Polo takes precedence in Stevenson tourney
Shortly after coaching his Rockford (Mich.) girls water polo team in a 9-3 defeat of the host school at Saturday’s Stevenson Varsity Classic, Scott Voltz escaped to a lobby area and flipped his laptop open.
He had observed a fellow science teacher conduct a one-hour class back home, and it was time to sit and write up an evaluation — one of the requirements for his master’s degree in Education Administration. He would like to land a job as an assistant principal after earning the degree.
“When is this due?” he said as a remorseful smile appeared. “Some time … last week.”
Mundelein’s Mustangs also found themselves way behind early Saturday morning. In the first of 12 games on the second day of the eight-team gathering, Mundelein trailed Voltz’s Rams 6-1 in the first quarter.
“It would have been really easy to give up at that point,” Mustangs coach Drew Schneider recalled.
His crew took the hard route instead, rallying for an impressive 9-8 defeat of the second-ranked team in Michigan.
“To be down like we were and not give up — that showed a lot of character,” said Schneider, whose squad earned a similar comeback win against Loyola Academy at last weekend’s Fenwick Invite.
“I love that our girls believe they’re never out of it no matter what the score is.”
Mundelein and Stevenson each went 2-2 at the Classic. Three of Michigan’s top programs and five Illinois teams battled in a total of 17 games.
Mother McAuley topped the field with a 4-0 mark, followed by Fenwick (3-0). Bremen split four games, while Rockford (Mich.) and Okemos (Mich.) each went 2-3. Michigan’s East Grand Rapids (0-5) also competed.
Stevenson’s Patriots rebounded nicely Saturday after that 9-3 setback to Rockford’s Rams. Coach Jeff Wimer’s club routed Bremen 12-4 behind senior Erin McCook’s 5 goals and senior Cami Haas’ stifling two-meter defense.
“(Wimer) told me to call a team meeting (between games),” said McCook, a steady performer on last year’s state runner-up team. “He wanted to make sure we weren’t down. So we got together in a hallway and talked.
“We had to come together as a team, as a family, and rely on each other. We did that.”
They had to face four strong teams Friday and Saturday without their all-state goalkeeper, Lisa Michalowski, who suffered a serious eye injury in a game against Libertyville on Thursday night. JV sophomore keeper Becky Callen saved all 7 shots she saw in relief of Michalowski on the eve of the Classic.
She then played like she belonged on varsity.
“Becky,” said McCook, “was our MVP this weekend.”
Haas and Pats junior Alex Kanaris each scored two goals in the Bremen game. But Haas’ most significant impact came at the other end of the pool. Haas effectively harassed Bremen’s go-to weapon on offense.
“This sport at times can get frustrating, pretty rough,” Haas said of the highly physical nature of contending with a foe for position, particularly within five meters of a goalmouth. “You just have to be tough and not retaliate when it gets really rough.”
Haas netted 3 goals in Stevenson’s 4-2 defeat of East Grand Rapids in its opener Friday, and McCook matched that goal total in Friday’s 8-4 loss to Okemos.
Mundelein (13-11) played its best polo of the weekend in an 8-2 win over East Grand Rapids — after having to wait nearly six hours following its Saturday opener. The Mustangs ate and hung out at a local restaurant for about 90 minutes and then returned to Stevenson to sleep.
But cots weren’t available.
“We slept on some steps,” said Mustangs junior Michelle Barron, referring to a spot not far from where Voltz typed. “They were pretty hard. It was like we were sleeping on rocks.”
Mundelein rolled past East Grand Rapids with a balanced attack, led by senior Alyssa Garcia’s 2 goals. Amanda Boothe, Megan Casali, Amy Klink, Courtney Perrault, Alli Boothe and Karrie Kozokar scored the other goals.
Mundelein sophomore keeper Anna Ward didn’t allow a goal until 43 ticks remained in the first half.
“I learned a lot about my team this weekend,” said Barron. “I learned how close we are, how much we trust each other. In all of our games we fought hard, communicated well and stayed classy.”
Schneider had to shout only one word — “Look!” — to trigger a highly efficient sequence in the third quarter of the East Grand Rapids game. Ward looked down pool to a wide open Perrault, who caught up to the Ward’s lengthy outlet pass and tossed a strike to Garcia.
Garcia found the back of the net to up the lead to 4-1.
“Anna Ward had a great game; this was a breakout tournament for her,” said Schneider. “We also got great help defense, which complemented our counterattack very well.”
Kozokar, a sophomore, struck for 5 goals in Mundelein’s comeback win against Rockford.
“She’s tough, an important player for us,” Schneider added. “We ask her to do a lot for us. It’s a lot to ask of a sophomore, but Karrie is embracing all of it.”
Stevenson’s Wimer asked his Pats (17-7) to turn it on offensively before the Classic finale against Bremen.
McCook poured in three goals in a 1:10 stretch of the first quarter. Haas had given Stevenson a 1-0 lead. She made it 5-0 after another tally with 20 seconds left in the quarter.
Asked.
Answered — emphatically.
“Our girls sure responded well, didn’t they?” Wimer said.