with some trickery, pace and crafty attacking skills, the two put the Fillies under pressure one more time.
During a seven-minute stretch, the Grens created a pair of free kicks for Slattery, who was on frame with nearly all of her services, plus a handful of throws that were defended smartly by the Rosen, who was one of six Fillies to be honored as all-conference.
The junior was joined by Herr, Schmitz, Prell, Teik and center back Juliana Moreno. The Grens' all-conference heroes were Blomquist, Joshi, Kandefer, Amanda Sitkowski and Slattery.
"Even with this loss, I cannot think of a better way to finish up my final year playing soccer at Elk Grove than getting into the MSL Soccer Bowl," said a proud Blomquist of the Grenadiers first return to the game since 2002.
Blomquist and her mates will begin preparation for their regional opener next Wednesday against MSL rival Schaumburg at Lake Park. The Fillies await the winner of the McHenry-Auburn play-in game to defend their Class 3A state title. The no. 1 sectional seed begins its journey at the Auburn Regional.
"It wasn't easy tonight, but we were able to continue our tradition and the legacy of Barrington soccer by winning out seventh-straight conference title," said Prell. "And that's something all of us should be very proud of.
Starting lineups
Elk Grove (4-5-1)
GK- Rachel Kandefer
D- Marisa Mauro
D- Emma Slattery
D- Emma Simmons
D- Leila Aguilar-Cervantes
M- Aliah Mendez
M- Alexa Joshi
M- Zoe Blomquist
M- Kate Talens
M- Gabriella Mauro
F- Amanda Sitkowski
Barrington (4-4-2)
GK- Samantha Schmitz
D- Madi Rosen
D- Juliana Moreno
D- Kate McGreevy
D- Christine Batliner
M- Jen Devona
M- Michayla Herr
M- Ashley Rocco
M- Rebecca Shomaker
F- Tina Teik
F- Ashley Prell
Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match -- Ashley Prell, jr., F, Barrington
Referee: Rafal Zielinski
Scoring summary
First half
Barrington: Prell (McAuley, Rosen) 31'
Second half
Devona (Prell) 54'
tops Elk Grove in Soccer Bowl
2-0 decision gives Fillies 7th-straight MSL title
By Mike Garofola
BARRINGTON -- When you have Barrington on the front of your kit, there's also a big target on the other side that draws everyone's aim.
Elk Grove did just that against the reigning MSL champs Wednesday night with the objective of hitting the bull's-eye at the 29th annual Mid-Suburban League Soccer Bowl.
The MSL East Division champs were in the thick of the hunt for the first 40 minutes and outworked the Fillies but found themselves down 1-0 at the break after a 31st-minute Barrington strike.
But the Fillies, ranked fourth in the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25, finally settled into the match and added to their advantage near the hour and narrowly missed twice more before recording a hard-fought 2-0 victory.
The win at Barrington Community Stadium gave the Fillies (14-3-2) a record seventh-consecutive MSL title, all via shutout. History shows Barrington has won 11 Soccer Bowls, nine for manager Ryan Stengren.
"We were not at our best in the first half, some of which was us, some because of the play by Elk Grove," said Stengren. "But we got back to playing a better brand of soccer after the break to earn ourselves another title, (the) fourth for two seniors (Michayla Herr and Samantha Schmitz who were a part of the championship team in 2015)," said Stengren.
"We respect every opponent that we play," said the Fillies classy keeper and captain Samantha Schmitz, who earned her 10th shutout of the season with the win. "It's the way we're trained to be, so we were ready to play Elk Grove tonight. But they came out really strong, and it took us awhile to get back into the game.
"We have so many young players this year. And prior to their arrival, we've had a lot of success and have played in a lot of big games like this one.
"But to those players, they have to experience what it's like to be in these games and (being) the team everyone is after."
Elk Grove (10-5-2) picked off four division rivals in a six-game conference win streak en route to its East title. The Grendadiers started out fast and looked dangerous from dead ball situations and through the dynamic play of senior midfielder Zoe Bloomquist, who took control of the center of the park to inspire her club during the first half.
"I think we took Barrington off guard with the way we played, especially with a lot of people thinking we were going to get beat so bad tonight," said Blomquist, who will play soccer next fall at the University of Findlay in Ohio.
"I'm really proud of the way this team played, not only tonight, but all throughout the last half of the season to make it here. And to know that we played about as well as we could against the defending state champions says a lot about all of us."
The Fillies had the first real chance in the 8th minute when Prell, Chicagoland Soccer's MVP of the Match, created a corner and then watched Herr skim the bar with her close-range shot.
Madi Rosen's serve over the top led to a throw deep in the Grens end and then a free kick after a foul. But Rosen sent her half-chance straight on frame for an easy save by Elk Grove keeper Rachel Kandefer
When a 25-yard carry by Blomquist resulted in Schmitz being called into action in the 14th minute, it signaled an impressive 15-minute display by the Grens which featured a high percentage of first- and second-ball winners, terrific work from all across its midfield and ferocious tackling by the backline led by Mid-Suburban League East Player of the Year Emma Slattery.
"You have to remember we were without one of top players, Emily Sitkowski tonight (due to injury)," said Grens manager Dean Burrier Sanchis. "But Zoe and our freshman Alexa Joshi more than made up for her absence with great play all throughout."
Barrington almost opened the scoring in spectacular fashion at the half hour when it fashioned its best build-up of the half. Rosen started it and then the ball went from Ellie McAuley to Prell and ended with sophomore Tina Teik, who just missed at the end.
Moments later, Prell did not miss her chance.
The junior, now with 16 goals on the season, spun free of her mark to gain space and unloaded an unstoppable curling left-footer.
Prell broke free again moments later and went wide with a 33rd-minute attempt that ended chances for both sides until the intermission arrived.
"(Stengren) reminded us at the break that we can play better than we had thus far," said Schmitz. "So we regrouped and came out and played much like we know we can."
The Harvard-bound Schmitz watched her mates double their advantage when freshman Jen Devona found the back of the net with her close-range one-timer that finished what Prell started with an enterprising run up the left side.
Teik had to be taken out of action for the rest of the evening when she suffered a severe cramp in her ankle after she attempted to latch onto a marvelous cross from Prell at the spot.
The game opened up for a now more-confident Barrington. Prell was at it once again, firing a ball off the woodwork at the 59th minute and then going wide of Kandefer with her angled attempt from 22 yards.
As they have all season long, the Grens showed their resilient nature and passion to work hard. The freshmen duo of Joshi and Aliah Mendez breathed some life into the visitors attack.
The midfielders gave the big Elk Grove student section on hand plenty to cheer about when, with some trickery, pace and crafty attacking skills, the two put the Fillies under pressure one more time.
During a seven-minute stretch, the Grens created a pair of free kicks for Slattery, who was on frame with nearly all of her services, plus a handful of throws that were defended smartly by the Rosen, who was one of six Fillies to be honored as all-conference.
The junior was joined by Herr, Schmitz, Prell, Teik and center back Juliana Moreno. The Grens' all-conference heroes were Blomquist, Joshi, Kandefer, Amanda Sitkowski and Slattery.
"Even with this loss, I cannot think of a better way to finish up my final year playing soccer at Elk Grove than getting into the MSL Soccer Bowl," said a proud Blomquist of the Grenadiers first return to the game since 2002.
Blomquist and her mates will begin preparation for their regional opener next Wednesday against MSL rival Schaumburg at Lake Park. The Fillies await the winner of the McHenry-Auburn play-in game to defend their Class 3A state title. The no. 1 sectional seed begins its journey at the Auburn Regional.
"It wasn't easy tonight, but we were able to continue our tradition and the legacy of Barrington soccer by winning out seventh-straight conference title," said Prell. "And that's something all of us should be very proud of.
Starting lineups
Elk Grove (4-5-1)
GK- Rachel Kandefer
D- Marisa Mauro
D- Emma Slattery
D- Emma Simmons
D- Leila Aguilar-Cervantes
M- Aliah Mendez
M- Alexa Joshi
M- Zoe Blomquist
M- Kate Talens
M- Gabriella Mauro
F- Amanda Sitkowski
Barrington (4-4-2)
GK- Samantha Schmitz
D- Madi Rosen
D- Juliana Moreno
D- Kate McGreevy
D- Christine Batliner
M- Jen Devona
M- Michayla Herr
M- Ashley Rocco
M- Rebecca Shomaker
F- Tina Teik
F- Ashley Prell
Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match -- Ashley Prell, jr., F, Barrington
Referee: Rafal Zielinski
Scoring summary
First half
Barrington: Prell (McAuley, Rosen) 31'
Second half
Devona (Prell) 54'