St. Francis finds way to best Benet
Spartans overcome Redwings 1-0 to match 2016 state berth
By Dave Owen
DARIEN -- Score early, then survive.
A grueling 80-minute battle between longtime rivals St. Francis and Benet came down to that formula.
A beautifully executed play by St. Francis in the eighth minute solved the tough defense of Benet (20-4-1, with 16 shutouts this season) for a 1-0 lead.
The Spartans (16-4-3) then persevered through injuries and Redwings’ threats to make that 1-0 edge hold up, earning the Hinsdale South Supersectional title and their second trip to the Class AA semifinals in the last three years.
“It was a hard, physical game,” said St. Francis coach Jim Winslow, whose team lost standout forward Kendra Pasquale to a shoulder injury with 24 minutes left. “To get through this to get to the Final Four is beyond belief. It was gut wrenching for me.
“I’m so proud of them, because we didn’t look great. And you could make a case that Benet outplayed us and outhustled us. But we did enough to win.
“At some point you have to go through a fight,” Winslow added, “and we had our fight.”
The match looked like anything but a grind-it-out fight in the opening minutes.
The Spartans, ranked 11th in the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25, faced a Benet defense that has stifled opponents all season. St. Francis was on the attack from the get-go. Just 3:40 in, a nice combination of passes by Kaitlyn Joniak, Hannah Rittenhouse and Claire Hensley sprung Caroline Zimmer for an 18-yard left side shot off the crossbar.
Then less than four minutes later, another sustained St. Francis attack produced the day’s lone score.
Erin Peck’s second-effort right of the net initiated the deciding goal, and nice slight of hand (or in this case, feet) on the cross led to the finish.
“I think it was maybe Caroline (Zimmer) or Jill (DiTusa) who played me a long ball from the back,” Peck said. “I turned, took it to space and a defender came.
“I played it in but it deflected back to me, then I saw Kendra and Hannah in there. I went to Kendra initially, she dummied (the ball), and Hannah scored.”
Pasquale’s maneuver to let Peck’s pass go by her created enough deception to free up Rittenhouse for an open, straight-on 12-yard drive into the net.
“I think we came out really hard in the first five minutes,” Rittenhouse said. “Kendra just let it through her legs, and I knew I was wide open so I had to take the shot. The goalie was kind of off (the line), so I knew I had the goal when I hit it.”
The element of illusion on the play has paid off for the Spartans before.
“We practice it a lot,” Pasquale said, “and in our first or second game against Stevenson I dummied it, and Claire Hensley got on the end of it. It’s one of our plays that if it works out, it looks really cool. Today it worked.”
Through the many scoring bids to follow, that early goal would stand up.
“This is what high school soccer’s all about in the playoffs,” said Benet coach Gerard Oconer. “Two really good teams, back and forth, really intense.
“In the postseason it comes down to one chance, the difference-makers. And 24 (Rittenhouse) is obviously a difference-maker for them. She didn’t miss.”
Bidding for its first state semifinal trip since 2005, 21st-ranked Benet faced a rare early deficit.
“We felt pretty good if we could keep it a low scoring game,” Oconer said, “because obviously they’re very good offensively, and we’ve been very good defensively. We figured we’d be able to get one in and then hold, but unfortunately that wasn’t the case.”
Rittenhouse’s team-high 23rd goal of the season quickly changed the complexion of the match.
“That’s my biggest (goal of the season) by far – so far,” Rittenhouse said. “It was a great feeling to get the first goal, and then it was just continue to work hard.”
Much of that hard work fell to the St. Francis backline, which earned individual superlatives for stifling Benet’s persistent attacks the rest of the way.
“Jill (DiTusa) was great, and Emma (Armbrust) is just hard, tough, and consistent,” Winslow said.
“Christine (Fasana) was great, Alex (Preusser) was great in the first half but her feet were killing her, and Kat (Lemke) the freshman was great. I’m very proud of them. And Courtney (Kozak) was solid (at goalkeeper).”
Preusser’s battle with plantar fasciitis limited her playing time, adding to a list of challenges for the Spartans defense.
“We lost Sarah Maller on Friday to a broken ankle,” Winslow said. “That hurts us, because she can play any one of the four (defender) positions, and spell somebody when they need a break.”
But with midfielder Kaitlyn Joniak also playing an exceptional defensive match, the Spartans endured.
“Just working together was a big component of today,” Joniak said. “(The key) was just pinching in the middle, and when we saw them (Benet players) looking up, to drop back because they played a lot of long balls.
“They were a great team, they came out strong. It was good to see how well we played against them, and our defense got balls out and worked so hard.”
A three-minute span shortly after the goal epitomized Benet’s relentless push – and the Spartans’ refusal to budge.
On a right side rush in the 12th minute by Benet’s Jackie Schuman and Abby Casmere, St. Francis defender DiTusa broke up the cross to the box and initiated a counterattack that ended with Peck’s 25-yard shot on goal at the other end.
The Spartans then had to endure two strong Benet set pieces. First came Joniak’s header away from the box of a 45-yard free kick by Benet’s Maddie Becker.
Then came the closest miss of the day for the Redwings.
Off an Erin Flynn corner kick with 27:30 until the half, a header by Mary Kate Hansen appeared to hit the crossbar and spin to the crease, where Kate Flynn punched in the rebound. But officials ruled the ball had gone out of bounds, caroming off the football crossbar behind the net.
The first wave of tests to the Spartans’ 1-0 lead was over.
“We’re used to playing pretty soccer, but today wasn’t pretty,” said Hensley. “But we just worked together. Even though it wasn’t pretty, we went out here and got the result. I think that’s the difference today, hard work.”
Benet’s own high work rate continued. Two-straight Erin Flynn corner kicks in the 21st minute resulted first in a Schuman 12-yard header tipped over the crossbar by goalkeeper Kozak, then a Schuman header wide left of the net on the second corner.
A Mia Ullmer rush 8:15 before halftime ended with Kozak’s catch of a Nicole Burns 20-yard blast. And Benet never let up.
In the 38th minute, Sarah Bozych made a nice offensive zone interception but sent a 20-yard shot over the net. Then with 55 seconds left, Casmere’s nice dribble past a defender set up a Mia Tommasone 25-yard one-timer just wide 55 seconds before halftime.
At the defensive end, Benet limited St. Francis’ threats in the final 25 minutes to attempts outside the box by Rittenhouse and Zimmer (both wide of frame).
Such excellence was the mark of Benet’s defense all spring.
“I’ve never had a better backline,” said Redwings four-year varsity defender Clare Bumpus. “To end here with Mary Kate (Hansen), Kate (Flynn) and Lauren (Fischer) – it’s amazing. I’ve never played with better players.”
Hansen displayed Benet’s defensive tenacity with 33:45 left, with a nice clear upfield of a Hensley corner kick cross. Then with 24:35 to play, Peck’s right end line attack was denied on a high catch by Benet goalkeeper Eva Frantzen.
But shortly after that Spartans threat, a key injury would foreshadow a battle of survival.
After being knocked to the ground with 24 minutes left on a foul 40 yards from the goal, Pasquale had to be helped off the field and never returned.
Yet through this latest big challenge, the Spartans endured.
“When Kendra got hurt we were all a little rattled,” Peck said, “but we were able to overcome it, because as a team we all play an important role. Everyone on the bench – we all look at ourselves as the same. When she was out, other people just had to step up and give it our all. I think we adjusted to it well.”
Position switches under the duress of supersectional crunch time were needed.
“We put two other really strong forwards in that actually don’t usually play there,” Ditusa said. “Mickey Corrigan plays in the midfield, and Lauren Douglass is usually in the back with me. So putting them up-top was kind of one of our last resorts.”
Yet after the injury to Pasquale, St. Francis had the next two quality chances – a Ritenhouse 15-yard shot over the net, then a Hensley corner kick with 20 minutes left headed away by Bumpus and cleared upfield by Becker.
“Kendra going down, you could kind of see us stiffen up, that ‘We’re going to hang in here,’” Winslow said. “That’s a testament to them and how much they think of Keni.”
But facing an elite opponent in Benet, St. Francis would quickly be tested again.
“We got halfway through the second half and every ball from Benet was bombed over the back,” said DiTusa, whose efforts leading the defense earned her Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match honors. “It was just run and chase, try to keep it out of the 18 (the box) and hope for the best.”
The heat intensified with 11:10 left. An Erin Flynn free kick from midfield was won in the box by Mary Kate Wilhelm, whose left side 12-yard shot was blocked and controlled by Kozak.
A Hansen 65-yard free kick with 9:15 to play ended with Tommasone’s 15-yard right side shot over the net.
A series of strong defensive plays in the middle third of the field by Peck, Joniak and Lemke would repel brewing Benet threats with just under five minutes left.
But the Redwings’ final push would produce close-in threats.
Off a throw-in with two minutes left, Kate Flynn’s sliding end line try went wide left. Then with 1:30 to go, DiTusa nicely blocked a Hansen shot.
Benet’s last bid to tie was one of its best threats. On a right side attack with 45 seconds left, Tommasone angled an 18-yard drive that went mere inches wide of the left post.
Moments later, DiTusa’s win of a loose ball outside the box and clear upfield at the final horn triggered a prolonged party for the Spartans.
“It’s the best feeling,” Hensley said. “We’ve worked so hard this season, and it’s all paying off right now. We’ve had a great postseason, and today was nothing shy of great.”
With her right arm in a sling after the match, Pasquale summed up the Spartans’ perseverance through every challenge.
“We handled it well, and we dealt with it, that’s all that matters,” she said of the team’s response to her injury.
“Our effort has always been there, give or take how we’re feeling or what’s going on,” Pasquale added. “We always pick each other up, no matter if it’s not the prettiest game. It was a really good run, and I think we’re ready to go into the Final Four now.”
The return to state will be a sweet cap to great careers for all the St. Francis seniors, especially DiTusa.
Her sister Jenna was the starting goalkeeper on the Spartans’ 2012 state championship squad – which coincidentally edged Benet 2-1 in the supersectionals that year.
But more recent memories of the past also produced motivation for her – mainly, a 3-1 sectional final loss to Hinsdale South last year.
“That was a tough one,” DiTusa said. “That was stressful because we knew we could have gone to state last year, and we were better. We played really strong against top teams in Illinois, the 3A teams.
“Being that close the year before (fourth at state in 2016) and not succeeding the year after was very stressful and very hard. But it also makes you come out way stronger the next season too.”
That inner strength and determination showed in every way Tuesday.
“Our team played so well together, fought hard against them (Benet) and continued to play,” Rittenhouse said. “It was well deserved for us against a great team.”
That great Benet team was narrowly denied a state semifinal trip. But still enjoyed a breakthrough season with a new school record for wins (20).
“This season pretty much got us to the next level as a program,” Oconer said. “I think we’re starting to get the respect of all the other area teams.
“It’s obviously very difficult when you’re in the Naperville area to kind of get out of the shadow of those programs. But anytime you get 20 wins in a season, it’s an incredible accomplishment.”
Seniors like tri-captains Bumpus, Erin Flynn and Becker set the tone.
“We beat every goal we set for this year besides winning state,” Bumpus said. “I’m really proud of this team. This is one of the best teams I’ve ever played on.
“I’m just super proud of my career. I’ve been a starter for a couple of years, and I’m just really proud of how I played. It’s been a good time for four years, and it was good to end it playing with such great players.”
St. Francis’ senior class has two more games left on its run – and big dreams of ending in style.
“Almost every practice we talked that we’re going to make it to state,” Peck said. “Go back there and prove that we’re good enough to win state this year.
“It’s so great, and since last time at state we didn’t do the best that we could (taking fourth), this is like redemption this year. I’m really excited to get back there. And I think we’re prepared. I’m excited.”
Between state lessons learned two years ago and surviving Tuesday’s battle, the Spartans enter Friday’s semifinal with a fired-up Lemont squad.
“Two years ago we went to state, so it’s a great feeling to know we’re going to be back,” Joniak said. “Hopefully we can finish this year. We were all a little nervous going into this game, but we just focused on working together, playing smart and quick, and connecting balls to get to the final third.
“You have that nervousness going in (to state) because we did lose two years ago, but we’re confident we’re going to go far. We’ll talk to our underclassmen who haven’t been there before, get the frame of mind set, and we’ll be good.”
The status of Pasquale will be key to the Spartans’ hopes.
“I broke this (arm) freshman year (in club season),” Pasquale said, “so if anything they think it’s my AC (acromioclavicular), the ligament that attaches the two (shoulder joints).”
But health issues aside, Pasquale’s four-year varsity career is ending at the dream destination.
“Every year’s different, but we’ve had great additions this year,” she said. “And we’ve always been consistent with our team chemistry.
“I’ve been really lucky having great girls to play with and great coaches. Every year’s a different journey, but in the end we all love each other and want the end result that we had. It’s really special the team we have, and every year has been a great experience. I’ve been really lucky.”
With a little more luck, the Spartans hope to have more reason to celebrate by late afternoon Saturday.
“It’s amazing,” Rittenhouse said. “We wanted to get here, and now we want to keep continuing to win.”
Said Hensley: “As a senior it’s the greatest feeling in the world, because every game could be my last game ever with these girls. I’m super excited.”
Starting lineups
St. Francis
GK Courtney Kozak
D Alex Preusser
D Jill DiTusa
D Katherine Lemke
D Emma Armbrust
M Kaitlyn Joniak
M Claire Hensley
M Caroline Zimmer
F Kendra Pasquale
F Erin Peck
F Hannah Rittenhouse
Benet
GK Eva Frantzen
D Clare Bumpus
D Lauren Fischer
D Kate Flynn
D Mary Kate Hansen
M Mia Ullmer
M Maddie Becker
M Jackie Schuman
F Erin Flynn
F Mia Tommasone
F Abby Casmere
Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match: Jill DiTusa, jr. D, St. Francis
Scoring summary
First half
St. Francis – Hannah Rittenhouse (Erin Peck), 7:22
Spartans overcome Redwings 1-0 to match 2016 state berth
By Dave Owen
DARIEN -- Score early, then survive.
A grueling 80-minute battle between longtime rivals St. Francis and Benet came down to that formula.
A beautifully executed play by St. Francis in the eighth minute solved the tough defense of Benet (20-4-1, with 16 shutouts this season) for a 1-0 lead.
The Spartans (16-4-3) then persevered through injuries and Redwings’ threats to make that 1-0 edge hold up, earning the Hinsdale South Supersectional title and their second trip to the Class AA semifinals in the last three years.
“It was a hard, physical game,” said St. Francis coach Jim Winslow, whose team lost standout forward Kendra Pasquale to a shoulder injury with 24 minutes left. “To get through this to get to the Final Four is beyond belief. It was gut wrenching for me.
“I’m so proud of them, because we didn’t look great. And you could make a case that Benet outplayed us and outhustled us. But we did enough to win.
“At some point you have to go through a fight,” Winslow added, “and we had our fight.”
The match looked like anything but a grind-it-out fight in the opening minutes.
The Spartans, ranked 11th in the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25, faced a Benet defense that has stifled opponents all season. St. Francis was on the attack from the get-go. Just 3:40 in, a nice combination of passes by Kaitlyn Joniak, Hannah Rittenhouse and Claire Hensley sprung Caroline Zimmer for an 18-yard left side shot off the crossbar.
Then less than four minutes later, another sustained St. Francis attack produced the day’s lone score.
Erin Peck’s second-effort right of the net initiated the deciding goal, and nice slight of hand (or in this case, feet) on the cross led to the finish.
“I think it was maybe Caroline (Zimmer) or Jill (DiTusa) who played me a long ball from the back,” Peck said. “I turned, took it to space and a defender came.
“I played it in but it deflected back to me, then I saw Kendra and Hannah in there. I went to Kendra initially, she dummied (the ball), and Hannah scored.”
Pasquale’s maneuver to let Peck’s pass go by her created enough deception to free up Rittenhouse for an open, straight-on 12-yard drive into the net.
“I think we came out really hard in the first five minutes,” Rittenhouse said. “Kendra just let it through her legs, and I knew I was wide open so I had to take the shot. The goalie was kind of off (the line), so I knew I had the goal when I hit it.”
The element of illusion on the play has paid off for the Spartans before.
“We practice it a lot,” Pasquale said, “and in our first or second game against Stevenson I dummied it, and Claire Hensley got on the end of it. It’s one of our plays that if it works out, it looks really cool. Today it worked.”
Through the many scoring bids to follow, that early goal would stand up.
“This is what high school soccer’s all about in the playoffs,” said Benet coach Gerard Oconer. “Two really good teams, back and forth, really intense.
“In the postseason it comes down to one chance, the difference-makers. And 24 (Rittenhouse) is obviously a difference-maker for them. She didn’t miss.”
Bidding for its first state semifinal trip since 2005, 21st-ranked Benet faced a rare early deficit.
“We felt pretty good if we could keep it a low scoring game,” Oconer said, “because obviously they’re very good offensively, and we’ve been very good defensively. We figured we’d be able to get one in and then hold, but unfortunately that wasn’t the case.”
Rittenhouse’s team-high 23rd goal of the season quickly changed the complexion of the match.
“That’s my biggest (goal of the season) by far – so far,” Rittenhouse said. “It was a great feeling to get the first goal, and then it was just continue to work hard.”
Much of that hard work fell to the St. Francis backline, which earned individual superlatives for stifling Benet’s persistent attacks the rest of the way.
“Jill (DiTusa) was great, and Emma (Armbrust) is just hard, tough, and consistent,” Winslow said.
“Christine (Fasana) was great, Alex (Preusser) was great in the first half but her feet were killing her, and Kat (Lemke) the freshman was great. I’m very proud of them. And Courtney (Kozak) was solid (at goalkeeper).”
Preusser’s battle with plantar fasciitis limited her playing time, adding to a list of challenges for the Spartans defense.
“We lost Sarah Maller on Friday to a broken ankle,” Winslow said. “That hurts us, because she can play any one of the four (defender) positions, and spell somebody when they need a break.”
But with midfielder Kaitlyn Joniak also playing an exceptional defensive match, the Spartans endured.
“Just working together was a big component of today,” Joniak said. “(The key) was just pinching in the middle, and when we saw them (Benet players) looking up, to drop back because they played a lot of long balls.
“They were a great team, they came out strong. It was good to see how well we played against them, and our defense got balls out and worked so hard.”
A three-minute span shortly after the goal epitomized Benet’s relentless push – and the Spartans’ refusal to budge.
On a right side rush in the 12th minute by Benet’s Jackie Schuman and Abby Casmere, St. Francis defender DiTusa broke up the cross to the box and initiated a counterattack that ended with Peck’s 25-yard shot on goal at the other end.
The Spartans then had to endure two strong Benet set pieces. First came Joniak’s header away from the box of a 45-yard free kick by Benet’s Maddie Becker.
Then came the closest miss of the day for the Redwings.
Off an Erin Flynn corner kick with 27:30 until the half, a header by Mary Kate Hansen appeared to hit the crossbar and spin to the crease, where Kate Flynn punched in the rebound. But officials ruled the ball had gone out of bounds, caroming off the football crossbar behind the net.
The first wave of tests to the Spartans’ 1-0 lead was over.
“We’re used to playing pretty soccer, but today wasn’t pretty,” said Hensley. “But we just worked together. Even though it wasn’t pretty, we went out here and got the result. I think that’s the difference today, hard work.”
Benet’s own high work rate continued. Two-straight Erin Flynn corner kicks in the 21st minute resulted first in a Schuman 12-yard header tipped over the crossbar by goalkeeper Kozak, then a Schuman header wide left of the net on the second corner.
A Mia Ullmer rush 8:15 before halftime ended with Kozak’s catch of a Nicole Burns 20-yard blast. And Benet never let up.
In the 38th minute, Sarah Bozych made a nice offensive zone interception but sent a 20-yard shot over the net. Then with 55 seconds left, Casmere’s nice dribble past a defender set up a Mia Tommasone 25-yard one-timer just wide 55 seconds before halftime.
At the defensive end, Benet limited St. Francis’ threats in the final 25 minutes to attempts outside the box by Rittenhouse and Zimmer (both wide of frame).
Such excellence was the mark of Benet’s defense all spring.
“I’ve never had a better backline,” said Redwings four-year varsity defender Clare Bumpus. “To end here with Mary Kate (Hansen), Kate (Flynn) and Lauren (Fischer) – it’s amazing. I’ve never played with better players.”
Hansen displayed Benet’s defensive tenacity with 33:45 left, with a nice clear upfield of a Hensley corner kick cross. Then with 24:35 to play, Peck’s right end line attack was denied on a high catch by Benet goalkeeper Eva Frantzen.
But shortly after that Spartans threat, a key injury would foreshadow a battle of survival.
After being knocked to the ground with 24 minutes left on a foul 40 yards from the goal, Pasquale had to be helped off the field and never returned.
Yet through this latest big challenge, the Spartans endured.
“When Kendra got hurt we were all a little rattled,” Peck said, “but we were able to overcome it, because as a team we all play an important role. Everyone on the bench – we all look at ourselves as the same. When she was out, other people just had to step up and give it our all. I think we adjusted to it well.”
Position switches under the duress of supersectional crunch time were needed.
“We put two other really strong forwards in that actually don’t usually play there,” Ditusa said. “Mickey Corrigan plays in the midfield, and Lauren Douglass is usually in the back with me. So putting them up-top was kind of one of our last resorts.”
Yet after the injury to Pasquale, St. Francis had the next two quality chances – a Ritenhouse 15-yard shot over the net, then a Hensley corner kick with 20 minutes left headed away by Bumpus and cleared upfield by Becker.
“Kendra going down, you could kind of see us stiffen up, that ‘We’re going to hang in here,’” Winslow said. “That’s a testament to them and how much they think of Keni.”
But facing an elite opponent in Benet, St. Francis would quickly be tested again.
“We got halfway through the second half and every ball from Benet was bombed over the back,” said DiTusa, whose efforts leading the defense earned her Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match honors. “It was just run and chase, try to keep it out of the 18 (the box) and hope for the best.”
The heat intensified with 11:10 left. An Erin Flynn free kick from midfield was won in the box by Mary Kate Wilhelm, whose left side 12-yard shot was blocked and controlled by Kozak.
A Hansen 65-yard free kick with 9:15 to play ended with Tommasone’s 15-yard right side shot over the net.
A series of strong defensive plays in the middle third of the field by Peck, Joniak and Lemke would repel brewing Benet threats with just under five minutes left.
But the Redwings’ final push would produce close-in threats.
Off a throw-in with two minutes left, Kate Flynn’s sliding end line try went wide left. Then with 1:30 to go, DiTusa nicely blocked a Hansen shot.
Benet’s last bid to tie was one of its best threats. On a right side attack with 45 seconds left, Tommasone angled an 18-yard drive that went mere inches wide of the left post.
Moments later, DiTusa’s win of a loose ball outside the box and clear upfield at the final horn triggered a prolonged party for the Spartans.
“It’s the best feeling,” Hensley said. “We’ve worked so hard this season, and it’s all paying off right now. We’ve had a great postseason, and today was nothing shy of great.”
With her right arm in a sling after the match, Pasquale summed up the Spartans’ perseverance through every challenge.
“We handled it well, and we dealt with it, that’s all that matters,” she said of the team’s response to her injury.
“Our effort has always been there, give or take how we’re feeling or what’s going on,” Pasquale added. “We always pick each other up, no matter if it’s not the prettiest game. It was a really good run, and I think we’re ready to go into the Final Four now.”
The return to state will be a sweet cap to great careers for all the St. Francis seniors, especially DiTusa.
Her sister Jenna was the starting goalkeeper on the Spartans’ 2012 state championship squad – which coincidentally edged Benet 2-1 in the supersectionals that year.
But more recent memories of the past also produced motivation for her – mainly, a 3-1 sectional final loss to Hinsdale South last year.
“That was a tough one,” DiTusa said. “That was stressful because we knew we could have gone to state last year, and we were better. We played really strong against top teams in Illinois, the 3A teams.
“Being that close the year before (fourth at state in 2016) and not succeeding the year after was very stressful and very hard. But it also makes you come out way stronger the next season too.”
That inner strength and determination showed in every way Tuesday.
“Our team played so well together, fought hard against them (Benet) and continued to play,” Rittenhouse said. “It was well deserved for us against a great team.”
That great Benet team was narrowly denied a state semifinal trip. But still enjoyed a breakthrough season with a new school record for wins (20).
“This season pretty much got us to the next level as a program,” Oconer said. “I think we’re starting to get the respect of all the other area teams.
“It’s obviously very difficult when you’re in the Naperville area to kind of get out of the shadow of those programs. But anytime you get 20 wins in a season, it’s an incredible accomplishment.”
Seniors like tri-captains Bumpus, Erin Flynn and Becker set the tone.
“We beat every goal we set for this year besides winning state,” Bumpus said. “I’m really proud of this team. This is one of the best teams I’ve ever played on.
“I’m just super proud of my career. I’ve been a starter for a couple of years, and I’m just really proud of how I played. It’s been a good time for four years, and it was good to end it playing with such great players.”
St. Francis’ senior class has two more games left on its run – and big dreams of ending in style.
“Almost every practice we talked that we’re going to make it to state,” Peck said. “Go back there and prove that we’re good enough to win state this year.
“It’s so great, and since last time at state we didn’t do the best that we could (taking fourth), this is like redemption this year. I’m really excited to get back there. And I think we’re prepared. I’m excited.”
Between state lessons learned two years ago and surviving Tuesday’s battle, the Spartans enter Friday’s semifinal with a fired-up Lemont squad.
“Two years ago we went to state, so it’s a great feeling to know we’re going to be back,” Joniak said. “Hopefully we can finish this year. We were all a little nervous going into this game, but we just focused on working together, playing smart and quick, and connecting balls to get to the final third.
“You have that nervousness going in (to state) because we did lose two years ago, but we’re confident we’re going to go far. We’ll talk to our underclassmen who haven’t been there before, get the frame of mind set, and we’ll be good.”
The status of Pasquale will be key to the Spartans’ hopes.
“I broke this (arm) freshman year (in club season),” Pasquale said, “so if anything they think it’s my AC (acromioclavicular), the ligament that attaches the two (shoulder joints).”
But health issues aside, Pasquale’s four-year varsity career is ending at the dream destination.
“Every year’s different, but we’ve had great additions this year,” she said. “And we’ve always been consistent with our team chemistry.
“I’ve been really lucky having great girls to play with and great coaches. Every year’s a different journey, but in the end we all love each other and want the end result that we had. It’s really special the team we have, and every year has been a great experience. I’ve been really lucky.”
With a little more luck, the Spartans hope to have more reason to celebrate by late afternoon Saturday.
“It’s amazing,” Rittenhouse said. “We wanted to get here, and now we want to keep continuing to win.”
Said Hensley: “As a senior it’s the greatest feeling in the world, because every game could be my last game ever with these girls. I’m super excited.”
Starting lineups
St. Francis
GK Courtney Kozak
D Alex Preusser
D Jill DiTusa
D Katherine Lemke
D Emma Armbrust
M Kaitlyn Joniak
M Claire Hensley
M Caroline Zimmer
F Kendra Pasquale
F Erin Peck
F Hannah Rittenhouse
Benet
GK Eva Frantzen
D Clare Bumpus
D Lauren Fischer
D Kate Flynn
D Mary Kate Hansen
M Mia Ullmer
M Maddie Becker
M Jackie Schuman
F Erin Flynn
F Mia Tommasone
F Abby Casmere
Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match: Jill DiTusa, jr. D, St. Francis
Scoring summary
First half
St. Francis – Hannah Rittenhouse (Erin Peck), 7:22