Girls soccer/ Scouting the MSL Cup
By Mike Garofola
Daily Herald Correspondent
<b>23rd annual Mid-Suburban League Soccer Cup</b>
Who: Hersey (15-5-2, 8-3-0, 24 points) vs. Barrington (14-5-0, 10-1-0, 30 points).
Where: Barrington Community Stadium
When: 7 p.m. Wednesday
History lessons: Two years ago, then-sophomore Katherine Avedon sent her spot-kick into the back of the net to give the Fillies a 4-2 edge in a shootout and the MSL crown over a Hersey side which leaned on the trio of Megan Boyle, Nicole Pietro and Olivia Stastiuk, now stars for the Huskies in their final season with the club. Nearly two weeks ago, Pietro fired in the game-winner nine minutes from time to deal the Fillies their lone conference defeat of the season and to put the Huskies one win away from a fifth consecutive MSL Cup appearance and sixth since 2005. Barrington is making its seventh trip to the championship match.
Who to watch: Hersey - Megan Boyle (Sr., MF, 8 goals, 4 assists), Nicole Pietro (Sr., MF-F, 7 g, 6 a), Olivia Stastiuk (Sr., D), Lauren Gierman (Jr., F, 8 g, 12 a), Casey Weyhrich (Jr., F, 9 g, 5 a), Emily Moody (Sr., D), Morgan Harris (Fr., GK, 12 shutouts, 0.72); Barrington - Molly Pfieffer (Jr., F-MF, 13 g, 7 a), Sara Condon (Sr., MF), Aimee Pierce (Jr., MF, 3 g, 4 a), Sam Frank (Sr., D), Abby Taplett (Sr., D), Emily Morin (Jr., D), Hannah Luedtke (Fr., GK, 10.5 shutouts, 0.41), Ellie Ackermann (So., F, 4 g).
Hersey update: The Huskies rise to the top, and unprecented fifth straight appearance in tonight's match is no less amazing than their opponent's after their own reconstruction project, which included another set of newcomers in the back to join 2011 MSL East player of the year Stasiuk to go along with their third new GK in as many seasons. "The most pleasant surprise of all has been that of Morgan (Harris) who took over for our all-sectional keeper (Erin Reiff) and hasn't missed a beat, and continued our fine tradition at the position, as well as the work our two freshmen (Kayla Knauss and Sara Magnuson) who each have been outstanding," said coach Brad Abel. This unit, along with Moody have been air-tight, and were key in a 10-game stretch where the club went 9-1-0 with 8 shutouts. The Huskies' mix of style and youth begins with one of those rare box-to-box players in Boyle, who usually lines up alongside another four-year star Pietro, who each create, distribute, go forward and defend, while the dynamic duo of Gierman and Weyhrich up top are game-changers who have combined to net 17. "We had one of our best weeks of the season when we beat York, Barrington, the Buffalo Grove to clinch the division, but we know that it will take another outstanding effort in order to beat Barrington," said Abel.
Barrington update: Despite a talented core of returning players, led by the superb Pfeiffer, Barrington's Ryan Stengren knew he had a lot of work ahead of him after losing his entire backline, an all-area GK, and another five seniors from his 2011 supersectional club. However, the sudden, and eventual rise to the top of the MSL table even surprised the head coach. "With our entire backline rebuilt and so many good, but inexperienced players, plus a freshman keeper, I figured we were a year away, but what this group has done is nothing short of remarkable. The thing about this team is their work rate, and desire to improve is first rate, and once training, or a match starts, they're all business," Stengren said. The quartet of Morin, Frank, Taplett and Emily Decraene have eased the initial concerns to become a wonderful unit in front of the rookie Luedtke, who after missing 3 matches with a broken finger, has recorded 10.5 shutouts, while her mates have conceded a paltry 10 goals, including a streak of 8 shutouts. The four-year veteran Condon has provided leadership and plenty of pace in the middle of the park and the junior Pierce leads a terrific group of midfielders that are easily the deepest of any around, which was tested when sophomore Mia Calamari went down with a broken ankle. "Our depth has really carried us through, and the great thing about (that) is how interchangeable we are, and how easily the girls fit into a spot where we need it," offered Stengren. Ackermann has come on to become a nice complement alongside Pfeiffer and handle being the lead striker because of injury.
They said it: Hersey's Brad Abel (eighth year, 105-52-27) - "Five in a row, and (six) since 2005 is a testament to all of the players. It's a very tough thing to do year in, and year out, maybe none was more difficult than to get back (here) once again this year. We have a lot of respect for the conference, and the teams themselves, and at the very beginning, we all felt there were 4 legitimate contenders for the top spot in the division. We put a lot of emphasis on winning the division, but by no means are we ever satisfied with just that. But I am very proud of this group, and for everything that they have accomplished, thus far, and it's great to be around a team that cares so much for each other, as it shows in the way that they go out there and play."
Barrington's Ryan Stengren (fifth year, 89-25-9): "To be honest, going into the start of the year, I didn't see us as one of the teams that would challenge in a division that had both Conant and Schaumburg, each with so many talented players, while we were so young, and inexperienced, especially in the back with a rebuilt defense in front of a freshman keeper. But even though we went just 3-3 in the early going against the likes of Naperville North, Neuqua Valley and Waubonsie Valley, I saw that the girls could compete on that level with some of the best teams in the state, and with each match, we got a little bit better as well. We've had our share of injuries, but this team is very resilient, yet hungry to succeed, and they've done that thus far. Hersey is without a doubt one of the most organized, disciplined teams around, and we'll prepare for (it) but they are so good at what they do."