Triad finally breaks away
from upset-minded Fenwick
Knights score twice in last 7 minutes of 2nd OT to advance to final
By Matt Le Cren
NAPERVILLE – Three years later, Triad striker Gina Catanzaro looks back at the day with memories that are anything but fond.
A freshman at the time, Catanzaro could only look on helplessly sitting with the crowd as the Knights suffered a 3-1 loss to Benet in the 2019 Class AA state semifinals at North Central College.
Benet went on to beat Wauconda 2-1 in double overtime the next day to win its first state championship in girls soccer.
Catanzaro went home feeling peeved about not being able to help her teammates. She had torn the ACL in her left knee against Belleville East on April 23, which led to the first of four surgeries on the knee.
“I just remember sitting the stands my freshman year, just being injured and wanting to be out there,” Catanzaro. “So, this year it is amazing being out there on the field.”
Catanzaro’s first three seasons were marred by injuries, including the ACL tear and a fractured kneecap, and then the COVID pandemic. The Maryville University-bound Catanzaro finally is healthy and getting her chance to shine.
One year after playing a relatively minor role – she scored five goals – in Triad’s run to the 2021 state championship, Catanzaro is the leading lady for the Knights.
She tallied her 25th goal Friday in a 3-1 overtime win over upset-minded Fenwick, propelling the Knights back to the state championship game.
Waiting for them will be Benet, which rallied to beat Deerfield 3-2 in the other semifinal. The 1 p.m. title match will be a clash of the past two state champions.
“It’s amazing,” Catanzaro said. “Playing Benet Academy, we want that revenge just from our freshman year when we lost to them.
“We just want to get that revenge and win it all tomorrow.”
The Knights (24-1-0) will be favored to beat Benet (22-4-0), though not nearly as heavily as they were against Fenwick (13-7-2), which stunned Triad by scoring the first goal.
The Friars, who were making their first state finals appearance since 2013, weren’t expected to do much against Triad, and by one measure they didn’t – the Knights enjoyed a 33-4 advantage in shots.
That didn’t stop the Friars from grabbing a 1-0 lead. Kate Henige, the lone forward in Fenwick’s 4-5-1 alignment, forced a corner kick in the 32nd minute, and the underdogs converted it when Grace Kapsch headed in the serve from Emily Ortiz with 8:48 left in the half.
“We knew that circumstances were going to be challenging, so we put a game plan together and the counterattack through Kate got us a corner kick and from there the execution by Grace Katsch and Emily was great,” Fenwick coach Craig Blazer said. “That’s not a one-off. They’ve done it before. All three of them are talented players.”
But the Friars did not have the talent to match Triad, whose players dominated the action for the vast majority of the 100 minutes. Only the sterling play of senior goalkeeper Audrey Hinrichs, who came up with some terrific point-blank stops among her 11 saves, and a sturdy crossbar kept Fenwick in it.
“Audrey in goal and the rest of our defenders, we bent but we didn’t really break, but you’ve got to give a lot of credit to Triad,” Blazer said. “They’ve been here before, a tremendous amount of players. Their reserve players were fantastic.
“But we knew we had a chance all game with the effort that we put in and the mentality that we had. We were hoping to maybe get another opportunity, which we did on the second corner kick.”
Nothing came from that corner kick with 5:45 left, but the Friars still nearly made it 2-0 three minutes later when freshman Kiera Mullarkey broke into the clear up the middle, but Triad senior goalkeeper Reagan Chigas came off her line and made a diving save to her right to thwart the chance.
“We were looking for the counter, and I was surprised at how many chances Kate Henige was able to get,” Blazer said. “Their defenders and their goalkeeper didn’t give anything away.
“A penalty kick in those moments, that was the thing we were looking for, but it was a well-played game.”
Despite the lack of possession, the Friars were only outshot 8-1 in the first half, a gap that would grow much wider after intermission as the Knights redoubled their efforts.
“One of the things we were telling the kids, especially at halftime, was don’t panic,” Triad coach Matt Bettlach said. “We were playing really well.
“We liked how we were passing the ball, getting the ball around. We were getting looks. It was just a matter of getting underneath.
“Their goalie played out of her mind. She made some great saves.”
Hinrichs had to. The Knights unleashed a 19-shot barrage on her in the second half and she stopped seven of them. Two others hit the crossbar.
But it was Catanzaro who finally broke through, sending a 25-yard shot from a tough angle on the right wing over the head of the 6-foot-1 Hinrichs and inside the far post to tie the game with 29:51 remaining.
“I don’t remember who passed it to me,” Catanzaro said. “But I knew I could beat that girl 1-on-1 all day, and I just took my chance.”
It was the 25th goal of the season for the 5-foot-1 Catanzaro, who plays much bigger and tougher than her size.
“When you look at Gina, you’re like, ‘That player, she’s not that good, she’s short, she’s tiny,’” Triad midfielder Kinlee Lippert said. “No, she’s a helluva player.”
Despite mustering only one shot in the second half, the Friars continued to play strong defense, which frustrated but didn’t deter players like Lippert, who never lost their confidence.
“The game was so frustrating,” Lippert said. “Everybody was mad.
“We kept barely missing it, barely missing it, but honestly, the whole game, I had no worries. They got a lucky corner kick head goal, and we had the whole game to score and we had possession the whole entire game.”
But the Knights didn’t grab the lead until 7:11 remaining in the second overtime. That’s when Lippert took a pass from Maddie Hunt and blasted a 26-yard shot over the head of Hinrichs and just under the crossbar.
“I either figured it was going right on the crossbar, like every other shot, or going in,” Lippert said with a hint of sarcasm. “To get that in was a good feeling.”
There were nothing but good feelings after that.
“I think we were a little bit nervous at first (following Fenwick’s goal), but we kept our composure and we knew that we had this game in the bag,” Catanzaro said. “We knew as long as we stayed focused, we could win it.”
After Lippert’s goal, there was no doubt.
“I think that goal kept us going, and we wanted more,” Catanzaro said. “And we knew that we could get more.”
The Knights did. Freshman forward Emma Correale added an insurance goal with 2:08 remaining, and Fenwick’s upset bid was toast.
“We didn’t get as many chances as we’re used to,” said Blazer. “Bt I think it was the best game we’ve played all year, and I think a lot of our girls probably played their best games. That’s what you want.
“That was one of our themes – just keep getting better every game, every session, and they left it all out there, so we’re very proud of them.”
Blazer also complimented the Knights.
“They were the best team we’ve faced,” he said. “It was a fun game for us to be a part of.”
Fenwick will face Deerfield in the third place game at 11 a.m. Afterward, the Knights will attempt to win back-to-back state titles for the first time in program history. They have won three championships. No other sport at Triad has won a title.
“I just want to go out there and play my hardest and give it everything I’ve got,” Lippert said. “Going back-to-back state champs, that would be the best.”
Starting lineups
Triad
GK Reagan Chigas
D Avery Bohnenstiehl
D Jackie Barkus
D Macy Mell
D Brynn Presley
M Kinlee Lippert
M Carson Bohnenstiehl
M Ezra Wilder
F Gina Catanzaro
F Alina Ayran
F Karen Speer
Fenwick
GK Audrey Hinrichs
D Emily Ortiz
D Gabi Kapusta
D Abbie Rogowski
M Julia Cianci
M Fiona Roche
M Natalie LoGiudice
M Caroline Henige
M Kiera Mullarkey
M Grace Kapsch
F Kate Henige
Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match:
Gina Catanzaro, sr., F, Triad
Scoring summary
First half
Fenwick – Grace Kapsch (Emily Ortiz) 8:48 remaining
Second half
Triad – Gina Catanzaro 29:51 remaining
First overtime
No scoring
Second overtime
Triad – Kinlee Lippert (Maddie Hunt) 7:11 remaining
Triad – Emma Correale 2:08 remaining
from upset-minded Fenwick
Knights score twice in last 7 minutes of 2nd OT to advance to final
By Matt Le Cren
NAPERVILLE – Three years later, Triad striker Gina Catanzaro looks back at the day with memories that are anything but fond.
A freshman at the time, Catanzaro could only look on helplessly sitting with the crowd as the Knights suffered a 3-1 loss to Benet in the 2019 Class AA state semifinals at North Central College.
Benet went on to beat Wauconda 2-1 in double overtime the next day to win its first state championship in girls soccer.
Catanzaro went home feeling peeved about not being able to help her teammates. She had torn the ACL in her left knee against Belleville East on April 23, which led to the first of four surgeries on the knee.
“I just remember sitting the stands my freshman year, just being injured and wanting to be out there,” Catanzaro. “So, this year it is amazing being out there on the field.”
Catanzaro’s first three seasons were marred by injuries, including the ACL tear and a fractured kneecap, and then the COVID pandemic. The Maryville University-bound Catanzaro finally is healthy and getting her chance to shine.
One year after playing a relatively minor role – she scored five goals – in Triad’s run to the 2021 state championship, Catanzaro is the leading lady for the Knights.
She tallied her 25th goal Friday in a 3-1 overtime win over upset-minded Fenwick, propelling the Knights back to the state championship game.
Waiting for them will be Benet, which rallied to beat Deerfield 3-2 in the other semifinal. The 1 p.m. title match will be a clash of the past two state champions.
“It’s amazing,” Catanzaro said. “Playing Benet Academy, we want that revenge just from our freshman year when we lost to them.
“We just want to get that revenge and win it all tomorrow.”
The Knights (24-1-0) will be favored to beat Benet (22-4-0), though not nearly as heavily as they were against Fenwick (13-7-2), which stunned Triad by scoring the first goal.
The Friars, who were making their first state finals appearance since 2013, weren’t expected to do much against Triad, and by one measure they didn’t – the Knights enjoyed a 33-4 advantage in shots.
That didn’t stop the Friars from grabbing a 1-0 lead. Kate Henige, the lone forward in Fenwick’s 4-5-1 alignment, forced a corner kick in the 32nd minute, and the underdogs converted it when Grace Kapsch headed in the serve from Emily Ortiz with 8:48 left in the half.
“We knew that circumstances were going to be challenging, so we put a game plan together and the counterattack through Kate got us a corner kick and from there the execution by Grace Katsch and Emily was great,” Fenwick coach Craig Blazer said. “That’s not a one-off. They’ve done it before. All three of them are talented players.”
But the Friars did not have the talent to match Triad, whose players dominated the action for the vast majority of the 100 minutes. Only the sterling play of senior goalkeeper Audrey Hinrichs, who came up with some terrific point-blank stops among her 11 saves, and a sturdy crossbar kept Fenwick in it.
“Audrey in goal and the rest of our defenders, we bent but we didn’t really break, but you’ve got to give a lot of credit to Triad,” Blazer said. “They’ve been here before, a tremendous amount of players. Their reserve players were fantastic.
“But we knew we had a chance all game with the effort that we put in and the mentality that we had. We were hoping to maybe get another opportunity, which we did on the second corner kick.”
Nothing came from that corner kick with 5:45 left, but the Friars still nearly made it 2-0 three minutes later when freshman Kiera Mullarkey broke into the clear up the middle, but Triad senior goalkeeper Reagan Chigas came off her line and made a diving save to her right to thwart the chance.
“We were looking for the counter, and I was surprised at how many chances Kate Henige was able to get,” Blazer said. “Their defenders and their goalkeeper didn’t give anything away.
“A penalty kick in those moments, that was the thing we were looking for, but it was a well-played game.”
Despite the lack of possession, the Friars were only outshot 8-1 in the first half, a gap that would grow much wider after intermission as the Knights redoubled their efforts.
“One of the things we were telling the kids, especially at halftime, was don’t panic,” Triad coach Matt Bettlach said. “We were playing really well.
“We liked how we were passing the ball, getting the ball around. We were getting looks. It was just a matter of getting underneath.
“Their goalie played out of her mind. She made some great saves.”
Hinrichs had to. The Knights unleashed a 19-shot barrage on her in the second half and she stopped seven of them. Two others hit the crossbar.
But it was Catanzaro who finally broke through, sending a 25-yard shot from a tough angle on the right wing over the head of the 6-foot-1 Hinrichs and inside the far post to tie the game with 29:51 remaining.
“I don’t remember who passed it to me,” Catanzaro said. “But I knew I could beat that girl 1-on-1 all day, and I just took my chance.”
It was the 25th goal of the season for the 5-foot-1 Catanzaro, who plays much bigger and tougher than her size.
“When you look at Gina, you’re like, ‘That player, she’s not that good, she’s short, she’s tiny,’” Triad midfielder Kinlee Lippert said. “No, she’s a helluva player.”
Despite mustering only one shot in the second half, the Friars continued to play strong defense, which frustrated but didn’t deter players like Lippert, who never lost their confidence.
“The game was so frustrating,” Lippert said. “Everybody was mad.
“We kept barely missing it, barely missing it, but honestly, the whole game, I had no worries. They got a lucky corner kick head goal, and we had the whole game to score and we had possession the whole entire game.”
But the Knights didn’t grab the lead until 7:11 remaining in the second overtime. That’s when Lippert took a pass from Maddie Hunt and blasted a 26-yard shot over the head of Hinrichs and just under the crossbar.
“I either figured it was going right on the crossbar, like every other shot, or going in,” Lippert said with a hint of sarcasm. “To get that in was a good feeling.”
There were nothing but good feelings after that.
“I think we were a little bit nervous at first (following Fenwick’s goal), but we kept our composure and we knew that we had this game in the bag,” Catanzaro said. “We knew as long as we stayed focused, we could win it.”
After Lippert’s goal, there was no doubt.
“I think that goal kept us going, and we wanted more,” Catanzaro said. “And we knew that we could get more.”
The Knights did. Freshman forward Emma Correale added an insurance goal with 2:08 remaining, and Fenwick’s upset bid was toast.
“We didn’t get as many chances as we’re used to,” said Blazer. “Bt I think it was the best game we’ve played all year, and I think a lot of our girls probably played their best games. That’s what you want.
“That was one of our themes – just keep getting better every game, every session, and they left it all out there, so we’re very proud of them.”
Blazer also complimented the Knights.
“They were the best team we’ve faced,” he said. “It was a fun game for us to be a part of.”
Fenwick will face Deerfield in the third place game at 11 a.m. Afterward, the Knights will attempt to win back-to-back state titles for the first time in program history. They have won three championships. No other sport at Triad has won a title.
“I just want to go out there and play my hardest and give it everything I’ve got,” Lippert said. “Going back-to-back state champs, that would be the best.”
Starting lineups
Triad
GK Reagan Chigas
D Avery Bohnenstiehl
D Jackie Barkus
D Macy Mell
D Brynn Presley
M Kinlee Lippert
M Carson Bohnenstiehl
M Ezra Wilder
F Gina Catanzaro
F Alina Ayran
F Karen Speer
Fenwick
GK Audrey Hinrichs
D Emily Ortiz
D Gabi Kapusta
D Abbie Rogowski
M Julia Cianci
M Fiona Roche
M Natalie LoGiudice
M Caroline Henige
M Kiera Mullarkey
M Grace Kapsch
F Kate Henige
Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match:
Gina Catanzaro, sr., F, Triad
Scoring summary
First half
Fenwick – Grace Kapsch (Emily Ortiz) 8:48 remaining
Second half
Triad – Gina Catanzaro 29:51 remaining
First overtime
No scoring
Second overtime
Triad – Kinlee Lippert (Maddie Hunt) 7:11 remaining
Triad – Emma Correale 2:08 remaining