Fenwick takes step forward in loss at OPRF
Friars drop 1-0 decision in crosstown battle
By Curt Herron
OAK PARK -- Even though Fenwick opened its season on Monday with a 10-0 Girls Catholic Athletic Conference Red Division home victory over Trinity, its matchup against village rival Oak Park and River Forest on Wednesday night was naturally a more significant real first impression for coach Craig Blazer's squad.
And in a close battle on a rainy night that featured both teams getting several good scoring chances during the final half, the host Huskies (2-1-0) scored the match's lone goal early in the second half to claim a 1-0 nonconference victory over the Friars at historic Oak Park Stadium.
After Oak Park and River Forest was thwarted on several opportunities in the first five minutes of the final half, things finally came together for the Huskies. Cate Ryan sent a pass in front of the net and Katherine Hoffman was able to connect from close range in the 52nd minute to give the hosts the only goal they needed.
"We're playing some nonconference teams and are excited to have a normal season," Huskies coach Christine Johnston said. "We're raising the level of competition, are training a lot of players and are really excited to be back on the field. Our girls are used to playing together, and the newcomers are fitting in seamlessly.
"And we're doing a really nice job of just working together and getting better every day and just teaching them different aspects of the game. We're excited that they're starting to get it and are starting to get what we're trying to accomplish. We just work as a unit in every single game.
"This is a very special team. The seniors were my first group when I became head coach. It's really been a blessing to have them, and they've been a great group of girls. And my favorite thing about them is just the tenacity that they bring into every game. They work together so well on and off the field. It's just a nice team."
Fenwick went with senior Audrey Hinrichs in goal with seniors Emily Ortiz and Abbie Rogowski and sophomores Lizzie Brunick and Gabi Kapusta starting on defense. In the midfield they started senior Natalie LoGuidice and sophomores Caroline Henige, Grace Kapsch and Maddie Rogowski. Seniors Kate Henige and Julia Cianci played forward.
After Oak Park and River Forest scored, Fenwick threatened when Kate Henige had an attempt halted by Huskies goalie Jackie Bollinger. A bit later, she sent a short that just went wide of the net. Abbie Rogowski fired in a pair of dangerous free kicks and also placed a corner kick in front of the net, but it was cleared by defenders.
"We were playing our crosstown rival, and it's my understanding that this is one of their best teams in 15 years," Blazer said. "I'm encouraged with the way that our team played.
“I thought that our girls were fantastic in sticking to how we want to play and emotionally staying in control and staying connected to each other. The girls were very positive. We played against an outstanding Oak Park team, and I thought we did well.
"Today, when there was adversity, the girls just kind of stuck to the game plan. They believe in each other and believe in what they're doing. When we were chasing in the game a little bit, I didn't feel like they panicked, so staying in control was huge.
"We're disappointed that it's a loss, but I know how much we're going to learn from this. We play at Nazareth on Friday, and I know already from training to training and from the first game to this game that we've improved.
“And I know that our girls are just very coachable, and they're a ton of fun to be around. They just have a really good vibe. It's really encouraging, and I think this group is going to do really well this year."
The Friars coach believes that his four senior captains as well as two sophomore center midfielders will play key roles in determining how good this year's squad will be.
"Our four captains are Audrey Hinrichs, a senior goalkeeper; Abbie Rogowski, our senior right center back; our right back senior Emily Ortiz; and up-top is senior Kate Henige," Blazer said. "And our two center mids are the younger sisters of Abbie and Kate.
"So Caroline Henige and Maddie Rogowski are playing center mids as sophomores and played last year as freshmen, and they're going to go against the opposing team's best players. They are so feisty, and there's no quit in them. They play the whole game, and it's kind of a testament (to them). It will be hard for us to get them off the field since they're so effective. They're just outstanding two-way players, and it will be a lot of fun to see them develop all year long."
Oak Park and River Forest received some of their best scoring chances in the final half from senior Lily Clifford, who sent in a variety of dangerous corner kicks. And as time wound down, Josie Humbert and Kiki Leman both had good opportunities to add to the hosts' lead but were denied by Hinrichs.
"Today was our first game with real strong competition, and I think that it really showed us what we want to make of the season and what we need to improve on," Kate Henige said. "I think we could be a really strong team. We work well together and have a lot of team chemistry. We lost a couple of seniors, but we also got a couple of new freshmen.
“We don't have a lot of new players so the team really knows how to work together and team chemistry is there. We just need to learn how to get comfortable with each other.
"The quality that I like the best is that we know each other and most of us can predict the next move that they're going to do, which is really good. Sometimes we just need to settle down and play our game, and we can play off of each other, and that always works out well."
Despite coming up a bit short against their village rivals in the early-season clash, the Friars are upbeat about what they might be able to accomplish this season.
"I think that this game was just good to have," Abbie Rogowski said. "We didn't get the result that we wanted, but we got the experience that we needed to do well.
“It's not always the result, it's about what you learn from it. I feel like we click, even with the new players. It felt like we've been playing together forever. It's like we know everyones' next move.
"We were mentally strong throughout the whole game, which is important. We never really let down. I like our team chemistry. It's so fun, both off the field and on."
Starting lineups
Fenwick
G Audrey Hinrichs
D Emily Ortiz
D Gabi Kapusta
D Lizzie Brunick
D Abbie Rogowski
M Natalie LoGiudice
M Caroline Henige
M Maddie Rogowski
M Grace Kapsch
F Julia Cianci
F Kate Henige
Oak Park and River Forest
G Jackie Bollinger
D Tess Wright
D Hailey Nowak
D Kylie Houghton
M Addison Bliss
M Katherine Hoffman
M Shane Colpoys
M Lily Clifford
F Julia Daun
F Kiki Leman
F Josie Humbert
Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match
Katherine Hoffman, sr., MF, Oak Park and River Forest
Scoring summary
First half
No scoring
Second half
OPRF: Katherine Hoffman (Cate Ryan), 52nd minute
Friars drop 1-0 decision in crosstown battle
By Curt Herron
OAK PARK -- Even though Fenwick opened its season on Monday with a 10-0 Girls Catholic Athletic Conference Red Division home victory over Trinity, its matchup against village rival Oak Park and River Forest on Wednesday night was naturally a more significant real first impression for coach Craig Blazer's squad.
And in a close battle on a rainy night that featured both teams getting several good scoring chances during the final half, the host Huskies (2-1-0) scored the match's lone goal early in the second half to claim a 1-0 nonconference victory over the Friars at historic Oak Park Stadium.
After Oak Park and River Forest was thwarted on several opportunities in the first five minutes of the final half, things finally came together for the Huskies. Cate Ryan sent a pass in front of the net and Katherine Hoffman was able to connect from close range in the 52nd minute to give the hosts the only goal they needed.
"We're playing some nonconference teams and are excited to have a normal season," Huskies coach Christine Johnston said. "We're raising the level of competition, are training a lot of players and are really excited to be back on the field. Our girls are used to playing together, and the newcomers are fitting in seamlessly.
"And we're doing a really nice job of just working together and getting better every day and just teaching them different aspects of the game. We're excited that they're starting to get it and are starting to get what we're trying to accomplish. We just work as a unit in every single game.
"This is a very special team. The seniors were my first group when I became head coach. It's really been a blessing to have them, and they've been a great group of girls. And my favorite thing about them is just the tenacity that they bring into every game. They work together so well on and off the field. It's just a nice team."
Fenwick went with senior Audrey Hinrichs in goal with seniors Emily Ortiz and Abbie Rogowski and sophomores Lizzie Brunick and Gabi Kapusta starting on defense. In the midfield they started senior Natalie LoGuidice and sophomores Caroline Henige, Grace Kapsch and Maddie Rogowski. Seniors Kate Henige and Julia Cianci played forward.
After Oak Park and River Forest scored, Fenwick threatened when Kate Henige had an attempt halted by Huskies goalie Jackie Bollinger. A bit later, she sent a short that just went wide of the net. Abbie Rogowski fired in a pair of dangerous free kicks and also placed a corner kick in front of the net, but it was cleared by defenders.
"We were playing our crosstown rival, and it's my understanding that this is one of their best teams in 15 years," Blazer said. "I'm encouraged with the way that our team played.
“I thought that our girls were fantastic in sticking to how we want to play and emotionally staying in control and staying connected to each other. The girls were very positive. We played against an outstanding Oak Park team, and I thought we did well.
"Today, when there was adversity, the girls just kind of stuck to the game plan. They believe in each other and believe in what they're doing. When we were chasing in the game a little bit, I didn't feel like they panicked, so staying in control was huge.
"We're disappointed that it's a loss, but I know how much we're going to learn from this. We play at Nazareth on Friday, and I know already from training to training and from the first game to this game that we've improved.
“And I know that our girls are just very coachable, and they're a ton of fun to be around. They just have a really good vibe. It's really encouraging, and I think this group is going to do really well this year."
The Friars coach believes that his four senior captains as well as two sophomore center midfielders will play key roles in determining how good this year's squad will be.
"Our four captains are Audrey Hinrichs, a senior goalkeeper; Abbie Rogowski, our senior right center back; our right back senior Emily Ortiz; and up-top is senior Kate Henige," Blazer said. "And our two center mids are the younger sisters of Abbie and Kate.
"So Caroline Henige and Maddie Rogowski are playing center mids as sophomores and played last year as freshmen, and they're going to go against the opposing team's best players. They are so feisty, and there's no quit in them. They play the whole game, and it's kind of a testament (to them). It will be hard for us to get them off the field since they're so effective. They're just outstanding two-way players, and it will be a lot of fun to see them develop all year long."
Oak Park and River Forest received some of their best scoring chances in the final half from senior Lily Clifford, who sent in a variety of dangerous corner kicks. And as time wound down, Josie Humbert and Kiki Leman both had good opportunities to add to the hosts' lead but were denied by Hinrichs.
"Today was our first game with real strong competition, and I think that it really showed us what we want to make of the season and what we need to improve on," Kate Henige said. "I think we could be a really strong team. We work well together and have a lot of team chemistry. We lost a couple of seniors, but we also got a couple of new freshmen.
“We don't have a lot of new players so the team really knows how to work together and team chemistry is there. We just need to learn how to get comfortable with each other.
"The quality that I like the best is that we know each other and most of us can predict the next move that they're going to do, which is really good. Sometimes we just need to settle down and play our game, and we can play off of each other, and that always works out well."
Despite coming up a bit short against their village rivals in the early-season clash, the Friars are upbeat about what they might be able to accomplish this season.
"I think that this game was just good to have," Abbie Rogowski said. "We didn't get the result that we wanted, but we got the experience that we needed to do well.
“It's not always the result, it's about what you learn from it. I feel like we click, even with the new players. It felt like we've been playing together forever. It's like we know everyones' next move.
"We were mentally strong throughout the whole game, which is important. We never really let down. I like our team chemistry. It's so fun, both off the field and on."
Starting lineups
Fenwick
G Audrey Hinrichs
D Emily Ortiz
D Gabi Kapusta
D Lizzie Brunick
D Abbie Rogowski
M Natalie LoGiudice
M Caroline Henige
M Maddie Rogowski
M Grace Kapsch
F Julia Cianci
F Kate Henige
Oak Park and River Forest
G Jackie Bollinger
D Tess Wright
D Hailey Nowak
D Kylie Houghton
M Addison Bliss
M Katherine Hoffman
M Shane Colpoys
M Lily Clifford
F Julia Daun
F Kiki Leman
F Josie Humbert
Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match
Katherine Hoffman, sr., MF, Oak Park and River Forest
Scoring summary
First half
No scoring
Second half
OPRF: Katherine Hoffman (Cate Ryan), 52nd minute