Notebook: Downers Grove North
By Ken Keenan
With his team sitting at 2-7-0 to begin the 2019 season, Downers Grove North head coach Brian Papa decided that changes had to be made in order to turn things around.
The resulting alterations proved to be the perfect antidote, and the new-look Trojans rebounded with a mark of 8-4-1 the rest of the way to finish at 10-11-1 overall. That stretch included four wins in West Suburban Conference Silver Division play, giving Downers Grove North a second place finish in the league at 5-1-0.
Papa's crew continued its winning ways in the postseason with a 5-1 victory over the host Huskies in the IHSA Class 3A Oak Park and River Forest Regional semifinals on May 15. Two days later, the Trojans' season came to an end in a 1-0 loss to crosstown rival Downers Grove South in the OPRF Regional final.
"We did not play well at the beginning of the year, but we played hard," Papa said. "The effort was there from the get-go. But we had to make moves. So I talked to the girls, and then we made some changes."
Papa continued: "We changed the system of play, going to three (players) in the back and five in the middle. That put us in better passing positions, and we started connecting passes better. We tightened up our defense, too -- the 'D' got stingy."
Personnel-wise, Papa promoted a pair of underclassmen -- sophomore defender Lindsey Good and freshman forward Ryan Wendt -- to complement the veteran core of senior forward Mia Marconi, junior forward Alexis Parker and senior midfielder Julia Kramper.
"The last two years, we had the same kids who played a lot of minutes," Papa said. "This year, Parker, Marconi and Kramper had the most varsity experience. But a lot of our seniors (14 in all) didn't play a ton of minutes before this year. So we brought up Wendt and Good, and they played key roles for us.
"It was unfortunate for those who lost playing time, but the team came first. This senior group, there was no back-talking. The young kids were accepted by the seniors. All the kids bought into it. That's why we were successful."
Parker (13 goals, 14 assists) led the Trojans in scoring, followed by Marconi (9 goals, 6 assists) and sophomore midfielder Abbie Peterson (9 goals, 3 assists).
"Parker can score, but her real attribute is her assists," Papa said. "She can put it on the foot, and she's always marked. Coming back from injuries, Marconi played really well, too. Kramper had the unsung hero role. She solidified the midfield. She was the axle that made things go."
Papa also pointed to the contributions of senior mid Quinn Stephens, as well as senior defender Julia Redpath, a team captain along with Marconi and Kramper. Redpath's season was cut short by a concussion after seven games, but she remained a fixture on the Trojans' bench.
"Stephens struggled at the beginning, but she got better and better and better, making the simple pass and initiating offense with her vision," Papa said. "Julia (Redpath) couldn't play, but she did all the dirty work, picking up cones and the like, and keeping everyone together."
Goalkeeping duties were split between senior Emma Duncan (2.20 goals-against average) and sophomore Blythe Braun (1.85).
"The way we finished the season, the outlook is very positive," Papa said. "We'll be young next year, but a lot more questions have been answered heading into next season."
By Ken Keenan
With his team sitting at 2-7-0 to begin the 2019 season, Downers Grove North head coach Brian Papa decided that changes had to be made in order to turn things around.
The resulting alterations proved to be the perfect antidote, and the new-look Trojans rebounded with a mark of 8-4-1 the rest of the way to finish at 10-11-1 overall. That stretch included four wins in West Suburban Conference Silver Division play, giving Downers Grove North a second place finish in the league at 5-1-0.
Papa's crew continued its winning ways in the postseason with a 5-1 victory over the host Huskies in the IHSA Class 3A Oak Park and River Forest Regional semifinals on May 15. Two days later, the Trojans' season came to an end in a 1-0 loss to crosstown rival Downers Grove South in the OPRF Regional final.
"We did not play well at the beginning of the year, but we played hard," Papa said. "The effort was there from the get-go. But we had to make moves. So I talked to the girls, and then we made some changes."
Papa continued: "We changed the system of play, going to three (players) in the back and five in the middle. That put us in better passing positions, and we started connecting passes better. We tightened up our defense, too -- the 'D' got stingy."
Personnel-wise, Papa promoted a pair of underclassmen -- sophomore defender Lindsey Good and freshman forward Ryan Wendt -- to complement the veteran core of senior forward Mia Marconi, junior forward Alexis Parker and senior midfielder Julia Kramper.
"The last two years, we had the same kids who played a lot of minutes," Papa said. "This year, Parker, Marconi and Kramper had the most varsity experience. But a lot of our seniors (14 in all) didn't play a ton of minutes before this year. So we brought up Wendt and Good, and they played key roles for us.
"It was unfortunate for those who lost playing time, but the team came first. This senior group, there was no back-talking. The young kids were accepted by the seniors. All the kids bought into it. That's why we were successful."
Parker (13 goals, 14 assists) led the Trojans in scoring, followed by Marconi (9 goals, 6 assists) and sophomore midfielder Abbie Peterson (9 goals, 3 assists).
"Parker can score, but her real attribute is her assists," Papa said. "She can put it on the foot, and she's always marked. Coming back from injuries, Marconi played really well, too. Kramper had the unsung hero role. She solidified the midfield. She was the axle that made things go."
Papa also pointed to the contributions of senior mid Quinn Stephens, as well as senior defender Julia Redpath, a team captain along with Marconi and Kramper. Redpath's season was cut short by a concussion after seven games, but she remained a fixture on the Trojans' bench.
"Stephens struggled at the beginning, but she got better and better and better, making the simple pass and initiating offense with her vision," Papa said. "Julia (Redpath) couldn't play, but she did all the dirty work, picking up cones and the like, and keeping everyone together."
Goalkeeping duties were split between senior Emma Duncan (2.20 goals-against average) and sophomore Blythe Braun (1.85).
"The way we finished the season, the outlook is very positive," Papa said. "We'll be young next year, but a lot more questions have been answered heading into next season."