Notebook: Deerfield-Fenwick
By Michael Wojtychiw
NAPERVILLE -- Fenwick and Deerfield came into Saturday morning’s third place game looking to bounce back from tough losses in Friday’s semifinals and go home with a season-ending win and the higher trophy. In the rematch of a 2-2 nonconference tie on March 31, Deerfield put together an impressive 3-0 win.
Henige sisters play one last game together
Forward Kate Henige and her midfielder, sophomore sister Caroline have played soccer since they were children. The past two years they’ve shared the varsity pitch at Fenwick.
Saturday’s third place match marked the end of Kate’s high school career.
“It’s been really fun playing with her; it’s been good to hang out with each other a lot,” Kate Henige said. “To have been able to do this together again has been really special.
“I love it,” Caroline said. “She knows my next move, and I know hers. And it’s really nice to play with someone that wants the ball and knows what to do with it.
“We’ve played together since we were little, and us knowing where each other is going to be on the field and where to go has just developed over time.”
With Kate’s graduation, Caroline, who was Fenwick’s second-leading scorer this season, will be looked upon to lead the Friars next spring and has great advice that her sister has left her.
“She’s really taught me to just go after it,” Caroline said. “She’s always looking to score and plays competitively, and that’s something to look up to.”
The sisters’ continued the family’s soccer tradition. Their father Monte played collegiately at Notre Dame.
Senior class
Fenwick’s fourth place team had a heavy veteran presence this season with 10 seniors on the squad, many of whom played big roles for the Friars.
Kate Henige led the team with 19 goals. Goalkeeper Audrey Hinrichs, midfielders Julia Cianci and Natalie LoGiudice, and defenders Abbie Rogowski and Emily Ortiz were prime-time performers.
“The seniors had high expectations,” manager Craig Blazer said. “They were the impetus of setting the goals and having high standards. They worked really hard. You want your best players to be your hardest workers, and they were.”
Henige talked about what her career has meant to her at the Oak Park school after the Friars’ defeat.
“This has been a great four years. The girls have been awesome,” Henige said. “It’s pretty much a dream come true to make it to state this year. You couldn’t ask for a better way to end a high school career.”
LoGiudice had a clear focus of what she needed to convey to the younger players.
“My role as a senior was to definitely be successful but also to be encouraging and motivating to my underclassmen,” she said. “We needed to show them how much this season meant to us seniors, because it was our last.”
Cianci's dedication to the program cast new lights on how to contribute to the team.
"Last year as a junior I didn’t have much playing time, and I would say my role was to motivate my team while being on the bench," she said. "This year as a senior, I wanted to make a difference to the team. So, I stepped up and played a position I usually don’t play (defender). This passes on a message to the underclassmen to try new things, because you won’t ever know if you’re good at it 'til you try."
Henige’s sophomore sister Caroline saw first-hand the impact the seniors had on the Friars run to the state finals.
“The seniors definitely pushed us to stick together and work hard. They’re always showing up and working hard,” Caroline said. “And I think the whole team agrees that that’s pretty inspiring.”
The defining moment
Kate Henige, LoGiudice and Blazer had different revelations when they believed the Friars could make a deep, postseason foray.
“We did a lot of preseason work, so it wouldn’t be as hard later on in the season and we’d be ready,” Kate Henige said. “We kind of knew from the start that we wanted it. I think it was the Young game when we realized we could make a run.”
The Friars beat strong Class 3A program Young 2-1 in the opening round of the BodyArmor event on April 9. It was the team’s seventh game of the campaign.
“I think it was the Deerfield game,” the coach said. “Not everyone was there and players stepped up. We scored two great goals, and it showed that at any time in any game, special things can happen.”
Fenwick tied the Warriors 2-2 in the fifth match of the season.
“I felt we could make it to the finals right at the beginning of regionals,” LoGiudice said. “We were motivated to get to state and work hard to get there. We motivated each other to work hard on and off the field.”
Deerfield’s playoff success
The Warriors state finals history is less than 10 years old. This was their second appearance after a 2016 debut.
After suffering a heartbreaking 3-2 loss to Benet in the state semifinal, the Warriors took home the third place trophy.
“We said we had the opportunity to play together one more time. And we wanted to play the way we have all season, which is go out and attack. I think we did that,” Deerfield manager Rich Grady said.
“I think it was a magical season,” Grady said. “We played one of the toughest schedules we’ve ever played, had the most wins we’ve ever had. We obviously wanted to win two games, but we won one; and I think we played really well in the other. That’s all you can ask for. This is a special group.”
The setting brought back great memories to more than Grady.
“The last time we (Deerfield) got here, my sister was on the team and to see it go full circle is crazy,” said Deerfield’s freshman forward Ryane Emory, who’s senior sister Erin also started for the Warriors. “It was really cool for it to be me in this position.”
Underclassmen rising
Deerfield seniors made a big impact on the squad. They were led by Riley Schimanski, who recorded 18 goals and 11 assists, and Holly Deutsch, who scored 14 times and dished out 30 helpers.
But it wasn’t only seniors that drove Deerfield’s success. The team was led in scoring by sophomore Emily Fox (27 goals, 14 assists), and got a big boost from freshman Emory (13 goals, 4 assists). The pair combined for four of the five goals the Warriors scored on finals weekend.
With Deutsch and Schimanski departing, the two will be called upon to provide even more offensive firepower in the future.
Schimanski made a touching token appearance in the third place game after she was knocked out of action by a knee injury in the sectional semifinal. Fox and Emory knew that they’d have to step up.
“Riley was one of the major players that got us to where we’re at. Without her, we wouldn’t have gotten this far,” Emory said. “I absolutely felt like I needed to step up. I felt like I needed to live up to the legacy she was leaving.”
In the four games since Schimanski went down, Fox scored six times, twice each in the sectional final, supersectional and state semifinal. Emory tallied two in the third place game.
As a player still just finishing her freshman campaign, Emory has been able to learn from the elder statesmen and is excited to work with Fox next season.
“This being the first year Emily and I played together, our chemistry can only grow from here. It’s been an adjustment playing with her, because she’s so good,” Emory said. “So, I’ve been figuring out where she’ll be on the field and give her the best opportunity to do what she does best.”
By Michael Wojtychiw
NAPERVILLE -- Fenwick and Deerfield came into Saturday morning’s third place game looking to bounce back from tough losses in Friday’s semifinals and go home with a season-ending win and the higher trophy. In the rematch of a 2-2 nonconference tie on March 31, Deerfield put together an impressive 3-0 win.
Henige sisters play one last game together
Forward Kate Henige and her midfielder, sophomore sister Caroline have played soccer since they were children. The past two years they’ve shared the varsity pitch at Fenwick.
Saturday’s third place match marked the end of Kate’s high school career.
“It’s been really fun playing with her; it’s been good to hang out with each other a lot,” Kate Henige said. “To have been able to do this together again has been really special.
“I love it,” Caroline said. “She knows my next move, and I know hers. And it’s really nice to play with someone that wants the ball and knows what to do with it.
“We’ve played together since we were little, and us knowing where each other is going to be on the field and where to go has just developed over time.”
With Kate’s graduation, Caroline, who was Fenwick’s second-leading scorer this season, will be looked upon to lead the Friars next spring and has great advice that her sister has left her.
“She’s really taught me to just go after it,” Caroline said. “She’s always looking to score and plays competitively, and that’s something to look up to.”
The sisters’ continued the family’s soccer tradition. Their father Monte played collegiately at Notre Dame.
Senior class
Fenwick’s fourth place team had a heavy veteran presence this season with 10 seniors on the squad, many of whom played big roles for the Friars.
Kate Henige led the team with 19 goals. Goalkeeper Audrey Hinrichs, midfielders Julia Cianci and Natalie LoGiudice, and defenders Abbie Rogowski and Emily Ortiz were prime-time performers.
“The seniors had high expectations,” manager Craig Blazer said. “They were the impetus of setting the goals and having high standards. They worked really hard. You want your best players to be your hardest workers, and they were.”
Henige talked about what her career has meant to her at the Oak Park school after the Friars’ defeat.
“This has been a great four years. The girls have been awesome,” Henige said. “It’s pretty much a dream come true to make it to state this year. You couldn’t ask for a better way to end a high school career.”
LoGiudice had a clear focus of what she needed to convey to the younger players.
“My role as a senior was to definitely be successful but also to be encouraging and motivating to my underclassmen,” she said. “We needed to show them how much this season meant to us seniors, because it was our last.”
Cianci's dedication to the program cast new lights on how to contribute to the team.
"Last year as a junior I didn’t have much playing time, and I would say my role was to motivate my team while being on the bench," she said. "This year as a senior, I wanted to make a difference to the team. So, I stepped up and played a position I usually don’t play (defender). This passes on a message to the underclassmen to try new things, because you won’t ever know if you’re good at it 'til you try."
Henige’s sophomore sister Caroline saw first-hand the impact the seniors had on the Friars run to the state finals.
“The seniors definitely pushed us to stick together and work hard. They’re always showing up and working hard,” Caroline said. “And I think the whole team agrees that that’s pretty inspiring.”
The defining moment
Kate Henige, LoGiudice and Blazer had different revelations when they believed the Friars could make a deep, postseason foray.
“We did a lot of preseason work, so it wouldn’t be as hard later on in the season and we’d be ready,” Kate Henige said. “We kind of knew from the start that we wanted it. I think it was the Young game when we realized we could make a run.”
The Friars beat strong Class 3A program Young 2-1 in the opening round of the BodyArmor event on April 9. It was the team’s seventh game of the campaign.
“I think it was the Deerfield game,” the coach said. “Not everyone was there and players stepped up. We scored two great goals, and it showed that at any time in any game, special things can happen.”
Fenwick tied the Warriors 2-2 in the fifth match of the season.
“I felt we could make it to the finals right at the beginning of regionals,” LoGiudice said. “We were motivated to get to state and work hard to get there. We motivated each other to work hard on and off the field.”
Deerfield’s playoff success
The Warriors state finals history is less than 10 years old. This was their second appearance after a 2016 debut.
After suffering a heartbreaking 3-2 loss to Benet in the state semifinal, the Warriors took home the third place trophy.
“We said we had the opportunity to play together one more time. And we wanted to play the way we have all season, which is go out and attack. I think we did that,” Deerfield manager Rich Grady said.
“I think it was a magical season,” Grady said. “We played one of the toughest schedules we’ve ever played, had the most wins we’ve ever had. We obviously wanted to win two games, but we won one; and I think we played really well in the other. That’s all you can ask for. This is a special group.”
The setting brought back great memories to more than Grady.
“The last time we (Deerfield) got here, my sister was on the team and to see it go full circle is crazy,” said Deerfield’s freshman forward Ryane Emory, who’s senior sister Erin also started for the Warriors. “It was really cool for it to be me in this position.”
Underclassmen rising
Deerfield seniors made a big impact on the squad. They were led by Riley Schimanski, who recorded 18 goals and 11 assists, and Holly Deutsch, who scored 14 times and dished out 30 helpers.
But it wasn’t only seniors that drove Deerfield’s success. The team was led in scoring by sophomore Emily Fox (27 goals, 14 assists), and got a big boost from freshman Emory (13 goals, 4 assists). The pair combined for four of the five goals the Warriors scored on finals weekend.
With Deutsch and Schimanski departing, the two will be called upon to provide even more offensive firepower in the future.
Schimanski made a touching token appearance in the third place game after she was knocked out of action by a knee injury in the sectional semifinal. Fox and Emory knew that they’d have to step up.
“Riley was one of the major players that got us to where we’re at. Without her, we wouldn’t have gotten this far,” Emory said. “I absolutely felt like I needed to step up. I felt like I needed to live up to the legacy she was leaving.”
In the four games since Schimanski went down, Fox scored six times, twice each in the sectional final, supersectional and state semifinal. Emory tallied two in the third place game.
As a player still just finishing her freshman campaign, Emory has been able to learn from the elder statesmen and is excited to work with Fox next season.
“This being the first year Emily and I played together, our chemistry can only grow from here. It’s been an adjustment playing with her, because she’s so good,” Emory said. “So, I’ve been figuring out where she’ll be on the field and give her the best opportunity to do what she does best.”