Batavia, Buffalo Grove renew rivalry
Familiar foes to battle with Frizzelle Memorial trophy on line
By Chris Walker
Buffalo Grove has gotten the best of Batavia when the team’s have met in recent years in the Lake Park Chris Frizzelle Memorial Tournament.
Now, with a senior-heavy squad, the Bulldogs hope to avenge last year’s 2-0 loss in the 2015 title match at 6:30 p.m. Thursday.
“Every year it’s pretty much come down to us and Buffalo Grove for the title,” Bulldogs coach Mark Gianfrancesco said. “They’ve been pretty outstanding the last three or four years and maybe only lost 8-to-10 times, so they’re solid. It’ll be a good barometer for us to see where we are, and one of the our goals is to win this tournament.”
Batavia (3-0-1) blanked Cary-Grove during Saturday’s tourney opener and also shut out Lake Park 4-0 Tuesday. The Bulldogs have yet to surrender a goal this spring.
“We’ve now played four games, but people still need to step up, and we need to get our depth going,” Gianfrancesco said. “I think the girls are really excited. They had a good practice (Wednesday morning), their spirits are up and they’re positive.”
A victory not only would get the Bulldogs a trophy, but they’d also get back at a Buffalo Grove team that they are 0-2-1 against during the past three tournaments. Furthermore, it would give them confidence heading into a huge week next week, including the beginning of Upstate Eight Conference River Division play.
The Bulldogs have a rescheduled game against Metea Valley on Monday, as well as regularly scheduled ones against Streamwood, Elgin and Bartlett.
Buffalo Grove (4-1-0) is on a four-game winning streak after an opening loss to Saint Viator. The Bison defeated Elk Grove 3-0 Wednesday, so Thursday’s game will be its fourth since Saturday.
“Playing in the Lake Park tournament is always a great test, and it gets us ready for the conference,” Buffalo Grove coach Patrick Dudle said. “We’ll have two teams both at 2-0 (in the tournament) going for the championship.”
The Bison lost eight seniors to graduation but have shown how deep they are this season by getting off to such a strong start.
“They really made a contribution to our program,” Dudle said. “We just need the kids who were role players last year to step in and play a bigger role.”
Earlier in the week, Buffalo Grove senior forward Sarah O’Connor, who is bound for Eastern Kentucky, collided with an opposing keeper. She got banged up during the collision, and her status for Thursday is questionable.
“If she’s not in the lineup, we’ll obviously be less potent,” Dudle said.
Familiar foes to battle with Frizzelle Memorial trophy on line
By Chris Walker
Buffalo Grove has gotten the best of Batavia when the team’s have met in recent years in the Lake Park Chris Frizzelle Memorial Tournament.
Now, with a senior-heavy squad, the Bulldogs hope to avenge last year’s 2-0 loss in the 2015 title match at 6:30 p.m. Thursday.
“Every year it’s pretty much come down to us and Buffalo Grove for the title,” Bulldogs coach Mark Gianfrancesco said. “They’ve been pretty outstanding the last three or four years and maybe only lost 8-to-10 times, so they’re solid. It’ll be a good barometer for us to see where we are, and one of the our goals is to win this tournament.”
Batavia (3-0-1) blanked Cary-Grove during Saturday’s tourney opener and also shut out Lake Park 4-0 Tuesday. The Bulldogs have yet to surrender a goal this spring.
“We’ve now played four games, but people still need to step up, and we need to get our depth going,” Gianfrancesco said. “I think the girls are really excited. They had a good practice (Wednesday morning), their spirits are up and they’re positive.”
A victory not only would get the Bulldogs a trophy, but they’d also get back at a Buffalo Grove team that they are 0-2-1 against during the past three tournaments. Furthermore, it would give them confidence heading into a huge week next week, including the beginning of Upstate Eight Conference River Division play.
The Bulldogs have a rescheduled game against Metea Valley on Monday, as well as regularly scheduled ones against Streamwood, Elgin and Bartlett.
Buffalo Grove (4-1-0) is on a four-game winning streak after an opening loss to Saint Viator. The Bison defeated Elk Grove 3-0 Wednesday, so Thursday’s game will be its fourth since Saturday.
“Playing in the Lake Park tournament is always a great test, and it gets us ready for the conference,” Buffalo Grove coach Patrick Dudle said. “We’ll have two teams both at 2-0 (in the tournament) going for the championship.”
The Bison lost eight seniors to graduation but have shown how deep they are this season by getting off to such a strong start.
“They really made a contribution to our program,” Dudle said. “We just need the kids who were role players last year to step in and play a bigger role.”
Earlier in the week, Buffalo Grove senior forward Sarah O’Connor, who is bound for Eastern Kentucky, collided with an opposing keeper. She got banged up during the collision, and her status for Thursday is questionable.
“If she’s not in the lineup, we’ll obviously be less potent,” Dudle said.