32nd annual
Mid-Suburban League Soccer Bowl
Prospect (14-3-1, 8-2-1) vs. Barrington (16-2-0, 11-0-0)
When: 7 p.m. Wednesday (May 11)
Where: Barrington Community Field
History
Prospect
The Lady Knights hope their third trip to the MSL championship game is the charm. Prospect returns for the first time since 2003, when they lost a 1-0 contest against manager Paul Keenan and Barrington. In their debut in the MSL title series in 1997, they lost 8-1 to Fremd, which was managed by Don Balk. He collected four titles in six trips before turning things over to current manager Steve Keller in 2001.
In 2018, Prospect tied Buffalo Grove and Hersey for the Mid-Suburban League East Division title with 19 points (6-4-1), but the Huskies advanced and lost to Barrington.
"(It) is a credit to the players in our program who have a wonderful work ethic and continue to persevere and to overcome setbacks," said Prospect manager Tom Froats.
Barrington
This will be a league-high 16th appearance for the Fillies in the championship. They have claimed the big trophy nine-consecutive seasons to give the program a league-best 13 titles. Tbhat includes a 3-0 victory over Buffalo Grove a year ago.
"There's a lot of history and pride in our program,” said manager Ryan Stengren. “But the one thing we stress to each new team every spring -- it's a new season. What the previous team accomplished is with them alone, and that we do not measure or compare one team to another.
"It's a way for the next team to take ownership for what they accomplish. I can tell you this team has put so much into each training session from the very start, working hard for themselves and each other in order to be the best that they can be."
Barrington lost to Schaumburg in its first two visits to the Soccer Bowl in 1996 and 1998, but have won their next 13 trips. That included 2003 and 2005 under Keenan, who prior to coming to the northwest suburbs helmed the top-notch St. Charles boys to a 1992 runnerup finish and back-to-back undefeated championships in 1996 and 1997, all in the one-class system.
The Fillies now seek their 10th title in a row.
"We've continued to lose a number of terrific players the past few seasons through graduation," said Fillies captain and all-state candidate Nicole Gwiasda, who is the gold standard playing the 10 for Stengren. “I've always had a lot of confidence in our returning players; and new players put in the work, trust the process and each other.”
Key players
Prospect
Seniors Jackie Keane (D), Abby Knott, (MF-F, 8g); Hannah Mekky (F/MF, 6g, 7a) and Kaela Salehzadeh, (D). Juniors Lily Barich (GK, 0.66 GAA, eight shutouts), Kayley Bouzas (MF), Natalie Bouzas (D) and Jillian Sawadski (MF/F, 5g, 10a).
Froats believes his three captains, Keane, Knott and Mekky are the strength of his club just on their leadership alone. "They lead by example with quiet, caring voices that resonate with their teammates,” he said. “The rest of the team has been locked in. They are a talented and hungry group of players, and wonderful teammates."
The MSL East Division champions have built themselves a quality backline in front of Barich, with Natalie Bouzas, Julia Valentini, Keane and Salehzadeh, who have played a big part in a nine-game unbeaten stretch after the Knights 5-0 road loss at Barrington.
"You’re only as good as the people in front of you," said Barich. “Our backline is a big reason for our success thus far, as well as Abby (Davis) and Maggie Rosenberg just in front of our backline, who together have worked very hard to keep chances to a minimum against us.
"We have great leadership on this team, and all of us are very excited to get Prospect back to the MSL Soccer Bowl, which is something I felt we were always capable of."
Barrington
Key players
Seniors Kathleen Baker (D, 5g), Nicole Gwiasda (MF), Caitlin Paul (D) and Gracie Stagnito (D). Juniors Brooke Brown (MF, 10g, 15a), Kate Lubinsky (MF, 7g, 7a), Abby Raynor (GK, 0.36 GAA, 11 shutouts) and Ellie Sanchez (D). Sophomore Kaitlin Taylor (MF, 10g). Freshman Piper Lucier (F, 14g, 9a).
Regardless of what formation the Fillies come out in Wednesday night, one thing is for sure, they’ll bring intensity and pressure and do their best not to allow any room for Prospect to breathe.
Barrington has the players who can make that happen due to their high work-rate beginning in the middle of the park with Brooke Brown, Nicole Gwiasda, Kate Lubinsky and Kaitlin Taylor. Add to that a forward line that will track back and chase, and that will create plenty of trouble in Prospect’s defensive end.
Lucier has been a grand surprise with her team-leading 14 goals. Junior keeper Abby Raynor has stepped in wonderfully between the sticks for graduated 2021 all-stater Coast Liapis.
The Fillies are as stingy as ever this spring. They have conceded just six goals on the season and one in league play thanks to Raynor and the backline unit of Baker, Paul, Sanchez and Stagnito.
"The key to our success is that (Stengren) has this knack of getting the best out of all us," said Gwiasda. “The way he treats each and every player the same, regardless of their role, we all feel like we're an important part of the team.”
The managers
Tom Froats (Prospect, 21st season, 204-151-53)
"I think I began to realize our potential when we lost early on to longtime state power New Trier (2-1), because it gave our team a lot of confidence moving forward into our conference season."
"It allowed all of us to think big and dream big."'
"Barrington is one of the top teams in the state, with an extremely talented roster, and a coach in Ryan Stengren who does a terrific job. We expect they will bring their very best from the opening whistle.
"I give a lot of credit to our team for their resilience, especially after that loss to Barrington. Since then, we've gone 9-0-0 and outscored our opponents 27-1.
"It is up to us to take on the challenge of proving that last result against Barrington is not indicative of the team we have become since that day."
Ryan Stengren (Barrington, 14th season, 276-50-28)
"With so many new players this year, and a few injuries at the start of the season, we've slowly seen this team come together nicely. The girls have followed the process through hard work, dedication and a trust in each other and the coaching staff. There is plenty of confidence all throughout this team.
"We have always had a lot of respect for our opponents, and tonight when we play Prospect it will not be any different.
"(Tom) has a talented team and a great record to go along with it. We'll come out ready to play from the start and for anything they do.”
Mid-Suburban League Soccer Bowl
Prospect (14-3-1, 8-2-1) vs. Barrington (16-2-0, 11-0-0)
When: 7 p.m. Wednesday (May 11)
Where: Barrington Community Field
History
Prospect
The Lady Knights hope their third trip to the MSL championship game is the charm. Prospect returns for the first time since 2003, when they lost a 1-0 contest against manager Paul Keenan and Barrington. In their debut in the MSL title series in 1997, they lost 8-1 to Fremd, which was managed by Don Balk. He collected four titles in six trips before turning things over to current manager Steve Keller in 2001.
In 2018, Prospect tied Buffalo Grove and Hersey for the Mid-Suburban League East Division title with 19 points (6-4-1), but the Huskies advanced and lost to Barrington.
"(It) is a credit to the players in our program who have a wonderful work ethic and continue to persevere and to overcome setbacks," said Prospect manager Tom Froats.
Barrington
This will be a league-high 16th appearance for the Fillies in the championship. They have claimed the big trophy nine-consecutive seasons to give the program a league-best 13 titles. Tbhat includes a 3-0 victory over Buffalo Grove a year ago.
"There's a lot of history and pride in our program,” said manager Ryan Stengren. “But the one thing we stress to each new team every spring -- it's a new season. What the previous team accomplished is with them alone, and that we do not measure or compare one team to another.
"It's a way for the next team to take ownership for what they accomplish. I can tell you this team has put so much into each training session from the very start, working hard for themselves and each other in order to be the best that they can be."
Barrington lost to Schaumburg in its first two visits to the Soccer Bowl in 1996 and 1998, but have won their next 13 trips. That included 2003 and 2005 under Keenan, who prior to coming to the northwest suburbs helmed the top-notch St. Charles boys to a 1992 runnerup finish and back-to-back undefeated championships in 1996 and 1997, all in the one-class system.
The Fillies now seek their 10th title in a row.
"We've continued to lose a number of terrific players the past few seasons through graduation," said Fillies captain and all-state candidate Nicole Gwiasda, who is the gold standard playing the 10 for Stengren. “I've always had a lot of confidence in our returning players; and new players put in the work, trust the process and each other.”
Key players
Prospect
Seniors Jackie Keane (D), Abby Knott, (MF-F, 8g); Hannah Mekky (F/MF, 6g, 7a) and Kaela Salehzadeh, (D). Juniors Lily Barich (GK, 0.66 GAA, eight shutouts), Kayley Bouzas (MF), Natalie Bouzas (D) and Jillian Sawadski (MF/F, 5g, 10a).
Froats believes his three captains, Keane, Knott and Mekky are the strength of his club just on their leadership alone. "They lead by example with quiet, caring voices that resonate with their teammates,” he said. “The rest of the team has been locked in. They are a talented and hungry group of players, and wonderful teammates."
The MSL East Division champions have built themselves a quality backline in front of Barich, with Natalie Bouzas, Julia Valentini, Keane and Salehzadeh, who have played a big part in a nine-game unbeaten stretch after the Knights 5-0 road loss at Barrington.
"You’re only as good as the people in front of you," said Barich. “Our backline is a big reason for our success thus far, as well as Abby (Davis) and Maggie Rosenberg just in front of our backline, who together have worked very hard to keep chances to a minimum against us.
"We have great leadership on this team, and all of us are very excited to get Prospect back to the MSL Soccer Bowl, which is something I felt we were always capable of."
Barrington
Key players
Seniors Kathleen Baker (D, 5g), Nicole Gwiasda (MF), Caitlin Paul (D) and Gracie Stagnito (D). Juniors Brooke Brown (MF, 10g, 15a), Kate Lubinsky (MF, 7g, 7a), Abby Raynor (GK, 0.36 GAA, 11 shutouts) and Ellie Sanchez (D). Sophomore Kaitlin Taylor (MF, 10g). Freshman Piper Lucier (F, 14g, 9a).
Regardless of what formation the Fillies come out in Wednesday night, one thing is for sure, they’ll bring intensity and pressure and do their best not to allow any room for Prospect to breathe.
Barrington has the players who can make that happen due to their high work-rate beginning in the middle of the park with Brooke Brown, Nicole Gwiasda, Kate Lubinsky and Kaitlin Taylor. Add to that a forward line that will track back and chase, and that will create plenty of trouble in Prospect’s defensive end.
Lucier has been a grand surprise with her team-leading 14 goals. Junior keeper Abby Raynor has stepped in wonderfully between the sticks for graduated 2021 all-stater Coast Liapis.
The Fillies are as stingy as ever this spring. They have conceded just six goals on the season and one in league play thanks to Raynor and the backline unit of Baker, Paul, Sanchez and Stagnito.
"The key to our success is that (Stengren) has this knack of getting the best out of all us," said Gwiasda. “The way he treats each and every player the same, regardless of their role, we all feel like we're an important part of the team.”
The managers
Tom Froats (Prospect, 21st season, 204-151-53)
"I think I began to realize our potential when we lost early on to longtime state power New Trier (2-1), because it gave our team a lot of confidence moving forward into our conference season."
"It allowed all of us to think big and dream big."'
"Barrington is one of the top teams in the state, with an extremely talented roster, and a coach in Ryan Stengren who does a terrific job. We expect they will bring their very best from the opening whistle.
"I give a lot of credit to our team for their resilience, especially after that loss to Barrington. Since then, we've gone 9-0-0 and outscored our opponents 27-1.
"It is up to us to take on the challenge of proving that last result against Barrington is not indicative of the team we have become since that day."
Ryan Stengren (Barrington, 14th season, 276-50-28)
"With so many new players this year, and a few injuries at the start of the season, we've slowly seen this team come together nicely. The girls have followed the process through hard work, dedication and a trust in each other and the coaching staff. There is plenty of confidence all throughout this team.
"We have always had a lot of respect for our opponents, and tonight when we play Prospect it will not be any different.
"(Tom) has a talented team and a great record to go along with it. We'll come out ready to play from the start and for anything they do.”