Season recap: Barrington
By Mike Garofola
For a program which has a trophy case that houses two state championship awards and hardware from six other placings, 16 regional and sectional titles and nine-consecutive league titles, the bar is set high at Barrington High School from the first day of training camp.
Despite all the prizes on hand, you would have been hard pressed to believe that coach Ryan Stengren and his staff expected his 2021 club to continue this success with the loss of 13 seniors from his 2019 state runnerup team and the arrival of 15 new faces on his roster.
"We just didn't know what would we have,” he said. “There were 14-of-19 girls who had never played one minute of varsity soccer before. There were question marks all over the place for us.
"In addition to having so many young and inexperienced players with us, we also did not know when we would have our two best players available."
Jen Devona (knee) and Kate McGreevy (hamstring) were both nursed early injuries. Devona’s was the more serious of the two and caused Stengren to lower the bar even further.
"Jen and Kate were both key players on our 2018 state championship team,” he said. “They brought plenty of experience, and great leadership abilities with them (in) addition to being two of the best players at their positions in the state.
"We figured with (them) plus Coast (Liapis) in goal, and Lara (Lubinsky) and Riley Raynor back from the 2019 state runnerup team, we had a nice core to build around and hopefully become a team that could compete in the Mid-Suburban League, and have our new girls gain enough experience for the future.”
"None of us who were coming back knew what this team was going to be," began McGreevy, who earned well deserved all-state honors from the IHSSCA for her wonderful play as the Fillies central defender. “There were so many new players, and we always play so many really good opponents to start the season.
"We've had so many great teams and players during the last 8-10 years, but this team was different. In my opinion, the reason we had the season we did was because of (Stengren). He did an amazing job this year, maybe his best ever."
McGreevy, who will attend the University of Illinois next fall, made the comments following the Fillies heart-breaking 2-1 loss in its state semifinal contest with Lyons Township.
When told what his player said, Stengren smiled and became a little emotional as well.
"Kate was a student of mine way back in kindergarten gym class,” he said. “So you have to understand, she is like a member of my family."
"He's the best coach I have ever had," said Devona while on break from ODP regional camp work in St. Louis. "(He) didn't push me and allowed me to slowly come back from my injury, always being very careful about my minutes. With that and our trainers at Barrington, I was able to play, and enjoy my senior season of soccer.
"Nobody takes as much time with each player like he does. His ability to train, teach, and prepare us in advance of each game is amazing. I know for our younger players that means so much."
Devona joined McGreevy and Liapis on the coaches’
All-State Team.
"Kate brought together a backline that was brand new, and along with Coast made us a very good unit,” Stengren said. “Jen missed a few games early, but she went box-to-box defending, creating, scoring big goals when we needed them and playing at a level that was second to none."
Devona finished with 19 goals in the 19 games. McGreevy, Liapis, Ellie Sanchez, Grace Stagnito and Ella VanNess became a stingy group and conceded just eight goals in 22 games.
"Gracie never played in the back, so she was a little apprehensive about her move to defense,” said Stengren. “She made great strides, as did Ellie on the other side. Ella grew into a very good center back alongside McGreevy."
"Gracie and Ellie had big shoes to fill on the outside with Madi (Rosen) and Christine (Batliner) both going to college,” said Devona. “But they worked so hard to understand their roles, and how we play defensively in the back and as a team. I was real proud of both of them."
"I was a little nervous coming and playing on the varsity,” Stagnito said. “Jen, Kate and Coast were great team leaders and always brought real positive energy to the team before and during training and in our games."
"We were really lucky to have senior players that cared for everyone and what it meant to play soccer at Barrington. It was the same with Strengren, whose preparation, trust in us, tactics and knowledge of the sport made it so much easier for me to be playing on the varsity team for the first time."
Except for its 1-1 draw with MSL East Division champion Buffalo Grove, the Fillies won out in the league table and went on to an unprecedented-ninth consecutive MSL Soccer Bowl win.
When junior Nicole Gwiasda stunned longtime rival Fremd with her 90th minute game-winner, the 3-2 victory all but closed out the rest of the West Division for its championship game berth.
To Stengren and his players, the Soccer Bowl and the supersectional win before a packed house against St. Charles East were the Fillies’ two most comprehensively played games of the season.
Not once during the preparation for both games did Stengren or his staff throw a ball onto the turf to train. Instead they spent the entire session walking through defensive assignments, situational play and more in order to pry open their opponent on one end, while shutting them down on the other.
"I could not have been more proud of how the girls responded during those training sessions leading up to the Soccer Bowl and our super with St. Charles East," said Stengren.
The Fillies defeated Buffalo Grove 3-0, then took down no. 1-rated St. Charles East 1-0 to guarantee themselves another state trophy.
"You could see the potential this young team had at the start of the year," said Devona, who will play next fall at DePaul, where she will enter the health sciences program.
“But to take that potential forward, and end up in the state tournament really said a lot about this team.”
"We always stress to be better it's important to feel comfortable during uncomfortable situations,” said Stengren. “The girls bought into what we were selling, then put everything into training. They came together to become like a family, both on and away from the field. "
The compressed and exhausting COVID season ended with a state finals trip that did not end the way the Fillies would have liked.
Brilliant work from goalkeeper Izzy Lee turned away three potential second half goals to give Lyons a hard-fought 2-1 victory in the state semifinal. One day later, the Fillies dropped another 2-1 contest, this time to Libertyville in the third place game.
"It was important to get everyone on our roster into that game with Libertyville (so) they could enjoy the experience of playing in a state tournament,” said Stengren. “That was a great way to end this season, which easily had to be one of, if not the most, rewarding season of my career."
"The support we received from the administration, staff, families, alumni and community was overwhelming. It speaks to the tradition of Barrington soccer, which all of these girls respected and played for each time out."
Stengren will welcome back seven of his first 11 next season. Brooke Brown (12 assists), Kate Lubinsky (eight goals, nine assists), Riley Raynor (13 goals), Gwiasda, Sanchez, Stagnito, and VanNess.
"There's some very good pieces in place for next season,” the coach concluded. “If the players on the JV work hard over the summer, maybe we can have another year like this one.
“But our division and the conference is getting better and all of them bring their best when we play. We always have to be ready for that challenge."
By Mike Garofola
For a program which has a trophy case that houses two state championship awards and hardware from six other placings, 16 regional and sectional titles and nine-consecutive league titles, the bar is set high at Barrington High School from the first day of training camp.
Despite all the prizes on hand, you would have been hard pressed to believe that coach Ryan Stengren and his staff expected his 2021 club to continue this success with the loss of 13 seniors from his 2019 state runnerup team and the arrival of 15 new faces on his roster.
"We just didn't know what would we have,” he said. “There were 14-of-19 girls who had never played one minute of varsity soccer before. There were question marks all over the place for us.
"In addition to having so many young and inexperienced players with us, we also did not know when we would have our two best players available."
Jen Devona (knee) and Kate McGreevy (hamstring) were both nursed early injuries. Devona’s was the more serious of the two and caused Stengren to lower the bar even further.
"Jen and Kate were both key players on our 2018 state championship team,” he said. “They brought plenty of experience, and great leadership abilities with them (in) addition to being two of the best players at their positions in the state.
"We figured with (them) plus Coast (Liapis) in goal, and Lara (Lubinsky) and Riley Raynor back from the 2019 state runnerup team, we had a nice core to build around and hopefully become a team that could compete in the Mid-Suburban League, and have our new girls gain enough experience for the future.”
"None of us who were coming back knew what this team was going to be," began McGreevy, who earned well deserved all-state honors from the IHSSCA for her wonderful play as the Fillies central defender. “There were so many new players, and we always play so many really good opponents to start the season.
"We've had so many great teams and players during the last 8-10 years, but this team was different. In my opinion, the reason we had the season we did was because of (Stengren). He did an amazing job this year, maybe his best ever."
McGreevy, who will attend the University of Illinois next fall, made the comments following the Fillies heart-breaking 2-1 loss in its state semifinal contest with Lyons Township.
When told what his player said, Stengren smiled and became a little emotional as well.
"Kate was a student of mine way back in kindergarten gym class,” he said. “So you have to understand, she is like a member of my family."
"He's the best coach I have ever had," said Devona while on break from ODP regional camp work in St. Louis. "(He) didn't push me and allowed me to slowly come back from my injury, always being very careful about my minutes. With that and our trainers at Barrington, I was able to play, and enjoy my senior season of soccer.
"Nobody takes as much time with each player like he does. His ability to train, teach, and prepare us in advance of each game is amazing. I know for our younger players that means so much."
Devona joined McGreevy and Liapis on the coaches’
All-State Team.
"Kate brought together a backline that was brand new, and along with Coast made us a very good unit,” Stengren said. “Jen missed a few games early, but she went box-to-box defending, creating, scoring big goals when we needed them and playing at a level that was second to none."
Devona finished with 19 goals in the 19 games. McGreevy, Liapis, Ellie Sanchez, Grace Stagnito and Ella VanNess became a stingy group and conceded just eight goals in 22 games.
"Gracie never played in the back, so she was a little apprehensive about her move to defense,” said Stengren. “She made great strides, as did Ellie on the other side. Ella grew into a very good center back alongside McGreevy."
"Gracie and Ellie had big shoes to fill on the outside with Madi (Rosen) and Christine (Batliner) both going to college,” said Devona. “But they worked so hard to understand their roles, and how we play defensively in the back and as a team. I was real proud of both of them."
"I was a little nervous coming and playing on the varsity,” Stagnito said. “Jen, Kate and Coast were great team leaders and always brought real positive energy to the team before and during training and in our games."
"We were really lucky to have senior players that cared for everyone and what it meant to play soccer at Barrington. It was the same with Strengren, whose preparation, trust in us, tactics and knowledge of the sport made it so much easier for me to be playing on the varsity team for the first time."
Except for its 1-1 draw with MSL East Division champion Buffalo Grove, the Fillies won out in the league table and went on to an unprecedented-ninth consecutive MSL Soccer Bowl win.
When junior Nicole Gwiasda stunned longtime rival Fremd with her 90th minute game-winner, the 3-2 victory all but closed out the rest of the West Division for its championship game berth.
To Stengren and his players, the Soccer Bowl and the supersectional win before a packed house against St. Charles East were the Fillies’ two most comprehensively played games of the season.
Not once during the preparation for both games did Stengren or his staff throw a ball onto the turf to train. Instead they spent the entire session walking through defensive assignments, situational play and more in order to pry open their opponent on one end, while shutting them down on the other.
"I could not have been more proud of how the girls responded during those training sessions leading up to the Soccer Bowl and our super with St. Charles East," said Stengren.
The Fillies defeated Buffalo Grove 3-0, then took down no. 1-rated St. Charles East 1-0 to guarantee themselves another state trophy.
"You could see the potential this young team had at the start of the year," said Devona, who will play next fall at DePaul, where she will enter the health sciences program.
“But to take that potential forward, and end up in the state tournament really said a lot about this team.”
"We always stress to be better it's important to feel comfortable during uncomfortable situations,” said Stengren. “The girls bought into what we were selling, then put everything into training. They came together to become like a family, both on and away from the field. "
The compressed and exhausting COVID season ended with a state finals trip that did not end the way the Fillies would have liked.
Brilliant work from goalkeeper Izzy Lee turned away three potential second half goals to give Lyons a hard-fought 2-1 victory in the state semifinal. One day later, the Fillies dropped another 2-1 contest, this time to Libertyville in the third place game.
"It was important to get everyone on our roster into that game with Libertyville (so) they could enjoy the experience of playing in a state tournament,” said Stengren. “That was a great way to end this season, which easily had to be one of, if not the most, rewarding season of my career."
"The support we received from the administration, staff, families, alumni and community was overwhelming. It speaks to the tradition of Barrington soccer, which all of these girls respected and played for each time out."
Stengren will welcome back seven of his first 11 next season. Brooke Brown (12 assists), Kate Lubinsky (eight goals, nine assists), Riley Raynor (13 goals), Gwiasda, Sanchez, Stagnito, and VanNess.
"There's some very good pieces in place for next season,” the coach concluded. “If the players on the JV work hard over the summer, maybe we can have another year like this one.
“But our division and the conference is getting better and all of them bring their best when we play. We always have to be ready for that challenge."