^{Preview Play-by-play Recap}

Preview

Semifinal #2: Fenwick vs Sandburg

Game Time: 12:45pm; Saturday, May 21

Coaches: Fenwick-Dave Perry (24th year) / Sandburg-Jim Caliendo (18th year)

How They Got Here: Fenwick beat Lyons 10-8 in the quarterfinals. Sandburg beat NC 15-14 in the quarterfinals.

Previous 2011 Meetings: None.

Current Rankings: Fenwick - #1 / Sandburg - #6

Top Performers: Fenwick (Matt Farmer - 126 goals) (Connor Brown - 105 goals) / Sandburg (Erik Niemeier - 115 goals)

The Goalies: Fenwick (Dan Newell) / Sandburg (Tony Rogina)

Key Factors: Since the two teams have yet to meet in 2011, we are left to speculate on how things will turn out in this one. The Friars were rolling against Lyons until foul trouble made things much closer, so it will be interesting to see if the Eagles can get Fenwick back in the same predicament. That may be the key for a Sandburg team that plays well on both ends of the pool and is anchored by goalie Tony Rogina, who played magnificently in the Eagles' overtime win over Naperville Central. Fenwick boasts their own top goalie in Dan Newell, so Sandburg's outside shooters will need to be on their game if they plan to get anything by the Friars' netminder. It will likely boil down to whether the Sandburg defense can deal with Connor Brown and Matt Farmer, the two biggest offensive weapons in the Fenwick arsenal. If they can, they could challenge the undefeated Friars; if they can't, it could be a long day for the Eagles.

Final questions...will the Eagles have enough gas left in the tank after playing an overtime thriller that ended at 10:00pm? Or will their momentum carry them in the early stages against the state's top-ranked team?

Other Players to Watch:

Fenwick (Dan Kelly, Dominic Gallo, Richard Mueller, Ted Herbstritt, Viken Huening)

Sandburg (Anthoney Bonnar, Balys Gintautas, Cody Corridino, Lucas Krull, Matt Veldman, Stephen Zieler)