Mission accomplished: Barrington
picks up vital win vs. Fremd
Crazy game features own-goal, red card, 2 OT and 3-2 Fillies win
By Mike Garofola
BARRINGTON -- It looked like Barrington's crown was slipping.
The Fillies, who entered their Mid-Suburban League West Division contest Wednesday night chasing first place Fremd’s five-point lead, knew only a win would keep them in the race. The pressure grew with overtime periods against their longtime rival.
The start was textbook, The Fillies, ranked sixth in the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25, went up 2-0 in the first 12 minutes. They squandered chances to increase the lead and then watched as the no. 21 Vikings halved the lead and drew back level just after the hour.
The home side had the added bonus of an extra man following a red card in the 59th minute that gave them the upper hand. Yet when the scoreboard siren closed out regulation, manager Ryan Stengren’s club were fighting for their conference lives with 20 minutes of extra time.
"We knew what we had to do tonight and a tie was not it," said Fillies keeper Coast Liapis.
Fremd opponent Caeleigh Stone said her club also knew what it needed.
"A win or draw for us tonight likely ended the chances for Barrington. So that was our focus coming into this game," said Stone, who shared Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match honors with teammate Lily Spotak. Together the pair formed a dangerous partnership throughout the 100 minutes of soccer.
But beating eight-time MSL champion and recent back-to-back Class 3A state champion Barrington – and doing it playing a field player – is a whole other thing.
If Fremd could defend as it had after allowing the goals, it could knock Barrington off its perch and apply extra pressure on Conant and upstart Hoffman Estates, the next two closest challengers in the division.
But this Barrington squad, with nearly an entire new roster from its 2019 state runnerup club, found a way in the closing seconds of the first overtime to find the back of the net. The Fillies then held on for dear life for another 10 minutes to claim a hard-fought 3-2 victory at Barrington Community Stadium.
"We have a roster filled with mature players,” said Stengren. “On the flip side, they do not possess the maturity of our past teams who became so used to knowing that wearing the Barrington name on the front of your jersey brings the best out of everyone you play.
“Especially a team like Fremd, which always have talented, highly skilled players, and has a great coach like Steve (Keller) leading them."
"You’re always disappointed with a loss,” Keller said. “But aside from the result, I'd be hard pressed to find anything we did tonight that wasn't a positive. (We) played very well and especially when we went a man down."
The Vikings (6-2-0, 5-1-0-15), who used an own-goal three minutes from time to defeat MSL East Division-leading Buffalo Grove on Monday, had the tables turned on them just two minutes into this contest. A ball sent into the box was redirected past helpless Vikings keeper Sam Gary.
Ten minutes later, Jen Devona elevated way above a host of Vikings to thump a thunderous header high into the net to make it 2-0.
The DePaul-bound Devona enjoyed a highly successful night, winning nearly every challenge in the middle of the park that came her way via the air.
Even with the lead, Barrington knew the game was far from over.
"When you go up early with two goals, even against a great opponent like Fremd, you would think it would give you momentum going forward. It didn't," admitted Stengren.
Despite conceding early, Fremd came off its heels to play forward to offset the playing advantage the Fillies (6-1-2, 4-0-1-13) had enjoyed.
"I was real proud of my teammates for coming back from those two goals," began Stone.
"We didn't give up (knowing) if we could get one before the break, we would be right back in the game."
Stone and Spotak, both crafty, quick and in constant motion, helped keep high pressure on the Fillies backline. Their work-rate insured the home side was never able to relax.
Vikings’ senior Ashley Scesniak drove her 22-yard free kick wide of Liapis in the 29th minute as Fremd tried to dig itself out of the hole.
"Two mistakes, and it cost us two goals," said Keller. “Other than that, we played a very good first half of soccer.”
The game went back and forth. Barrington made a bid in the 29th minute when Lara Lubinsky split a pair of defenders to get free only to see her close-range attempt go over the bar.
Later, Gracie Stagnito was destined for open space if not for a strong tackle by Scesniak.
Fremd looked out of sorts right after the intermission, and it nearly cost them on two occasions.
A Brooke Brown corner gave Stagnito a chance at the back post, but her effort went wide.
Gary saved a Lubinsky attempt from another Brown corner in the 43rd minute.
"Two great chances for us to go up 3-0, and more than likely put (Fremd) away," lamented Stengren.
Stone brought the Vikings faithful back to life. Left alone, she was allowed to turn, then zig-zag her way in closer to before striking an unstoppable left-footed blast into the far inside corner of the net.
The goal at 52 minutes leveled the game.
"Their first goal was unlucky, the second was a great finish, but we were playing well, and controlling play,” Stone said. “We all knew we had a couple of goals in us if we kept the pressure up and our work-rate."
The score opened up play from both sides.
Barrington’s Kate McGreevy ended any hope for Kylie Williams to get in on Liapis moments after the goal. Then Devona headed her effort over the bar in the 56th minute.
Fans were up on their feet when Riley Raynor latched onto a lovely ball over the top from Stagnito that forced Gary to come off her line in full gallop in a 1-v-1 situation.
Gary did well to meet the onrushing Raynor just outside the box. In doing so however, she touched. The assistant referee on the near side had the opinion it was done intentionally.
After a brief discussion by the officials, Gary was shown the red card. That forced Keller and his staff to go Marisa Towns between the sticks for, what proved to be the final 41 minutes of play.
Keller accepted the explanation from the referee. He decided to switch his formation to a 3-4-2 with Bella Scesniak and Shannon Moran on either side of his terrific center back, Palak Khera, and lean on his midfield to run the show.
Fremd senior Anna Schmitt found the equalizer on the tail end of some wonderful and quickly played possession between Spotak and Stone. The play ended when Schmitt came from out of nowhere to touch past Liapis, who had a chance for the stop, in the 59th minute.
"Fremd played so well after they went down a player,” Liapis said. “We had to really focus on defending, because they seemed to have the ball more than we did."
Barrington seemed like the team playing a man down after the Schmitt strike with the Vikings buzzing around and near the area.
The home side did manage to stem the tide late in regulation by earning a pair of deep throws, and a Liapis free kick from the midline that Scesniak sent out of the box.
"We were happy to go to overtime after we chased two goals from early in the game," said Keller. “We knew a tie would be much better for us than (Barrington), but we were not playing to end up in a draw."
Barrington was active at the start of the first overtime and created a couple of chances.
Devona rattled the bar from 24 yards in the 84th minute. Her next effort on frame was easily saved Marisa Towns. Thanks to her teammates, she was never truly tested from the moment she came on for Gary, who will be forced to sit out against Conant on Friday evening.
The Fillies earned a corner with 12 seconds left in the first overtime. Brown raced to the flag to make the serve, and junior midfielder Nicole Gwiasda’s only thought was the hope her teammate could whip one into the box before the whistle.
"All I remember is seeing just 12 seconds on the clock,” she said. “After that I don't really remember anything but going for the ball and heading it."
The shot went forcefully into the net from just inside the box with one second left in the first OT.
"Ella (VanNess) did a great job of keeping the play alive to help us get the corner," said Stengren. “Brooke gave us a chance with her corner (and) somehow Nicole found a way to the ball for the goal," said Stengren.
Fremd threw as many forward as possible during the last 10 minutes of play but was stopped cold by McGreevy and her backline mates.
Barrington’s ability to win throw-ins and hold the ball near the flag to waste valuable time on the clock played a big factor in dousing Fremd’s effort to equalize.
"It was a fun game to be play," said Stone, who will attend the University of Iowa in the fall with plans to major in exercise science. “(We) did everything but score another goal or two. I felt like we played really well against a very good team.”
"Everytime a set piece would come, we would struggle tonight," said Keller, who made a point to praise his forwards Stone and Spotak, and midfielder Schmitt.
“It's something we can sort out and fix, but after that, the girls played very well for 100 minutes, never giving up, and that's something we all should be proud of."
So what does this result mean to the rest of the MSL West race?
Fremd and Hoffman Estates enter Friday night fixtures with 15 points. Barrington stands at 13, as does Conant (4-1-1), which travels to Fremd.
Hoffman Estates meets Buffalo Grove on Friday, and then visits Barrington for a 10 a.m. Saturday match.
Barrington hosts Schaumburg in the middle of its five-game homestand Friday night.
"We couldn't afford a loss tonight," said Liapis, who will play next fall at Indiana University. “The team really worked hard to get the three points we needed so badly, but this game is over. Now we turn our attention to Friday and Schaumburg."
"We still have a lot of things to work on, but this was such a big game for us tonight," added Gwiasda.
"My hope is the girls learned a lot of valuable lessons from the game," began Stengren. “It won't be the last time we find ourselves in these type of pressure-packed situations in the next few weeks.
"Fremd seemed to be re-energized after they went a man down, which is a credit to Steve and his players."
"We've got to learn to keep our foot on the gas pedal in order to put teams away. Although I felt we didn't play our best soccer of the season, to get the result we came for tonight is a positive, and something to help motivate us this weekend, and beyond."
Starting lineups
Fremd (4-4-2)
G- Sam Gary
D- Kaitlyn Roti
D- Bella Scesniak
D- Palak Khera
D- Shannon Moran
M- Anna Schmitt
M- Ashley Scesniak
M- Gemma Gillespie
M- Kylie Williams
F- Lily Spotak
F- Caeleigh Stone
Barrington (4-4-2)
G- Coast Liapis
D- Ellie Sanchez
D- Ella VanNess
D- Kate McGreevy
D- Gracie Stagnito
M- Kate Lubinsky
M- Jen Devona
M- Brooke Brown
M- Nicole Gwiasda
F- Lara Lubinsky
F- Riley Raynor
Chicagoland Soccer MVPs of the Match:
Lily Spotak, jr., F, Fremd;
Caeleigh Stone, sr., F, Fremd
Referee: Vitaly Hansavage
Scoring summary
Firsthalf half
Barrington:own-goal 2'
Barrington: Devona (Brown) 12'
Second half
Fremd: Stone (U/A) 52'
Fremd: Schmitt (Stone, Spotak) 62'
First overtime
Barrington: Gwiasda (Brown) 90'
Second overtime
No scoring
picks up vital win vs. Fremd
Crazy game features own-goal, red card, 2 OT and 3-2 Fillies win
By Mike Garofola
BARRINGTON -- It looked like Barrington's crown was slipping.
The Fillies, who entered their Mid-Suburban League West Division contest Wednesday night chasing first place Fremd’s five-point lead, knew only a win would keep them in the race. The pressure grew with overtime periods against their longtime rival.
The start was textbook, The Fillies, ranked sixth in the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25, went up 2-0 in the first 12 minutes. They squandered chances to increase the lead and then watched as the no. 21 Vikings halved the lead and drew back level just after the hour.
The home side had the added bonus of an extra man following a red card in the 59th minute that gave them the upper hand. Yet when the scoreboard siren closed out regulation, manager Ryan Stengren’s club were fighting for their conference lives with 20 minutes of extra time.
"We knew what we had to do tonight and a tie was not it," said Fillies keeper Coast Liapis.
Fremd opponent Caeleigh Stone said her club also knew what it needed.
"A win or draw for us tonight likely ended the chances for Barrington. So that was our focus coming into this game," said Stone, who shared Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match honors with teammate Lily Spotak. Together the pair formed a dangerous partnership throughout the 100 minutes of soccer.
But beating eight-time MSL champion and recent back-to-back Class 3A state champion Barrington – and doing it playing a field player – is a whole other thing.
If Fremd could defend as it had after allowing the goals, it could knock Barrington off its perch and apply extra pressure on Conant and upstart Hoffman Estates, the next two closest challengers in the division.
But this Barrington squad, with nearly an entire new roster from its 2019 state runnerup club, found a way in the closing seconds of the first overtime to find the back of the net. The Fillies then held on for dear life for another 10 minutes to claim a hard-fought 3-2 victory at Barrington Community Stadium.
"We have a roster filled with mature players,” said Stengren. “On the flip side, they do not possess the maturity of our past teams who became so used to knowing that wearing the Barrington name on the front of your jersey brings the best out of everyone you play.
“Especially a team like Fremd, which always have talented, highly skilled players, and has a great coach like Steve (Keller) leading them."
"You’re always disappointed with a loss,” Keller said. “But aside from the result, I'd be hard pressed to find anything we did tonight that wasn't a positive. (We) played very well and especially when we went a man down."
The Vikings (6-2-0, 5-1-0-15), who used an own-goal three minutes from time to defeat MSL East Division-leading Buffalo Grove on Monday, had the tables turned on them just two minutes into this contest. A ball sent into the box was redirected past helpless Vikings keeper Sam Gary.
Ten minutes later, Jen Devona elevated way above a host of Vikings to thump a thunderous header high into the net to make it 2-0.
The DePaul-bound Devona enjoyed a highly successful night, winning nearly every challenge in the middle of the park that came her way via the air.
Even with the lead, Barrington knew the game was far from over.
"When you go up early with two goals, even against a great opponent like Fremd, you would think it would give you momentum going forward. It didn't," admitted Stengren.
Despite conceding early, Fremd came off its heels to play forward to offset the playing advantage the Fillies (6-1-2, 4-0-1-13) had enjoyed.
"I was real proud of my teammates for coming back from those two goals," began Stone.
"We didn't give up (knowing) if we could get one before the break, we would be right back in the game."
Stone and Spotak, both crafty, quick and in constant motion, helped keep high pressure on the Fillies backline. Their work-rate insured the home side was never able to relax.
Vikings’ senior Ashley Scesniak drove her 22-yard free kick wide of Liapis in the 29th minute as Fremd tried to dig itself out of the hole.
"Two mistakes, and it cost us two goals," said Keller. “Other than that, we played a very good first half of soccer.”
The game went back and forth. Barrington made a bid in the 29th minute when Lara Lubinsky split a pair of defenders to get free only to see her close-range attempt go over the bar.
Later, Gracie Stagnito was destined for open space if not for a strong tackle by Scesniak.
Fremd looked out of sorts right after the intermission, and it nearly cost them on two occasions.
A Brooke Brown corner gave Stagnito a chance at the back post, but her effort went wide.
Gary saved a Lubinsky attempt from another Brown corner in the 43rd minute.
"Two great chances for us to go up 3-0, and more than likely put (Fremd) away," lamented Stengren.
Stone brought the Vikings faithful back to life. Left alone, she was allowed to turn, then zig-zag her way in closer to before striking an unstoppable left-footed blast into the far inside corner of the net.
The goal at 52 minutes leveled the game.
"Their first goal was unlucky, the second was a great finish, but we were playing well, and controlling play,” Stone said. “We all knew we had a couple of goals in us if we kept the pressure up and our work-rate."
The score opened up play from both sides.
Barrington’s Kate McGreevy ended any hope for Kylie Williams to get in on Liapis moments after the goal. Then Devona headed her effort over the bar in the 56th minute.
Fans were up on their feet when Riley Raynor latched onto a lovely ball over the top from Stagnito that forced Gary to come off her line in full gallop in a 1-v-1 situation.
Gary did well to meet the onrushing Raynor just outside the box. In doing so however, she touched. The assistant referee on the near side had the opinion it was done intentionally.
After a brief discussion by the officials, Gary was shown the red card. That forced Keller and his staff to go Marisa Towns between the sticks for, what proved to be the final 41 minutes of play.
Keller accepted the explanation from the referee. He decided to switch his formation to a 3-4-2 with Bella Scesniak and Shannon Moran on either side of his terrific center back, Palak Khera, and lean on his midfield to run the show.
Fremd senior Anna Schmitt found the equalizer on the tail end of some wonderful and quickly played possession between Spotak and Stone. The play ended when Schmitt came from out of nowhere to touch past Liapis, who had a chance for the stop, in the 59th minute.
"Fremd played so well after they went down a player,” Liapis said. “We had to really focus on defending, because they seemed to have the ball more than we did."
Barrington seemed like the team playing a man down after the Schmitt strike with the Vikings buzzing around and near the area.
The home side did manage to stem the tide late in regulation by earning a pair of deep throws, and a Liapis free kick from the midline that Scesniak sent out of the box.
"We were happy to go to overtime after we chased two goals from early in the game," said Keller. “We knew a tie would be much better for us than (Barrington), but we were not playing to end up in a draw."
Barrington was active at the start of the first overtime and created a couple of chances.
Devona rattled the bar from 24 yards in the 84th minute. Her next effort on frame was easily saved Marisa Towns. Thanks to her teammates, she was never truly tested from the moment she came on for Gary, who will be forced to sit out against Conant on Friday evening.
The Fillies earned a corner with 12 seconds left in the first overtime. Brown raced to the flag to make the serve, and junior midfielder Nicole Gwiasda’s only thought was the hope her teammate could whip one into the box before the whistle.
"All I remember is seeing just 12 seconds on the clock,” she said. “After that I don't really remember anything but going for the ball and heading it."
The shot went forcefully into the net from just inside the box with one second left in the first OT.
"Ella (VanNess) did a great job of keeping the play alive to help us get the corner," said Stengren. “Brooke gave us a chance with her corner (and) somehow Nicole found a way to the ball for the goal," said Stengren.
Fremd threw as many forward as possible during the last 10 minutes of play but was stopped cold by McGreevy and her backline mates.
Barrington’s ability to win throw-ins and hold the ball near the flag to waste valuable time on the clock played a big factor in dousing Fremd’s effort to equalize.
"It was a fun game to be play," said Stone, who will attend the University of Iowa in the fall with plans to major in exercise science. “(We) did everything but score another goal or two. I felt like we played really well against a very good team.”
"Everytime a set piece would come, we would struggle tonight," said Keller, who made a point to praise his forwards Stone and Spotak, and midfielder Schmitt.
“It's something we can sort out and fix, but after that, the girls played very well for 100 minutes, never giving up, and that's something we all should be proud of."
So what does this result mean to the rest of the MSL West race?
Fremd and Hoffman Estates enter Friday night fixtures with 15 points. Barrington stands at 13, as does Conant (4-1-1), which travels to Fremd.
Hoffman Estates meets Buffalo Grove on Friday, and then visits Barrington for a 10 a.m. Saturday match.
Barrington hosts Schaumburg in the middle of its five-game homestand Friday night.
"We couldn't afford a loss tonight," said Liapis, who will play next fall at Indiana University. “The team really worked hard to get the three points we needed so badly, but this game is over. Now we turn our attention to Friday and Schaumburg."
"We still have a lot of things to work on, but this was such a big game for us tonight," added Gwiasda.
"My hope is the girls learned a lot of valuable lessons from the game," began Stengren. “It won't be the last time we find ourselves in these type of pressure-packed situations in the next few weeks.
"Fremd seemed to be re-energized after they went a man down, which is a credit to Steve and his players."
"We've got to learn to keep our foot on the gas pedal in order to put teams away. Although I felt we didn't play our best soccer of the season, to get the result we came for tonight is a positive, and something to help motivate us this weekend, and beyond."
Starting lineups
Fremd (4-4-2)
G- Sam Gary
D- Kaitlyn Roti
D- Bella Scesniak
D- Palak Khera
D- Shannon Moran
M- Anna Schmitt
M- Ashley Scesniak
M- Gemma Gillespie
M- Kylie Williams
F- Lily Spotak
F- Caeleigh Stone
Barrington (4-4-2)
G- Coast Liapis
D- Ellie Sanchez
D- Ella VanNess
D- Kate McGreevy
D- Gracie Stagnito
M- Kate Lubinsky
M- Jen Devona
M- Brooke Brown
M- Nicole Gwiasda
F- Lara Lubinsky
F- Riley Raynor
Chicagoland Soccer MVPs of the Match:
Lily Spotak, jr., F, Fremd;
Caeleigh Stone, sr., F, Fremd
Referee: Vitaly Hansavage
Scoring summary
Firsthalf half
Barrington:own-goal 2'
Barrington: Devona (Brown) 12'
Second half
Fremd: Stone (U/A) 52'
Fremd: Schmitt (Stone, Spotak) 62'
First overtime
Barrington: Gwiasda (Brown) 90'
Second overtime
No scoring