MSL is still Barrington’s and Fremd's league
By Mike Garofola
With all due respect to a competitive soccer conference such as the Mid-Suburban League (MSL), there has not been a lot of parity at the top of the table.
For the majority of time of late, the league has been dominated by a small fraternity of very talented clubs led by reigning champion Barrington, with Fremd right there. They are typically followed closely by West Division rival Conant and East Division queens Hersey and Buffalo Grove.
On Saturday, Barrington (7-1-0, 6-0-0, 18 points) travels to Fremd (6-1-1, 5-0-1, 16 points) in a mega-battle match that could ultimately decide who will represents the MSL West in the 32nd MSL Soccer Bowl next month.
"I know all of us are really looking forward to playing Barrington on Saturday," said Fremd senior Lily Spotak. “It should be a hard-fought and exciting game that we all know has a lot at stake.”
Spotak was named co-Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match along with teammate Caeleigh Stone in the Vikings 3-2 double-overtime loss to the Fillies last spring.
Spotak was a key figure in a thrilling Vikings comeback that drew the teams level before Fillies senior Nicole Gwiasda fired in the game-winner in the 90th minute to give her club three important points that inspired a ninth-consecutive MSL Soccer Bowl appearance.
Saturday’s edition figures to produce another classic game in the rivalry.
"It's always a big game when we play Fremd. We have to bring our best," said Gwiasda, who will attend Ohio State University in the fall. “We all know it will be a gritty, close game against an always talented team. We're all super excited for this game.”
Gwiasda was was one of four Fillies who missed time early this season on the injured list. She says this year’s club, while somewhat young, has new players who have technical skill and a willingness to learn while manager Ryan Stengren and his staff sort things out.
"For the returning players, we've had to take charge, and lead, on and off the field, just as the seniors have before us," says Gwiasda, who has played at the six for Barrington, which will likely open in a 3-5-2 formation at the 3 p.m. kickoff.
The Fillies graduated Chicagoland Soccer All-State players Jen Devona, Kate McGreevy and keeper Coast Liapis. But the return of Gwiasda, Brooke Brown, Kate Lubinsky, Riley Raynor, Ellie Sanchez and Grace Stagnito, who all helped deliver a fourth place Class 3A state trophy last spring, give Barrington a solid base.
Fremd said goodbye to several high-profile players from its 2021 club including Chicagoland Soccer All-State MF Ashley Scesniak, and the duo of Stone and central defender Pelak Kaera, who both earned Special Mention honors after the season. All told, six seniors graduated.
"We lost a lot from a year ago, but we have Ashley's younger sister, Bella, who along with Shannon (Moran) has been great along the back for us,” said Spotak, who will play collegiate soccer next fall at Eastern Michigan University while working toward a nursing degree.
“We have a great player back with us (Gemma Gillespie). She played a lot in the middle for us last year, but she is so talented (Vikings Manager Steve) Keller has had her in the back, in the middle or even up-top when we need her there.
"We have a sophomore who is new to our team, Sam Findysz, who has scored a lot of our goals thus far. She is usually up-top when we're either in a 4-3-3 or 3-5-2.
"This is a big game for both teams. We need to get a win. That (0-0) draw with Prospect kept us from being even with Barrington in points heading into this game.
"It's always the game we both need for the division. We all know a few players on the Barrington team (Spotak plays club soccer with Fillies Brown, Sanchez and keeper Abby Raynor), and we know we'll have to be strong, both physically and mentally, to do our best.”
By Mike Garofola
With all due respect to a competitive soccer conference such as the Mid-Suburban League (MSL), there has not been a lot of parity at the top of the table.
For the majority of time of late, the league has been dominated by a small fraternity of very talented clubs led by reigning champion Barrington, with Fremd right there. They are typically followed closely by West Division rival Conant and East Division queens Hersey and Buffalo Grove.
On Saturday, Barrington (7-1-0, 6-0-0, 18 points) travels to Fremd (6-1-1, 5-0-1, 16 points) in a mega-battle match that could ultimately decide who will represents the MSL West in the 32nd MSL Soccer Bowl next month.
"I know all of us are really looking forward to playing Barrington on Saturday," said Fremd senior Lily Spotak. “It should be a hard-fought and exciting game that we all know has a lot at stake.”
Spotak was named co-Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match along with teammate Caeleigh Stone in the Vikings 3-2 double-overtime loss to the Fillies last spring.
Spotak was a key figure in a thrilling Vikings comeback that drew the teams level before Fillies senior Nicole Gwiasda fired in the game-winner in the 90th minute to give her club three important points that inspired a ninth-consecutive MSL Soccer Bowl appearance.
Saturday’s edition figures to produce another classic game in the rivalry.
"It's always a big game when we play Fremd. We have to bring our best," said Gwiasda, who will attend Ohio State University in the fall. “We all know it will be a gritty, close game against an always talented team. We're all super excited for this game.”
Gwiasda was was one of four Fillies who missed time early this season on the injured list. She says this year’s club, while somewhat young, has new players who have technical skill and a willingness to learn while manager Ryan Stengren and his staff sort things out.
"For the returning players, we've had to take charge, and lead, on and off the field, just as the seniors have before us," says Gwiasda, who has played at the six for Barrington, which will likely open in a 3-5-2 formation at the 3 p.m. kickoff.
The Fillies graduated Chicagoland Soccer All-State players Jen Devona, Kate McGreevy and keeper Coast Liapis. But the return of Gwiasda, Brooke Brown, Kate Lubinsky, Riley Raynor, Ellie Sanchez and Grace Stagnito, who all helped deliver a fourth place Class 3A state trophy last spring, give Barrington a solid base.
Fremd said goodbye to several high-profile players from its 2021 club including Chicagoland Soccer All-State MF Ashley Scesniak, and the duo of Stone and central defender Pelak Kaera, who both earned Special Mention honors after the season. All told, six seniors graduated.
"We lost a lot from a year ago, but we have Ashley's younger sister, Bella, who along with Shannon (Moran) has been great along the back for us,” said Spotak, who will play collegiate soccer next fall at Eastern Michigan University while working toward a nursing degree.
“We have a great player back with us (Gemma Gillespie). She played a lot in the middle for us last year, but she is so talented (Vikings Manager Steve) Keller has had her in the back, in the middle or even up-top when we need her there.
"We have a sophomore who is new to our team, Sam Findysz, who has scored a lot of our goals thus far. She is usually up-top when we're either in a 4-3-3 or 3-5-2.
"This is a big game for both teams. We need to get a win. That (0-0) draw with Prospect kept us from being even with Barrington in points heading into this game.
"It's always the game we both need for the division. We all know a few players on the Barrington team (Spotak plays club soccer with Fillies Brown, Sanchez and keeper Abby Raynor), and we know we'll have to be strong, both physically and mentally, to do our best.”