Fenwick falls to Downers Grove North
in breezy battle of close calls
Friars have goal waved off in 2-0 road loss
By Dave Owen
DOWNERS GROVE -- Inches separated what was a 2-0 Downers Grove North win over Fenwick from a 1-1 tie.
And that was just in the final seven minutes of the game.
Three minutes after a potential game-tying goal by Fenwick’s Kate Henige with 6:40 left was denied by a foul call against the Friars (5-3-2), a perfectly timed redirect touch 10 yards out by Downers Grove North’s Lily Johnson a millisecond ahead of a Fenwick player provided an insurance goal for the host Trojans (7-6-1).
On Henige’s would-be tying chance, she reached Emily Ortiz’s perfectly touched 35-yard right sideline send to the box at almost the exact same time as Trojans goalkeeper Liz Reilly, who raced off her line.
How exact a time became the key issue.
As Henige’s shot rolled into the net after the contact between her and Reilly eight yards off the goal line, officials intervened. A foul was called on Henige, the would-be goal was denied and Fenwick’s bid to tie disappeared.
”To me, I felt like I got ran into,” Henige said. “Plus she (Reilly) didn't have the ball, because I obviously shot it. So, I don't know how that was a call, but … I don't know.”
Fenwick coach Craig Blazer remained unsure of the play in the postgame.
“It’s a tough call for the ref to make,” Blazer said. “I want to see the video on it. Hindsight is always 20/20. I just wanted a better explanation. He said she (the keeper) had the ball, and I didn't see it that way. But video maybe says differently. And what can you do now?”
The literally bang-bang play/collision decision was just the capper on a generally frustrating offensive day for the Friars.
With a strong wind from the south at their backs in the first half, the Friars had the advantage of play but had a 0-0 halftime score to show for it.
“We kind of talked about before the game that with the wind, we definitely had to put one in the back of the net,” Blazer said.
“We knew in the second half it would be hard to keep it out of the back, with the wind playing havoc and causing problems that we didn't have solutions for. We weren't able to capitalize (in the first half), and they (eventually) were.
“I thought we had the chances,” Blazer added. “I didn't think they felt real comfortable in the back in the first half. And I think it showed. We kept saying if they're uncomfortable, that’s our time to pounce.
“In those situations. we usually put it in. It's one of those you have to take advantage of when you get the opportunity, and we just didn't do it.”
A stellar Downers Grove North defense that earlier this month played top-ranked 1 Lyons to a 1-0, two-overtime setback was a tough wall to break through.
“We pushed everyone back a little bit,” Trojans senior Johnson said, “and tried not to let the ball bounce because that's where the danger is.
“We also kept the ball on the ground playing out of the back, just to prevent the ball getting lost in the wind and coming back towards us.”
Henige, her younger sister Caroline and Kiera Mullarkey spearheaded a Fenwick attack that tried but couldn’t blow down the door.
“We had the wind,” Kate Henige said, “which we probably should have taken more advantage of than we did with more shooting and everything. But I'd still say we had our chances. They just didn't really go our way.”
Fenwick senior Abbie Rogowski was a backline standout for the squad Saturday, and felt the Friars’ offensive frustration.
“I think we did the best we could,” Rogowski said, “and yes, we probably should have finished a goal in the first half. But I think we played really well, just strategizing with the wind and everything.
“We got a lot of chances and didn't finish those chances, but I think it's a good game to learn from.
“I feel like this is experience we need,” Rogowski added. “Playing against harder teams helps you more than playing a worse team. Even though we didn't get the result, we get the experience out of it. That's important.”
Speaking of great experiences, the chance for the Fenwick sister combinations of Abbie and Maddie Rogowski and Kate and Caroline Henige to play varsity soccer together certainly fits that description.
Abbie and Kate are seniors, and their sisters are sophomores.
“It helps with the team chemistry a lot,” Kate Henige said. “When my sister and I play, like when she plays me the ball, I kind of know what her next move is. So, we can play off each other really well. And I'm sure it's the same for Maddie and Abbie.”
Abbie Rogowski seconded that emotion.
“It's so fun,” she said. “We know how each other play, and I play on the same club team as Maddie, not the same team but the same organization. So, we kind of learned how to play the same way, and I think that's really important.
“The same with Kate and Caroline. I think we all know each other’s next move without even having to communicate that.”
Fenwick’s next move after halftime Saturday was to play into the gale of a wind. But the initial impact didn’t cool the offensive chances.
With 36:15 left, Caroline Henige’s eight-yard shot via a pass from her sister went just wide right.
But with 33:14 to play, Downers Grove North parlay its first quality chance with the wind in its favor into a 1-0 lead.
Ryann Wendt’s cross towards the box deflected to Angelina Santiago, whose 12-yard straight-on shot ruffled the upper left corner of the net.
“Their (first) goal,” Blazer said, “give them the credit for causing a problem for us we couldn't find a solution to. It's one if those games where that’s what it boils down to.”
Foreshadowing the play later in the game, Ortiz had a nice distance send to the box that Reilly raced off her line to grab with 29 minutes left.
Then an Ortiz throw-in from 6 yards one minute later summed up the wind conditions: Downers Grove North’s Ava Locker sent a high clear upfield from the box that picked up speed to bounce all the way to the opposing 30-yard line.
“The wind definitely affected where the ball was played,” Kate Henige said. “We couldn't really in the second half play over the top as much as we wanted to, whereas in the first half it was really nice to get those through-balls. It definitely dictated where most of the game was played.”
The “where” she referred to was the Fenwick defensive end much of the second half. But the Friars stood tall with a series of quality plays.
One came with 24:40 left: an offensive-end steal and run to the top of the box by Downers Grove North’s Wendt that Grace Kapsch denied with a blocked shot and clear.
The next six minutes featured more Fenwick defensive prowess: Ellie Dvorak blocked a Trojans 20-yard shot, Maddie Rogowski nicely won a ball 30 yards out and tipped it back to Abbie Rogowski for an upfield send, and Kapsch again blocked a shot to deny another threat with 17:50 to play.
“Grace Kapsch really stepped up in the back for us,” Blazer said. “Grace is one of our sophomore standouts. And Abbie also played a really good game.”
Consecutive 50/50 ball wins by Julia Cianci and Caroline Henige on the defensive side of midfield and a nice clear upfield by Abbie Rogowski on a Trojans threat in the box with 10:45 left added further to the strong Fenwick defensive effort.
Fenwick’s best chance in the middle portion of the second half was a Caroline Henige through-ball to the box. But Trojans goalkeeper Reilly just beat a racing Alex Ballinger to the sphere 6 yards out.
The next Fenwick threat at almost the same spot would result in the Reilly-Kate Henige play.
“It was disappointing,” Henige said. “We had our chances. The calls just didn't go our way. And there's not much you can do there.”
Downers Grove North responded to that last narrow escape with a strong finish.
Thompson’s 22-yard shot with 4:50 left was nicely grabbed by Fenwick goalkeeper Leah Hyland.
Then just over a minute later, Thompson’s send to the box ended with a Johnson chip just under the crossbar that produced the final score.
“Megan curved it perfectly so the goalkeeper couldn't get to it, and I could. It was just a quick tap over,” Johnson said.
The two-goal half was a payoff for an offensive adjustment by the Trojans.
“We decided to change our system up,” Johnson said, “Instead of playing three forwards, play two. We pushed into a box system in the midfield.
“It opens up the middle and allows the forwards to make runs through, which is how I ended up scoring. It seems to be working pretty well for us.”
Johnson’s own versatility is working very well for her and the team.
“Lily is our no. 1 goalkeeper,” Downers Grove North coach Brian Papa said. “We weren't scoring goals or even getting shots, so we moved her up (to forward).
“She has two or three goals now, and she's initiating the offense. She’s getting the ball, and we're breaking the backline with her. She has come a long way.
“Rachael Wilson has been stellar in the back,” Papa added. “Ellie Watts, I've been moving all over the place, and she’s played well. (Midfielder) Kendall (Hennelly) is out (with a calf injury). When we put her in this mix, we will be even more deadly.
“These girls are picking everything up,” Papa added. “They’re great kids, and they work hard. But we've only had six practices (all spring). We need to practice.”
And the Trojans’ game-day challenges have not been easy.
“We have six losses,” Papa said, “and the record of those opponents is 57-9.”
Fenwick posed the latest challenge.
“They definitely had the height,” Johnson said, “and sort of a physically imposing sort of nature. But we really feel that no matter what your size is, if you get under the ball and keep your center of gravity low you can defend against anyone.”
Said Papa: “Fenwick played Deerfield (11-1-1 record) to 2-2 and had them beat until late. I'm sitting here thinking, ‘My schedule is tougher than I thought.’ But the girls stepped up again.”
A tough loss after an early Saturday wakeup call for a 10 a.m. road game may not sound too ideal, but Fenwick left the Downers Grove North pitch feeling upbeat.
“I think it was a good game,” Kate Henige said. “It shows us there's a lot of things we need to work on, but we're good. This was a game we could have won and probably should have with a little more work.
“I think the team is looking pretty good, especially for our last couple games in conference and state.”
Fenwick’s last game had been April 12, a 6-0 win over Providence.
“This was one of those games,” Blazer said. “On the road, coming off a little break we had, we kind of expected some sloppiness. But I think we cleaned it up in the second half and came back with more energy. I was pleased with that.
“We just needed more mental toughness in that first half. We needed to score a goal. You need to take care of business there, and then the second half is a different story.”
For Abbie Rogowski, Fenwick’s main story remains intact.
“I think we've been improving each game,” she said. “We never really have like fallen off: we've kept improving, which is good. And hopefully we can improve even more for state.”
Starting lineups
Fenwick
GK Leah Hyland
D Ellie Dvorak
D Abbie Rogowski
D Grace Kapsch
M Maddie Rogowski
M Natalie LoGuidice
M Caroline Henige
M Julia Cianci
M Lindsay Drumm
F Kate Henige
F Kiera Mullarkey
Downers Grove North
GK Elizabeth Reilly
D Rachael Wilson
D Charlotte Hansen
D Ellie Watts
D Caroline Siebert
M Angelina Santiago
M Megan Thompson
M Addison Liszka
M Ann Stephens
F Ryann Wendt
F Lily Johnson
Chicagoland Soccer MVPs of the Match: Lily Johnson sr., F, Downers Grove North; Abbie Rogowski, sr., D, Fenwick
Scoring summary
First half
No scoring
Second half
DGN - Angelina Santiago, 47'
DGN- Lily Johnson (Megan Thompson), 77'
in breezy battle of close calls
Friars have goal waved off in 2-0 road loss
By Dave Owen
DOWNERS GROVE -- Inches separated what was a 2-0 Downers Grove North win over Fenwick from a 1-1 tie.
And that was just in the final seven minutes of the game.
Three minutes after a potential game-tying goal by Fenwick’s Kate Henige with 6:40 left was denied by a foul call against the Friars (5-3-2), a perfectly timed redirect touch 10 yards out by Downers Grove North’s Lily Johnson a millisecond ahead of a Fenwick player provided an insurance goal for the host Trojans (7-6-1).
On Henige’s would-be tying chance, she reached Emily Ortiz’s perfectly touched 35-yard right sideline send to the box at almost the exact same time as Trojans goalkeeper Liz Reilly, who raced off her line.
How exact a time became the key issue.
As Henige’s shot rolled into the net after the contact between her and Reilly eight yards off the goal line, officials intervened. A foul was called on Henige, the would-be goal was denied and Fenwick’s bid to tie disappeared.
”To me, I felt like I got ran into,” Henige said. “Plus she (Reilly) didn't have the ball, because I obviously shot it. So, I don't know how that was a call, but … I don't know.”
Fenwick coach Craig Blazer remained unsure of the play in the postgame.
“It’s a tough call for the ref to make,” Blazer said. “I want to see the video on it. Hindsight is always 20/20. I just wanted a better explanation. He said she (the keeper) had the ball, and I didn't see it that way. But video maybe says differently. And what can you do now?”
The literally bang-bang play/collision decision was just the capper on a generally frustrating offensive day for the Friars.
With a strong wind from the south at their backs in the first half, the Friars had the advantage of play but had a 0-0 halftime score to show for it.
“We kind of talked about before the game that with the wind, we definitely had to put one in the back of the net,” Blazer said.
“We knew in the second half it would be hard to keep it out of the back, with the wind playing havoc and causing problems that we didn't have solutions for. We weren't able to capitalize (in the first half), and they (eventually) were.
“I thought we had the chances,” Blazer added. “I didn't think they felt real comfortable in the back in the first half. And I think it showed. We kept saying if they're uncomfortable, that’s our time to pounce.
“In those situations. we usually put it in. It's one of those you have to take advantage of when you get the opportunity, and we just didn't do it.”
A stellar Downers Grove North defense that earlier this month played top-ranked 1 Lyons to a 1-0, two-overtime setback was a tough wall to break through.
“We pushed everyone back a little bit,” Trojans senior Johnson said, “and tried not to let the ball bounce because that's where the danger is.
“We also kept the ball on the ground playing out of the back, just to prevent the ball getting lost in the wind and coming back towards us.”
Henige, her younger sister Caroline and Kiera Mullarkey spearheaded a Fenwick attack that tried but couldn’t blow down the door.
“We had the wind,” Kate Henige said, “which we probably should have taken more advantage of than we did with more shooting and everything. But I'd still say we had our chances. They just didn't really go our way.”
Fenwick senior Abbie Rogowski was a backline standout for the squad Saturday, and felt the Friars’ offensive frustration.
“I think we did the best we could,” Rogowski said, “and yes, we probably should have finished a goal in the first half. But I think we played really well, just strategizing with the wind and everything.
“We got a lot of chances and didn't finish those chances, but I think it's a good game to learn from.
“I feel like this is experience we need,” Rogowski added. “Playing against harder teams helps you more than playing a worse team. Even though we didn't get the result, we get the experience out of it. That's important.”
Speaking of great experiences, the chance for the Fenwick sister combinations of Abbie and Maddie Rogowski and Kate and Caroline Henige to play varsity soccer together certainly fits that description.
Abbie and Kate are seniors, and their sisters are sophomores.
“It helps with the team chemistry a lot,” Kate Henige said. “When my sister and I play, like when she plays me the ball, I kind of know what her next move is. So, we can play off each other really well. And I'm sure it's the same for Maddie and Abbie.”
Abbie Rogowski seconded that emotion.
“It's so fun,” she said. “We know how each other play, and I play on the same club team as Maddie, not the same team but the same organization. So, we kind of learned how to play the same way, and I think that's really important.
“The same with Kate and Caroline. I think we all know each other’s next move without even having to communicate that.”
Fenwick’s next move after halftime Saturday was to play into the gale of a wind. But the initial impact didn’t cool the offensive chances.
With 36:15 left, Caroline Henige’s eight-yard shot via a pass from her sister went just wide right.
But with 33:14 to play, Downers Grove North parlay its first quality chance with the wind in its favor into a 1-0 lead.
Ryann Wendt’s cross towards the box deflected to Angelina Santiago, whose 12-yard straight-on shot ruffled the upper left corner of the net.
“Their (first) goal,” Blazer said, “give them the credit for causing a problem for us we couldn't find a solution to. It's one if those games where that’s what it boils down to.”
Foreshadowing the play later in the game, Ortiz had a nice distance send to the box that Reilly raced off her line to grab with 29 minutes left.
Then an Ortiz throw-in from 6 yards one minute later summed up the wind conditions: Downers Grove North’s Ava Locker sent a high clear upfield from the box that picked up speed to bounce all the way to the opposing 30-yard line.
“The wind definitely affected where the ball was played,” Kate Henige said. “We couldn't really in the second half play over the top as much as we wanted to, whereas in the first half it was really nice to get those through-balls. It definitely dictated where most of the game was played.”
The “where” she referred to was the Fenwick defensive end much of the second half. But the Friars stood tall with a series of quality plays.
One came with 24:40 left: an offensive-end steal and run to the top of the box by Downers Grove North’s Wendt that Grace Kapsch denied with a blocked shot and clear.
The next six minutes featured more Fenwick defensive prowess: Ellie Dvorak blocked a Trojans 20-yard shot, Maddie Rogowski nicely won a ball 30 yards out and tipped it back to Abbie Rogowski for an upfield send, and Kapsch again blocked a shot to deny another threat with 17:50 to play.
“Grace Kapsch really stepped up in the back for us,” Blazer said. “Grace is one of our sophomore standouts. And Abbie also played a really good game.”
Consecutive 50/50 ball wins by Julia Cianci and Caroline Henige on the defensive side of midfield and a nice clear upfield by Abbie Rogowski on a Trojans threat in the box with 10:45 left added further to the strong Fenwick defensive effort.
Fenwick’s best chance in the middle portion of the second half was a Caroline Henige through-ball to the box. But Trojans goalkeeper Reilly just beat a racing Alex Ballinger to the sphere 6 yards out.
The next Fenwick threat at almost the same spot would result in the Reilly-Kate Henige play.
“It was disappointing,” Henige said. “We had our chances. The calls just didn't go our way. And there's not much you can do there.”
Downers Grove North responded to that last narrow escape with a strong finish.
Thompson’s 22-yard shot with 4:50 left was nicely grabbed by Fenwick goalkeeper Leah Hyland.
Then just over a minute later, Thompson’s send to the box ended with a Johnson chip just under the crossbar that produced the final score.
“Megan curved it perfectly so the goalkeeper couldn't get to it, and I could. It was just a quick tap over,” Johnson said.
The two-goal half was a payoff for an offensive adjustment by the Trojans.
“We decided to change our system up,” Johnson said, “Instead of playing three forwards, play two. We pushed into a box system in the midfield.
“It opens up the middle and allows the forwards to make runs through, which is how I ended up scoring. It seems to be working pretty well for us.”
Johnson’s own versatility is working very well for her and the team.
“Lily is our no. 1 goalkeeper,” Downers Grove North coach Brian Papa said. “We weren't scoring goals or even getting shots, so we moved her up (to forward).
“She has two or three goals now, and she's initiating the offense. She’s getting the ball, and we're breaking the backline with her. She has come a long way.
“Rachael Wilson has been stellar in the back,” Papa added. “Ellie Watts, I've been moving all over the place, and she’s played well. (Midfielder) Kendall (Hennelly) is out (with a calf injury). When we put her in this mix, we will be even more deadly.
“These girls are picking everything up,” Papa added. “They’re great kids, and they work hard. But we've only had six practices (all spring). We need to practice.”
And the Trojans’ game-day challenges have not been easy.
“We have six losses,” Papa said, “and the record of those opponents is 57-9.”
Fenwick posed the latest challenge.
“They definitely had the height,” Johnson said, “and sort of a physically imposing sort of nature. But we really feel that no matter what your size is, if you get under the ball and keep your center of gravity low you can defend against anyone.”
Said Papa: “Fenwick played Deerfield (11-1-1 record) to 2-2 and had them beat until late. I'm sitting here thinking, ‘My schedule is tougher than I thought.’ But the girls stepped up again.”
A tough loss after an early Saturday wakeup call for a 10 a.m. road game may not sound too ideal, but Fenwick left the Downers Grove North pitch feeling upbeat.
“I think it was a good game,” Kate Henige said. “It shows us there's a lot of things we need to work on, but we're good. This was a game we could have won and probably should have with a little more work.
“I think the team is looking pretty good, especially for our last couple games in conference and state.”
Fenwick’s last game had been April 12, a 6-0 win over Providence.
“This was one of those games,” Blazer said. “On the road, coming off a little break we had, we kind of expected some sloppiness. But I think we cleaned it up in the second half and came back with more energy. I was pleased with that.
“We just needed more mental toughness in that first half. We needed to score a goal. You need to take care of business there, and then the second half is a different story.”
For Abbie Rogowski, Fenwick’s main story remains intact.
“I think we've been improving each game,” she said. “We never really have like fallen off: we've kept improving, which is good. And hopefully we can improve even more for state.”
Starting lineups
Fenwick
GK Leah Hyland
D Ellie Dvorak
D Abbie Rogowski
D Grace Kapsch
M Maddie Rogowski
M Natalie LoGuidice
M Caroline Henige
M Julia Cianci
M Lindsay Drumm
F Kate Henige
F Kiera Mullarkey
Downers Grove North
GK Elizabeth Reilly
D Rachael Wilson
D Charlotte Hansen
D Ellie Watts
D Caroline Siebert
M Angelina Santiago
M Megan Thompson
M Addison Liszka
M Ann Stephens
F Ryann Wendt
F Lily Johnson
Chicagoland Soccer MVPs of the Match: Lily Johnson sr., F, Downers Grove North; Abbie Rogowski, sr., D, Fenwick
Scoring summary
First half
No scoring
Second half
DGN - Angelina Santiago, 47'
DGN- Lily Johnson (Megan Thompson), 77'