Barrington continues mastery of MSL
with Soccer Bowl win against Prospect
Fillies win 2-1 for 10th-consecutive, conference-title triumph
By Mike Garofola
BARRINGTON -- Barrington was crowned the Mid-Suburban League champion for the 10th-consecutive year and 14th time in program history after its 2-1 victory over Prospect in the 32nd annual Soccer Bowl on Wednesday at Barrington Community Field.
The Fillies, ranked fourth in the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25, dominated the statistical chart, and most of the play on a beautiful night. But the host team found it difficult to finish its chances and gave hope to the East Division champion Lady Knights, who hoped they could spring an upset in the longest running, conference championship series in the state.
"I am really happy for our girls and the program with this MSL championship," began Fillies manager Ryan Stengren.
"Except for that one mistake that led to their goal, our backline was clean the entire night. Our inability to finish chances and the way Prospect played with a lot of heart and energy helped to keep this game close."
"There is so much history in the Barrington Fillies program, and I know all of us take a lot of pride in (that) and do our best to carry on the legacy," said senior Nicole Gwiasda, who shared Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match honors with teammate Brooke Brown. The pair were the Co-Players of the Year in the West Division.
"We've all invested so much into each other, the coaching staff and the program. There's a lot of confidence around this team, knowing if we get into a little bit of trouble we're there for each other. There's never any panic."
Prospect (14-4-1) looked a little overwhelmed in the first quarter hour with the pressure the Fillies (17-2-0) brought all over the pitch. Barrington's attack up-top forced the visitors to either play the ball out of bounds, or up and over to midfield to clear it. The Fillies backline responded to the latter tactic by restarting the attack.
"We looked very good at the start,” said Stengren. “(Kathleen) Baker forced a save from their keeper (Lily Barich). We created 2-3 corners and deep throws, but it was a mistake in our own end that gave them hope, energy and motivation."
The home-side’s foible came when a trio of its defenders collided after a Prospect deep throw. The ball spilled free and onto the foot of thankful Prospect star Hannah Mekky. The senior carried a few yards to find an advantageous spot and gauge the keeper’s movement before she sent her sharply angled attempt toward the back post.
Barrington keeper Abby Raynor extended her full length to her right but the ball caromed off the back post and in. The Lady Knights faithful, among the crowd of approximately 250, exploded to celebrate the first goal against Barrington in this prestigious event since 2006, when they beat Rolling Meadows, 3-2.
"That goal gave us so much life,” said Lady Knights manager Tom Froats. “(To) score first in any game is big. But to do against a team like Barrington, which seems to always be the first to score, was so important for us. It's just too bad the last three minutes of the half went the way they did.”
The 28th-minute goal gave Barrington a shock.
"It was a setback for sure for us, but again, there was no panic amongst us,” said Brown. “We stayed composed and got ourselves back to playing smart soccer. There was a lot of time left in the game for us to get back even and go ahead.”
Barrington won the statistical war, including a 66.5 percent to 32.6 percent edge in possession percentage and 143-69 advantage in passes completed (143-69).
But the sharpness in the final third was still lacking. Prospect’s defense tried to muck up things as best it could. The Lady Knights dropped numbers and stayed tightly squeezed and organized in the middle of the park the second the Fillies gained control of the ball.
"Prospect had a good defensive plan, (forcing) everything into the middle, and getting numbers back quickly,” said Stengren. “We helped their cause by not using the width of our big place, standing too close to their defenders and not being smart or creative in our runs."
Freshman Piper Lucier, the leading goal-scorer for the Fillies with 14, put some juice into the MSL West champion’s attack. She began to take on the Lady Knights backline with strong 1-v-1 work that used her terrific speed on the outside to connect with Brown, who in turn deliver several of the 11 crosses the home side put into the box on the night.
Stengren, Brown and Gwiasda all commented that the club made a slight adjustment on the fly during the last few minutes of the first half. The change led to a pair of quick strikes to stun the visitors and decide the game.
Off a long, deep throw, sophomore Kaitlin Taylor rattled the bar from in-close. The rebound ball spilled outside the box to an unmarked Sarah Sarnowski, and the sophomore made the most of the opportunity when she fired into the upper right corner to level things in the 39th minute.
Then Gracie Stagnito delivered the crushing blow to the upset bid when she ran onto a lovely Brooke Brown corner and put her effort in from in-close just moment from the end of the first half.
"Those two, quick goals hurt so much,” said Froats. “They took a lot out of us after working so hard in the first half. We slowly pulled ourselves up after the break, but we just could not put anything very dangerous on frame in the second half."
"We knew how important it was to get back even before the half," said Gwiasda. “Gracie's goal really was big for us. (After) that there was so much more urgency in our game after the break.”
Added Brown: "Piper had a big game for us: taking players on; creating; and just being dangerous whenever she touched the ball. Gracie found a way inside to get to my corner and score the game-winner. She does so many things for us."
With their first lead of the night, the motivated Fillies came out of the break in search of at least one more goal to add to the score line.
Brown forced a save from Prospect keeper Barich, who continues to shine for the Lady Knights.
Then if was Meredith McGreevy who headed wide a Lucier pass. That was followed by Caitlin Paul setting free Brown, who gained time and space with a nifty left-right-left move, then missed just wide at the back post.
"Meredith has been so valuable to us coming off the bench to play just about everywhere she is asked to,” said Gwiasda. “Tonight, she filled in up-top winning balls, pressuring their defense. Along with Sarah (Sarnowski) who is a real workhorse for us, both of them were unsung heroes."
Prospect also had a Co-Player of the Year in the league. Junior defender Natalie Bouzas shared the honor in the East Division with Buffalo Grove junior Kora Kipley.
The surge continued forward for the Fillies, who produced plenty of one-way traffic and a handful of glorious opportunities during the final quarter hour of regulation.
Barich was terrific when she stopped Lucier's attempt on the hour. She then saved Brown's free kick blast driven through the Lady Knights wall stationed just outside the box.
Brown took another stab at a goal in the 73rd minute. Her long shot hit the underside of the bar and bounced down, and Barich alertly turned around to grab it.
"With all due respect to Prospect, who played hard for 80 minutes, if we put one or two of those great chances in during the second half it's probably a 4- or 5-1 result,” said Stengren. “But you have to credit Tom's girls. If they play like they did tonight, they should be a difficult opponent in the playoffs."
"We obviously came in with the odds against us, but I cannot tell you how proud I am of this team right now," began Froats.
"We did all we could tonight. Many of our girls went hard for 80 minutes. But you have to tip your hat to Barrington, who is so stingy in the back, and just play the game so well on both sides of the ball. There's a reason they won the MSL once again and are one of the top teams in the state."
Prospect earned the no. 5 seed in the Warren Sectional and will open regional play against division rival and 11th-seed Rolling Meadows on Tuesday in Libertyville.
Barrington, the no. 1 seed in the Round Lake Sectional, opens at 13th-seeded Auburn on Tuesday.
"We learned a lot from this game and will go back and work to be better next time out," said Gwiasda.
"So many players on this roster had never played in a MSL Soccer Cup, so it was a great experience for them,” Brown said. “This was a good game to have before playoffs begin. It will make us ready for anything that comes at us from here on out."
Starting lineups
Prospect (4-4-2)
G- Lily Barich
D- Julia Valentini
D- Kaela Salehzadeh
D- Natalie Bouzas
D- Jackie Keane
M- Jillian Sawadski
M- Hannah Mekky
M- Abby Davis
M- Abby Knott
F- Maggie Rosenberg
F- Kayley Bouzas
Barrington (4-4-2)
G- Abby Raynor
D- Ellie Sanchez
D- Gracie Stagnito
D- Caitlin Paul
D- Kathleen Baker
M- Kate Lubinsky
M- Nicole Gwiasda
M- Brooke Brown
M- Kaitlin Taylor
F- Piper Lucier
F- Meredith McGreevy
Chicagoland Soccer MVPs of the Match:
Brooke Brown, jr., MF, Barrington;
Nicole Gwiasda, sr., MF, Barrington
Scoring summary
First half
Prospect: Mekky (unassisted) 28'
Barrington: Sarnowksi (U/A) 39'
Barrington: Stagnito (Brown) 40'
Second half
No scoring
Officials: Vitali Hantsevich, referee;
Adrian Werbicki, AR1; Mariusz Folta, AR2
Statistics
Shots on
Prospect: 2
Barrington: 7
Shots off
Prospect: 0
Barrington: 7
Corner kicks
Prospect: 0
Barrington: 8
Fouls
Prospect: 7
Barrington: 4
Offsides
Prospect: 1
Barrington: 0
with Soccer Bowl win against Prospect
Fillies win 2-1 for 10th-consecutive, conference-title triumph
By Mike Garofola
BARRINGTON -- Barrington was crowned the Mid-Suburban League champion for the 10th-consecutive year and 14th time in program history after its 2-1 victory over Prospect in the 32nd annual Soccer Bowl on Wednesday at Barrington Community Field.
The Fillies, ranked fourth in the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25, dominated the statistical chart, and most of the play on a beautiful night. But the host team found it difficult to finish its chances and gave hope to the East Division champion Lady Knights, who hoped they could spring an upset in the longest running, conference championship series in the state.
"I am really happy for our girls and the program with this MSL championship," began Fillies manager Ryan Stengren.
"Except for that one mistake that led to their goal, our backline was clean the entire night. Our inability to finish chances and the way Prospect played with a lot of heart and energy helped to keep this game close."
"There is so much history in the Barrington Fillies program, and I know all of us take a lot of pride in (that) and do our best to carry on the legacy," said senior Nicole Gwiasda, who shared Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match honors with teammate Brooke Brown. The pair were the Co-Players of the Year in the West Division.
"We've all invested so much into each other, the coaching staff and the program. There's a lot of confidence around this team, knowing if we get into a little bit of trouble we're there for each other. There's never any panic."
Prospect (14-4-1) looked a little overwhelmed in the first quarter hour with the pressure the Fillies (17-2-0) brought all over the pitch. Barrington's attack up-top forced the visitors to either play the ball out of bounds, or up and over to midfield to clear it. The Fillies backline responded to the latter tactic by restarting the attack.
"We looked very good at the start,” said Stengren. “(Kathleen) Baker forced a save from their keeper (Lily Barich). We created 2-3 corners and deep throws, but it was a mistake in our own end that gave them hope, energy and motivation."
The home-side’s foible came when a trio of its defenders collided after a Prospect deep throw. The ball spilled free and onto the foot of thankful Prospect star Hannah Mekky. The senior carried a few yards to find an advantageous spot and gauge the keeper’s movement before she sent her sharply angled attempt toward the back post.
Barrington keeper Abby Raynor extended her full length to her right but the ball caromed off the back post and in. The Lady Knights faithful, among the crowd of approximately 250, exploded to celebrate the first goal against Barrington in this prestigious event since 2006, when they beat Rolling Meadows, 3-2.
"That goal gave us so much life,” said Lady Knights manager Tom Froats. “(To) score first in any game is big. But to do against a team like Barrington, which seems to always be the first to score, was so important for us. It's just too bad the last three minutes of the half went the way they did.”
The 28th-minute goal gave Barrington a shock.
"It was a setback for sure for us, but again, there was no panic amongst us,” said Brown. “We stayed composed and got ourselves back to playing smart soccer. There was a lot of time left in the game for us to get back even and go ahead.”
Barrington won the statistical war, including a 66.5 percent to 32.6 percent edge in possession percentage and 143-69 advantage in passes completed (143-69).
But the sharpness in the final third was still lacking. Prospect’s defense tried to muck up things as best it could. The Lady Knights dropped numbers and stayed tightly squeezed and organized in the middle of the park the second the Fillies gained control of the ball.
"Prospect had a good defensive plan, (forcing) everything into the middle, and getting numbers back quickly,” said Stengren. “We helped their cause by not using the width of our big place, standing too close to their defenders and not being smart or creative in our runs."
Freshman Piper Lucier, the leading goal-scorer for the Fillies with 14, put some juice into the MSL West champion’s attack. She began to take on the Lady Knights backline with strong 1-v-1 work that used her terrific speed on the outside to connect with Brown, who in turn deliver several of the 11 crosses the home side put into the box on the night.
Stengren, Brown and Gwiasda all commented that the club made a slight adjustment on the fly during the last few minutes of the first half. The change led to a pair of quick strikes to stun the visitors and decide the game.
Off a long, deep throw, sophomore Kaitlin Taylor rattled the bar from in-close. The rebound ball spilled outside the box to an unmarked Sarah Sarnowski, and the sophomore made the most of the opportunity when she fired into the upper right corner to level things in the 39th minute.
Then Gracie Stagnito delivered the crushing blow to the upset bid when she ran onto a lovely Brooke Brown corner and put her effort in from in-close just moment from the end of the first half.
"Those two, quick goals hurt so much,” said Froats. “They took a lot out of us after working so hard in the first half. We slowly pulled ourselves up after the break, but we just could not put anything very dangerous on frame in the second half."
"We knew how important it was to get back even before the half," said Gwiasda. “Gracie's goal really was big for us. (After) that there was so much more urgency in our game after the break.”
Added Brown: "Piper had a big game for us: taking players on; creating; and just being dangerous whenever she touched the ball. Gracie found a way inside to get to my corner and score the game-winner. She does so many things for us."
With their first lead of the night, the motivated Fillies came out of the break in search of at least one more goal to add to the score line.
Brown forced a save from Prospect keeper Barich, who continues to shine for the Lady Knights.
Then if was Meredith McGreevy who headed wide a Lucier pass. That was followed by Caitlin Paul setting free Brown, who gained time and space with a nifty left-right-left move, then missed just wide at the back post.
"Meredith has been so valuable to us coming off the bench to play just about everywhere she is asked to,” said Gwiasda. “Tonight, she filled in up-top winning balls, pressuring their defense. Along with Sarah (Sarnowski) who is a real workhorse for us, both of them were unsung heroes."
Prospect also had a Co-Player of the Year in the league. Junior defender Natalie Bouzas shared the honor in the East Division with Buffalo Grove junior Kora Kipley.
The surge continued forward for the Fillies, who produced plenty of one-way traffic and a handful of glorious opportunities during the final quarter hour of regulation.
Barich was terrific when she stopped Lucier's attempt on the hour. She then saved Brown's free kick blast driven through the Lady Knights wall stationed just outside the box.
Brown took another stab at a goal in the 73rd minute. Her long shot hit the underside of the bar and bounced down, and Barich alertly turned around to grab it.
"With all due respect to Prospect, who played hard for 80 minutes, if we put one or two of those great chances in during the second half it's probably a 4- or 5-1 result,” said Stengren. “But you have to credit Tom's girls. If they play like they did tonight, they should be a difficult opponent in the playoffs."
"We obviously came in with the odds against us, but I cannot tell you how proud I am of this team right now," began Froats.
"We did all we could tonight. Many of our girls went hard for 80 minutes. But you have to tip your hat to Barrington, who is so stingy in the back, and just play the game so well on both sides of the ball. There's a reason they won the MSL once again and are one of the top teams in the state."
Prospect earned the no. 5 seed in the Warren Sectional and will open regional play against division rival and 11th-seed Rolling Meadows on Tuesday in Libertyville.
Barrington, the no. 1 seed in the Round Lake Sectional, opens at 13th-seeded Auburn on Tuesday.
"We learned a lot from this game and will go back and work to be better next time out," said Gwiasda.
"So many players on this roster had never played in a MSL Soccer Cup, so it was a great experience for them,” Brown said. “This was a good game to have before playoffs begin. It will make us ready for anything that comes at us from here on out."
Starting lineups
Prospect (4-4-2)
G- Lily Barich
D- Julia Valentini
D- Kaela Salehzadeh
D- Natalie Bouzas
D- Jackie Keane
M- Jillian Sawadski
M- Hannah Mekky
M- Abby Davis
M- Abby Knott
F- Maggie Rosenberg
F- Kayley Bouzas
Barrington (4-4-2)
G- Abby Raynor
D- Ellie Sanchez
D- Gracie Stagnito
D- Caitlin Paul
D- Kathleen Baker
M- Kate Lubinsky
M- Nicole Gwiasda
M- Brooke Brown
M- Kaitlin Taylor
F- Piper Lucier
F- Meredith McGreevy
Chicagoland Soccer MVPs of the Match:
Brooke Brown, jr., MF, Barrington;
Nicole Gwiasda, sr., MF, Barrington
Scoring summary
First half
Prospect: Mekky (unassisted) 28'
Barrington: Sarnowksi (U/A) 39'
Barrington: Stagnito (Brown) 40'
Second half
No scoring
Officials: Vitali Hantsevich, referee;
Adrian Werbicki, AR1; Mariusz Folta, AR2
Statistics
Shots on
Prospect: 2
Barrington: 7
Shots off
Prospect: 0
Barrington: 7
Corner kicks
Prospect: 0
Barrington: 8
Fouls
Prospect: 7
Barrington: 4
Offsides
Prospect: 1
Barrington: 0