St. Francis' flying start KOs Stevenson
Spartans early pressure leads to 6-0 win in Malnati opener
By Mike Garofola
NORTHFIELD -- St. Francis was electrifying in its first game of the Lou Malnati Deep Dish Classic, using a sensational 30 minutes of attacking soccer to ensure the contest with Stevenson would be no picnic for a young, but talented Patriots club.
The Spartans first half barrage led by Kendra Paquale and Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match Claire Hensley earned coach Jim Winslow's club a 6-0 victory Saturday afternoon at New Trier Stadium.
"(This) was a much better effort and result than last year at this tournament," said the Spartans manager, who in 2017 watched his club fall 2-1 on a late goal to Stevenson when the event was named the North Shore Invitational.
"Stevenson was a super athletic team with several really good players. The 6-0 result might look like they weren't really a very good team, but that wasn't true at all," said the St. Bonaventure-bound Hensley, who demonstrated pace, energy and the instinct to know when to push and pull on the attack during her impressive box-to-box effort.
"I feel like I was able to do the job Winslow needed me to do today, so I couldn't wait to see just how my effort measured up when I came out for good in the second half," said Hensley, who had a chance to take a look at sideline technology designed to measure steps, mileage and other interesting data compiled from her work day.
More on that later.
With Stevenson (3-2-0) sitting deep and attempting to maintain its shape, St. Francis dominated possession with the help of Claire and Ava Hensley, Erin Peck, Kaitlyn Joniak, Hannah Rittenhouse and especially Paquale, who was seemingly in perpetual motion and orchestrated the proceedings.
"Jim (Winslow) is a fantastic coach, and his team played at a very high level today. That's a team that we hope we can become in a year or two," said Stevenson first year manager PepeJon Chavez, who is on the staff of FC United. The club uses the Northfield campus as one of its training sites for its boys and girls programs.
"We haven't played since we beat Hersey (4-0). When our game with Saint Viator was called off because of the weather, it meant we would be idle for nearly two weeks.
"It's not an excuse for the result today. I felt like we played some good soccer at times, but, again, Jim's team is really very good, and one that we can learn from for sure."
St. Francis, Chicagoland Soccer's no. 22-rated squad, impressed from the opening whistle with sharp play as they used the width of the field and quick one-touch passing combinations in tight spaces to spread and stretch the Patriots in their own end.
The Spartans (4-1-0) made sure to find Pasquale during many of its trips into the other end of the park and put the Patriots under pressure far more than they would have liked.
St. Francis opened the scoring when Pasquale, an all-state forward, burst up the left side and went to the endline. Once there, the senior played a devastating ball into the box toward Claire Hensley near the spot. She dummied the pass through her legs to an unmarked Ava Hensley.
Ava Hensley's strike the other way wrong-footed Patriots keeper Zoe Friedman, who had no chance to reach the 17th-minute opener.
Sixty seconds later, Claire Hensley doubled the advantage from nearly the identical spot.
"We dropped far too deep on that second goal to allow no. 7 (Claire Hensley) time and space to find the back of the net," admitted Chavez.
St. Francis rode the wave of momentum.
"We had such a great start today. (All) of us came out ready to play, and it showed in how we attacked and defended," said Joniak, who did a lot of the dirty work in the middle of the park for Winslow. She recorded a high percentage of wins in the air and on the turf.
There was more to come.
Precision passing by Pasquale, Ava Hensley and Rittenhouse produced another corner for the Spartans. Moments later it led to a free kick attempt by Sarah Maller.
The senior created more trouble for the Patriots with a well-aimed serve that ended on the right foot of Caroline Zimmer.
Zimmer's sublime one-timer nestled into the back of the net to make it three goals to none at 21 minutes.
Claire Hensley added another just after the half hour, thanks in part to Rittenhouse, who, on the turn, delivered a wonderful ball to the back post that the team tri-captain finished past a charging Friedman.
After the goal Hensley required some attention to a bloody nose for her trouble.
Stevenson, which rosters eight freshmen and two sophomores, opened with four freshmen and both sophomores in its first 11. The Patriots impressed Joniak with their desire despite chasing four goals.
"They never stopped playing, kept cheering each other on their bench, and played hard for the entire 80 minutes," Joniak said.
The duo of Brianna VanZanten and Hannah Lapeire are clearly the two best attacking players for the Patriots with junior Krissy Hill closely behind. Together they tested the Spartans backline on occasion during the afternoon contest.
Chavez brought on Gracie Wingfield after the intermission, and the sophomore immediately added another weapon to a Patriots attack that went close on two early chances.
St. Francis held fast.
"Last year, maybe we concede that early goal to give our opponent some life and momentum," began Winslow, "Not this year."
"This is a team which is mature, and has some great leaders who take charge out there. It's that leadership and effort we'll look for as the season continues."
Rittenhouse was at her best in the 48th minute -- fending off a trio of Patriots with her strength and sheer determination before driving her angled left-footer blast in from the top of the box.
"Hannah is so strong, and in a situation like that, you see just how strong she is and how well she uses her body to shield to keep defenders at bay," said Winslow.
Rittenhouse was at it again one minute later. This time the junior turned provider with a wonderful ball that Peck slotted under Patriots keeper Kaitlyn Machado, who came on for Friedman at the break.
Winslow brought on fresh legs and rested many of his first 11 following the sixth and final tally of the match.
Claire Hensley's first stop off the field took her to Winslow. Together, the pair took a few moments to look at a device the senior was wearing to gather information on her whereabouts on the day.
Several clubs in the English Premier League have their players wear a device that measures heart rate, distance covered, running speed and where a player is positioned on the field.
Looking briefly at the results brought a smile to both the coach and player.
"I didn't play a full 80 minutes today, but I think I still was able to run close to four miles," said Hensley. "But the best part of the day for me was to see that I did a lot of touchline-to-touchline and box-to-box running, which is what I am supposed to do playing my position
"Using this technology can really help a player learn a lot about themselves, and the game itself.
"We use it in training, but to have it for games is really cool."
Group play continues for both sides Monday. The Spartans, who will play four matches in five days, host Lyons on Monday at home before returning to Northfield to take on tourney co-host New Trier on Wednesday.
In between, Winslow's club travels to meet Girls Catholic Athletic Conference Red Division rival Providence Catholic on Tuesday.
Saturday's contest marks the first of five in seven days for Stevenson. The string of away games begins with New Trier on Monday, followed by a trip to LaGrange on Wednesday to meet Lyons.
"I was pleased with our effort against a great St. Francis team, which has a tremendous group of seniors who are so good at bringing their teammates into the game with balance and unselfish play," said Chavez.
Starting lineups
Stevenson (4-1-3-2)
GK- Zoe Friedman
D- Kayla Constabiello
D- Lauren Micek
D- Cassadra Farber
D- Tess Koleno
DM- Jessica Inman
M- Hannah Lapeire
M- Krissy Hill
M- Alyssa Bende
F- Katie Sakshaug
F- Brianna VanZanten
St. Francis (4-4-2)
GK- Courtney Kozak
D- Alex Preusser
D- Emma Armbrust
D- Jill DiTusa
D- Christine Fasana
M- Ava Hensley
M- Kaitlyn Joniak
M- Claire Hensley
M- Erin Peck
F- Hannah Rittenhouse
F- Kendra Pasquale
Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match -- Claire Hensley, sr., MF, St. Francis
Referee: Vic Taylor
Game summary
Scoring
St. Frances
A. Hensley (Pasquale) 17'
C. Hensley (Pasquale) 18'
Zimmer (Maller) 21'
C. Hensley (Rittenhouse) 32'
Rittenhouse (U/A) 49'
Peck (Rittenhouse) 50'
Yellow cards
Stevenson: VanZanten (delay of restart), 30'
Spartans early pressure leads to 6-0 win in Malnati opener
By Mike Garofola
NORTHFIELD -- St. Francis was electrifying in its first game of the Lou Malnati Deep Dish Classic, using a sensational 30 minutes of attacking soccer to ensure the contest with Stevenson would be no picnic for a young, but talented Patriots club.
The Spartans first half barrage led by Kendra Paquale and Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match Claire Hensley earned coach Jim Winslow's club a 6-0 victory Saturday afternoon at New Trier Stadium.
"(This) was a much better effort and result than last year at this tournament," said the Spartans manager, who in 2017 watched his club fall 2-1 on a late goal to Stevenson when the event was named the North Shore Invitational.
"Stevenson was a super athletic team with several really good players. The 6-0 result might look like they weren't really a very good team, but that wasn't true at all," said the St. Bonaventure-bound Hensley, who demonstrated pace, energy and the instinct to know when to push and pull on the attack during her impressive box-to-box effort.
"I feel like I was able to do the job Winslow needed me to do today, so I couldn't wait to see just how my effort measured up when I came out for good in the second half," said Hensley, who had a chance to take a look at sideline technology designed to measure steps, mileage and other interesting data compiled from her work day.
More on that later.
With Stevenson (3-2-0) sitting deep and attempting to maintain its shape, St. Francis dominated possession with the help of Claire and Ava Hensley, Erin Peck, Kaitlyn Joniak, Hannah Rittenhouse and especially Paquale, who was seemingly in perpetual motion and orchestrated the proceedings.
"Jim (Winslow) is a fantastic coach, and his team played at a very high level today. That's a team that we hope we can become in a year or two," said Stevenson first year manager PepeJon Chavez, who is on the staff of FC United. The club uses the Northfield campus as one of its training sites for its boys and girls programs.
"We haven't played since we beat Hersey (4-0). When our game with Saint Viator was called off because of the weather, it meant we would be idle for nearly two weeks.
"It's not an excuse for the result today. I felt like we played some good soccer at times, but, again, Jim's team is really very good, and one that we can learn from for sure."
St. Francis, Chicagoland Soccer's no. 22-rated squad, impressed from the opening whistle with sharp play as they used the width of the field and quick one-touch passing combinations in tight spaces to spread and stretch the Patriots in their own end.
The Spartans (4-1-0) made sure to find Pasquale during many of its trips into the other end of the park and put the Patriots under pressure far more than they would have liked.
St. Francis opened the scoring when Pasquale, an all-state forward, burst up the left side and went to the endline. Once there, the senior played a devastating ball into the box toward Claire Hensley near the spot. She dummied the pass through her legs to an unmarked Ava Hensley.
Ava Hensley's strike the other way wrong-footed Patriots keeper Zoe Friedman, who had no chance to reach the 17th-minute opener.
Sixty seconds later, Claire Hensley doubled the advantage from nearly the identical spot.
"We dropped far too deep on that second goal to allow no. 7 (Claire Hensley) time and space to find the back of the net," admitted Chavez.
St. Francis rode the wave of momentum.
"We had such a great start today. (All) of us came out ready to play, and it showed in how we attacked and defended," said Joniak, who did a lot of the dirty work in the middle of the park for Winslow. She recorded a high percentage of wins in the air and on the turf.
There was more to come.
Precision passing by Pasquale, Ava Hensley and Rittenhouse produced another corner for the Spartans. Moments later it led to a free kick attempt by Sarah Maller.
The senior created more trouble for the Patriots with a well-aimed serve that ended on the right foot of Caroline Zimmer.
Zimmer's sublime one-timer nestled into the back of the net to make it three goals to none at 21 minutes.
Claire Hensley added another just after the half hour, thanks in part to Rittenhouse, who, on the turn, delivered a wonderful ball to the back post that the team tri-captain finished past a charging Friedman.
After the goal Hensley required some attention to a bloody nose for her trouble.
Stevenson, which rosters eight freshmen and two sophomores, opened with four freshmen and both sophomores in its first 11. The Patriots impressed Joniak with their desire despite chasing four goals.
"They never stopped playing, kept cheering each other on their bench, and played hard for the entire 80 minutes," Joniak said.
The duo of Brianna VanZanten and Hannah Lapeire are clearly the two best attacking players for the Patriots with junior Krissy Hill closely behind. Together they tested the Spartans backline on occasion during the afternoon contest.
Chavez brought on Gracie Wingfield after the intermission, and the sophomore immediately added another weapon to a Patriots attack that went close on two early chances.
St. Francis held fast.
"Last year, maybe we concede that early goal to give our opponent some life and momentum," began Winslow, "Not this year."
"This is a team which is mature, and has some great leaders who take charge out there. It's that leadership and effort we'll look for as the season continues."
Rittenhouse was at her best in the 48th minute -- fending off a trio of Patriots with her strength and sheer determination before driving her angled left-footer blast in from the top of the box.
"Hannah is so strong, and in a situation like that, you see just how strong she is and how well she uses her body to shield to keep defenders at bay," said Winslow.
Rittenhouse was at it again one minute later. This time the junior turned provider with a wonderful ball that Peck slotted under Patriots keeper Kaitlyn Machado, who came on for Friedman at the break.
Winslow brought on fresh legs and rested many of his first 11 following the sixth and final tally of the match.
Claire Hensley's first stop off the field took her to Winslow. Together, the pair took a few moments to look at a device the senior was wearing to gather information on her whereabouts on the day.
Several clubs in the English Premier League have their players wear a device that measures heart rate, distance covered, running speed and where a player is positioned on the field.
Looking briefly at the results brought a smile to both the coach and player.
"I didn't play a full 80 minutes today, but I think I still was able to run close to four miles," said Hensley. "But the best part of the day for me was to see that I did a lot of touchline-to-touchline and box-to-box running, which is what I am supposed to do playing my position
"Using this technology can really help a player learn a lot about themselves, and the game itself.
"We use it in training, but to have it for games is really cool."
Group play continues for both sides Monday. The Spartans, who will play four matches in five days, host Lyons on Monday at home before returning to Northfield to take on tourney co-host New Trier on Wednesday.
In between, Winslow's club travels to meet Girls Catholic Athletic Conference Red Division rival Providence Catholic on Tuesday.
Saturday's contest marks the first of five in seven days for Stevenson. The string of away games begins with New Trier on Monday, followed by a trip to LaGrange on Wednesday to meet Lyons.
"I was pleased with our effort against a great St. Francis team, which has a tremendous group of seniors who are so good at bringing their teammates into the game with balance and unselfish play," said Chavez.
Starting lineups
Stevenson (4-1-3-2)
GK- Zoe Friedman
D- Kayla Constabiello
D- Lauren Micek
D- Cassadra Farber
D- Tess Koleno
DM- Jessica Inman
M- Hannah Lapeire
M- Krissy Hill
M- Alyssa Bende
F- Katie Sakshaug
F- Brianna VanZanten
St. Francis (4-4-2)
GK- Courtney Kozak
D- Alex Preusser
D- Emma Armbrust
D- Jill DiTusa
D- Christine Fasana
M- Ava Hensley
M- Kaitlyn Joniak
M- Claire Hensley
M- Erin Peck
F- Hannah Rittenhouse
F- Kendra Pasquale
Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match -- Claire Hensley, sr., MF, St. Francis
Referee: Vic Taylor
Game summary
Scoring
St. Frances
A. Hensley (Pasquale) 17'
C. Hensley (Pasquale) 18'
Zimmer (Maller) 21'
C. Hensley (Rittenhouse) 32'
Rittenhouse (U/A) 49'
Peck (Rittenhouse) 50'
Yellow cards
Stevenson: VanZanten (delay of restart), 30'