GAME PREVIEWS (Thursday, May 16)
QUARTERFINAL #1
4:30pm
Lincoln-Way Central vs Loyola
The Knights made a triumphant return to the state tournament by beating
Lincoln-Way North for the third time in 2013; they head into the
quarterfinal round hoping to last until Saturday for the first time in team
history. Meanwhile, the Ramblers shocked New Trier with a goal in the
closing seconds of the GBN Sectional title game when Marta Considine made a
key steal and assisted Evan Swenson on the game-winning goal. Central relies on
senior Danijela Jackovich on both the offensive and defensive ends, but they
boast a solid cast of players that includes Beth Senese, Kristi Howe, Liz Klock and goalie Caroline Foglton,
all who are capable of being
difference-makers in a big game. Loyola relies heavily on both
Considine and Swenson for a large portion of their offense, but Allison
Sajnaj, Emily Barr, and Katie Lynch all play an important role for head
coach Rich Schici's squad.
Questions: Which player will step up for the Knights if the Ramblers
focus on shutting down Jackovich? How will the Central defense stop both
Considine and Swenson if both players continue working well together on the
offensive end?
Previous meeting: The two teams did not meet in 2013.
QUARTERFINAL #2
5:45pm Barrington vs Mundelein
The Fillies and Mustangs both return to the state tournament after a bit of
a hiatus. Barrington finally got past Fremd in a sectional final to earn a
shot at a state trophy, while Mundelein came-from-behind to beat Stevenson
to earn their spot amongst the final eight teams. The two met early in the
season in a nonconference contest, with the Mustangs claiming an overtime
victory back in March. That was much earlier in the season, but it could
mean the teams are in for another close contest on Thursday in the second
quarterfinal game. Barrington has a variety of weapons they will look to for
scoring, as Kelly Meckert, Catherine Byron, Lisa Danhauer, Kayla Widdowson,
and Sam Gavars are all capable of racking up goals for this season's
Mid-Suburban League champions. Mundelein will rely on the 1-2 punch of
Allison Boothe and Karrie Kozokar for their offensive production, but they
have a variety of players like Courtney Perrault, Hannah Davidson, and
Michelle Barron that are more than capable of making a big difference for
the state's fourth-ranked squad.
Questions: Will the Fillies have goaltender Maddy Burrell back for
this contest after she missed out on the sectional playoffs from the
lingering effects of a concussion? Can the Mustangs ride their momentum
after coming back from a 5-1 deficit to beat Stevenson in the final minute
of their
sectional final game last weekend?
Previous meeting: The Mustangs survived a 15-12 overtime thriller
against the Fillies on March 20. Karrie Kozokar scored 5 times and Allison
Boothe scored 4 goals for Mundelein in their winning effort. Lisa Danhauer
and Kelly Meckert combined to score 7 times in the loss for Barrington.
QUARTERFINAL #3
7:00pm
Naperville Central vs St Ignatius
The Redhawks fought hard to get back to the state tournament after losing
the core of last year's state runner-up squad to graduation. There are
several players remaining with state experience, so Central will hope to get
their groove back as the underdogs in this year's quarterfinal round game
with SICP. Meanwhile, the Wolfpack haven't lost a step after a third-place
finish in 2013, blending a mix of youth and experience to finish the season
as the state's second-ranked team heading into the night's third
quarterfinal contest. The Redhawks main weapons include Kaela Codo, Kristina
Altuve, Madison Nervig, Leslie Calabrese, and Michelle Spaits, while Erin
Reagan took over the reins in goal at the midseason point and spearheads the
Naperville Central defense. St Ignatius blends the experience of potent
scorers Becky
Insalaco, Maggie Maloney, Rebecca Martinez, and Tammy Stelnicki with
freshmen Diana Fernandez and Jenny Stelnicki (who has started in goal in her
first high school season).
Questions: Both teams include freshmen in their respective starting
lineups; which young players will adapt best to the pressure of their first
state tournament appearance? Will two of the best defenses in the state be
able to keep the score low? Which team has the advantage if the game quickly
turns into a shootout in the opening quarter?
Previous meeting: The two teams did not meet in 2013.
QUARTERFINAL #4
8:15pm Fenwick vs Mother McAuley
Two Catholic League powerhouses meet in the last quarterfinal on Thursday
night; both teams have plenty of reason to be optimistic about their chances
to win a state title if they can emerge with a victory in the grand finale
of the first night of the state tournament. The Mighty Macs won the Catholic
League title and the Stagg Sectional in successive weeks, jumping to the top
spot in the rankings in the process. Meanwhile, the Friars are a 27-win
outfit that won the regular season title in the MCAC and beat Mother McAuley
5-3 in their early season meeting in March. The Mighty Macs lineup is as
strong as it has ever been, with Amy Kopale, Clare Bryar, Fran Williamson,
Kristen Kleist, Meg Golon, and Vicky Arciniega all expected to make major
contributions over the weekend. The Friars also boast a ton of depth,
starting with the trio of Alexa Ovalle, Cara Borkovec, and Colleen Barron
while also featuring Catie Wallace, Haley Wickham, Maggie Sheean, Paige
Kohut and more.
Questions: If the teams play a low scoring game like they did in
their first meeting, which key player will step up to make a big play in
crunch time? Which goalie will have the bigger impact if goals are at a
premium? Can the Friars survive until Saturday's semifinal round for a
chance to defend their title, or will Arciniega, Bryar and company have
enough in the tank to ensure there is a new state champion in 2013?
Previous meeting: The Friars beat Mother McAuley 5-3 in a conference
game on March 13. Cara Borkovec and Alexa Ovalle scored all five goals for
Fenwick in the win. Amy Kopale, Kristen Kleist, and Fran Williamson were the
three goal-scorers for the Mighty Macs.
