Undefeated, ranked Deerfield travels
to 1-loss Fenwick for 1st-ever meeting
By Bobby Narang
The idea for the Fenwick-Deerfield game originated sometime last summer, most likely in Bradenton, Florida. Or maybe it was somewhere on the playoff road to Bradenton, possibly at the Midwest Regional Tournament.
The details are somewhat sketchy when talking to Deerfield coach Rich Grady and Fenwick coach Craig Blazer.
Maybe that’s because both coaches were in the midst of enjoying the incredible run of Chicago FC United’s U19/U20 boys team that won the prestigious James P. McGuire Cup at the US Youth Soccer National Championships in Bradenton last July.
Grady’s son, Ryan, was the star goalie on the squad. Blazer’s son Oscar was the lone Division I recruit on a team dubbed “The Leftovers.”
“We’ve never played Fenwick before, but their coach's son and my son were teammates on the national champion team,” Grady said. “We were talking at regional championships one day, just about that we were looking for games, and let’s set it up. Fenwick is a well-coached team, and it should be a good game.”
Blazer agreed: “It was during that crazy COVID year, when they allowed the two teams to play together. Rich’s son was the Man of the Match in almost every game during the run.
“We all went to Florida, and I was able to tag along as the dad/assistant coach. I had a great time. We talked about playing (Deerfield) … since I was going to be new to coaching the girls. It will be a unique and fun game.”
Deerfield (4-0-0), ranked at no. 21 in the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25, will travel to meet the Friars (3-1-0) at 5 p.m. Thursday for the nonconference battle.
A record-setting player to watch for Deerfield is Holly Deutsch. She has 37 assists over two-plus varsity seasons and became the school’s all-time leader in assists Monday. The senior midfielder was unaware that one of her two assists in the 5-1 win gave her the mark. For the season, she has three goals and six assists.
“Ironically, I did not know until 24 hours later that I had broken the record,” Deutsch said. “Individually, and with the help of my teammates, I had reached a goal I did not comprehend at the start of my high school career.
“I have played club soccer for over 13 years and have been able to travel across the country, internationally to Sweden, and have had so many incredible opportunities that have made me into the player that I’m today.
“As a senior now at Deerfield, I’ve been reflecting on my career and all the time that I’ve dedicated to soccer. I feel that this achievement is only going to better me and make me push myself even further as a person.”
Deutsch, who captains the Warriors along with Ally Linn, Katie Morgan and Riley Schimanski, said the Warriors have set lofty goals this season. She admitted she’s relishing her job as a team leader.
“Earning the role of being one of the captains on this team is a way for me to be a role model for the underclassmen and try to guide them the best I can,” Deutsch said. “We have a long season ahead with a full schedule, and we hope to play into June. We are willing to work as hard as we can as a team to represent our school and achieve this goal.”
Grady said Deutsch is a player capable of taking over a game and lead a team to an extended playoff run.
“Holly is very dynamic and great with the ball and her feet,” the coach said. “She has excellent speed and is able to beat other players down the line and find other players.
“She’s very good at setting up her teammates and quite capable of scoring herself. She had 17 goals last year. She’s dangerous either way.”
Grady said his team is playing well early in the season. A blend of experience and youth has formed a solid team. In Monday’s 5-1 win over Palatine, the Warriors started five seniors, five sophomores and a freshman.
He expects Thursday’s game to be a good road test.
“I think it’s going to be interesting for us, be a very competitive game on Thursday,” Grady said. “I want to see how we measure up against them. We then play Payton on Saturday, which is another quality opponent. It should help us get ready for a crazy April. We will learn a lot about us, and we hope to be peaking the right time come May.”
Click here to see Deerfield's team page
On Fenwick’s side, the only blemish is a 1-0 defeat to cross-town rival Oak Park and River Forest on March 23. The Friars bounced back with a 2-0 nonconference win at Nazareth and then downed Mother McAuley 4-0 to move to 2-0-0 in the Girls Catholic Athletic Conference Red Division.
“We’re playing really good and made improvements form last year,” Blazer said. “Part of it is the sense that the girls know each other, and the coaches know the players.
“They’ve bought into how we want to play and are very coachable this year. Not that they weren’t last year, it was just a lot of new last year. We have a good foundation, and are showing improvement in every game and session.
“Our four captains, Emily Ortiz, Abbie Rogowski, Kate Henige and goalie Audrey Hinrichs, are all helping us. Audrey is a tremendous athlete and competitor and really helped us win some big games. Emily, Abbie and Kate were All-Catholic League selections last year.”
Click here to see Fenwick's team page
to 1-loss Fenwick for 1st-ever meeting
By Bobby Narang
The idea for the Fenwick-Deerfield game originated sometime last summer, most likely in Bradenton, Florida. Or maybe it was somewhere on the playoff road to Bradenton, possibly at the Midwest Regional Tournament.
The details are somewhat sketchy when talking to Deerfield coach Rich Grady and Fenwick coach Craig Blazer.
Maybe that’s because both coaches were in the midst of enjoying the incredible run of Chicago FC United’s U19/U20 boys team that won the prestigious James P. McGuire Cup at the US Youth Soccer National Championships in Bradenton last July.
Grady’s son, Ryan, was the star goalie on the squad. Blazer’s son Oscar was the lone Division I recruit on a team dubbed “The Leftovers.”
“We’ve never played Fenwick before, but their coach's son and my son were teammates on the national champion team,” Grady said. “We were talking at regional championships one day, just about that we were looking for games, and let’s set it up. Fenwick is a well-coached team, and it should be a good game.”
Blazer agreed: “It was during that crazy COVID year, when they allowed the two teams to play together. Rich’s son was the Man of the Match in almost every game during the run.
“We all went to Florida, and I was able to tag along as the dad/assistant coach. I had a great time. We talked about playing (Deerfield) … since I was going to be new to coaching the girls. It will be a unique and fun game.”
Deerfield (4-0-0), ranked at no. 21 in the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25, will travel to meet the Friars (3-1-0) at 5 p.m. Thursday for the nonconference battle.
A record-setting player to watch for Deerfield is Holly Deutsch. She has 37 assists over two-plus varsity seasons and became the school’s all-time leader in assists Monday. The senior midfielder was unaware that one of her two assists in the 5-1 win gave her the mark. For the season, she has three goals and six assists.
“Ironically, I did not know until 24 hours later that I had broken the record,” Deutsch said. “Individually, and with the help of my teammates, I had reached a goal I did not comprehend at the start of my high school career.
“I have played club soccer for over 13 years and have been able to travel across the country, internationally to Sweden, and have had so many incredible opportunities that have made me into the player that I’m today.
“As a senior now at Deerfield, I’ve been reflecting on my career and all the time that I’ve dedicated to soccer. I feel that this achievement is only going to better me and make me push myself even further as a person.”
Deutsch, who captains the Warriors along with Ally Linn, Katie Morgan and Riley Schimanski, said the Warriors have set lofty goals this season. She admitted she’s relishing her job as a team leader.
“Earning the role of being one of the captains on this team is a way for me to be a role model for the underclassmen and try to guide them the best I can,” Deutsch said. “We have a long season ahead with a full schedule, and we hope to play into June. We are willing to work as hard as we can as a team to represent our school and achieve this goal.”
Grady said Deutsch is a player capable of taking over a game and lead a team to an extended playoff run.
“Holly is very dynamic and great with the ball and her feet,” the coach said. “She has excellent speed and is able to beat other players down the line and find other players.
“She’s very good at setting up her teammates and quite capable of scoring herself. She had 17 goals last year. She’s dangerous either way.”
Grady said his team is playing well early in the season. A blend of experience and youth has formed a solid team. In Monday’s 5-1 win over Palatine, the Warriors started five seniors, five sophomores and a freshman.
He expects Thursday’s game to be a good road test.
“I think it’s going to be interesting for us, be a very competitive game on Thursday,” Grady said. “I want to see how we measure up against them. We then play Payton on Saturday, which is another quality opponent. It should help us get ready for a crazy April. We will learn a lot about us, and we hope to be peaking the right time come May.”
Click here to see Deerfield's team page
On Fenwick’s side, the only blemish is a 1-0 defeat to cross-town rival Oak Park and River Forest on March 23. The Friars bounced back with a 2-0 nonconference win at Nazareth and then downed Mother McAuley 4-0 to move to 2-0-0 in the Girls Catholic Athletic Conference Red Division.
“We’re playing really good and made improvements form last year,” Blazer said. “Part of it is the sense that the girls know each other, and the coaches know the players.
“They’ve bought into how we want to play and are very coachable this year. Not that they weren’t last year, it was just a lot of new last year. We have a good foundation, and are showing improvement in every game and session.
“Our four captains, Emily Ortiz, Abbie Rogowski, Kate Henige and goalie Audrey Hinrichs, are all helping us. Audrey is a tremendous athlete and competitor and really helped us win some big games. Emily, Abbie and Kate were All-Catholic League selections last year.”
Click here to see Fenwick's team page