St. Ignatius, Fenwick aim for fast
league start in early CCL Blue match
By Michael Wojtychiw
With the lack of a state series this spring, the conference season has become the main focus of many schools’ as their target to measure success. Getting off to a fast start in conference play can give a team momentum and confidence as it moves further into the shortened season.
"Everything is so different and challenging this season, and anytime you play St. Ignatius it's a lot of fun. Our guys have a lot of respect for the team," Fenwick coach
Craig Blazer said. "This is an exciting matchup for both squads."
Fenwick and St. Ignatius carry unblemished records into Tuesday's matchup in River Forest. However, the two programs have had a bit of different starts to the year.
After starting their season with a 5-0 nonconference win over Nazareth on March 13, the Friars had their Chicago Catholic League Blue Division opener with Mount Carmel postponed because of COVID-19 issues within the Caravan program.
St. Ignatius got two games in last week. The Wolfpack took down Brother Rice at home in its division opener and then crossed the conference to win at DePaul two days later.
Having outscored their opponents 8-1, it's fair to say the Wolfpack will be a team that'll be tough to slow down, especially when it's gotten some momentum.
Fenwick’s eight-day layoff hasn't really worried Blazer, who is in his second year at the helm of the Friars' boys program and will coach of the girls team later this spring.
"There was so much hype to start the season but not having a game for us is OK, because we get to learn so much about our players and how they play," he said. "We just need to take it day-by-day; but we know we've improved and seen different guys step up and grow from the experiences."
To contain the St. Ignatius attack, the Friars will have to slowdown the Wolfpack’s powerful Rice brothers, Isaac and Jaden, who have combined to score five of the squad's eight goals on the year.
"They have so much chemistry together," St. Ignatius coach Matt Miller said. "Isaac is powerful, fast, holds the ball up well, is athletic and also good on the ball as well. Jaden is good on the ball as well, skilled feet, creative-minded, has an eye for a pass. In both those roles, they're finding each other right now and also getting on the end of some good plays from others."
Both players, who were named to Chicagoland Soccer's Players to Watch List over the weekend, lead an Ignatius squad made up entirely of juniors and seniors, including midfielder, Luke Hogan, defender Aidan Hurst, defender Charlie Kennedy and defender Gavin Troy, all of whom were also named to the Players to Watch List.
Last year St. Ignatius took a 2-1 decision decided on a penalty kick in the last minute. Blazer’s Fenwick is eager to turn the tables.
"We had success in tournaments, in conference, but then the guys understood how we wanted to play and how good they could be,” Blazer said. “When it (last season) ended it was hard, because they eventually began believing. But that's the positive, seeing it all come together."
league start in early CCL Blue match
By Michael Wojtychiw
With the lack of a state series this spring, the conference season has become the main focus of many schools’ as their target to measure success. Getting off to a fast start in conference play can give a team momentum and confidence as it moves further into the shortened season.
"Everything is so different and challenging this season, and anytime you play St. Ignatius it's a lot of fun. Our guys have a lot of respect for the team," Fenwick coach
Craig Blazer said. "This is an exciting matchup for both squads."
Fenwick and St. Ignatius carry unblemished records into Tuesday's matchup in River Forest. However, the two programs have had a bit of different starts to the year.
After starting their season with a 5-0 nonconference win over Nazareth on March 13, the Friars had their Chicago Catholic League Blue Division opener with Mount Carmel postponed because of COVID-19 issues within the Caravan program.
St. Ignatius got two games in last week. The Wolfpack took down Brother Rice at home in its division opener and then crossed the conference to win at DePaul two days later.
Having outscored their opponents 8-1, it's fair to say the Wolfpack will be a team that'll be tough to slow down, especially when it's gotten some momentum.
Fenwick’s eight-day layoff hasn't really worried Blazer, who is in his second year at the helm of the Friars' boys program and will coach of the girls team later this spring.
"There was so much hype to start the season but not having a game for us is OK, because we get to learn so much about our players and how they play," he said. "We just need to take it day-by-day; but we know we've improved and seen different guys step up and grow from the experiences."
To contain the St. Ignatius attack, the Friars will have to slowdown the Wolfpack’s powerful Rice brothers, Isaac and Jaden, who have combined to score five of the squad's eight goals on the year.
"They have so much chemistry together," St. Ignatius coach Matt Miller said. "Isaac is powerful, fast, holds the ball up well, is athletic and also good on the ball as well. Jaden is good on the ball as well, skilled feet, creative-minded, has an eye for a pass. In both those roles, they're finding each other right now and also getting on the end of some good plays from others."
Both players, who were named to Chicagoland Soccer's Players to Watch List over the weekend, lead an Ignatius squad made up entirely of juniors and seniors, including midfielder, Luke Hogan, defender Aidan Hurst, defender Charlie Kennedy and defender Gavin Troy, all of whom were also named to the Players to Watch List.
Last year St. Ignatius took a 2-1 decision decided on a penalty kick in the last minute. Blazer’s Fenwick is eager to turn the tables.
"We had success in tournaments, in conference, but then the guys understood how we wanted to play and how good they could be,” Blazer said. “When it (last season) ended it was hard, because they eventually began believing. But that's the positive, seeing it all come together."