Rittenhouse ‘tricks’ St. Francis past Viator
Junior forward’s hat-trick powers Spartans to 4-0 AA title win
By Patrick Z. McGavin
NAPERVILLE -- It took just under seven minutes for St. Francis forward Hannah Rittenhouse to obliterate the brilliantly constructed and highly effective tactical strategy that had carried Saint Viator aloft on a fantastic 10-game winning streak against elite competition.
The Lions’ intricate defensive-oriented approach flustered and dislodged some very high powered attacks like Deerfield, Wauconda and Burlington Central. St. Francis is made of slightly steadier and more backbreaking pieces.
“In high school, if you have a good goalie and people who can put the ball in the back of the net, that is all you need,” Saint Viator coach Mike Taylor said.
A powerful and athletic junior forward, Rittenhouse put on an exhilarating show with an early goal she parlayed into a three-goal performance as the Spartans, ranked eleventh in the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25, showcased their athleticism, style and versatility with an impressive 4-0 victory in the Class AA state championship Saturday at North Central College.
Senior forward Kendra Pasquale also scored; Rittenhouse assisted.
The junior's goal-scoring performance tied the all-class record for goals in a championship match. The IHSA does not list a record for points in a match.
Rittenhouse finished the season with a fantastic 24 goals and eight assists in leading the Spartans (18-4-3) to the second state title in program history. Coach Jim Winslow engineered a state title run in 2012.
For her outstanding performance, Rittenhouse earned the Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match distinction.
Words were almost unnecessary.
“It’s surreal, honestly,” Rittenhouse said. “It is such a good feeling I could do that for my team and help us win a state championship. I thought it was really good we got the first goal. I thought it really boosted our confidence. They are a great team, but the way we scored first, it just allowed us to play really hard.”
The electrifying combination of Rittenhouse and Pasquale, in combination with the other pincer attack pieces of the Spartans, proved an overwhelming test for the Class AA field. St. Francis also dismantled ranked programs Latin, Fenwick, Benet and Lemont in its highly impressive tournament run.
Pasquale was as dangerous as as Rittenhouse and recorded a goal and assist.
“I have played with her for three years now, and every time we step on the field we have that connection,” Pasquale said. “I know wherever she is going. I can run with her. I knew the goals were coming. She had a great game.”
St. Francis equalled the total number of goals St. Viator had conceded in its last 16 games. IHSSCA All-State keeper Anna Johnson posted 18 shutouts entering the state title game.
“We lost to a better team today,” Taylor said. “We lost to a team that had three or four girls with real firepower.”
St. Francis upstaged the Lions with that its dominant 1-2 combination.
The early St. Francis attack spearheaded by Rittenhouse and Pasquale subverted the Lions’ best intentions. Almost from the start, the speed and precision of the Spartans’ attack pushed the Lions out wider than they are accustomed as Rittenhouse worked her magic.
In the seventh minute after Erin Peck fell after contact at the top of the box, and the ball squirted free. Rittenhouse alertly slid and sent the ball skittering slowly inside the far post from 15 yards for the crucial first score.
“They (Saint Viator) changed a little bit from what I saw how they played [in the semifinal] yesterday,” Winslow said. “They are a good defensive team, and they have a good keeper. Any time you get an early goal, in any game, but in these [state final] games that are driven by energy and emotion, it makes such a difference because it allows you to relax and take a deep breath.”
St. Francis radiated confidence and power. Rittenhouse was the conductor. She moved with authority and grace, a physical and graceful player who could not be contained in space. By asserting the the quicker tempo, St. Francis pulled the the Lions out of their more deliberate rhythm and accelerated the pace.
“I think the early goal set the tone and gave us that early motivation to keep going,” Pasquale said. “We realized then it was possible to get more goals. Their keeper was phenomenal, and we knew they were a phenomenal team coming in. But we also felt if we played our game and played simple and trusted each other, it would come naturally. Once we scored early on it was nice to keep going.
“And then we got four.”
The two stars collaborated in the 36th minute on a beautiful goal to stretch the advantage. Constructed like a dance, Pasquale and Rittenhouse played off each other brilliantly with a scintillating give-and-go with Pasquale playing the first ball that Rittenhouse slotted down the left edge.
The explosive Pasquale controlled the ball space, made two quick moves and blasted a left-footer at an unstoppable upper 90 finish that eluded the outstretched grasp of Johnston for the 2-0 lead. An Illinois recruit, Pasquale scored her 19th goal of the year.
“I had a shot before, and it did not go in, so I knew that one I had to get in,” Pasquale said.
If St. Francis played at a different level, Saint Viator (18-6-2) showed how it got to the title game. The two offensive centerpiece talents flashed their own considerable skills. Junior midfielder Payton McDonnell, who scored the game-winner in the semifinal, got free in the back on a couple of occasions. Twice the tenor of the game nearly changed.
A McDonnell ball sharply played to junior forward Mary Ann Castelli on the right wing pulled Spartans’ keeper Courtney Kozak off her line. Castelli got just enough on the ball to direct it at the goal that forced senior midfielder Kaitlin Joniak made a goal-saving clearance.
Near the halftime horn, Lions’ top scorer Brinley McVeigh broke free on the left wing and smashed a laser ball that hit off the far post.
During its 10-game winning streak, Saint Viator asserted its style and preferred mode of play. The early St. Francis success was unnerving to them.
“It was definitely a bit of a shock to give up a goal that early but we definitely still battled and gave it our all,” McDonnell said. “I am so proud of everybody. After we went through conference and nobody scored on us, we realized we had a good team and we could do something important here. We got hot at the right time.”
“Today we were a little unlucky. Some of the shots that normally fall did not go for us today.”
Saint Viator failed to capitalize on some solid opportunities.
“We had a couple of chances,” Taylor said. “Brinley hit the post. We had Payton in twice before that, and you put one or two of those in there and maybe it is a different game. You can’t take anything away from them. They played a solid game, they put their shots away, and they did what they had to do to win.”
The McVeigh shot at the end of the half certainly caught Winslow’s attention.
“The thing I was most pleased about, in the second half, holding what people say is the worst lead at 2-0, we knew they were going to come out because they just rattled one off the post,” Winslow said. “If that goes in, they get one early in the second half and all of a sudden, it is anybody’s game. I thought we just overwhelmed them in the first 10 or 15 minutes [of the second half], and I think just kind of wore them out.”
St. Francis put the game out of reach in the 50th minute with the two stars combining one final time. Pasquale worked the ball on the left edge and delivered a deft ball that sliced through the Lions’ interior to a wide open Rittenhouse. She actually hesitated and made a side-stepping move before burying another shot from about 12 yards.
Rittenhouse punctuated the memorable performance by freezing the Lions’ defenders, who appeared to anticipate an offsides call against Rittenhouse. Instead, she patiently waited and got to the right wing and blasted home her final goal in the 69th minute from about eight yards. Claire Zimmer recorded the assist.
“I compare it to having horses in the Kentucky Derby, and they just want to get out and go,” Winslow said.
Saturday the won the race.
Starting lineups
Saint Viator
GK: Anna Johnston
D: Maeve Schumacher
D: Sam DeJulio
D: Amelia Bottcher
D: Christina Petrillo
M: Meagan Vicens
M: Payton McDonnell
M: Katherine Schade
M: Caitlin Kenney
F: Brinley McVeigh
F: Michaela Mueller
St. Francis
GK: Courtney Kozak
D: Alex Preusser
D: Jill DiTusa
D: Emma Armbrust
D: Christine Fasana
M: Kaitlin Joniak
M: Claire Hensley
M: Caroline Zimmer
F: Kendra Pasquale
F: Hannah Rittenhouse
F: Erin Peck
Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match: Hannah Rittenhouse, sr., F, St. Francis
Scoring summary
First half
St. Francis—Hannah Rittenhouse (unassisted), seventh minute
St. Francis—Kendra Pasquale (Rittenhouse), 36th minute
Second half
St. Francis—Rittenhouse (Pasquale), 50th minute
St. Francis—Rittenhouse (Caroline Zimmer), 69th minute
Junior forward’s hat-trick powers Spartans to 4-0 AA title win
By Patrick Z. McGavin
NAPERVILLE -- It took just under seven minutes for St. Francis forward Hannah Rittenhouse to obliterate the brilliantly constructed and highly effective tactical strategy that had carried Saint Viator aloft on a fantastic 10-game winning streak against elite competition.
The Lions’ intricate defensive-oriented approach flustered and dislodged some very high powered attacks like Deerfield, Wauconda and Burlington Central. St. Francis is made of slightly steadier and more backbreaking pieces.
“In high school, if you have a good goalie and people who can put the ball in the back of the net, that is all you need,” Saint Viator coach Mike Taylor said.
A powerful and athletic junior forward, Rittenhouse put on an exhilarating show with an early goal she parlayed into a three-goal performance as the Spartans, ranked eleventh in the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25, showcased their athleticism, style and versatility with an impressive 4-0 victory in the Class AA state championship Saturday at North Central College.
Senior forward Kendra Pasquale also scored; Rittenhouse assisted.
The junior's goal-scoring performance tied the all-class record for goals in a championship match. The IHSA does not list a record for points in a match.
Rittenhouse finished the season with a fantastic 24 goals and eight assists in leading the Spartans (18-4-3) to the second state title in program history. Coach Jim Winslow engineered a state title run in 2012.
For her outstanding performance, Rittenhouse earned the Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match distinction.
Words were almost unnecessary.
“It’s surreal, honestly,” Rittenhouse said. “It is such a good feeling I could do that for my team and help us win a state championship. I thought it was really good we got the first goal. I thought it really boosted our confidence. They are a great team, but the way we scored first, it just allowed us to play really hard.”
The electrifying combination of Rittenhouse and Pasquale, in combination with the other pincer attack pieces of the Spartans, proved an overwhelming test for the Class AA field. St. Francis also dismantled ranked programs Latin, Fenwick, Benet and Lemont in its highly impressive tournament run.
Pasquale was as dangerous as as Rittenhouse and recorded a goal and assist.
“I have played with her for three years now, and every time we step on the field we have that connection,” Pasquale said. “I know wherever she is going. I can run with her. I knew the goals were coming. She had a great game.”
St. Francis equalled the total number of goals St. Viator had conceded in its last 16 games. IHSSCA All-State keeper Anna Johnson posted 18 shutouts entering the state title game.
“We lost to a better team today,” Taylor said. “We lost to a team that had three or four girls with real firepower.”
St. Francis upstaged the Lions with that its dominant 1-2 combination.
The early St. Francis attack spearheaded by Rittenhouse and Pasquale subverted the Lions’ best intentions. Almost from the start, the speed and precision of the Spartans’ attack pushed the Lions out wider than they are accustomed as Rittenhouse worked her magic.
In the seventh minute after Erin Peck fell after contact at the top of the box, and the ball squirted free. Rittenhouse alertly slid and sent the ball skittering slowly inside the far post from 15 yards for the crucial first score.
“They (Saint Viator) changed a little bit from what I saw how they played [in the semifinal] yesterday,” Winslow said. “They are a good defensive team, and they have a good keeper. Any time you get an early goal, in any game, but in these [state final] games that are driven by energy and emotion, it makes such a difference because it allows you to relax and take a deep breath.”
St. Francis radiated confidence and power. Rittenhouse was the conductor. She moved with authority and grace, a physical and graceful player who could not be contained in space. By asserting the the quicker tempo, St. Francis pulled the the Lions out of their more deliberate rhythm and accelerated the pace.
“I think the early goal set the tone and gave us that early motivation to keep going,” Pasquale said. “We realized then it was possible to get more goals. Their keeper was phenomenal, and we knew they were a phenomenal team coming in. But we also felt if we played our game and played simple and trusted each other, it would come naturally. Once we scored early on it was nice to keep going.
“And then we got four.”
The two stars collaborated in the 36th minute on a beautiful goal to stretch the advantage. Constructed like a dance, Pasquale and Rittenhouse played off each other brilliantly with a scintillating give-and-go with Pasquale playing the first ball that Rittenhouse slotted down the left edge.
The explosive Pasquale controlled the ball space, made two quick moves and blasted a left-footer at an unstoppable upper 90 finish that eluded the outstretched grasp of Johnston for the 2-0 lead. An Illinois recruit, Pasquale scored her 19th goal of the year.
“I had a shot before, and it did not go in, so I knew that one I had to get in,” Pasquale said.
If St. Francis played at a different level, Saint Viator (18-6-2) showed how it got to the title game. The two offensive centerpiece talents flashed their own considerable skills. Junior midfielder Payton McDonnell, who scored the game-winner in the semifinal, got free in the back on a couple of occasions. Twice the tenor of the game nearly changed.
A McDonnell ball sharply played to junior forward Mary Ann Castelli on the right wing pulled Spartans’ keeper Courtney Kozak off her line. Castelli got just enough on the ball to direct it at the goal that forced senior midfielder Kaitlin Joniak made a goal-saving clearance.
Near the halftime horn, Lions’ top scorer Brinley McVeigh broke free on the left wing and smashed a laser ball that hit off the far post.
During its 10-game winning streak, Saint Viator asserted its style and preferred mode of play. The early St. Francis success was unnerving to them.
“It was definitely a bit of a shock to give up a goal that early but we definitely still battled and gave it our all,” McDonnell said. “I am so proud of everybody. After we went through conference and nobody scored on us, we realized we had a good team and we could do something important here. We got hot at the right time.”
“Today we were a little unlucky. Some of the shots that normally fall did not go for us today.”
Saint Viator failed to capitalize on some solid opportunities.
“We had a couple of chances,” Taylor said. “Brinley hit the post. We had Payton in twice before that, and you put one or two of those in there and maybe it is a different game. You can’t take anything away from them. They played a solid game, they put their shots away, and they did what they had to do to win.”
The McVeigh shot at the end of the half certainly caught Winslow’s attention.
“The thing I was most pleased about, in the second half, holding what people say is the worst lead at 2-0, we knew they were going to come out because they just rattled one off the post,” Winslow said. “If that goes in, they get one early in the second half and all of a sudden, it is anybody’s game. I thought we just overwhelmed them in the first 10 or 15 minutes [of the second half], and I think just kind of wore them out.”
St. Francis put the game out of reach in the 50th minute with the two stars combining one final time. Pasquale worked the ball on the left edge and delivered a deft ball that sliced through the Lions’ interior to a wide open Rittenhouse. She actually hesitated and made a side-stepping move before burying another shot from about 12 yards.
Rittenhouse punctuated the memorable performance by freezing the Lions’ defenders, who appeared to anticipate an offsides call against Rittenhouse. Instead, she patiently waited and got to the right wing and blasted home her final goal in the 69th minute from about eight yards. Claire Zimmer recorded the assist.
“I compare it to having horses in the Kentucky Derby, and they just want to get out and go,” Winslow said.
Saturday the won the race.
Starting lineups
Saint Viator
GK: Anna Johnston
D: Maeve Schumacher
D: Sam DeJulio
D: Amelia Bottcher
D: Christina Petrillo
M: Meagan Vicens
M: Payton McDonnell
M: Katherine Schade
M: Caitlin Kenney
F: Brinley McVeigh
F: Michaela Mueller
St. Francis
GK: Courtney Kozak
D: Alex Preusser
D: Jill DiTusa
D: Emma Armbrust
D: Christine Fasana
M: Kaitlin Joniak
M: Claire Hensley
M: Caroline Zimmer
F: Kendra Pasquale
F: Hannah Rittenhouse
F: Erin Peck
Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match: Hannah Rittenhouse, sr., F, St. Francis
Scoring summary
First half
St. Francis—Hannah Rittenhouse (unassisted), seventh minute
St. Francis—Kendra Pasquale (Rittenhouse), 36th minute
Second half
St. Francis—Rittenhouse (Pasquale), 50th minute
St. Francis—Rittenhouse (Caroline Zimmer), 69th minute