Trailing Red Division leader Loyola Academy by a game in the Girls Catholic Athletic Conference loss column, the Fenwick girls soccer team faced a crucial match, April 23, against visiting DePaul Prep.
Despite being contained the majority of the time by the Rams, the Friars were able to generate enough offense to secure a 2-0 victory at the Fenwick Priory in River Forest.
“We didn’t do anything special,” said Fenwick coach Craig Blazer. “We just grinded it out. I’m very proud of the girls.”
“We needed it to have a chance at our conference title,” added Fenwick senior forward Grace Kapsch. “We all played as a team, and we played smart and aggressive.”
The unpredictable weather was a factor in the match, with a steady breeze. Clouds broke apart briefly to allow the sun to shine, then became overcast again. And for much of the second half, there were occasional showers, accompanied by sunshine.
“It was challenging,” Kapsch said. “On the flip of the coin, we wanted to defend the south first, but we didn’t win it and had to go into the wind in the first half.”
The first 25 minutes of the match were scoreless as neither Fenwick (8-4-3) nor DePaul generated much offensively. But in the 27th minute, Fenwick senior midfielder Caroline Henige sent a deep pass down the left side to Kapsch. With Rams’ goalkeeper Reagan Stecz out to challenge and a defender closing in fast, Kapsch booted the ball into the net for a 1-0 Friars lead at the 13:37 mark of the half.
“Caroline had a really good pass,” Kapsch said. “I couldn’t see the girl coming from my outside, so I knew I had to get it off.”
Kapsch’s goal opened things up as the two teams traded solid scoring chances for the next 50 minutes. But both Stecz (five saves) and Fenwick freshman goalkeeper Mimi Carvalho (eight saves) were up to the task, not allowing anything to get past.
With 3:26 left in the match, Kapsch was fouled inside the box after breaking free thanks to a great goal kick by Carvalho on a restart. The penalty kick beat Stecz to the right, giving her the brace (two goals) and essentially sealing the win for the Friars.
“I wouldn’t have gotten that opportunity if it wasn’t for Mimi,” Kapsch said. “She’s been playing super-well, and we’re really lucky to have her in goal.”
“It took us a little while to figure it out, but once we did, our seniors did a great job of settling us down and working to our strengths,” Blazer said. “Our group has shown maturity, and it’s a step in the right direction. The girls are very coachable and motivated, and the journey’s been a lot of fun.”
On April 25, Henige and Kapsch each had a goal and Carvalho nine saves in a 2-2 draw against Oswego East in a Naperville Invitational match. Two days later, Carvalho made 10 saves, but Fenwick fell to Neuqua Valley 1-0.
Up next for the Friars, who are seeded fourth in the upcoming IHSA Class 3A Hinsdale Central sectional, are matches at IC Catholic Prep, May 1, and Loyola, May 2. Fenwick returns to the Priory on May 7 to host Riverside-Brookfield.
