St. Charles East stumbles in Barrington
Saints fall to Fillies in supersectional for 2nd-straight season
By Mike Garofola
BARRINGTON -- Barrington Community Stadium has become a Death Valley for both St. Charles East and North.
During the last four seasons, the Fillies are 40-4-3 at home. The two St. Charles schools, both DuKane Conference soccer powers, lost all four of the supersectional matches played in Barrington during that span, plus two regular-season affairs.
St. Charles East couldn't break the spell Tuesday night. The Fighting Saints were left to chase an early goal and never caught up in a 3-0 loss to Barrington, which punched its fifth-straight ticket to the Class 3A state finals and will make its 11th finals appearance.
"This place has not been very good to us," said St. Charles East manager Vince DiNuzzo, whose Saints ended the season 20-5-2 and suffered their second-straight supersectional loss to Barrington. It was also their second loss of the season to the Fillies, who claimed a 2-0 victory in a Naperville Invitational quarterfinal here April 28.
"We came out with a lot of energy, gave up that early goal,” said DiNuzzo. “I thought we responded well to that opener. But when we gave up that late goal just before the half, it was kind of here we go again in this place. We never really got our feet back under us after that."
"We've been on the road throughout the playoffs," said Barrington manager Ryan Stengren, who will coach his seventh Final Four for the Fillies. "So it felt good to get back home, have a great crowd of fans from both sides and to go out (there) and get a great win to advance.
"This was a game between two teams with similar styles, but you didn't see much of that tonight. Both teams played hard, but we were able to put two in into the wind in the first half. From there out, we ground out a win against a very good opponent."
Each side struggled to break down the other and their vaunted backline on the spacious, super-wide turf, which allows plenty of room to build attacks out of the back and gives wing players more freedom to roam all along the touchline.
On a day with a strong wind, which first blew in the Saints favor, conditions did not lend themselves to the free-flowing attacks both clubs have deployed against their opponents.
"It turned into a game, especially after Brooke (Brown) scored our first goal, we all knew we would have to grind out if we had hoped to win tonight," said senior Nicole Gwiasda, who along with her teammate Grace Stagnito shared Chicagoland Soccer’s MVP of the Match honor.
"We knew with the wind at their backs and with how athletic they are, we would have to be smart, especially in our own end, not give them too many chances and try to put one in to put some pressure on them."
Gwiasda did her part. She won nearly every ball and challenge that came her way in the middle of the park until Stengren brought his co-captain off for good at 75 minutes. She received a well-deserved round of applause from an appreciative Fillies faithful.
"Nicole and I had a long talk at the start of the year about being in this game tonight,” said Stengren. “On a team with so many amazing players and young women, Nicole stands out as someone who has led both on and off the field."
There was a relief for Stengren and his staff when their keeper, junior Abby Raynor, stayed composed in the fifth minute when a Saints corner created a scrum in the six-yard box that saw at least two shots blocked before the brave Raynor took control and grabbed the loose ball.
"Abby did well during that early situation, then made a big save later to help keep St. Charles out of our net," said Stengren.
The workings for the opener came in the 12th minute. Stagnito played a ball into the mix off of a free kick that St. Charles East was only half able to send out of the area.
Barrington sophomore Sarah Sarnowski, whom Stengren praised for her effort, particularly in the second half, kept the ball alive in the box and somehow put it on the foot of Brooke Brown. From a crowd, the junior bagged her first of two on the night.
"Such a big goal for us at that time, and going into the wind, but St. Charles didn't hang their heads then or at any point at all in this game," she said>
Throughout the night, Stagnito was a ball-winning warrior along with her airtight backline of Kathleen Baker, Caitlin Paul and Ellie Sanchez.
St. Charles East was unwavering after the early deficit.
"Their first goal was tough to concede, but it didn't put us on our heels,” said Libby Thomas, who was brilliant in her final appearance for the Saints. “We came out with a lot of energy and kept it that way. After their early goal, I thought we responded really well collectively as a team. But it did fall off when they scored their third goal just after the half.
"I knew we matched up well with them. We kind of play the same style, but I don't know if it was the wind or a case of nerves for both teams, but it didn't turn out to be a game of possession or attacking soccer. But they ended up being a little better than us tonight."
Most of the play settled between the 18s after the Browne goal as the contest became more of a chess match with each side careful not to let down its guard.
Grace Williams, whose double helped the Saints beat cross-town rival St. Charles North 3-1 in its sectional final last week, went wide with her effort in the 19th minute. She helped create some trouble in the last 10 minutes of the half when the visitors’ attack came to life.
The junior carried to the endline at 33 minutes to stretch the Fillies (22-2-0) in their own end, but Sanchez' challenge ended any chance of Williams sending a serve into the box.
Moments later, Stagnito stunned a big Saints crowd and brought a sea of red out of its seats when she delivered her 35-yard free kick high into the upper 90 at the far post to double the Fillies advantage.
"All I ever want to do with my free kicks is to put them on frame or to the heads of my teammates, but when I hit (it) I never thought it would end up in the back of the net," said Stagnito of her attempt which curled nicely at the end and just allowed Saints freshman keeper Sidney Lazenby a hint of a touch with her glove before it nestled into the net.
Moments after the intermission, the Fillies put in the dagger that tripled their advantage.
Freshman Piper Lucier, who was somewhat quiet in the first half, was put through with a lovely ball from Gwiasda. The Filly put on a burst of speed that forced a Saints player to bring her down from behind in the box.
Brown converted the spot-kick for her 16th of the season and gave the home side the final goal of the match in the 44th minute.
"That third goal took a little something out of us,” Thomas said. “We did our best to respond and fight back, but it just wasn't enough.”
Raynor insured her 16.5 clean-sheet on the season when she elevated high off her line to make a late save on Kara Machala, whose strike was pushed up and over the bar and onto the roof in the 59th minute.
From there, the action switched and Sarnowski forced Lazenby into action, followed by Kate Lubinsky’s shot just wide of the back post.
When it was 10 minutes from time, both sides began to bring their first 11s off for good.
"I cannot tell you how proud we all are of this team,” said DiNuzzo of his Fighting Saints. “A team that lost eight seniors from a year ago, through hard work and a strong commitment to each other, found a way to get back into another supersectional," began DiNuzzo.
"It's been tough coming in here two-straight years and going out with a loss one game from going to state, but Barrington was the better of the two teams and deserved to move on."
Said Thomas: "I take so many great memories from St. Charles East soccer and a team that many of us were not sure could back into this game with so many graduation losses and new players on our roster."
"Despite this loss, we had a great year, which gave all of us a great experience. Up-and-down our roster, everyone made a contribution, both on the field and on the bench.”
Barrington next task will be to try to get back to the winner's circle at the state finals. After titles in 2017 and 2018, the Fillies finished second in 2019 and fourth last season.
"I am very thankful to be a part of a program, and team that takes so much pride in its hard work and dedication to each other, and to have a coaching staff that puts so much time and effort into making all of us better players and people," said Gwiasda.
"It was a maiximum performance out there tonight from everyone,” said Stagnito. “Even though it wasn't our best soccer, we did a lot of very good things that helped us win. It’s just an amazing feeling that we're going back to state," added Stagnito.
Starting lineups
St. Charles East (4-3-3)
G- Sidney Lazenby
D- Madison Flanders
D- Mackenzie Loomis
D- Anna Champine
D- Libby Thomas
M- Alli Saviano
M- Kara Machala
M- Yasmin Martinez
F- Ella Stehman
F- Grace Williams
F- Mia Raschke
Barrington (4-5-1)
G- Abby Raynor
D- Ellie Sanchez
D- Caitlin Paul
D- Grace Stagnito
D- Kathleen Baker
M- Kate Lubinsky
M- Nicole Gwiasda
M- Kaitlin Taylor
M- Brooke Brown
M- Sarah Sarnowski
F- Piper Lucier
Chicagoland Soccer MVPs of the Match:
Nicole Gwiasda, sr, MF, Barrington;
Grace Stagnito, jr., D, Barrington
Referee: Kevin Parker
Scoring summary
First half
Barrington: Brown (Sarnowski, Stagnito) 12'
Barrington: Stagnito (FK) 35'
Second half
Barrington: Brown (PK) 44'
Statistics
Shots on
St. Charles East: 4
Barrington: 5
Shots off
St. Charles East: 4
Barrington: 7
Corner kicks
St. Charles East: 2
Barrington: 4
Fouls
St. Charles East: 14
Barrington: 4
Offsides
St. Charles East: 0
Barrington: 1
Saints fall to Fillies in supersectional for 2nd-straight season
By Mike Garofola
BARRINGTON -- Barrington Community Stadium has become a Death Valley for both St. Charles East and North.
During the last four seasons, the Fillies are 40-4-3 at home. The two St. Charles schools, both DuKane Conference soccer powers, lost all four of the supersectional matches played in Barrington during that span, plus two regular-season affairs.
St. Charles East couldn't break the spell Tuesday night. The Fighting Saints were left to chase an early goal and never caught up in a 3-0 loss to Barrington, which punched its fifth-straight ticket to the Class 3A state finals and will make its 11th finals appearance.
"This place has not been very good to us," said St. Charles East manager Vince DiNuzzo, whose Saints ended the season 20-5-2 and suffered their second-straight supersectional loss to Barrington. It was also their second loss of the season to the Fillies, who claimed a 2-0 victory in a Naperville Invitational quarterfinal here April 28.
"We came out with a lot of energy, gave up that early goal,” said DiNuzzo. “I thought we responded well to that opener. But when we gave up that late goal just before the half, it was kind of here we go again in this place. We never really got our feet back under us after that."
"We've been on the road throughout the playoffs," said Barrington manager Ryan Stengren, who will coach his seventh Final Four for the Fillies. "So it felt good to get back home, have a great crowd of fans from both sides and to go out (there) and get a great win to advance.
"This was a game between two teams with similar styles, but you didn't see much of that tonight. Both teams played hard, but we were able to put two in into the wind in the first half. From there out, we ground out a win against a very good opponent."
Each side struggled to break down the other and their vaunted backline on the spacious, super-wide turf, which allows plenty of room to build attacks out of the back and gives wing players more freedom to roam all along the touchline.
On a day with a strong wind, which first blew in the Saints favor, conditions did not lend themselves to the free-flowing attacks both clubs have deployed against their opponents.
"It turned into a game, especially after Brooke (Brown) scored our first goal, we all knew we would have to grind out if we had hoped to win tonight," said senior Nicole Gwiasda, who along with her teammate Grace Stagnito shared Chicagoland Soccer’s MVP of the Match honor.
"We knew with the wind at their backs and with how athletic they are, we would have to be smart, especially in our own end, not give them too many chances and try to put one in to put some pressure on them."
Gwiasda did her part. She won nearly every ball and challenge that came her way in the middle of the park until Stengren brought his co-captain off for good at 75 minutes. She received a well-deserved round of applause from an appreciative Fillies faithful.
"Nicole and I had a long talk at the start of the year about being in this game tonight,” said Stengren. “On a team with so many amazing players and young women, Nicole stands out as someone who has led both on and off the field."
There was a relief for Stengren and his staff when their keeper, junior Abby Raynor, stayed composed in the fifth minute when a Saints corner created a scrum in the six-yard box that saw at least two shots blocked before the brave Raynor took control and grabbed the loose ball.
"Abby did well during that early situation, then made a big save later to help keep St. Charles out of our net," said Stengren.
The workings for the opener came in the 12th minute. Stagnito played a ball into the mix off of a free kick that St. Charles East was only half able to send out of the area.
Barrington sophomore Sarah Sarnowski, whom Stengren praised for her effort, particularly in the second half, kept the ball alive in the box and somehow put it on the foot of Brooke Brown. From a crowd, the junior bagged her first of two on the night.
"Such a big goal for us at that time, and going into the wind, but St. Charles didn't hang their heads then or at any point at all in this game," she said>
Throughout the night, Stagnito was a ball-winning warrior along with her airtight backline of Kathleen Baker, Caitlin Paul and Ellie Sanchez.
St. Charles East was unwavering after the early deficit.
"Their first goal was tough to concede, but it didn't put us on our heels,” said Libby Thomas, who was brilliant in her final appearance for the Saints. “We came out with a lot of energy and kept it that way. After their early goal, I thought we responded really well collectively as a team. But it did fall off when they scored their third goal just after the half.
"I knew we matched up well with them. We kind of play the same style, but I don't know if it was the wind or a case of nerves for both teams, but it didn't turn out to be a game of possession or attacking soccer. But they ended up being a little better than us tonight."
Most of the play settled between the 18s after the Browne goal as the contest became more of a chess match with each side careful not to let down its guard.
Grace Williams, whose double helped the Saints beat cross-town rival St. Charles North 3-1 in its sectional final last week, went wide with her effort in the 19th minute. She helped create some trouble in the last 10 minutes of the half when the visitors’ attack came to life.
The junior carried to the endline at 33 minutes to stretch the Fillies (22-2-0) in their own end, but Sanchez' challenge ended any chance of Williams sending a serve into the box.
Moments later, Stagnito stunned a big Saints crowd and brought a sea of red out of its seats when she delivered her 35-yard free kick high into the upper 90 at the far post to double the Fillies advantage.
"All I ever want to do with my free kicks is to put them on frame or to the heads of my teammates, but when I hit (it) I never thought it would end up in the back of the net," said Stagnito of her attempt which curled nicely at the end and just allowed Saints freshman keeper Sidney Lazenby a hint of a touch with her glove before it nestled into the net.
Moments after the intermission, the Fillies put in the dagger that tripled their advantage.
Freshman Piper Lucier, who was somewhat quiet in the first half, was put through with a lovely ball from Gwiasda. The Filly put on a burst of speed that forced a Saints player to bring her down from behind in the box.
Brown converted the spot-kick for her 16th of the season and gave the home side the final goal of the match in the 44th minute.
"That third goal took a little something out of us,” Thomas said. “We did our best to respond and fight back, but it just wasn't enough.”
Raynor insured her 16.5 clean-sheet on the season when she elevated high off her line to make a late save on Kara Machala, whose strike was pushed up and over the bar and onto the roof in the 59th minute.
From there, the action switched and Sarnowski forced Lazenby into action, followed by Kate Lubinsky’s shot just wide of the back post.
When it was 10 minutes from time, both sides began to bring their first 11s off for good.
"I cannot tell you how proud we all are of this team,” said DiNuzzo of his Fighting Saints. “A team that lost eight seniors from a year ago, through hard work and a strong commitment to each other, found a way to get back into another supersectional," began DiNuzzo.
"It's been tough coming in here two-straight years and going out with a loss one game from going to state, but Barrington was the better of the two teams and deserved to move on."
Said Thomas: "I take so many great memories from St. Charles East soccer and a team that many of us were not sure could back into this game with so many graduation losses and new players on our roster."
"Despite this loss, we had a great year, which gave all of us a great experience. Up-and-down our roster, everyone made a contribution, both on the field and on the bench.”
Barrington next task will be to try to get back to the winner's circle at the state finals. After titles in 2017 and 2018, the Fillies finished second in 2019 and fourth last season.
"I am very thankful to be a part of a program, and team that takes so much pride in its hard work and dedication to each other, and to have a coaching staff that puts so much time and effort into making all of us better players and people," said Gwiasda.
"It was a maiximum performance out there tonight from everyone,” said Stagnito. “Even though it wasn't our best soccer, we did a lot of very good things that helped us win. It’s just an amazing feeling that we're going back to state," added Stagnito.
Starting lineups
St. Charles East (4-3-3)
G- Sidney Lazenby
D- Madison Flanders
D- Mackenzie Loomis
D- Anna Champine
D- Libby Thomas
M- Alli Saviano
M- Kara Machala
M- Yasmin Martinez
F- Ella Stehman
F- Grace Williams
F- Mia Raschke
Barrington (4-5-1)
G- Abby Raynor
D- Ellie Sanchez
D- Caitlin Paul
D- Grace Stagnito
D- Kathleen Baker
M- Kate Lubinsky
M- Nicole Gwiasda
M- Kaitlin Taylor
M- Brooke Brown
M- Sarah Sarnowski
F- Piper Lucier
Chicagoland Soccer MVPs of the Match:
Nicole Gwiasda, sr, MF, Barrington;
Grace Stagnito, jr., D, Barrington
Referee: Kevin Parker
Scoring summary
First half
Barrington: Brown (Sarnowski, Stagnito) 12'
Barrington: Stagnito (FK) 35'
Second half
Barrington: Brown (PK) 44'
Statistics
Shots on
St. Charles East: 4
Barrington: 5
Shots off
St. Charles East: 4
Barrington: 7
Corner kicks
St. Charles East: 2
Barrington: 4
Fouls
St. Charles East: 14
Barrington: 4
Offsides
St. Charles East: 0
Barrington: 1