Girls water polo / MSL championship preview

Girls water polo

Mid-Suburban League championship

Prospect (18-1) at Fremd (20-4)

When: 6 p.m. today

Outlook: It figures to be a great test for both teams, both of whom completed 10-0 runs against their divisional foes last week.

Prospect ended a two-year run of Wheeling victories in the MSL East to earn a spot in the championship game. The Knights’ focal point is senior Meg Dix, but the team has also had consistent scoring from Lisa Mazur, Jessica Cavaiani and Tori Shields and solid goaltending from Tori Thompson as first-year varsity coach Alfonso Lopez has guided Prospect to a remarkable season. The Knights’ only loss came in their most recent game, in tournament play against host Lane Tech.

Fremd is the three-time defending league champion, and during that span the Vikings haven’t lost to an MSL foe. Samantha Matuszewski, Sam Del Prado and Megan Kennedy are among the players who have been leading this spring, but the roster is loaded with players who made significant contributions to Fremd’s Elite Eight qualifier last season, including goalkeeper Julie Conrath. Stepping up and providing key efforts this season have been Lauren Zambelli (28 goals) and wing defender Emily McCarthy. Don’t read too much into the fact that three of Fremd’s four losses came relatively recently — that has more do with the level of competition (Stevenson, Mundelein, Naperville Central) than anything else.

Quoteworthy: “Meg Dix can play anywhere, and we’ll have to account for her at all times,” said Fremd coach Brian Newby. “We’re a well-balanced team, and we can make adjustments.”