Early St. Ignatius goal dooms Fenwick
Friars drop 1-0 road conference game
By Patrick Z. McGavin
CHICAGO -- Fast starts and early offense are nirvana for the coaches and dream-like for the players.
Soccer does not always go according to plan
“I don’t really know how it happens, but some games we start off really strong and other times it’s not always our best,” Fenwick defender Abby Rogowski said.
On the other side of the equation St. Ignatius’ Eloise Barnett made the most of a golden early chance.
The midfielder’s 11th-minute goal created an early advantage Fenwick coluldn’t overcome in the 1-0 loss in Girls Catholic Athletic Conference Red Division play Tuesday afternoon.
Forward Mia Cadichon got loose and slotted a ball that Barnett blasted home with authority.
Barnett did not need any motivation or words of encouragement.
She understood the stakes.
“This is one of our biggest rivals so there was a lot of energy at the start of the game,” said Barnett, who earned the Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match honor for her outstanding play.
“I think that helped us play together really well. Our biggest thing this year is learning how to play together. So, it always helps when there’s a lot of energy and you’re playing a rival.”
Decisive early actions are as much psychological as they are technical or tactical in nature.
The Wolfpack seized the advantage and dictated the early terms.
That left Fenwick on the chase.
“It definitely sets the pace of the game, and it sets the tone when you get an early goal out,” Barnett said.
St. Ignatius (8-6-2, 4-1-0) returns a solid nucleus from the team that finished fourth in Class AA last year.
In her third year directing the program, former Loyola standout Caroline Zadina was deeply satisfied by the Wolfpack’s early cohesion and shape.
“I think it was a big-time moment for Eloise,” she said. “We have really been pushing the importance of our seniors the last couple of weeks.
“For her to step up and do that, it brought all the momentum for the rest of our girls to finish out very strong over the next 70 minutes.”
The Fenwick back was solid and secure throughout the game. In the chaotic and random flow of events, sometimes all it takes is one single action to reverberate.
“I thought the goal was kind of a chain reaction,” Friars freshman forward Kiera Mullarkey said. “If one person loses their mark, then everyone gets lost.
“We need to communicate better in that situation. They definitely took the situation that we gave them.”
Fenwick (7-5-2, 3-1-0) was not going to go quietly.
The Friars demonstrated significant patience, resilience and toughness after the early adversity.
“The only problem was it came after the goal, and that’s when we found our resilience,” Rogowski said.
“I think it has to start earlier.”
Fenwick’s marquee and signature talent, Chicagoland Soccer All-State forward Kate Henige, put tremendous pressure on the Wolfpack.
She made a series of deep runs, and constantly challenged the St. Ignatius back.
She had six shots. The four on goal were +stopped by Wolfpack keeper M.C. Galante.
“I think we had our opportunities,” Henige said.
“On the one opportunity they had, I think they managed to score on it. We just didn’t get as lucky as they did.”
During one exhilarating sequence, Henige got into a foot race with Galante.
The Wolfpack keeper got just enough on the ball to deflect it outside the box.
Fenwick keeper Audrey Hinrichs was also stellar. She posted six saves, including a beautiful stop off a free kick by defender Ellie Doherty.
St. Ignatius created several corner opportunities. Each time, Fenwick walled them off.
Another encouraging sign of the Friars play was Mullarkey, a fast and wiry freshman who showed tremendous poise and quickness around the ball.
Her blast from about 22 yards in the 55th minute forced Galante to make a leaping stab-save.
“It’s really fun and exciting, being a freshman,” she said. “All the teammates are really nice and welcoming.
“It’s nice to play with them and get the chance to build a lot of opportunities, play up, challenge myself and try to get better.”
Mullarkey also worked sharply with Henige, looking to exploit seams and find open channels.
It if did not yield a goal, but it provided an experience that could have consequences on the future.
“I thought we brought a lot of good opportunities,” Mullarkey said.
“It was a big rivalry game. We wanted this. At the end of the day, we just didn’t take care of our opportunities.”
Results are binary, or unresolved, with the occasional tie.
The game is not always strictly about success or failure. Teams also take the long view. Each game is about development and showing progression.
Rogowski also pointed out the improvements.
“I think the connection between the midfield and the forwards definitely was probably the strongest we’ve had this year,” Rogowski said.
“We worked on possession all the way through from defense to midfielder and forward. I think that was something that was nice to see us translate from something we worked on in practice.”
Though the game was game, the endeavor was not.
“We played our best. We played the way we want to, and it just didn’t happen for us today,” Henige said.
“I thought we brought a lot of intensity. It was a rivalry game, so that was good for us. Hopefully we can bring that intensity to our next couple of games.”
Starting lineups
Fenwick
GK: Audrey Hinrichs
D: Grace Kapsch
D: Gabi Kapusta
D: Abbie Rogowski
D: LIndsey Drumm
MF: Fiona Roche
MF: Alex Ballinger
MF: Nathalie Larucci
MF: Mia Cello
F: Maddie Rogowski
F: Kate Henige
St. Ignatius
GK: M.C. Galante
D: Angelina Tomassini
D: Ellie Doherty
D: Maggie Helms
D: Lizzie Nauman
MF: Quinn Urquhart
MF: Eloise Barnett
MF: Santa Berhalter
MF: Claire Radecki
F: Mia Cadichon
F: Shannon Rydz
Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match: Louise Barnett, sr., MF, St. Ignatius
Scoring summary
First half
St. Ignatius—Eloise Barnett (Mia Cadichon), 11th minute
Second half
No scoring
Friars drop 1-0 road conference game
By Patrick Z. McGavin
CHICAGO -- Fast starts and early offense are nirvana for the coaches and dream-like for the players.
Soccer does not always go according to plan
“I don’t really know how it happens, but some games we start off really strong and other times it’s not always our best,” Fenwick defender Abby Rogowski said.
On the other side of the equation St. Ignatius’ Eloise Barnett made the most of a golden early chance.
The midfielder’s 11th-minute goal created an early advantage Fenwick coluldn’t overcome in the 1-0 loss in Girls Catholic Athletic Conference Red Division play Tuesday afternoon.
Forward Mia Cadichon got loose and slotted a ball that Barnett blasted home with authority.
Barnett did not need any motivation or words of encouragement.
She understood the stakes.
“This is one of our biggest rivals so there was a lot of energy at the start of the game,” said Barnett, who earned the Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match honor for her outstanding play.
“I think that helped us play together really well. Our biggest thing this year is learning how to play together. So, it always helps when there’s a lot of energy and you’re playing a rival.”
Decisive early actions are as much psychological as they are technical or tactical in nature.
The Wolfpack seized the advantage and dictated the early terms.
That left Fenwick on the chase.
“It definitely sets the pace of the game, and it sets the tone when you get an early goal out,” Barnett said.
St. Ignatius (8-6-2, 4-1-0) returns a solid nucleus from the team that finished fourth in Class AA last year.
In her third year directing the program, former Loyola standout Caroline Zadina was deeply satisfied by the Wolfpack’s early cohesion and shape.
“I think it was a big-time moment for Eloise,” she said. “We have really been pushing the importance of our seniors the last couple of weeks.
“For her to step up and do that, it brought all the momentum for the rest of our girls to finish out very strong over the next 70 minutes.”
The Fenwick back was solid and secure throughout the game. In the chaotic and random flow of events, sometimes all it takes is one single action to reverberate.
“I thought the goal was kind of a chain reaction,” Friars freshman forward Kiera Mullarkey said. “If one person loses their mark, then everyone gets lost.
“We need to communicate better in that situation. They definitely took the situation that we gave them.”
Fenwick (7-5-2, 3-1-0) was not going to go quietly.
The Friars demonstrated significant patience, resilience and toughness after the early adversity.
“The only problem was it came after the goal, and that’s when we found our resilience,” Rogowski said.
“I think it has to start earlier.”
Fenwick’s marquee and signature talent, Chicagoland Soccer All-State forward Kate Henige, put tremendous pressure on the Wolfpack.
She made a series of deep runs, and constantly challenged the St. Ignatius back.
She had six shots. The four on goal were +stopped by Wolfpack keeper M.C. Galante.
“I think we had our opportunities,” Henige said.
“On the one opportunity they had, I think they managed to score on it. We just didn’t get as lucky as they did.”
During one exhilarating sequence, Henige got into a foot race with Galante.
The Wolfpack keeper got just enough on the ball to deflect it outside the box.
Fenwick keeper Audrey Hinrichs was also stellar. She posted six saves, including a beautiful stop off a free kick by defender Ellie Doherty.
St. Ignatius created several corner opportunities. Each time, Fenwick walled them off.
Another encouraging sign of the Friars play was Mullarkey, a fast and wiry freshman who showed tremendous poise and quickness around the ball.
Her blast from about 22 yards in the 55th minute forced Galante to make a leaping stab-save.
“It’s really fun and exciting, being a freshman,” she said. “All the teammates are really nice and welcoming.
“It’s nice to play with them and get the chance to build a lot of opportunities, play up, challenge myself and try to get better.”
Mullarkey also worked sharply with Henige, looking to exploit seams and find open channels.
It if did not yield a goal, but it provided an experience that could have consequences on the future.
“I thought we brought a lot of good opportunities,” Mullarkey said.
“It was a big rivalry game. We wanted this. At the end of the day, we just didn’t take care of our opportunities.”
Results are binary, or unresolved, with the occasional tie.
The game is not always strictly about success or failure. Teams also take the long view. Each game is about development and showing progression.
Rogowski also pointed out the improvements.
“I think the connection between the midfield and the forwards definitely was probably the strongest we’ve had this year,” Rogowski said.
“We worked on possession all the way through from defense to midfielder and forward. I think that was something that was nice to see us translate from something we worked on in practice.”
Though the game was game, the endeavor was not.
“We played our best. We played the way we want to, and it just didn’t happen for us today,” Henige said.
“I thought we brought a lot of intensity. It was a rivalry game, so that was good for us. Hopefully we can bring that intensity to our next couple of games.”
Starting lineups
Fenwick
GK: Audrey Hinrichs
D: Grace Kapsch
D: Gabi Kapusta
D: Abbie Rogowski
D: LIndsey Drumm
MF: Fiona Roche
MF: Alex Ballinger
MF: Nathalie Larucci
MF: Mia Cello
F: Maddie Rogowski
F: Kate Henige
St. Ignatius
GK: M.C. Galante
D: Angelina Tomassini
D: Ellie Doherty
D: Maggie Helms
D: Lizzie Nauman
MF: Quinn Urquhart
MF: Eloise Barnett
MF: Santa Berhalter
MF: Claire Radecki
F: Mia Cadichon
F: Shannon Rydz
Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match: Louise Barnett, sr., MF, St. Ignatius
Scoring summary
First half
St. Ignatius—Eloise Barnett (Mia Cadichon), 11th minute
Second half
No scoring