Girls soccer: Despite loss, Barrington exceeds expectations
After Barrington and Libertyville suffered heartbreaking 2-1 losses on Friday night in their respective Class 3A state girls soccer semifinal games, the last thing both clubs wanted was to play for third place less than 24 hours after falling short in their bid to play for a state title.
Nonetheless, both clubs came to Hildebrandt Field at Fremd High School on another steamy afternoon in Palatine, and when the shrill from the referee's whistle ended the 80-minute contest, it was North Suburban Conference champion Libertyville (18-2-0) that was handed the third-place trophy following its 2-1 victory over coach Ryan Stengren's Fillies.
"This has been an unbelievable year for the program and especially the girls, who have exceeded any of our expectations," said Stengren, whose club won its eighth consecutive Mid-Suburban League title last month, collected its 11th state trophy in program history, and fourth straight under Stengren, now 263-48-22 in-this his 13th season in charge.
"We had 15 new players on our varsity roster this season, so we really didn't know what we had except for just a few players back from our second-place state team from 2019. So while this team didn't have the star power we've had in the last 5-6 years, they made up for it with an amazing work ethic and willingness to work each and every day at training and take instruction from the coaching staff in order to improve every time we came together.
"To say the least, I am so very proud of this team which has overachieved and nearly got themselves into the state final."
Jen Devona and Kate McGreevy, who would earn well deserved all-state honors recently, were just as surprised with the success of their team as Stengren.
"Did any of us, especially the players coming back expect us to be one win away from playing for another state title - no," said Devona with a smile.
"We fought all season and put up a real tough fight (Friday) night against Lyons Township, so that's something all of us can be proud of," added the DePaul-bound veteran from the 2018 state championship team, who led the club with 18 goals.
McGreevy, who will attend Indiana in the fall, says she will miss seeing and playing with her teammates, who are like family to her.
"I always would miss the seniors in front of me who would graduate, and now I am one of those players but I will never forget my teammates and coach Stengren," she said.
"Hearing that from Kate is really difficult because I've know here since first grade when I was her Physical Education teacher," said Stengren.
All-State keeper Coast Liapis, who will play at Indiana next season, will be one of six players who will move on, including Lara Lubinsky who scored 8 goals and helped on another 9 this season.
Stengren would promise to play all of his roster on Saturday and made sure to do so, including all three of his keepers on the Fillies' roster.
Riley Raynor, who bagged 13 goals on the season, will be one of seven starters returning next spring, as the Fillies look to continue a tradition of excellence unmatched in the MSL, and the area, for several seasons now.
"I am sure at the start of the season, both Jen and Kate might have wondered if the Fillies' success and winning tradition would continue, but with their help, and first class leadership on and off the field, we were able to do so," Stengren would say after his club lifted the fourth-place state trophy.