Loyola shuts down Fenwick
Ramblers' shutout streak survives, Friars' doesn't in 2-0 victory
By Michael Wojtychiw
GLENVIEW -- Coming into Tuesday's matchup at Loyola's Munz campus, the Girls Catholic Athletic Conference's Red Division had two remaining unbeatens in conference play: Loyola and Fenwick.
Neither team had also given up a goal in conference play: the Ramblers streak of clean-sheets extended to six straight; the Friars four. Each team needed that to change to take control of the conference.
The Ramblers executed that plan to perfection and earned a hard-fought 2-0 win over visiting Fenwick. The victory improved Loyola to 4-0-0 in the division; Fenwick’s dropped to 4-1-0.
"The win is a huge confidence-booster for us, because they're a really good team," Loyola's junior forward Kaitlyn Kurtz said. "This one really let us show how strong we really are."
"Our focus, especially in the past couple games, has been on ourselves and continuing to execute our game plan," Loyola manager Shannon Hartinger said. "Our focus today was trying to keep possession and move the ball around, while also trying to keep Fenwick pinned in so they couldn't build.
"We talked a lot to our backs about stepping up and cutting out any outlet passes, and I think we executed that really well."
After each team had opportunities in the early portion of the game the Ramblers (8-1-2, 4-0-0), who are ranked seventh in the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25, capitalized on a chance. Brooke Semple went toward goal and knocked in a rebound after the Fenwick keeper's save of a shot from the right side of the box with just over 12 minutes remaining in the half.
Getting that first goal is always crucial, but even more so when facing a tough opponent like the Friars (4-1-1, 4-1-0).
"It's amazing," Semple said. "It sets the attitude for the rest of the game. Everyone is hyped, everyone is ready.
"Getting that first goal, it gets everyone's adrenaline pumping, and we're ready to score some more."
But from that point forward, the Ramblers defense took hold and did what it's done to many of its opponents -- limit opportunities and keep them from going to goal or scoring.
Fenwick managed one shot the rest of the half and didn't get anything going offensively until they earned a free kick with 13 minutes, 38 seconds remaining in the contest.
Even after that, the Friars only managed one free kick.
"We made the decisions to play long, which we weren't able to do at first," Fenwick manager Craig Blazer said. "We were a little hesitant in trying to play out, because we were aware of their pressure.
"But when they started moving the ball, and we were chasing shadows a bit. It was their solid, overall team ability player-by-player, and it was a higher level than what we were used to playing."
Connections on the field were a key component of Loyola’s success.
"It was really our communication. We were more aware of how they were playing," Kurtz said. "We were ready for that and listening to our teammates on where to go so that we were able to cut off any passes they had."
Blazer knew his squad was going to need to make some moves during the second half, so when the teams went to break, he had a message for his squad.
"They did listen to us in a sense where we encouraged them to figure out how to play up and use your good judgment," he said. "And they did. We were able to do a little bit where we were on familiar ground, but throughout a game, sometimes the lessons you learn, you can't put into play until the next game."
The second half started with a Loyola goal being wiped off the board in the 50th minute due to interference with the Fenwick keeper.
The Ramblers, however, were able to add an insurance goal with 1:55 remaining when Kurtz knocked in a pass from classmate Kathryn Diblik.
"That let us sit back at least a little bit," Kurtz said. "If it was still 1-0, we would still be thinking we need to score again, but having that lead gave us a little more confidence."
The Friars, who carry 30 players on their roster, started four freshmen Tuesday. Blazer has been extremely happy with how his younger players have played in their first season of high school soccer.
It’s the first year on the varsity level for others because the pandemic canceled the 2020 season.
Much like he did during the halftime break, Blazer had some words of wisdom for his squad after the game.
With the format the GCAC decided to go with this COVID-affected season, teams play a home-and-home on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Fenwick gets a chance to jump back in the league race Thursday at home.
Blazer appreciated his team’s play Tuesday and knows what needs to be worked on.
"We learned a lot and made some adjustments," he said. "We acted like a good team in staying positive, doing the best we could against a very good team and I think at the end of the day drew some confidence. This is the best team we've seen and that's how you get better. It's encouraging."
Likewise, Hartinger and her squad are going to work through some things before their squad hits the pitch again Thursday. But if there's one thing that the Ramblers will consistently do is push toward the goal, using their speed.
"I think it goes back to our team mentality and our culture at training," she said. "The key is to bring that intensity ,and I think it shows on the field that they do step, and step hard to the ball."
Starting lineups
Fenwick
GK: Audrey Hinrichs
D: Grace Kapsch
D: Courtney Yungerman
D: Emily Ortiz
D: Maddie Rogowski
MF: Caroline Henige
MF: Emi Kapusta
MF: Anna Dray
MF: Grace McGann
F: Fiona Roche
F: Kate Henige
Loyola
GK: Ellie Bradley
D: Molly Sipe
D: Maya Basan
D: Anne Carretta
MF: Grace Ehlert
MF: Isabella Guzman
MF: Eva Pattison
F: Ella Grace Conley
F: Kathryn Diblik
F: Kaitlyn Kurtz
F: Emmy Christopher
Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match: Brooke Semple, jr., F, Loyola
Scoring summary
First half
Loyola - Brooke Semple (unassisted), 28th minute
Second half
Loyola - Kaitlyn Kurtz (Kathryn Diblik), 79th minute
Ramblers' shutout streak survives, Friars' doesn't in 2-0 victory
By Michael Wojtychiw
GLENVIEW -- Coming into Tuesday's matchup at Loyola's Munz campus, the Girls Catholic Athletic Conference's Red Division had two remaining unbeatens in conference play: Loyola and Fenwick.
Neither team had also given up a goal in conference play: the Ramblers streak of clean-sheets extended to six straight; the Friars four. Each team needed that to change to take control of the conference.
The Ramblers executed that plan to perfection and earned a hard-fought 2-0 win over visiting Fenwick. The victory improved Loyola to 4-0-0 in the division; Fenwick’s dropped to 4-1-0.
"The win is a huge confidence-booster for us, because they're a really good team," Loyola's junior forward Kaitlyn Kurtz said. "This one really let us show how strong we really are."
"Our focus, especially in the past couple games, has been on ourselves and continuing to execute our game plan," Loyola manager Shannon Hartinger said. "Our focus today was trying to keep possession and move the ball around, while also trying to keep Fenwick pinned in so they couldn't build.
"We talked a lot to our backs about stepping up and cutting out any outlet passes, and I think we executed that really well."
After each team had opportunities in the early portion of the game the Ramblers (8-1-2, 4-0-0), who are ranked seventh in the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25, capitalized on a chance. Brooke Semple went toward goal and knocked in a rebound after the Fenwick keeper's save of a shot from the right side of the box with just over 12 minutes remaining in the half.
Getting that first goal is always crucial, but even more so when facing a tough opponent like the Friars (4-1-1, 4-1-0).
"It's amazing," Semple said. "It sets the attitude for the rest of the game. Everyone is hyped, everyone is ready.
"Getting that first goal, it gets everyone's adrenaline pumping, and we're ready to score some more."
But from that point forward, the Ramblers defense took hold and did what it's done to many of its opponents -- limit opportunities and keep them from going to goal or scoring.
Fenwick managed one shot the rest of the half and didn't get anything going offensively until they earned a free kick with 13 minutes, 38 seconds remaining in the contest.
Even after that, the Friars only managed one free kick.
"We made the decisions to play long, which we weren't able to do at first," Fenwick manager Craig Blazer said. "We were a little hesitant in trying to play out, because we were aware of their pressure.
"But when they started moving the ball, and we were chasing shadows a bit. It was their solid, overall team ability player-by-player, and it was a higher level than what we were used to playing."
Connections on the field were a key component of Loyola’s success.
"It was really our communication. We were more aware of how they were playing," Kurtz said. "We were ready for that and listening to our teammates on where to go so that we were able to cut off any passes they had."
Blazer knew his squad was going to need to make some moves during the second half, so when the teams went to break, he had a message for his squad.
"They did listen to us in a sense where we encouraged them to figure out how to play up and use your good judgment," he said. "And they did. We were able to do a little bit where we were on familiar ground, but throughout a game, sometimes the lessons you learn, you can't put into play until the next game."
The second half started with a Loyola goal being wiped off the board in the 50th minute due to interference with the Fenwick keeper.
The Ramblers, however, were able to add an insurance goal with 1:55 remaining when Kurtz knocked in a pass from classmate Kathryn Diblik.
"That let us sit back at least a little bit," Kurtz said. "If it was still 1-0, we would still be thinking we need to score again, but having that lead gave us a little more confidence."
The Friars, who carry 30 players on their roster, started four freshmen Tuesday. Blazer has been extremely happy with how his younger players have played in their first season of high school soccer.
It’s the first year on the varsity level for others because the pandemic canceled the 2020 season.
Much like he did during the halftime break, Blazer had some words of wisdom for his squad after the game.
With the format the GCAC decided to go with this COVID-affected season, teams play a home-and-home on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Fenwick gets a chance to jump back in the league race Thursday at home.
Blazer appreciated his team’s play Tuesday and knows what needs to be worked on.
"We learned a lot and made some adjustments," he said. "We acted like a good team in staying positive, doing the best we could against a very good team and I think at the end of the day drew some confidence. This is the best team we've seen and that's how you get better. It's encouraging."
Likewise, Hartinger and her squad are going to work through some things before their squad hits the pitch again Thursday. But if there's one thing that the Ramblers will consistently do is push toward the goal, using their speed.
"I think it goes back to our team mentality and our culture at training," she said. "The key is to bring that intensity ,and I think it shows on the field that they do step, and step hard to the ball."
Starting lineups
Fenwick
GK: Audrey Hinrichs
D: Grace Kapsch
D: Courtney Yungerman
D: Emily Ortiz
D: Maddie Rogowski
MF: Caroline Henige
MF: Emi Kapusta
MF: Anna Dray
MF: Grace McGann
F: Fiona Roche
F: Kate Henige
Loyola
GK: Ellie Bradley
D: Molly Sipe
D: Maya Basan
D: Anne Carretta
MF: Grace Ehlert
MF: Isabella Guzman
MF: Eva Pattison
F: Ella Grace Conley
F: Kathryn Diblik
F: Kaitlyn Kurtz
F: Emmy Christopher
Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match: Brooke Semple, jr., F, Loyola
Scoring summary
First half
Loyola - Brooke Semple (unassisted), 28th minute
Second half
Loyola - Kaitlyn Kurtz (Kathryn Diblik), 79th minute