Girls soccer: State tournament scouting, Northwest
Girls soccer: Scouting the state tournaments
Class 2A semifinalsWheaton St. Francis (16-4-3) vs. Lemont (24-1-0), 11 a.m. Friday
Few 2A teams can match the schedule of St. Francis, whose early season opponents included the likes of New Trier, Evanston, Lyons Township, Naperville Central, Stevenson and later Loyola Academy, all of which advanced deep in the Class 3A postseason.
The Spartans are blessed with a high-powered attack led by Illinois recruit and two-time all-state forward Kendra Pasquale (18 goals) and an equally talented trio of Claire Hensley, Erin Peck (11g, 10a) and Hannah Rittenhouse (21g).
The Spartans are very good at creating something from nothing and have the firepower to stay with any side. Yet they're also strong in the back, as evidenced by a 1-1 draw with New Trier.
The last time Pasquale, Hensley and Peck were here was in 2016, when the Spartans finished fourth overall. The first time was in 2012, when St. Francis won it all.
Lemont has been a southside power for quite some time and finished fourth last season. The program has made six state appearances in the last 10 years under coach Rick Prangen.
Mairead Ruane is a two-time all-state forward for Lemont. The senior has 23 goals and 20 assists this season after 30 and 15 last season.
St. Viator (17-5-3) vs. Normal West (20-5-3), 1 p.m. Friday
Scoring standouts Brinley McVeigh and Payton McDonnell helped St. Viator take control on Tuesday against Burlington Central, sending the Lions to North Central College for the 2A semifinals.
McDonnell (15 goals), who struck the game-winner in the Lions' sectional final victory over Wauconda, was at it again, finding the back of the net in the 71st minute to upend Burlington Central in the supersectional.
The Lions' success can be traced to the return of Anna Johnston two years ago from club, followed by the development of McVeigh, who spent two years away with the high profile Eclipse Soccer club.
"There's no way we're here this weekend without Anna in goal," said St. Viator coach Mike Taylor. "We feel she is one of, if not the best, in the state at her position."
The New Hampshire-bound Johnston (17 shutouts) is a superb shot-stopper, particularly from close range where she is confident and fearless.
McVeigh has given the Lions' attack that special player who can score big goals but also create for others. A move from the midfield to forward, made at the Adidas Tournament of Champions played in Burlington, Iowa, was a key switch.
"We had a core of players coming back, but it was important for us to mesh both Brinley and Sam (DeJulio) into this group as our two newcomers," said Taylor. "We did bowling and pizza nights, community service events and holiday parties to get everyone together and on the same page. But it wasn't until we went away to play in Iowa did I really feel we had a chance to get here this weekend."
McVeigh (19 goals) has since gone on a scoring binge, while the Lions' back line of DeJulio (a transfer from Palatine), Amelia Bottcher, Christina Petrillo and Maeve Shumacher has become as stingy as a unit can be to fuel the team's nine-game win streak.
Johnston and her teammates set an East Suburban Catholic Conference record by not allowing a goal in the regular season. That defensive prowess remains the team's driving force in the postseason.
"We feel like we belong here, but we have to continue to play well, beginning against a very good ballclub in Normal Community West," said Taylor, who likens the Wildcats to his last three postseason opponents. "Deerfield, Wauconda and Burlington Central were all strong up the middle - Normal appears to be the same, beginning with No. 7 (Audrey Marsaglia, 22g) and No. 11 (Julia Marsaglia) as two players we'll need to pay attention to."
The Wildcats advanced past Waterloo in the supersectional as junior Audrey Marsaglia's double led to a 2-0 victory.
Class 3ABarrington (19-3-2) vs. Naperville North (20-3-4), 5 p.m. today
Barrington was the Daily Herald preseason rankings after winning the state championship last season. But coach Ryan Stengren wasn't sure this year's version would stack up with nationally ranked teams such as St. Charles North, Naperville North and New Trier.
Stengren did know that his young and inexperienced Fillies would need time to find their form. And Barrington clearly made good use of that time.
The Fillies continued to fly under the radar despite a pair of 2-2 draws with St. Charles North and Naperville North. That suited Stengren just fine as his talented but unheralded club turned into one he thought could eventually be among the state's best.
The Fillies won their seventh consecutive Mid-Suburban League championship before reaching the supersectional. A win at home against top-rated St. Charles North advanced Barrington to the finals for an eighth time, and the fourth under Stengren.
"We returned just four from our state championship starting lineup, and another one or two that played a few minutes here and there during the course of the season," said Stengren. "So we basically were starting from scratch - especially along the back, where we lost three-fourths of an all-area unit.
"There was a lot of work to do, but we knew the players we had with us were the type who were willing to do whatever it takes, and had been a part of an enviroment and program that understands what it means to play soccer here and to achieve success as a team only, not as individuals."
Michayla Herr, a four-year veteran, and the Fillies' first-rate center midfielder, noticed something just a few days into training camp.
"We had so many new faces, and players who were going to be playing varsity soccer for the first time," Herr said. "So Sam (Schmitz) and I, as the only two seniors, were a little unsure of what we had. But after five days, I knew we had the pieces and players in place to have a great season."
Schmitz, the Fillies' all-state keeper, liked the work ethic and work rate her new teammates possessed. So, along with teammate Ashley Prell (20 goals and an all-state choice) plus terrific left outside-back Madi Rosen, this work in progress steadily transformed into a polished product.
"It's great to be a part of a team that works together for one goal, just as it was when Michayla and I began four years ago, and then knowing it will continue after we move on to college," Schmitz said after the Fillies won the MSL Soccer Bowl.
"Not everyone figured us to get back to the state tournament after losing so many great players, and especially with having St. Charles North standing in our way," said Stengren. "This is a fun group to be around and to coach, but also one that understands that it will have to continue to work to get better."
Stengren expects his club to in for a fight to the finish with Naperville North, which has perhaps the best keeper in the state, Loyola-bound Maddie Hausmann, and a stingy defense in front of the senior with Alyssa and Jessica Siebers, both of whom will play at Illinois State.
Hannah Martin has scored a remarkable nine game-winning goals this spring, two of which came in the Huskies' sectional contests.
Andrew (21-4-0) vs. New Trier (23-0-2), 7 p.m. Friday
Following a 3-0 loss to Glenbard East in its second game of the season, coach Loren Zolk said his club from Andrew would only get better as the year progressed. The Thunderbolts coach proved to be a prophet after his club fulfilled its dream of a first state appearance following a victory against Downers Grove North on Tuesday.
The task facing Andrew now, however, is of a different magnitude. New Trier has made quick work of its four postseason opponents to earn the program's 11th trip to the finals.
Sophomore Emma Weaver is one to watch with 15 goals, 19 assists, while Chicago-bound Nicole Kaspi, a key figure in the Trevians' runner-up finish a year ago, provides quality up top and in the set-piece chances which have always been a strength for New Trier.
- Mike Garofola