Friar pluck! Hinrichs' save gives
Fenwick winning edge vs. DeLaSalle
1-handed shootout stop punches ticket to Final 4
By Bill McLean
CHICAGO — Fenwick coach Craig Blazer barked a reminder to his Friars during the first half of Tuesday’s Class AA Brooks Supersectional versus DeLaSalle.
“Add ’em up!” he shouted, pleading for at least five-consecutive clean passes to create scoring chances.
None of his charges, alas, scored in 100 minutes of action that included a pair of 10-minute overtime session.
DeLaSalle’s Meteors didn’t do any better, so the teams squared off in a shootout.
But the math got better for Blazer and his club at penalty kick time. Fenwick netted four goals to DeLaSalle’s two to advance to a Final Four berth for the first time since the Friars finished third at state in 2013.
Fenwick’s winning streak built to five postseason-game wins. The Friars (13-6-2) hadn’t won more than two games in a row in the regular-season.
“We picked a good time to peak,” Friars senior goalkeeper Audrey Hinrichs said, her smile nearing the width of the goal mouth.
Hinrichs chose the best time to come up big, diving to her left to make a one-handed, bat-away save on DeLaSalle’s fourth and final PK attempt.
“Epic,” Fenwick senior defender Abbie Rogowski said of Hinrichs’ ninth save in steamy, windy conditions atop Brooks’ Boise State-ish blue turf.
Fenwick faces reigning Class AA state champion Triad (23-1-0) Friday at 11 a.m. in a state semifinal at North Central College in Naperville.
“It wasn’t surprising, the competitiveness of today’s game,” Blazer said. “Two final eight teams, giving everything they had. Credit DeLaSalle for its breakout season and its effort against us.
“With a challenging situation like PKs, you try to be composed and stay positive,” he added. “We were able to do both.”
Friars sophomore midfielder Caroline Henige kicked off the taut win-or-go-home session with a smooth PK that entered the lower-right quadrant of the goal. Fenwick’s next two booters, senior forward Julia Cianci and freshman midfielder Kiera Mullarkey, followed suit, giving the eventual winners a 3-1 lead.
Meteors senior midfielder Gema Garibay then struck for a goal, before Friars sophomore defender Gabi Kapusta — with a resting heart rate of one (maybe two) — lofted a lefty finesse shot past junior keeper Emily Samuels (nine saves).
Hinrichs’ clutch parry on DeLaSalle’s fourth PK clinched the triumph and triggered euphoria from her teammates.
“I thought about guessing to my right,” Hinrichs admitted. “But, for some reason, I ended up guessing to my left.”
How was midfielder Rogowski’s game Tuesday night?
Way better than all right.
She stymied a slew of DeLaSalle chances, particularly in the second half and in both OTs. When she wasn’t smothering a rush with her speed and positioning skills, she was making a 1-v-1 steal to initiate a transition.
“Most players in soccer, they want to be a part of the offense and involved in scoring,” said Rogowski, the Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match. “That has never interested me. I’ve always enjoyed playing defense.”
“Abbie,” Blazer said, “is so fun to coach. She’s a tremendous defender, such a fighter. Reads the game well, too, and her soccer IQ is high.”
DeLaSalle’s win total in 2022 soared to 21. Seeded no. 1 in the sectional, the Meteors secured the school’s first regional title — girls or boys — when it downed Bremen 4-0 at its own regional May 21. Then the program captured its first sectional championship with a 4-0 defeat of Oak Forest at Kankakee High School on May 24.
“We took a look at our playoff bracket when it first came out and said, ‘Okay, let’s push this, let’s go for more than a regional championship,’” Meteors coach Carlos Nunez said after his squad finished 21-4-0. “This is tough now, our season ending on PKs. Our girls played with a swagger all season. But we’ll all reflect later and remember the good things, like the banners and the trophies.
“The goal for us, from the beginning, was to be recognized as a strong team in the city. We achieved that, and we established a tremendous standard for the program at the same time.”
Hinrichs pointed to the presence of two sets of sisters (Abbie Rogowski and sophomore midfielder Maddie; senior forward Kate Henige and sophomore midfielder Caroline) as an integral factor in the team’s overall cohesion this spring.
“They have a lot to do with how strong our chemistry is,” the keeper said.
Kate Henige kept Meteors defenders on their toes several times. In the 50th minute, she coolly trapped a pass just inside the 18 before striking a low shot-on-goal. Late in the second half, with urgency almost as intense as the heat, she dribbled through and around heavy traffic to set up a left-footed, 15-yard shot.
It required Samuels to make her best save of the day to preserve the scoreless contest.
“Amazing … this feels amazing, knowing we get to keep playing,” Kate Henige said. “A lot us, I think, were anxious today, maybe thinking too much or trying too hard to score; I know I was.
“We have a lot of seniors (11), and we didn’t want our season to end today. Our goal, ever since preseason, was to get in a position to win state.”
Done.
More math: one win plus another win this weekend would equal something special.
Footnotes
Neither Fenwick nor DeLaSalle took a corner kick in the first half Tuesday. … Nunez also serves as a DeLaSalle boys soccer assistant coach in the fall. He and Meteors assistant coach Francisco Martinez, who’s also DeLaSalle’s head boys soccer coach, reminisced about a 2021 boys soccer match at Brooks before the start of Tuesday’s supersectional. It was nothing like Tuesday’s scoreless fest; DeLaSalle’s boys defeated Brooks’ Eagles 9-1 last August. … Kate Henige, blessed with soccer talent and acumen that any coach at the college level would welcome, plans to major in nursing at Indiana University. She’s thinking of play club soccer in Bloomington. … Fenwick has outscored its five playoff opponents by a combined 18-1. … The Friars’ appearance in Naperville Friday morning will mark the program’s third state showing, following fourth- and third-place feats in 2004 and 2013, respectively. … DeLaSalle entered Tuesday’s supersectional having won 14 of its previous 15 matches. … Blazer, on keeper Hinrichs after Tuesday’s supersectional: “She played with a lot of confidence.” … Hinrichs, on Abbie Rogowski’s stellar performance against the Meteors: “She did everything I needed her to do tonight.” … Fenwick’s depth came in handy in conditions that required water breaks at the midway point of each half. Blazer subbed in seven Friars in both halves, and his crew’s level of play didn’t abate a lick. Reserve sophomore midfielder Fiona Roche did an outstanding job of aping a seasoned starter at both ends of the pitch, exuding control with the ball at her feet and grit on defense.
Starting lineups
Fenwick
GK Audrey Hinrichs
D Abbie Rogowski
D Emily Ortiz
D Gabi Kapusta
D Grace Kapsch
M Maddie Rogowski
M Natalie LoGiudice
M Caroline Henige
M Kiera Mullarkey
F Julia Cianci
F Kate Henige
DeLaSalle
GK Emily Samuels
D Mia Loza
D Joanna Mullen
D Lauren Lo
M Gema Garibay
M Jazzlyne Orozco
M Azucena Diaz
M Isabella Brogan
M Samantha Velasco
F Kennedi Carpenter
F Imani Coleman
Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match: Abbie Rogowski, sr., D, Fenwick
Scoring summary
First half
No scoring
Second half
No scoring
First overtime
No scorin
Second overtime
No scoring
Shootout (four rounds)
Fenwick: C. Henige, Cianci, Mullarkey, Kapusta
DeLaSalle goals: Loza, Garibay
Fenwick winning edge vs. DeLaSalle
1-handed shootout stop punches ticket to Final 4
By Bill McLean
CHICAGO — Fenwick coach Craig Blazer barked a reminder to his Friars during the first half of Tuesday’s Class AA Brooks Supersectional versus DeLaSalle.
“Add ’em up!” he shouted, pleading for at least five-consecutive clean passes to create scoring chances.
None of his charges, alas, scored in 100 minutes of action that included a pair of 10-minute overtime session.
DeLaSalle’s Meteors didn’t do any better, so the teams squared off in a shootout.
But the math got better for Blazer and his club at penalty kick time. Fenwick netted four goals to DeLaSalle’s two to advance to a Final Four berth for the first time since the Friars finished third at state in 2013.
Fenwick’s winning streak built to five postseason-game wins. The Friars (13-6-2) hadn’t won more than two games in a row in the regular-season.
“We picked a good time to peak,” Friars senior goalkeeper Audrey Hinrichs said, her smile nearing the width of the goal mouth.
Hinrichs chose the best time to come up big, diving to her left to make a one-handed, bat-away save on DeLaSalle’s fourth and final PK attempt.
“Epic,” Fenwick senior defender Abbie Rogowski said of Hinrichs’ ninth save in steamy, windy conditions atop Brooks’ Boise State-ish blue turf.
Fenwick faces reigning Class AA state champion Triad (23-1-0) Friday at 11 a.m. in a state semifinal at North Central College in Naperville.
“It wasn’t surprising, the competitiveness of today’s game,” Blazer said. “Two final eight teams, giving everything they had. Credit DeLaSalle for its breakout season and its effort against us.
“With a challenging situation like PKs, you try to be composed and stay positive,” he added. “We were able to do both.”
Friars sophomore midfielder Caroline Henige kicked off the taut win-or-go-home session with a smooth PK that entered the lower-right quadrant of the goal. Fenwick’s next two booters, senior forward Julia Cianci and freshman midfielder Kiera Mullarkey, followed suit, giving the eventual winners a 3-1 lead.
Meteors senior midfielder Gema Garibay then struck for a goal, before Friars sophomore defender Gabi Kapusta — with a resting heart rate of one (maybe two) — lofted a lefty finesse shot past junior keeper Emily Samuels (nine saves).
Hinrichs’ clutch parry on DeLaSalle’s fourth PK clinched the triumph and triggered euphoria from her teammates.
“I thought about guessing to my right,” Hinrichs admitted. “But, for some reason, I ended up guessing to my left.”
How was midfielder Rogowski’s game Tuesday night?
Way better than all right.
She stymied a slew of DeLaSalle chances, particularly in the second half and in both OTs. When she wasn’t smothering a rush with her speed and positioning skills, she was making a 1-v-1 steal to initiate a transition.
“Most players in soccer, they want to be a part of the offense and involved in scoring,” said Rogowski, the Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match. “That has never interested me. I’ve always enjoyed playing defense.”
“Abbie,” Blazer said, “is so fun to coach. She’s a tremendous defender, such a fighter. Reads the game well, too, and her soccer IQ is high.”
DeLaSalle’s win total in 2022 soared to 21. Seeded no. 1 in the sectional, the Meteors secured the school’s first regional title — girls or boys — when it downed Bremen 4-0 at its own regional May 21. Then the program captured its first sectional championship with a 4-0 defeat of Oak Forest at Kankakee High School on May 24.
“We took a look at our playoff bracket when it first came out and said, ‘Okay, let’s push this, let’s go for more than a regional championship,’” Meteors coach Carlos Nunez said after his squad finished 21-4-0. “This is tough now, our season ending on PKs. Our girls played with a swagger all season. But we’ll all reflect later and remember the good things, like the banners and the trophies.
“The goal for us, from the beginning, was to be recognized as a strong team in the city. We achieved that, and we established a tremendous standard for the program at the same time.”
Hinrichs pointed to the presence of two sets of sisters (Abbie Rogowski and sophomore midfielder Maddie; senior forward Kate Henige and sophomore midfielder Caroline) as an integral factor in the team’s overall cohesion this spring.
“They have a lot to do with how strong our chemistry is,” the keeper said.
Kate Henige kept Meteors defenders on their toes several times. In the 50th minute, she coolly trapped a pass just inside the 18 before striking a low shot-on-goal. Late in the second half, with urgency almost as intense as the heat, she dribbled through and around heavy traffic to set up a left-footed, 15-yard shot.
It required Samuels to make her best save of the day to preserve the scoreless contest.
“Amazing … this feels amazing, knowing we get to keep playing,” Kate Henige said. “A lot us, I think, were anxious today, maybe thinking too much or trying too hard to score; I know I was.
“We have a lot of seniors (11), and we didn’t want our season to end today. Our goal, ever since preseason, was to get in a position to win state.”
Done.
More math: one win plus another win this weekend would equal something special.
Footnotes
Neither Fenwick nor DeLaSalle took a corner kick in the first half Tuesday. … Nunez also serves as a DeLaSalle boys soccer assistant coach in the fall. He and Meteors assistant coach Francisco Martinez, who’s also DeLaSalle’s head boys soccer coach, reminisced about a 2021 boys soccer match at Brooks before the start of Tuesday’s supersectional. It was nothing like Tuesday’s scoreless fest; DeLaSalle’s boys defeated Brooks’ Eagles 9-1 last August. … Kate Henige, blessed with soccer talent and acumen that any coach at the college level would welcome, plans to major in nursing at Indiana University. She’s thinking of play club soccer in Bloomington. … Fenwick has outscored its five playoff opponents by a combined 18-1. … The Friars’ appearance in Naperville Friday morning will mark the program’s third state showing, following fourth- and third-place feats in 2004 and 2013, respectively. … DeLaSalle entered Tuesday’s supersectional having won 14 of its previous 15 matches. … Blazer, on keeper Hinrichs after Tuesday’s supersectional: “She played with a lot of confidence.” … Hinrichs, on Abbie Rogowski’s stellar performance against the Meteors: “She did everything I needed her to do tonight.” … Fenwick’s depth came in handy in conditions that required water breaks at the midway point of each half. Blazer subbed in seven Friars in both halves, and his crew’s level of play didn’t abate a lick. Reserve sophomore midfielder Fiona Roche did an outstanding job of aping a seasoned starter at both ends of the pitch, exuding control with the ball at her feet and grit on defense.
Starting lineups
Fenwick
GK Audrey Hinrichs
D Abbie Rogowski
D Emily Ortiz
D Gabi Kapusta
D Grace Kapsch
M Maddie Rogowski
M Natalie LoGiudice
M Caroline Henige
M Kiera Mullarkey
F Julia Cianci
F Kate Henige
DeLaSalle
GK Emily Samuels
D Mia Loza
D Joanna Mullen
D Lauren Lo
M Gema Garibay
M Jazzlyne Orozco
M Azucena Diaz
M Isabella Brogan
M Samantha Velasco
F Kennedi Carpenter
F Imani Coleman
Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match: Abbie Rogowski, sr., D, Fenwick
Scoring summary
First half
No scoring
Second half
No scoring
First overtime
No scorin
Second overtime
No scoring
Shootout (four rounds)
Fenwick: C. Henige, Cianci, Mullarkey, Kapusta
DeLaSalle goals: Loza, Garibay