Girls soccer: Another shutout for Benet defense
The back line has stood tall all spring for the Benet girls soccer team, to the tune of 15 shutouts heading into Friday's Class 2A Hinsdale South sectional final.
And on a day where scoring opportunities weren't plentiful, the defensive quartet of Lauren Fischer, Kate Flynn, Mary Kate Hansen and Clare Bumpus was up to the task yet again, stifling the St. Ignatius attack in a 2-0 win in Darien.
In capturing its first sectional championship since 2012, the Redwings (20-3-1) advance to Tuesday's 6 p.m. supersectional against St. Francis, also at Hinsdale South.
"That's what we have done all year," said Benet coach Gerard Oconer, whose team added to its school record total for victories in a season. "We've been pretty airtight in the back and we've been opportunistic when we have to score. Our defense eases so much pressure off of us. We feel like we are going to win every time if we score a goal."
Evangeline Frantzen notched the shutout in goal, registering three saves. The Wolfpack only had one serious threat to score, with a shot going over the crossbar midway through the second half.
"The biggest thing for us is closing down the space," said Fischer, one of two seniors in the back along with Bumpus. "We don't allow any through balls to get through. And if someone does get beat, we are there to cover each other.
"As a team we've worked hard all year and that hard work is really paying off."
Benet received the only goal it would need with 16 minutes gone in the first half as Cami Picha received a pass from Erin Flynn in front of the goal and deposited it in the back of the net. Flynn has made a run down the left side of the field.
The score remained 1-0 until less than 10 minutes remained in the match when Abby Casmere took a pass on the right side from Jackie Schuman and blasted a 20-yard shot into the lower left corner of the goal.
The Redwings had just two shots on goal in the opening 40 minutes before putting together some quality chances after halftime.
"They were very good defensively," junior Mia Ullmer said. "I think it came down to us winning the ball in the midfield. We did a good job switching the ball and the attack.
"This is definitely very exciting. We've been a very dynamic team (this spring) and have been working our way up to this. Tuesday is going to be intense. St. Francis is a very good team; I definitely think it will be pretty even. It should be a good game."
The Redwings have outscored the opposition 23-0 thus far in the postseason.
"This season has been very fulfilling," Oconer said. "This year things have come together a little bit and we've gotten over the hump against some of the better programs in the area. To get over that hump has been big for us."