Stevenson dashes Fremd's state dream
Vikings fall 2-1 on VanZanten brace
By Mike Garofola
BUFFALO GROVE -- Just before the wait was over following a trio of Thor Guard delays, Stevenson manager PepeJon Chavez settled into his chair along the touchline and turned to say: "If his stars shine today, then this game will be theirs."
Perhaps when the coaching career of Chavez is over, he can become a poet. His pregame statement rang true for his Patriots at Grant Blaney Stadium.
One of Chavez's stars is Notre Dame-bound forward Kiki VanZanten. The senior scored a brilliant first half opener and then provided the game-winner to send the top-seeded Patriots (22-1-2) to a 2-1 win over three-seed Fremd and an Elite Eight showdown with New Trier.
Fremd gave its all for 80 furious, hard-fought minutes but could not prevent its season's end.
"That's a very good team we just played," Chavez said after his players lifted Stevenson's first girls sectional championship trophy to the delight of hundreds of Patriots fans who were on hand for this history-making triumph.
"Fremd reminds me so much of New Trier," continued Chavez. "They defend, pressure, are so incredibly organized in the back and really, really dangerous in set piece and dead ball chances like New Trier.
"The only thing they're missing is Emma Weaver. (Then) they are New Trier."
Chavez' reference was to the Trevians' star junior, a top-flight scorer and finisher, one of the best in the state and a player for whom those on the cusp to become great would be just that if they were fortunate enought to have her on the team.
Chavez has one of those elite few in VanZanten, who offers intelligent movement and off-the-ball running which is how the senior scored her first of the afternoon.
"When you have a player such as no. 7 (VanZanten) you always have a chance," began Fremd manager Steve Keller. "She's that dangerous. I thought we defended her very well for most of the day.
"But the combination of her back-post run and redirect with a header is something only the exceptional players can do at this level. On her second, the ability she has to take advantage of just enough time to unload her shot speaks volumes to how good of a player she is.
"It will be interesting to see later on where Notre Dame will play her especially with other good players around her. Out on the wing to use her pace and speed on the ball? Whatever it is, they're getting a talented young player next season."
The always gracious and classy Keller is quick to compliment others. Even in defeat, the Vikings longtime man in charge had plenty to say about his club, and the incredible effort and fight his girls put forth.
"There were so many things to say to the girls afterwards, all of which I felt were important to say when you have them all together for the last time before we do any of our postseason stuff," he said.
"Maybe it's oversaid, but I know today it's true. I told them how proud I was of everyone for the way they played, so much heart, right until the last whistle.
"You have to remind players of any age that this is still just a sport, there's a winner and loser, but losing doesn't mean failure."
"We lost to the better team today, and that's okay, because they can all walk out of this stadium with their heads held high. Everything they had was left out on the field."
In the end, Stevenson was indebted to its three stars, junior Grace Wingfield and seniors VanZanten with keeper Jennifer Staten.
Most managers agree that in order to win the important matches, your keeper must make two big saves.
One of the side stories in this particular sectional final was having two top-tier keepers between Staten and Vikings junior Jennifer Norris.
Norris entered this game with an impressive resume: 0.47 goals against average, 13 clean-sheets, 50 saves, 1,705 minutes played and an ability, just like her counterpart, to make breathtaking, goal-saving stops when called into action.
While VanZanten's double was unstoppable, Staten for the second time this week made a magnificent early save to keep things goal-less
Said Chavez: "As I said the other night when you asked about Jennifer's incredible save against Lake Zurich, she makes it all look real easy. Even though we have a terrific, young backline and we stress team defense, she's the reason we're still playing."
There was was pace and purpose from both clubs from the outset, and the 50-50 challenges were not for the meek.
Fremd's Emma Spotak doesn't have VanZanten's boxcar goal-figures but can be just as dangerous.
The senior, who returned from club to play her final year of high school soccer with her friends, is in Kellers' words a "first class pest and nuisance." In Spotak's case it's a compliment for her nonstop running, work rate and ability to dart and turn on a dime in a single second.
Spotak was set free up the right side in the 10th minute, only to have her wicked, low cracker turned away by Staten. It was reminiscent of her big point-blank save on Lake Zurich's Maggy Piggott in the Patriots 1-0 victory sectional semifinal victory Tuesday.
Fremd continued to pin their opponents in their own end with high pressure from Spotak and Rose Kentish up-top and its hard-working midfield. The backline of Lauren Burk, and Allie and Liz Prigge stepped in to intercept anything that was sent into the area.
"We had a lot to prove today," said Burk, who played most of the season with a variety of leg injuries yet still managed to play at an extremely high-level though she was never near 100 percent.
"We got better as the season went on. Everyone was playing for the team and not themselves. I really feel even with this tough loss we proved we belonged in this game and could have easily been the team advancing."
When Stevenson got into the game, it started with a lovely counter produced by VanZanten, wonderful sophomore midfielder Gabi Nyc, and one of its few seniors Kristin Hill.
Moments later, VanZanten tricked her way free and played to Nyc, who had a go at Norris from 22 yards.
Then, from nothing came something, and boy was it something.
Relentless sophomore Tess Koleno refused to be dispossessed after an interception on the outside-left. With the ball under control, the Patriots young defender dribbled up the left side and into the clear.
Wingfield latched onto Koleno's pass and quickly drove to the endline before whipping a superb ball into the box.
VanZanten was a ghost who came out of the shadows on her back-post run. She elevated with grace and power to head the ball into the back of the net.
The 26th minute goal brought the Patriots crowd out of its seats.
"What can you say? It was a great goal, just like her second one," said Norris.
"You don't see a finish like either one very often in high school soccer, so all you can do is take your hat off when it happens."
VanZanten went wide with two free kick attempts after her opener, while Fremd continued to conjure up chances. Nearly all came from free kicks that came from the powerful right foot of Liz Prigge.
The junior lashed a low missile into a stiff wind that exploded into the gloves of Staten in the 29th minute. She unloaded another at 38 minutes which resulted in a corner for the Vikings.
Then Kentish bent her well-aimed effort into the box where it bounded off a Patriots player and into the far inside netting.
The 40th-minute own-goal ended the Patriots streak of 14-consecutive clean-sheets -- a span of 1,217 goal-less minutes of defensive soccer.
Fremd's Kentish, who last fall became the first female football player in Fremd history to score a point via a point-after-touchdown, rattled the football crossbar with her 30-yard free kick to start the second period.
The Kentish attempt inspired more from the Vikings, who were still riding the emotional wave of its late equalizer.
Burk went close when she met a Claire Stewart corner, Ashley Scesniak forced Staten into action, and Allie Prigge created a corner with an aggressive interception.
All went for naught before and after VanZanten put the dagger in the hearts of the Vikings faithful. The winning play started when she collected te lose ball near the midline.
From there, the Patriots senior opened up space for herself with sharp, quick movements, all while directing the ball on her foot like it was on a string.
With one last short move, a small window of space opened up for VanZanten to size up the near post. From there she teed up her winning strike.
The Patriots final goal turned the final 20 minutes into a frantic, all-action, box-to-box thriller. Fremd was desperate to get back even, but Stevenson defended with all its might.
Spotak's snap-shot was saved in the 66th minute, then the senior headed wide an Allie Prigge corner.
Next, A fierce-but-clean tackle by Stevenson's Kayla Constabileo stopped Spotak from getting in on Staten.
VanZanten, who was given a few minutes of rest just after the hour, was brought back on and immediately skimmed the bar with her 68th-minute effort.
Fremd received a trio of long-range free kicks from Liz Prigge, but they failed to pierce the back of the Patriots net. After two deep throws and as many sends as the Vikings could whip into the box, referee Vic Walker's whistle ended the match.
"We never stopped playing, ever," said Burk.
"It's tough to have your season end at any point, but as we have all season long, we've won as a team, and lost as a team. I am proud of everyone of my teammates regardless of the result," added Norris.
The Vikings keeper will be back next season, as will her entire backline of the Prigge sisters and Burk.
Keller will lose six seniors. The best is midfielder Christy Murauskis, but he will have a strong core group returning to make them one of the favorites in the area.
"This group has been an absolute please to coach and just to be around everyday since we first came together," said Keller.
"As you do in a long season, we had our ups-and-downs as we sorted things out, but it fun to see them grown to become a very good soccer team.
"We fell a little short today, but that's okay too."
For Chavez and Stevenson, the first supersectional appearance in program history will be a rematch with New Trier (21-2-5).
The nos. 3 (Stevenson) and 4 teams in the final regular-season Chicagoland Soccer Top 25 will meet at New Trier with the hosts looking to a avenge a 2-0 loss in the final of its own high-profile Lou Malnati's Deep Dish Classic on April 15 in Northfield.
"As the last part of the season began to unfold, I said to myself that games number 25 and 26 should be: Fremd, then New Trier, and here we are," said Chavez, once again proving to be clairvoyant.
Starting lineups
Fremd (3-5-2)
G- Jennifer Norris
D- Allie Prigge
D- Lauren Burk
D- Liz Prigge
M- Palak Khera
M- Caeleigh Stone
M- Mackenzie Stein
M- Christy Murauskis
M- Ashley Scesniak
F- Emma Spotak
F- Rose Kentish
Stevenson (4-4-2)
G- Jennifer Staten
D- Tess Koleno
D- Kayla Constabileo
D- Myah Schoolman
D- Paige Copeland
M- Emma Ramagnano
M- Gabi Nyc
M- Jessica Baigorria
M- Grace Wingfield
F- Kiki VanZanten
F- Kristin Hill
Chicagoland Soccer MVPs of the Match: Emma Spotak, sr., F, Fremd
Kiki VanZanten, sr., F, Stevenson
Referee
Vic Walker
Scoring summary
First half
Stevenson: VanZanten (Wingfield, Koleno) 26'
Fremd: Own Goal 40'
Second half
Stevenson: VanZanten (U/A) 57'
Vikings fall 2-1 on VanZanten brace
By Mike Garofola
BUFFALO GROVE -- Just before the wait was over following a trio of Thor Guard delays, Stevenson manager PepeJon Chavez settled into his chair along the touchline and turned to say: "If his stars shine today, then this game will be theirs."
Perhaps when the coaching career of Chavez is over, he can become a poet. His pregame statement rang true for his Patriots at Grant Blaney Stadium.
One of Chavez's stars is Notre Dame-bound forward Kiki VanZanten. The senior scored a brilliant first half opener and then provided the game-winner to send the top-seeded Patriots (22-1-2) to a 2-1 win over three-seed Fremd and an Elite Eight showdown with New Trier.
Fremd gave its all for 80 furious, hard-fought minutes but could not prevent its season's end.
"That's a very good team we just played," Chavez said after his players lifted Stevenson's first girls sectional championship trophy to the delight of hundreds of Patriots fans who were on hand for this history-making triumph.
"Fremd reminds me so much of New Trier," continued Chavez. "They defend, pressure, are so incredibly organized in the back and really, really dangerous in set piece and dead ball chances like New Trier.
"The only thing they're missing is Emma Weaver. (Then) they are New Trier."
Chavez' reference was to the Trevians' star junior, a top-flight scorer and finisher, one of the best in the state and a player for whom those on the cusp to become great would be just that if they were fortunate enought to have her on the team.
Chavez has one of those elite few in VanZanten, who offers intelligent movement and off-the-ball running which is how the senior scored her first of the afternoon.
"When you have a player such as no. 7 (VanZanten) you always have a chance," began Fremd manager Steve Keller. "She's that dangerous. I thought we defended her very well for most of the day.
"But the combination of her back-post run and redirect with a header is something only the exceptional players can do at this level. On her second, the ability she has to take advantage of just enough time to unload her shot speaks volumes to how good of a player she is.
"It will be interesting to see later on where Notre Dame will play her especially with other good players around her. Out on the wing to use her pace and speed on the ball? Whatever it is, they're getting a talented young player next season."
The always gracious and classy Keller is quick to compliment others. Even in defeat, the Vikings longtime man in charge had plenty to say about his club, and the incredible effort and fight his girls put forth.
"There were so many things to say to the girls afterwards, all of which I felt were important to say when you have them all together for the last time before we do any of our postseason stuff," he said.
"Maybe it's oversaid, but I know today it's true. I told them how proud I was of everyone for the way they played, so much heart, right until the last whistle.
"You have to remind players of any age that this is still just a sport, there's a winner and loser, but losing doesn't mean failure."
"We lost to the better team today, and that's okay, because they can all walk out of this stadium with their heads held high. Everything they had was left out on the field."
In the end, Stevenson was indebted to its three stars, junior Grace Wingfield and seniors VanZanten with keeper Jennifer Staten.
Most managers agree that in order to win the important matches, your keeper must make two big saves.
One of the side stories in this particular sectional final was having two top-tier keepers between Staten and Vikings junior Jennifer Norris.
Norris entered this game with an impressive resume: 0.47 goals against average, 13 clean-sheets, 50 saves, 1,705 minutes played and an ability, just like her counterpart, to make breathtaking, goal-saving stops when called into action.
While VanZanten's double was unstoppable, Staten for the second time this week made a magnificent early save to keep things goal-less
Said Chavez: "As I said the other night when you asked about Jennifer's incredible save against Lake Zurich, she makes it all look real easy. Even though we have a terrific, young backline and we stress team defense, she's the reason we're still playing."
There was was pace and purpose from both clubs from the outset, and the 50-50 challenges were not for the meek.
Fremd's Emma Spotak doesn't have VanZanten's boxcar goal-figures but can be just as dangerous.
The senior, who returned from club to play her final year of high school soccer with her friends, is in Kellers' words a "first class pest and nuisance." In Spotak's case it's a compliment for her nonstop running, work rate and ability to dart and turn on a dime in a single second.
Spotak was set free up the right side in the 10th minute, only to have her wicked, low cracker turned away by Staten. It was reminiscent of her big point-blank save on Lake Zurich's Maggy Piggott in the Patriots 1-0 victory sectional semifinal victory Tuesday.
Fremd continued to pin their opponents in their own end with high pressure from Spotak and Rose Kentish up-top and its hard-working midfield. The backline of Lauren Burk, and Allie and Liz Prigge stepped in to intercept anything that was sent into the area.
"We had a lot to prove today," said Burk, who played most of the season with a variety of leg injuries yet still managed to play at an extremely high-level though she was never near 100 percent.
"We got better as the season went on. Everyone was playing for the team and not themselves. I really feel even with this tough loss we proved we belonged in this game and could have easily been the team advancing."
When Stevenson got into the game, it started with a lovely counter produced by VanZanten, wonderful sophomore midfielder Gabi Nyc, and one of its few seniors Kristin Hill.
Moments later, VanZanten tricked her way free and played to Nyc, who had a go at Norris from 22 yards.
Then, from nothing came something, and boy was it something.
Relentless sophomore Tess Koleno refused to be dispossessed after an interception on the outside-left. With the ball under control, the Patriots young defender dribbled up the left side and into the clear.
Wingfield latched onto Koleno's pass and quickly drove to the endline before whipping a superb ball into the box.
VanZanten was a ghost who came out of the shadows on her back-post run. She elevated with grace and power to head the ball into the back of the net.
The 26th minute goal brought the Patriots crowd out of its seats.
"What can you say? It was a great goal, just like her second one," said Norris.
"You don't see a finish like either one very often in high school soccer, so all you can do is take your hat off when it happens."
VanZanten went wide with two free kick attempts after her opener, while Fremd continued to conjure up chances. Nearly all came from free kicks that came from the powerful right foot of Liz Prigge.
The junior lashed a low missile into a stiff wind that exploded into the gloves of Staten in the 29th minute. She unloaded another at 38 minutes which resulted in a corner for the Vikings.
Then Kentish bent her well-aimed effort into the box where it bounded off a Patriots player and into the far inside netting.
The 40th-minute own-goal ended the Patriots streak of 14-consecutive clean-sheets -- a span of 1,217 goal-less minutes of defensive soccer.
Fremd's Kentish, who last fall became the first female football player in Fremd history to score a point via a point-after-touchdown, rattled the football crossbar with her 30-yard free kick to start the second period.
The Kentish attempt inspired more from the Vikings, who were still riding the emotional wave of its late equalizer.
Burk went close when she met a Claire Stewart corner, Ashley Scesniak forced Staten into action, and Allie Prigge created a corner with an aggressive interception.
All went for naught before and after VanZanten put the dagger in the hearts of the Vikings faithful. The winning play started when she collected te lose ball near the midline.
From there, the Patriots senior opened up space for herself with sharp, quick movements, all while directing the ball on her foot like it was on a string.
With one last short move, a small window of space opened up for VanZanten to size up the near post. From there she teed up her winning strike.
The Patriots final goal turned the final 20 minutes into a frantic, all-action, box-to-box thriller. Fremd was desperate to get back even, but Stevenson defended with all its might.
Spotak's snap-shot was saved in the 66th minute, then the senior headed wide an Allie Prigge corner.
Next, A fierce-but-clean tackle by Stevenson's Kayla Constabileo stopped Spotak from getting in on Staten.
VanZanten, who was given a few minutes of rest just after the hour, was brought back on and immediately skimmed the bar with her 68th-minute effort.
Fremd received a trio of long-range free kicks from Liz Prigge, but they failed to pierce the back of the Patriots net. After two deep throws and as many sends as the Vikings could whip into the box, referee Vic Walker's whistle ended the match.
"We never stopped playing, ever," said Burk.
"It's tough to have your season end at any point, but as we have all season long, we've won as a team, and lost as a team. I am proud of everyone of my teammates regardless of the result," added Norris.
The Vikings keeper will be back next season, as will her entire backline of the Prigge sisters and Burk.
Keller will lose six seniors. The best is midfielder Christy Murauskis, but he will have a strong core group returning to make them one of the favorites in the area.
"This group has been an absolute please to coach and just to be around everyday since we first came together," said Keller.
"As you do in a long season, we had our ups-and-downs as we sorted things out, but it fun to see them grown to become a very good soccer team.
"We fell a little short today, but that's okay too."
For Chavez and Stevenson, the first supersectional appearance in program history will be a rematch with New Trier (21-2-5).
The nos. 3 (Stevenson) and 4 teams in the final regular-season Chicagoland Soccer Top 25 will meet at New Trier with the hosts looking to a avenge a 2-0 loss in the final of its own high-profile Lou Malnati's Deep Dish Classic on April 15 in Northfield.
"As the last part of the season began to unfold, I said to myself that games number 25 and 26 should be: Fremd, then New Trier, and here we are," said Chavez, once again proving to be clairvoyant.
Starting lineups
Fremd (3-5-2)
G- Jennifer Norris
D- Allie Prigge
D- Lauren Burk
D- Liz Prigge
M- Palak Khera
M- Caeleigh Stone
M- Mackenzie Stein
M- Christy Murauskis
M- Ashley Scesniak
F- Emma Spotak
F- Rose Kentish
Stevenson (4-4-2)
G- Jennifer Staten
D- Tess Koleno
D- Kayla Constabileo
D- Myah Schoolman
D- Paige Copeland
M- Emma Ramagnano
M- Gabi Nyc
M- Jessica Baigorria
M- Grace Wingfield
F- Kiki VanZanten
F- Kristin Hill
Chicagoland Soccer MVPs of the Match: Emma Spotak, sr., F, Fremd
Kiki VanZanten, sr., F, Stevenson
Referee
Vic Walker
Scoring summary
First half
Stevenson: VanZanten (Wingfield, Koleno) 26'
Fremd: Own Goal 40'
Second half
Stevenson: VanZanten (U/A) 57'