St. Edward, Hampshire set for shot at state
With the frequency the Hampshire girls soccer team has appeared at North Central College in recent years, the school might want to consider opening a Naperville bureau.
The Whip-Purs return to the Class A girls state soccer quarterfinals for the third year in a row today. Hampshire (16-6-2) will take on 2006 Class A champion Chicago Latin School (10-7-3) at 4 p.m.
The winner advances to the state semifinals Saturday at 11 a.m. against the winner of today's 6 p.m. contest between St. Edward (11-8-2) and Herscher (16-2). St. Edward, which lost 4-1 to Hampshire during the regular season, is in the state quarterfinals for the first time in school history.
Hampshire has 6 starters who have been on all three state teams -- thus experience in pressure-cooker situations has to benefit the Whip-Purs.
"It does help," said Hampshire sophomore midfielder Alex Field. "We know how to play on that field. We've been there before. We've played under all of that pressure."
Field said Hampshire has thrived due to a distinct familiarity with one another.
"Most of us played club together," said Field. "We've been together a really longtime. Playing together has a big advantage. We work well as a team."
Field is the Whip-Purs' second-leading goal-scorer with 8 tallies. Junior forward Christine Schumacher leads the team with 9 goals, though 7 players have scored 4 or more goals this season. Field (unanimous) and Schumacher were both all-Big Northern Conference East Division selections along with sophomore midfielder Kelsey Burke and junior midfielder Kayla Meyer.
The Whip-Purs have been equally efficient on defense, registering 10 shutouts. Coach Patrick O'Brien lauded the play of outside defenders Sam Anderson (sophomore) and Kelsey Anderson (freshman; no relation), along with junior goalie Alexa Heinrich (0.65 goals-against average).
"Our defense has been real strong this year," said O'Brien, who is 70-27-11 in 5 seasons at Hampshire. "We're averaging giving up under 5 shots a game and there's been only one game where we gave up double digits."
Hampshire took fourth in the state in 2007 after being eliminated in the quarterfinals in 2006.
"These girls have come in real hungry," said O'Brien. "We've got the experience. These girls know the game. They go after it every game with intensity."
St. Edward vs. Herscher: St. Edward enters its game with Herscher (the largest school in the 8-team field) having won 5 of its last 6 contests via shutout.
"Our chemistry has played a big role," said 13th-year St. Edward coach Tim Brieger (151 career wins). "I think the girls are really kind of clicking right now. We've always had the talent, but now we're putting it all together at the end and making a run."
Junior forward Brittany Brozek leads the team in scoring with 15 goals and 7 assists. Senior forward Alex Rubio has 8 goals and 9 assists, while senior midfielder Bianca Ramirez has 4 goals and 11 assists. Brozek, Ramirez and senior defender-captain Mackenzie Malone were all-Suburban Catholic Conference selections.
Malone, senior defender Katy Lally and junior goalie Taylor Hunsberger headline a defensive unit that has registered 11 shutouts.
"We're a pretty well-rounded team," said Malone.
Malone said the team is ready to tackle the next challenge ahead of it today.
"The hardest part was getting to where we are at now," said Malone. "We've come together and are playing as a team. We're going to try and go all the way. We don't really have any set expectation. We're excited to be going. We're going to play hard and have fun."
Columbia (12-5-2) faces Immaculate Conception (10-9-3) at 11 a.m. today in the first quarterfinal, while Williamsville (16-5-1) and Rochester (16-4-3) square off in the 1 p.m. contest. Rochester is also making its third straight state appearance.