Girls water polo: Fremd's second-half surge sinks Prospect

For the better part of the first half, the Mid-Suburban League girls water polo title game between Prospect and host Fremd on Thursday evening was to the Knights' liking.

The Mid-Suburban East champs got second-quarter goals from all-conference choices Colleen Doyle and Gracie Dix to tie it at 2-2, and Prospect all-conference senior goalie Lauren Broz was stopping shots all over the place - including a penalty shot taken by Fremd's Becca Rutkowski just before halftime.

But on that penalty shot, Rutkowski got the rebound and ended up scoring with 4.95 seconds left to put Fremd up 3-2.

The Vikings led the rest of the way, extending the lead to 4-2 by the end of the third quarter and finishing with a 6-goal effort in the fourth quarter to win 10-2.

One key to the big finish was Fremd senior Paulina Pappas. Saddled with two ejections early in the game, she had plenty of time non-playing time on her hands, during which she considered the best course of action.

"I just wanted to make sure I was able to stay in the game for the full seven minutes," she said. "I guess it worked out pretty well."

Indeed: Pappas scored three straight for Fremd on fastbreak opportunities as the lead went from 5-2 to 8-2.

"It's one of those things where you don't want to plan it that way, but I think it actually turned out to be helpful to have her really fresh for that fourth quarter," said Fremd coach Ray Roth.

Junior all-conference choice Emily Kini contributed 3 goals, Karolina Urban and Lauren Streitmatter had 1 each and Rutkowski finished with 2 for Fremd (22-6).

Prospect coach Natalie Tucker said her team was disappointed with the outcome, but the experience was far from a total loss for the Knights (14-9).

Both teams will compete in the sectional Fremd is hosting next week, so it's possible the MSL title game served as an extended scouting opportunity if the two teams should meet again.

"We were very pleased with the first half," Tucker said. "That showed us how we can play with a team like Fremd if we're doing the things we know how to do.

"The second half, well, there's plenty that we can learn from that, too. But I'm really proud of my girls."

The MSL championship is Fremd's first since 2012.

Jeronimus said she actually enjoyed the early part of the game, when it was tied or the teams were separated by just a goal or two.

"Just a personal preference," she said, "but I really like the intensity of a close game, where every possession really matters."

And her coach certainly enjoys having Jeronimus as the last line of defense.

"We're a good defensive team," Roth said, "but Emma, she's like our brick wall back there."

This year's all-conference selections:

Barrington: Mia Latimer (Sr.), Isabella Rojas (Sr.); Buffalo Grove: Laura Komrska (Jr.), Conant: Sam Wooley, Paulina Chowaniec; Elk Grove: Lilly Lawrin (Sr.), Fremd: Emma Jeronimus (Sr.), Emily Kini (Jr.), Jenessa Islas-Parker (Sr.); Hersey: Katie Lindgren (Soph.); Hoffman Estates: Jennifer Fermaintt (Sr.), Palatine: Mathilde Mogensen (Sr.), Tess O'Brien (Sr.); Prospect: Lauren Broz (Sr.), Colleen Doyle (Soph.), Gracie Dix (Jr.); Rolling Meadows: Lizzie Hardt (Sr.), Betsy Zanocco (Jr.), Anna Frantom (Sr.); Schaumburg: Rebecca Kasner (Sr.), Wheeling: Argelia Diaz (Sr.)