Girls soccer: To Barrington's Rosen, it's all about family

The Barrington Fillies soccer family has a habit of coming first to Madi Rosen.

When told she had been named 2019 Daily Herald All-Area Team Captain for the Northwest suburbs, Rosen said she was overwhelmed of hearing the news, but it was really a team award.

Rosen follows 2017 teammates Jackie Batliner (DePaul) and Sophia Spinell (Miami of Ohio), who were All-Area co-captains and keeper Samantha Schmitz (Harvard) from the Class of 2018, all of whom are playing in D-I programs after coming through a program that Rosen says is all about the family culture head coach Ryan Stengren instills from the very first day.

"It's a lot more than winning," Rosen says. "(Stengren) stresses playing and supporting each other from the first day we're together and success is not based upon winning and losing because there are other things that are far more important than that.

"His support and the care he shows for each and every player is amazing and, in my opinion, it's what makes him the great coach that he is."

"Madi has grown so much from her freshmen year, both as a player, and one of our leaders, she is a special person, and one that I have been proud to have coached," says Stengren.

The family environment Stengren and his staff has built during his 12 years in charge was the same thing Rosen was looking for when she decided where to play in college next fall.

"I wanted to stay in the Midwest and looked at DePaul, Wisconsin-Madison and a couple of others," recounts Rosen. "From the first time I stepped onto the campus at Loyola here in Chicago, then met the coaching staff and players I knew then it was the place for me."

Rosen will follow 2018 Loyola grad, and former Barrington star Jenna Szczesny, who in 2014 was named captain of the Daily Herald All-Area team.

"(Coach) Barry Bimbi an his assistant, Franky Pelaez, are all about building and having a program filled with pride and playing together as a team, so much like we have here at Barrington. It was the perfect right away," Rosen said. "It was a people and player-first type of attitude and that's what I'm coming from, so the transition to playing at the next level will be easier because of that."

Pre-med is what Rosen's interest at the onset, with a degree in biology the first order of business.

Stengren says, in his opinion, Rosen is the best left outside back in the state and he bases that statement on her high soccer IQ, technical proficiency, size, strength, and a powerful left foot.

While not having the flash of a big-time goal scorer, or the wizardry of an exciting attack-minded player in the middle of the park, left backs can sometimes be the most exciting and important players in the game of soccer.

Perhaps Rosen's spectacular solo effort in Tuesday's supersectional win over St. Charles North might prove otherwise.

With her club holding on during an edgy 1-0 second half lead, Rosen stepped up to hit a YouTube worthy 35-yard cracker high into the upper right corner to ensure victory and a third consecutive trip to state.

Aside from this superb strike, Rosen's game is not flashy when compared to others. Instead, she is a no-nonsense consistent player who is fit, boasts a high work rate, superb crossing ability from the flanks, and much, much more.

When scouting the Fillies, and in particular Rosen, opponents will find that she likes to get forward and attack and in the course of doing so succeeds in creating excellent cross field serves.

Rosen has good running power, can put opponents under duress by running into central areas to tackle, intercept and create attacking momentum for her team.

"Madi will wear out opponents when she runs up and down the left side and her touch and composure on the ball allows her to hold the ball while waiting for others to position themselves to receive the ball in attacking area," adds Stengren.

From Rosen's first year in 2016, the Fillies are 90-8-3, have conceded just 39 goals and claimed 75 shutouts during that time.

"The fact that this is my senior year is kind of surreal but it's been great for the four of us that have been together since coming into the program" said Rosen of teammates Christine Batliner, Ashley Rocco and Ashley Prell, of which Rocco and Rosen have been together since their under-8 youth league days.

"To be a part of Fillies soccer and to make history and take so many great memories when I leave is something that I'll never forget," Rosen said.