Fenwick pulls away from Pritzker
Friars win 5-1, collect1st regional title since 2017
By Eli Ong
RIVER FOREST -- There was that familiar buzz that hangs in the air when playoffs roll around in high school. Parents were extra chatty in the crowd; players had an extra pep to their step and coaches seemed even more stressed than usual.
Such was the case when third-seeded Fenwick welcomed no. 6-seed Pritzker to their Class AA regional final Friday afternoon.
Emotions ran high from the opening minute. Both teams came out ready to play, fully knowing that at the end of the match one team’s season was over. The much happier alternative was a new piece of hardware with the winner’s playoff dreams alive.
Pritzker got the short straw, when Fenwick continued to ride its newfound offensive wave, this time to a regional title and berth in the sectional semifinals by a tally of 5-1.
The first 20 minutes of the game were evenly matched. Both Fenwick and Pritzker had minutes-long stretches sending shots on goal with no luck. Momentum swung back and forth. Neither team asserted themselves.
Things changed in the 21st minute.
After Fenwick was fouled, Ryan Bero launched a line drive off a set piece from outside the back right corner of Pritzker’s penalty box toward their right goal post.
Pritzker goalkeeper Jonathan Rodriguez was able to make a diving stop but couldn’t keep possession of the ball in the process.
Fenwick midfielder Lucas Garcia was able to gather the ricochet and tap it to Jack Powers, who pushed the ball into an empty net for a 1-0 lead.
“They pressed us right at the beginning of the game,” said Fenwick head coach Craig Blazer. “We wanted to get the ball in behind, but our nerves weren’t allowing it at first.
“Then finally we were able to get the ball, playing a little more direct. Jack [Powers] was able to get the ball behind. Then we were able to play some hopeful direct balls that went our way, and sometimes that’s soccer.”
However, the lead would not last long. Pritzker stormed back in a minute to tie the game.
A header meant to clear the ball by Fenwick defender Zach Hernandez found its way to Pritzker midfielder Jiancarlo Segovia. He snuck up with the attack and struck a hard, line drive right toward Fenwick goalkeeper Greg Price. The shot ricocheted off Price’s chest directly back to Segovia, who shifted the ball left to a wide-open Jose Arroyo, who promptly tied the game at 1-1.
As time went on, the more the tide swung in favor of Fenwick.
In the 33rd minute, Pritzker turned the ball over out of bounds about 35 yards out from their goal on the right side. Midfielder Jack Zimmer threw in to Luigi Mollo, who unloaded from about 30 yards along the right sideline toward Pritzker’s goal.
As the ball was seemingly about to be stopped by Rodriguez, Powers flew in to head the ball gently over the top of the Pritzker keeper to score what was ultimately the deciding goal of the match.
Three minutes later in the 36th minute, Powers was once again at the center of the action, but this time as a facilitator.
He corralled a loose ball near midfield and in one fluid motion found a streaking Bero with a through-ball. The senior forward easily beat the two closest defenders and tapped the ball past Rodriguez from about 10 yards to give the Friars a two-goal cushion as the first half wound down.
Coming out of the first half, Fenwick did not rest on its laurels.
The Friars extended their lead in the 66th minute. After Rodriguez deflected an errant shot out of bounds, Bero placed a perfectly executed corner in front of Pritzker’s goal. James Zimmer slipped his mark and connected on a header from point-blank range just inside Pritzker’s left goal post and moved the score to 4-1.
“It felt great,” said Zimmer. “We drew up a play during practice the other day, and we executed it. It worked. So, I was able to have an open header, and it feels great to score for the team.”
The icing on Fenwick’s cake came in the 72nd minute off the foot of senior forward Rory Tymick. He scooted up the left sideline past Pritzker’s outside back before striking a left-footed ground ball past the outstretched foot of Rodriguez and just inside Pritzker’s right goal post for the final advantage.
While the outcome of the game was disappointing for Pritzker head coach Amanda Meyers, she said she is happy with everything her team has accomplished this year.
“I think the thing I am most proud of is that we’ve been working a lot this year on attitude and commitment and dedication,” said Meyers after the game. “Every team is different but the way they came off that field today, I couldn’t be more proud of them … It’s like I get boys and I get to watch them turn into young men who work together and support each other and love each other.”
Pritzker finished the year with a record of 11-8-2 that included a mark 7-2-1 in the Chicago Public League’s Noble Athletic Conference. The Jaguars finished second in the league and gained the conference championship game.
“This team is like, we’re all like a family,” said Pritzker co-captain Terry Munoz after the game. “When one of us is down, all of us are down. When one of us is up, we are all up. We’ve got each other’s backs like that … I’m gonna miss it.”
Fenwick, the third seed in the Speer Sectional, will meet no. 2-seed Fenton in a semifinal at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday.
“I’m proud of the guys for playing one of their best games all year,” Blazer said. “We’re looking forward to building on it.
“It’s really a tribute to them; they want to win some games. They’re hanging in there strong and hopefully, you know, we’ll continue to see good results.”
Starting lineups
Speer
Jonathan Rodriguez
Terry Munoz
Yahir Miranda
Erick Altamirano
Nico Barrera
Jaincarlo Segovia
Franco Izaguirre
Javier Hernandaz
Edgar Gomez
Luis Estrada
Leo Salazar
Fenwick
GK Greg Price goal
LB Zach Hernandez
LCB Ian MacKinnon
RCB Ian Martinello
RB James Zimmer
LMF Frankie Felice
CMF Luigi Mollo
CMF Lucas Garcia
RMF Will Jancewicz
F Jack Powers
F Ryan Bero
Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match: Jack Powers, sr., F, Fenwick
Scoring summary
First half
Fenwick – Jack Powers (Lucas Garcia) – 21st minute
Pritzker – Jose Arroyo (Jiancarlo Segovia) – 22nd minute
Fenwick – Powers (James Zimmer, Luigi Mollo) – 33rd minute
Fenwick – Ryan Bero (Powers) – 36th minute
Second half
Fenwick – Zimmer (Bero) – 66th minute (4-1)
Fenwick – Rory Tymick (unassisted) -- 72nd minute
Friars win 5-1, collect1st regional title since 2017
By Eli Ong
RIVER FOREST -- There was that familiar buzz that hangs in the air when playoffs roll around in high school. Parents were extra chatty in the crowd; players had an extra pep to their step and coaches seemed even more stressed than usual.
Such was the case when third-seeded Fenwick welcomed no. 6-seed Pritzker to their Class AA regional final Friday afternoon.
Emotions ran high from the opening minute. Both teams came out ready to play, fully knowing that at the end of the match one team’s season was over. The much happier alternative was a new piece of hardware with the winner’s playoff dreams alive.
Pritzker got the short straw, when Fenwick continued to ride its newfound offensive wave, this time to a regional title and berth in the sectional semifinals by a tally of 5-1.
The first 20 minutes of the game were evenly matched. Both Fenwick and Pritzker had minutes-long stretches sending shots on goal with no luck. Momentum swung back and forth. Neither team asserted themselves.
Things changed in the 21st minute.
After Fenwick was fouled, Ryan Bero launched a line drive off a set piece from outside the back right corner of Pritzker’s penalty box toward their right goal post.
Pritzker goalkeeper Jonathan Rodriguez was able to make a diving stop but couldn’t keep possession of the ball in the process.
Fenwick midfielder Lucas Garcia was able to gather the ricochet and tap it to Jack Powers, who pushed the ball into an empty net for a 1-0 lead.
“They pressed us right at the beginning of the game,” said Fenwick head coach Craig Blazer. “We wanted to get the ball in behind, but our nerves weren’t allowing it at first.
“Then finally we were able to get the ball, playing a little more direct. Jack [Powers] was able to get the ball behind. Then we were able to play some hopeful direct balls that went our way, and sometimes that’s soccer.”
However, the lead would not last long. Pritzker stormed back in a minute to tie the game.
A header meant to clear the ball by Fenwick defender Zach Hernandez found its way to Pritzker midfielder Jiancarlo Segovia. He snuck up with the attack and struck a hard, line drive right toward Fenwick goalkeeper Greg Price. The shot ricocheted off Price’s chest directly back to Segovia, who shifted the ball left to a wide-open Jose Arroyo, who promptly tied the game at 1-1.
As time went on, the more the tide swung in favor of Fenwick.
In the 33rd minute, Pritzker turned the ball over out of bounds about 35 yards out from their goal on the right side. Midfielder Jack Zimmer threw in to Luigi Mollo, who unloaded from about 30 yards along the right sideline toward Pritzker’s goal.
As the ball was seemingly about to be stopped by Rodriguez, Powers flew in to head the ball gently over the top of the Pritzker keeper to score what was ultimately the deciding goal of the match.
Three minutes later in the 36th minute, Powers was once again at the center of the action, but this time as a facilitator.
He corralled a loose ball near midfield and in one fluid motion found a streaking Bero with a through-ball. The senior forward easily beat the two closest defenders and tapped the ball past Rodriguez from about 10 yards to give the Friars a two-goal cushion as the first half wound down.
Coming out of the first half, Fenwick did not rest on its laurels.
The Friars extended their lead in the 66th minute. After Rodriguez deflected an errant shot out of bounds, Bero placed a perfectly executed corner in front of Pritzker’s goal. James Zimmer slipped his mark and connected on a header from point-blank range just inside Pritzker’s left goal post and moved the score to 4-1.
“It felt great,” said Zimmer. “We drew up a play during practice the other day, and we executed it. It worked. So, I was able to have an open header, and it feels great to score for the team.”
The icing on Fenwick’s cake came in the 72nd minute off the foot of senior forward Rory Tymick. He scooted up the left sideline past Pritzker’s outside back before striking a left-footed ground ball past the outstretched foot of Rodriguez and just inside Pritzker’s right goal post for the final advantage.
While the outcome of the game was disappointing for Pritzker head coach Amanda Meyers, she said she is happy with everything her team has accomplished this year.
“I think the thing I am most proud of is that we’ve been working a lot this year on attitude and commitment and dedication,” said Meyers after the game. “Every team is different but the way they came off that field today, I couldn’t be more proud of them … It’s like I get boys and I get to watch them turn into young men who work together and support each other and love each other.”
Pritzker finished the year with a record of 11-8-2 that included a mark 7-2-1 in the Chicago Public League’s Noble Athletic Conference. The Jaguars finished second in the league and gained the conference championship game.
“This team is like, we’re all like a family,” said Pritzker co-captain Terry Munoz after the game. “When one of us is down, all of us are down. When one of us is up, we are all up. We’ve got each other’s backs like that … I’m gonna miss it.”
Fenwick, the third seed in the Speer Sectional, will meet no. 2-seed Fenton in a semifinal at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday.
“I’m proud of the guys for playing one of their best games all year,” Blazer said. “We’re looking forward to building on it.
“It’s really a tribute to them; they want to win some games. They’re hanging in there strong and hopefully, you know, we’ll continue to see good results.”
Starting lineups
Speer
Jonathan Rodriguez
Terry Munoz
Yahir Miranda
Erick Altamirano
Nico Barrera
Jaincarlo Segovia
Franco Izaguirre
Javier Hernandaz
Edgar Gomez
Luis Estrada
Leo Salazar
Fenwick
GK Greg Price goal
LB Zach Hernandez
LCB Ian MacKinnon
RCB Ian Martinello
RB James Zimmer
LMF Frankie Felice
CMF Luigi Mollo
CMF Lucas Garcia
RMF Will Jancewicz
F Jack Powers
F Ryan Bero
Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match: Jack Powers, sr., F, Fenwick
Scoring summary
First half
Fenwick – Jack Powers (Lucas Garcia) – 21st minute
Pritzker – Jose Arroyo (Jiancarlo Segovia) – 22nd minute
Fenwick – Powers (James Zimmer, Luigi Mollo) – 33rd minute
Fenwick – Ryan Bero (Powers) – 36th minute
Second half
Fenwick – Zimmer (Bero) – 66th minute (4-1)
Fenwick – Rory Tymick (unassisted) -- 72nd minute