Grit sends New Trier past Stevenson
Finnigan strikes twice in 2-0 win as Trevians defense shines
By Gary Larsen
LINCOLNSHIRE — Think of a soccer ball on the ground in a crowded goalmouth as a test designed to see which players really, truly, seriously want that ball.
New Trier senior Caroline Finnigan, please take one step forward.
"I'll tell you what, that kid has got a heart the size of a bus,” New Trier coach Jim Burnside said. “She’s not your quintessential goal scorer. She’s just got great desire.”
There may be no better praise than that of an opposing coach, like the praise Stevenson coach Pepe Jon Chavez uttered as Finnigan walked past him after Saturday's game.
“That’s a hell of a game by you,” Chavez said to Finnigan.
“Thank you,” Finnigan answered.
Once in each half in a nonconference game in Lincolnshire, Finnigan pounced on a corner kick sent to the near post by teammate Morgan Fagan. The ball found the turf both times and both times, Finnigan converted to provide all of the game’s goals in a 2-0 New Trier victory.
In between those goals, Finnigan was involved in a second half collision that left her with a bloody nose and forced her from the game. After the game, she was also treated for blisters on her feet courtesy of a new pair of soccer shoes.
Anyone who believes girls aren’t tough should go watch players like the feisty, relentless Finnigan play soccer. And she’ll happily take a bloody nose in exchange for two goals, any day of the week.
“They even each other out,” Finnigan joked.
But as much as she won the battle for box-score glory on Saturday, it was a New Trier backline led by center backs Mia Sedgwick and Jenna Birdsell that showed yet again what this year’s Trevians are truly built on.
Saturday’s shutout was the ninth in 12 games for New Trier (8-1-3), which has only given up four goals this season. If the former no. 1 and current fourth-ranked team in the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25 makes a deep postseason run, its defense will fuel that run.
“A hundred percent,” Burnside said. “We are about trying to play good defense, getting organized and (Birdsell and Sedgwick) are locked in. They’re great. I just can't say enough about them. They keep learning, and every game they get more in sync with each other."
The Trevians’ defense had ample opportunity to shine Saturday, thanks to an attack from Stevenson (6-2-1) that set up shop in New Trier’s defensive third for a long stretch of the first half. New Trier kept the door shut but the 16th-ranked Patriots pounded on that door with both fists for much of the first 40 minutes.
“We were in the final third the entire first half. We had over sixty percent of possession,” Chavez said. “Sustained pressure was part of our game plan. We trained in a new system, because we’ve got a big conference game (vs. Libertyville) coming up on Thursday. So to be able to play New Trier at this point in the season is great preparation for the deeper things we’re after, because it’s all about where we’re going in our future.”
Burnside applauded the Patriots for the pressure they applied through 40 minutes.
"When they get you in the offensive third, it’s hard to get them out,” Burnside said. “They were all over the ball, and our backs were trying to clear the ball out. They were also mopping up the second ball. That’s a credit to an athletic team."
Luckily for New Trier, Sedgwick played like a woman possessed in the first half.
Name any desirable quality in a central defender and Sedgwick likely showed it. Whether she was winning balls in the air, tracking back to break up plays, or dispossessing players one-on-one, Sedgwick put on a defensive clinic through 40 minutes.
Tall, strong, athletic, fast, gritty, and smart might sound like a law firm with too many partners, but it’s merely the laundry list of qualities that both Sedgwick and Birdsell bring to the pitch.
“They’re two of the best center backs I’ve ever played with in my whole life,” Finnigan said. “They’re the reason other teams don’t score. They are so good out of the air, so good at communication, and our outside backs are amazing as well. Without our backline playing the way they do, we wouldn’t be where we are right now.”
For her play in the face of Stevenson’s attacking pressure, Sedgwick earned Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match honors.
Quality shots were scarce for both teams Saturday, particularly through a back-and-forth first 15 minutes. That’s when Stevenson began its sustained attack, spearheaded by two players in particular.
“I’m extremely happy with Abby Kalou,” Chavez said. “She’s scoring goals for us, putting on pressure running at their backlines. I also thought Bella Chavez in the middle had a great game for us. When the opposing team’s players and coaches are calling your name, you’re doing something right.”
With corner and free kicks sent in by Chavez, long throw-ins from Hailey Livesay, and Kalou staying persistently dangerous, Stevenson kept the heat on until late in the first half.
“We definitely have a lot of spells like that where we sustain that pressure,” Stevenson senior defender Kayla Constabileo said. “That’s crucial for us and honestly I thought we had most of the sustained pressure in this game.”
The Trevians held firm and at 35 minutes, they answered. Fagan lined up a corner kick on the right side and sent it to the post, where Finnigan located it and hammered it in off a defender.
“Even though they were coming at us, we were able to go back at them,” Finnigan said. “They wanted to get us, but I always feel like we have a lot of composure.”
While Sedgwick was pleased with the win, and Stevenson found quality looks on net hard to come by, she believed her defense could have played even better.
“I’ve never been on a backline that talked so effectively, but at times today we kind of fell asleep and weren’t talking as well with each other,” she said. “So at times someone would remain unmarked, or we’d be lopsided.”
Both teams had solid chances right after the break.
Stevenson’s Dakota Leonard sent a header just off the mark early in the second half and at 43 minutes, Constabileo cleared a ball off the goal line sent in by Birdsell.
Finnigan headed a shot that whipped past the post at 52 minutes after a Birdsell free kick. Chavez sent a few more free kicks in up to the 61st minute, and Stevenson keeper Mandy Meliker saved a rolling shot from New Trier’s Alex Wirth at 65 minutes.
Leonard picked her way around three defenders and fired from distance at 76 minutes, forcing Trevians keeper Wynne Hague to make a fine diving stop.
Finnigan’s second goal came at 78 minutes, with Fagan sending in the corner kick to the near post from the left side. Finnigan headed it down, teammate Lauren Caldwell hit it back to her, and Finnigan scored from point-blank range at the post.
“They were scrappy goals,” Burnside said. “She got her foot on the end of them and did what she needed to do. But that's what she has done this year.”
Chavez was anything but disappointed in his girls’ play Saturday.
“I respect their team, and I hope we earned the respect we deserved today,” Chavez said. “I love my team, and I’m proud of them.”
Notes
The best athletes across all sports are insatiably hungry and to stay that way, they’re usually haunted by one nagging rule of thumb : “You can never be completely happy,” Sedgwick said. … Both coaches were pleased with multiple performances from their respective sides on Saturday. Chavez: “Kayla Constabileo in the middle plays excellent and composed, and Nicole Schmidt in the middle and Tess Koleno on the outside are also a couple of seniors that lead us back there.” … Burnside: "Morgan Fagan up-top is always dangerous in creating opportunities for people, and another kid that has not played many games but stepped up in the middle is Lauren Caldwell. She probably played 20 minutes in each half. She scored a couple goals last night against Niles West so we gave her a run today and she did a great job.” … Constabileo returned to play this season after sitting out six months due to injury. The senior is happy to be back. “I think my favorite thing about the team this year is that we play as a unit,” Constabileo said. “This team feeds off of each other’s strengths and we’ve found really good rhythm in moments.” … What stands out to Sedgwick about this year’s Trevians? “Everything,” she said. “The culture is so amazing. Everyone is so supportive; everyone loves each other — you’ll never find another team like it, every single year.” … Finnigan nearly pulled off a hat-trick Saturday, her quality header went wide at 52 minutes. Previously she scored on a header a 1-1 tie vs. no.14 Loyola on April 24, and had both goals in the 2-0 win over ninth-ranked Evanston on May 5.
Starting lineups
New Trier
GK Wynne Hague
D Ava Shah
D Jenna Birdsell
D Mia Sedgwick
D Anna Marshall
M Annie Paden
M Caroline Finnigan
M Kate Dobsch
M Alex Wirth
F Kendall Sierens
F Morgan Fagan
Stevenson
GK Mandy Meliker
D Kaitlin Hong
D Tess Koleno
D Kayla Constabileo
D Nicole Schmidt
M Hailey Livesay
M Dakota Leonard
M Bella Chavez
M Gabi Nyc
F Abby Kalou
F Arria Chavez
Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match — Mia Sedgwick, sr., D, New Trier
Scoring summary
First half
New Trier — Finnigan (Fagan) at 35 minutes
Second half
New Trier — Finnigan (Fagan) at 78 minutes
Finnigan strikes twice in 2-0 win as Trevians defense shines
By Gary Larsen
LINCOLNSHIRE — Think of a soccer ball on the ground in a crowded goalmouth as a test designed to see which players really, truly, seriously want that ball.
New Trier senior Caroline Finnigan, please take one step forward.
"I'll tell you what, that kid has got a heart the size of a bus,” New Trier coach Jim Burnside said. “She’s not your quintessential goal scorer. She’s just got great desire.”
There may be no better praise than that of an opposing coach, like the praise Stevenson coach Pepe Jon Chavez uttered as Finnigan walked past him after Saturday's game.
“That’s a hell of a game by you,” Chavez said to Finnigan.
“Thank you,” Finnigan answered.
Once in each half in a nonconference game in Lincolnshire, Finnigan pounced on a corner kick sent to the near post by teammate Morgan Fagan. The ball found the turf both times and both times, Finnigan converted to provide all of the game’s goals in a 2-0 New Trier victory.
In between those goals, Finnigan was involved in a second half collision that left her with a bloody nose and forced her from the game. After the game, she was also treated for blisters on her feet courtesy of a new pair of soccer shoes.
Anyone who believes girls aren’t tough should go watch players like the feisty, relentless Finnigan play soccer. And she’ll happily take a bloody nose in exchange for two goals, any day of the week.
“They even each other out,” Finnigan joked.
But as much as she won the battle for box-score glory on Saturday, it was a New Trier backline led by center backs Mia Sedgwick and Jenna Birdsell that showed yet again what this year’s Trevians are truly built on.
Saturday’s shutout was the ninth in 12 games for New Trier (8-1-3), which has only given up four goals this season. If the former no. 1 and current fourth-ranked team in the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25 makes a deep postseason run, its defense will fuel that run.
“A hundred percent,” Burnside said. “We are about trying to play good defense, getting organized and (Birdsell and Sedgwick) are locked in. They’re great. I just can't say enough about them. They keep learning, and every game they get more in sync with each other."
The Trevians’ defense had ample opportunity to shine Saturday, thanks to an attack from Stevenson (6-2-1) that set up shop in New Trier’s defensive third for a long stretch of the first half. New Trier kept the door shut but the 16th-ranked Patriots pounded on that door with both fists for much of the first 40 minutes.
“We were in the final third the entire first half. We had over sixty percent of possession,” Chavez said. “Sustained pressure was part of our game plan. We trained in a new system, because we’ve got a big conference game (vs. Libertyville) coming up on Thursday. So to be able to play New Trier at this point in the season is great preparation for the deeper things we’re after, because it’s all about where we’re going in our future.”
Burnside applauded the Patriots for the pressure they applied through 40 minutes.
"When they get you in the offensive third, it’s hard to get them out,” Burnside said. “They were all over the ball, and our backs were trying to clear the ball out. They were also mopping up the second ball. That’s a credit to an athletic team."
Luckily for New Trier, Sedgwick played like a woman possessed in the first half.
Name any desirable quality in a central defender and Sedgwick likely showed it. Whether she was winning balls in the air, tracking back to break up plays, or dispossessing players one-on-one, Sedgwick put on a defensive clinic through 40 minutes.
Tall, strong, athletic, fast, gritty, and smart might sound like a law firm with too many partners, but it’s merely the laundry list of qualities that both Sedgwick and Birdsell bring to the pitch.
“They’re two of the best center backs I’ve ever played with in my whole life,” Finnigan said. “They’re the reason other teams don’t score. They are so good out of the air, so good at communication, and our outside backs are amazing as well. Without our backline playing the way they do, we wouldn’t be where we are right now.”
For her play in the face of Stevenson’s attacking pressure, Sedgwick earned Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match honors.
Quality shots were scarce for both teams Saturday, particularly through a back-and-forth first 15 minutes. That’s when Stevenson began its sustained attack, spearheaded by two players in particular.
“I’m extremely happy with Abby Kalou,” Chavez said. “She’s scoring goals for us, putting on pressure running at their backlines. I also thought Bella Chavez in the middle had a great game for us. When the opposing team’s players and coaches are calling your name, you’re doing something right.”
With corner and free kicks sent in by Chavez, long throw-ins from Hailey Livesay, and Kalou staying persistently dangerous, Stevenson kept the heat on until late in the first half.
“We definitely have a lot of spells like that where we sustain that pressure,” Stevenson senior defender Kayla Constabileo said. “That’s crucial for us and honestly I thought we had most of the sustained pressure in this game.”
The Trevians held firm and at 35 minutes, they answered. Fagan lined up a corner kick on the right side and sent it to the post, where Finnigan located it and hammered it in off a defender.
“Even though they were coming at us, we were able to go back at them,” Finnigan said. “They wanted to get us, but I always feel like we have a lot of composure.”
While Sedgwick was pleased with the win, and Stevenson found quality looks on net hard to come by, she believed her defense could have played even better.
“I’ve never been on a backline that talked so effectively, but at times today we kind of fell asleep and weren’t talking as well with each other,” she said. “So at times someone would remain unmarked, or we’d be lopsided.”
Both teams had solid chances right after the break.
Stevenson’s Dakota Leonard sent a header just off the mark early in the second half and at 43 minutes, Constabileo cleared a ball off the goal line sent in by Birdsell.
Finnigan headed a shot that whipped past the post at 52 minutes after a Birdsell free kick. Chavez sent a few more free kicks in up to the 61st minute, and Stevenson keeper Mandy Meliker saved a rolling shot from New Trier’s Alex Wirth at 65 minutes.
Leonard picked her way around three defenders and fired from distance at 76 minutes, forcing Trevians keeper Wynne Hague to make a fine diving stop.
Finnigan’s second goal came at 78 minutes, with Fagan sending in the corner kick to the near post from the left side. Finnigan headed it down, teammate Lauren Caldwell hit it back to her, and Finnigan scored from point-blank range at the post.
“They were scrappy goals,” Burnside said. “She got her foot on the end of them and did what she needed to do. But that's what she has done this year.”
Chavez was anything but disappointed in his girls’ play Saturday.
“I respect their team, and I hope we earned the respect we deserved today,” Chavez said. “I love my team, and I’m proud of them.”
Notes
The best athletes across all sports are insatiably hungry and to stay that way, they’re usually haunted by one nagging rule of thumb : “You can never be completely happy,” Sedgwick said. … Both coaches were pleased with multiple performances from their respective sides on Saturday. Chavez: “Kayla Constabileo in the middle plays excellent and composed, and Nicole Schmidt in the middle and Tess Koleno on the outside are also a couple of seniors that lead us back there.” … Burnside: "Morgan Fagan up-top is always dangerous in creating opportunities for people, and another kid that has not played many games but stepped up in the middle is Lauren Caldwell. She probably played 20 minutes in each half. She scored a couple goals last night against Niles West so we gave her a run today and she did a great job.” … Constabileo returned to play this season after sitting out six months due to injury. The senior is happy to be back. “I think my favorite thing about the team this year is that we play as a unit,” Constabileo said. “This team feeds off of each other’s strengths and we’ve found really good rhythm in moments.” … What stands out to Sedgwick about this year’s Trevians? “Everything,” she said. “The culture is so amazing. Everyone is so supportive; everyone loves each other — you’ll never find another team like it, every single year.” … Finnigan nearly pulled off a hat-trick Saturday, her quality header went wide at 52 minutes. Previously she scored on a header a 1-1 tie vs. no.14 Loyola on April 24, and had both goals in the 2-0 win over ninth-ranked Evanston on May 5.
Starting lineups
New Trier
GK Wynne Hague
D Ava Shah
D Jenna Birdsell
D Mia Sedgwick
D Anna Marshall
M Annie Paden
M Caroline Finnigan
M Kate Dobsch
M Alex Wirth
F Kendall Sierens
F Morgan Fagan
Stevenson
GK Mandy Meliker
D Kaitlin Hong
D Tess Koleno
D Kayla Constabileo
D Nicole Schmidt
M Hailey Livesay
M Dakota Leonard
M Bella Chavez
M Gabi Nyc
F Abby Kalou
F Arria Chavez
Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match — Mia Sedgwick, sr., D, New Trier
Scoring summary
First half
New Trier — Finnigan (Fagan) at 35 minutes
Second half
New Trier — Finnigan (Fagan) at 78 minutes