Fenwick overcomes
Trinity’s stepped-up play
Henige goal and assist keys 2-0 conference victory
By Patrick Z. McGavin
RIVER FOREST — Grace McGann is a captain and a three-year varsity player at Fenwick.
She has her own expectations and built-in experiences.
Like the rest of her teammates, McGann is trying to assimilate a new order. The new season constitutes its own brand, a strange world where everything is seemingly possible.
It’s a slippery and peculiar place sometimes.
“I think the early part of our season has been a juxtaposition between trying to get into a soccer-ready mode and what it means,” she said.
“Everybody is super excited because we haven’t played in two years. We didn’t have any games last season. I’d say we are half excited and half getting back to normal. I think we are passing the threshold of what soccer-ready looks like. We are getting into that mode of being excited and hungry.”
Fenwick had every very reason to operate in cruise control.
Just two days removed from beating Trinity 8-0, the Friars found themselves locked in a much different game in the quick-turnaround rematch.
In the end, the superior athleticism and skill-set of Fenwick prevailed as junior forward Kate Henige scored a goal and added an assist in the 2-0 victory Thursday at Dominican University.
Henige, McGann and their teammates confronted a far greater degree of resistance and toughness from the Blazers.
“On Tuesday, I experimented with something I felt we could exploit against them, and it really wasn’t there,” Trinity coach Roberto Cianci said
“Today we corrected a lot of our mistakes. On Tuesday, the score was lopsided, and we allowed a lot of easy goals. Today we made it more difficult for them to score.”
The Red, or top division of the Girls Catholic Athletic Conference (GCAC), has adopted a newly styled conference schedule of playing back-to-back home and road games.
The past is not always predictive of the future.
“There is definitely a lot of tension having the baseball-style, back-to-back schedule,” McGann said. “We are trying a new type of game, a new type of a way to play with a new coaching staff.”
Henige immediately noticed a difference from the Tuesday game. Trinity (0-5-0, 0-2-0) was more aggressive and locked in at taking away what the Friars were trying to organize.
“They definitely stepped up compared to the last game,” Henige said. “They were man-marking players in this game, and their defense was really strong.”
Under new coach Craig Blazer, who also directs the boys’ program, Fenwick is looking to build out of the back and overwhelm through an aggressive and intertwined attack.
“Their coach did a really good job of working with what he had,” Blazer said. “There are not many games out there where one team really changes the way they play.”
Fenwick did what it pleased on Tuesday. The Friars (2-0-1, 2-0-0) had to work a lot harder two days later.
Trinity’s backline of Elizabeth Ruggiero, Emiliana Principato, Josie Poe and Meagan Fangmann proved more disruptive and active.
Fenwick had to adjust on the go.
“They picked us up at midfield, and we had to figure it out,” Blazer said. “We trained to solve problems, and it was really good to see how the girls responded.”
The Friars gained the upper hand in the 23rd minute. From the right edge, junior defender Emily Ortiz made a terrific throw-in that McGann was able to trap.
She slotted the ball to Henige. The angular and lithe Henige, who is just under 6-feet tall, achieved the rest, with a brilliant one-touch that ended with her finishing inside the near post.
Henige earned the Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match honor for her superb play.
“I like to get touches on the ball, but my movement off the ball is really important, like making different runs so people can get behind,” Henige said.
Like most players adjusting to live competition after a year away from high school play, Henige is learning to find herself and establish her presence on the field.
Every game marks its own adventure.
“I feel a lot stronger,” she said. “I got injured last year playing club, so I got back right after quarantine. I feel like I play a lot better than I did my freshman year.”
Kate Henige cuts a remarkable profile with her size and range. She has the power and length to dominate inside the box. She also has the quickness and first touch to create constant mismatches.
“I think I have a big advantage trying to get my head on the ball and play where other people can’t get touches on the ball,” she said.
Her younger sister Caroline, a freshman, started in the midfield and brought a similar balance and poise to the middle of the attack.
Trinity is also dealing with a significant absence. Bridget Whiteside, a two-time Chicagoland Soccer All-State Watch List player, elected to play club this spring.
“She would be the missing piece of our puzzle,” said Cianci, who took over the program after previously directing the boys and girls teams at now-shuttered Guerin Prep.
“There was a spot there where we linked up with our combinations and started to connect and you could see the confidence starting to build,” he said.
“We executed passes through and penetrated and broke their defense a bit.”
With the absence of Whiteside, senior forward Antonella Rivoir is the most seasoned player. She has a quick first step and made some significant forays in the final third.
Fenwick always had the necessary response. Though the scoreboard went against Trinity, the improvement was evident.
“We didn’t make the mistakes to their strength in the middle the way that we did on Tuesday,” Cianci said. “We did a great job of keeping them out.”
Eventually the superiority of numbers, size and skill level swung the game.
“They have a roster of 28 girls, and probably 27 and a half of them have club experience,” Cianci said. “We have a roster of 20, and maybe three or four of them have played club at one time.”
In the 54th minute, Kate Henige worked the ball against the grain, found an opening and left a ball that outside left back Grace Kapsh finished for the final goal.
“When we play from the back we are able to get more chances toward the goal,” Henige said.
As the Friars move toward the more challenging portion of their schedule, McGann sees a team loaded with potential for growth.
“The mentality is going in with our best foot forward and making sure we implement those things we do in practice,” she said.
“That is going to make us the most successful. We are to keep a positive attitude, because in the end what it all boils down to is who wants it more.”
Starting lineups
Fenwick
GK: Linden Gierstorf
D: Grace Kapsch
D: Courtney Yungerman
D: Abby Rogowski
D: Anna Bjorson
MF: Grace McGann
MF: Caroline Henige
MF: Anna Dray
MF: Fiona Roche
F: Kate Henige
F: Julianna Giufre
Trinity
GK: Jackie Ostiguin
D: Elizabeth Ruggiero
D: Emilia Principato
D: Josie Poe
D: Meagan Fangmann
MF: Phoenix Anderson
MF: Jessica Olmos
MF: Nora Clements
MF: Grace McCaughey
MF: Kiara Martinez
F: Antonella Rivoir
Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match: Kate Henige, jr., F, Fenwick
Scoring summary
First half
Fenwick—Kate Henige (Grace McGann), 23rd minute
Second half
Fenwick—Grace Kapsch (Henige), 54th minute
Trinity’s stepped-up play
Henige goal and assist keys 2-0 conference victory
By Patrick Z. McGavin
RIVER FOREST — Grace McGann is a captain and a three-year varsity player at Fenwick.
She has her own expectations and built-in experiences.
Like the rest of her teammates, McGann is trying to assimilate a new order. The new season constitutes its own brand, a strange world where everything is seemingly possible.
It’s a slippery and peculiar place sometimes.
“I think the early part of our season has been a juxtaposition between trying to get into a soccer-ready mode and what it means,” she said.
“Everybody is super excited because we haven’t played in two years. We didn’t have any games last season. I’d say we are half excited and half getting back to normal. I think we are passing the threshold of what soccer-ready looks like. We are getting into that mode of being excited and hungry.”
Fenwick had every very reason to operate in cruise control.
Just two days removed from beating Trinity 8-0, the Friars found themselves locked in a much different game in the quick-turnaround rematch.
In the end, the superior athleticism and skill-set of Fenwick prevailed as junior forward Kate Henige scored a goal and added an assist in the 2-0 victory Thursday at Dominican University.
Henige, McGann and their teammates confronted a far greater degree of resistance and toughness from the Blazers.
“On Tuesday, I experimented with something I felt we could exploit against them, and it really wasn’t there,” Trinity coach Roberto Cianci said
“Today we corrected a lot of our mistakes. On Tuesday, the score was lopsided, and we allowed a lot of easy goals. Today we made it more difficult for them to score.”
The Red, or top division of the Girls Catholic Athletic Conference (GCAC), has adopted a newly styled conference schedule of playing back-to-back home and road games.
The past is not always predictive of the future.
“There is definitely a lot of tension having the baseball-style, back-to-back schedule,” McGann said. “We are trying a new type of game, a new type of a way to play with a new coaching staff.”
Henige immediately noticed a difference from the Tuesday game. Trinity (0-5-0, 0-2-0) was more aggressive and locked in at taking away what the Friars were trying to organize.
“They definitely stepped up compared to the last game,” Henige said. “They were man-marking players in this game, and their defense was really strong.”
Under new coach Craig Blazer, who also directs the boys’ program, Fenwick is looking to build out of the back and overwhelm through an aggressive and intertwined attack.
“Their coach did a really good job of working with what he had,” Blazer said. “There are not many games out there where one team really changes the way they play.”
Fenwick did what it pleased on Tuesday. The Friars (2-0-1, 2-0-0) had to work a lot harder two days later.
Trinity’s backline of Elizabeth Ruggiero, Emiliana Principato, Josie Poe and Meagan Fangmann proved more disruptive and active.
Fenwick had to adjust on the go.
“They picked us up at midfield, and we had to figure it out,” Blazer said. “We trained to solve problems, and it was really good to see how the girls responded.”
The Friars gained the upper hand in the 23rd minute. From the right edge, junior defender Emily Ortiz made a terrific throw-in that McGann was able to trap.
She slotted the ball to Henige. The angular and lithe Henige, who is just under 6-feet tall, achieved the rest, with a brilliant one-touch that ended with her finishing inside the near post.
Henige earned the Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match honor for her superb play.
“I like to get touches on the ball, but my movement off the ball is really important, like making different runs so people can get behind,” Henige said.
Like most players adjusting to live competition after a year away from high school play, Henige is learning to find herself and establish her presence on the field.
Every game marks its own adventure.
“I feel a lot stronger,” she said. “I got injured last year playing club, so I got back right after quarantine. I feel like I play a lot better than I did my freshman year.”
Kate Henige cuts a remarkable profile with her size and range. She has the power and length to dominate inside the box. She also has the quickness and first touch to create constant mismatches.
“I think I have a big advantage trying to get my head on the ball and play where other people can’t get touches on the ball,” she said.
Her younger sister Caroline, a freshman, started in the midfield and brought a similar balance and poise to the middle of the attack.
Trinity is also dealing with a significant absence. Bridget Whiteside, a two-time Chicagoland Soccer All-State Watch List player, elected to play club this spring.
“She would be the missing piece of our puzzle,” said Cianci, who took over the program after previously directing the boys and girls teams at now-shuttered Guerin Prep.
“There was a spot there where we linked up with our combinations and started to connect and you could see the confidence starting to build,” he said.
“We executed passes through and penetrated and broke their defense a bit.”
With the absence of Whiteside, senior forward Antonella Rivoir is the most seasoned player. She has a quick first step and made some significant forays in the final third.
Fenwick always had the necessary response. Though the scoreboard went against Trinity, the improvement was evident.
“We didn’t make the mistakes to their strength in the middle the way that we did on Tuesday,” Cianci said. “We did a great job of keeping them out.”
Eventually the superiority of numbers, size and skill level swung the game.
“They have a roster of 28 girls, and probably 27 and a half of them have club experience,” Cianci said. “We have a roster of 20, and maybe three or four of them have played club at one time.”
In the 54th minute, Kate Henige worked the ball against the grain, found an opening and left a ball that outside left back Grace Kapsh finished for the final goal.
“When we play from the back we are able to get more chances toward the goal,” Henige said.
As the Friars move toward the more challenging portion of their schedule, McGann sees a team loaded with potential for growth.
“The mentality is going in with our best foot forward and making sure we implement those things we do in practice,” she said.
“That is going to make us the most successful. We are to keep a positive attitude, because in the end what it all boils down to is who wants it more.”
Starting lineups
Fenwick
GK: Linden Gierstorf
D: Grace Kapsch
D: Courtney Yungerman
D: Abby Rogowski
D: Anna Bjorson
MF: Grace McGann
MF: Caroline Henige
MF: Anna Dray
MF: Fiona Roche
F: Kate Henige
F: Julianna Giufre
Trinity
GK: Jackie Ostiguin
D: Elizabeth Ruggiero
D: Emilia Principato
D: Josie Poe
D: Meagan Fangmann
MF: Phoenix Anderson
MF: Jessica Olmos
MF: Nora Clements
MF: Grace McCaughey
MF: Kiara Martinez
F: Antonella Rivoir
Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match: Kate Henige, jr., F, Fenwick
Scoring summary
First half
Fenwick—Kate Henige (Grace McGann), 23rd minute
Second half
Fenwick—Grace Kapsch (Henige), 54th minute