Fremd hopes to catch Barrington
By Mike Garofola
It's a sprint to the finish in the Mid-Suburban League.
Barrington, Conant and Fremd are the three top clubs in the MSL West, while Buffalo Grove, Rolling Meadows and Prospect continue to chase division-leading Hersey.
The road to the West Division title for Barrington has gone through Conant and Fremd for years. Seniors Christine Batliner and Madi Rosen are 3-0-0 against Fremd in their three previous seasons wearing the Fillies kit.
"We always expect Fremd to give us one of our toughest battles," said Rosen after the Fillies stayed atop the league table following their 6-0 victory at Hersey on Monday. "(They) are a big rival or ours, and one that we have a lot of respect for because of the way they play the game, and how well they're coached."
The three points the Fillies earned Monday night kept them two points (24-22) clear of Conant and 10 more than Fremd (7-3-2, 4-1-2). They hope to keep or extend their lead after their 6 p.m. home battle vs. the Vikings on Wednesday. Also that evening, Conant hosts crosstown rival Hoffman Estates
The Vikings played to a 0-0 draw with Conant last week, but its a 1-0 loss to Hersey and another goal-less draw with Prospect makes this contest of utmost importance for Steve Keller's club.
"Steve does a great job, and will expect him to coach-up his players for our game," said Fillies manager Ryan Stengren.
"They will make us work for everything we get, and we fully expect (them) to defend, challenge every 50-50 ball and put a lot of pressure on us all over the place.
"They also have a great keeper (Jennifer Norris). So we'll have to be at our best when we create our chances."
Stengren was not only pleased with his Fillies six-goal explosion at Hersey on Monday, but more importantly, how sharp and deadly his goal scorers were.
"We finished really well against a good keeper from Hersey," he said.
"I really don't feel that any of those six goals could have been stopped, and that's something I've been waiting to see from us."
In the Barrington-Fremd series, two-of-the-last-three results have been decided by one goal: 2016 and 2017 ended with 1-0 finals; last year the Fillies posted a 3-1 victory.
Barrington is led by the aforementioned Rosen, a wonderful left outside back, who serves a magnificent ball, defends and can jump in the attack in a moments notice, much like her partner on the right, Batliner.
In between, junior Juliana Moreno and sophomore Kate McGreevy help complete an air-tight group as the Fillies center back duo.
The Fillies (11-0-1, 8-0-0) have conceded just three goals this season. The Vikings (7-3-2) are just as stingy, allowing only five goals.
The Vikings have an experienced backline of their own with Lauren Burk and Liz Prigge leading the way along with Allie Prigge, and at times, Christy Murauskis, whom Keller welcomed back from club this spring. He has deployed the ultra-talented senior in a variety of areas.
Barrington has received scoring and points from all over its roster, but the Fillies are led by freshman Riley Raynor, who has 10 goals and six assists. She is followed by Tina Teik (6g, 10a), Rebecca Shomaker (9g, 2a) and Ellie McAuley (6g, 6a).
"The girls continue to work and train hard, and I know we'll be ready to play Wednesday, but we'll have to be at our best with Fremd, because I know they will come to play," said Stengren.
By Mike Garofola
It's a sprint to the finish in the Mid-Suburban League.
Barrington, Conant and Fremd are the three top clubs in the MSL West, while Buffalo Grove, Rolling Meadows and Prospect continue to chase division-leading Hersey.
The road to the West Division title for Barrington has gone through Conant and Fremd for years. Seniors Christine Batliner and Madi Rosen are 3-0-0 against Fremd in their three previous seasons wearing the Fillies kit.
"We always expect Fremd to give us one of our toughest battles," said Rosen after the Fillies stayed atop the league table following their 6-0 victory at Hersey on Monday. "(They) are a big rival or ours, and one that we have a lot of respect for because of the way they play the game, and how well they're coached."
The three points the Fillies earned Monday night kept them two points (24-22) clear of Conant and 10 more than Fremd (7-3-2, 4-1-2). They hope to keep or extend their lead after their 6 p.m. home battle vs. the Vikings on Wednesday. Also that evening, Conant hosts crosstown rival Hoffman Estates
The Vikings played to a 0-0 draw with Conant last week, but its a 1-0 loss to Hersey and another goal-less draw with Prospect makes this contest of utmost importance for Steve Keller's club.
"Steve does a great job, and will expect him to coach-up his players for our game," said Fillies manager Ryan Stengren.
"They will make us work for everything we get, and we fully expect (them) to defend, challenge every 50-50 ball and put a lot of pressure on us all over the place.
"They also have a great keeper (Jennifer Norris). So we'll have to be at our best when we create our chances."
Stengren was not only pleased with his Fillies six-goal explosion at Hersey on Monday, but more importantly, how sharp and deadly his goal scorers were.
"We finished really well against a good keeper from Hersey," he said.
"I really don't feel that any of those six goals could have been stopped, and that's something I've been waiting to see from us."
In the Barrington-Fremd series, two-of-the-last-three results have been decided by one goal: 2016 and 2017 ended with 1-0 finals; last year the Fillies posted a 3-1 victory.
Barrington is led by the aforementioned Rosen, a wonderful left outside back, who serves a magnificent ball, defends and can jump in the attack in a moments notice, much like her partner on the right, Batliner.
In between, junior Juliana Moreno and sophomore Kate McGreevy help complete an air-tight group as the Fillies center back duo.
The Fillies (11-0-1, 8-0-0) have conceded just three goals this season. The Vikings (7-3-2) are just as stingy, allowing only five goals.
The Vikings have an experienced backline of their own with Lauren Burk and Liz Prigge leading the way along with Allie Prigge, and at times, Christy Murauskis, whom Keller welcomed back from club this spring. He has deployed the ultra-talented senior in a variety of areas.
Barrington has received scoring and points from all over its roster, but the Fillies are led by freshman Riley Raynor, who has 10 goals and six assists. She is followed by Tina Teik (6g, 10a), Rebecca Shomaker (9g, 2a) and Ellie McAuley (6g, 6a).
"The girls continue to work and train hard, and I know we'll be ready to play Wednesday, but we'll have to be at our best with Fremd, because I know they will come to play," said Stengren.