With the IHSA boys soccer state tournaments beginning this week, both OPRF and Fenwick high schools like how they’re playing.
Here’s a look at each school:
OPRF
The Huskies finished tied for second in the West Suburban Silver with a 4-2 record and 12-4-2 overall in the regular season. They are the sixth seed in the Class 3A New Trier sectional.
“We lost 16 players from last year,” said OPRF coach Jason Fried, “but these guys came in and kept the same standards and level of play. They’re definitely getting stronger as the season goes on and are going to be tough to beat in the playoffs.”
OPRF does have a few players with experience: junior goalkeeper Christian Kellogg (1.02 goals-against average) and senior midfielders Noah Cummings, Josh Kitterman (five goals, three assists), and Nolan Walters. Fried says the Huskies will lean on them to provide leadership in a win-or-go-home tournament.
“They’ve been helping the coaching staff a lot,” he said. “They’re leading by example. They know what it takes to succeed in the playoffs.”
Junior forward Kingston Petersen led OPRF in scoring with seven goals and five assists, while junior forward Adrian Bondartsov added four goals and five assists. The Huskies’ defense led by Cummings, juniors Zachary Goldberg and Kento Przybysz, and seniors Quinn Jansen-Singh and Warren Vitale, has been stout, allowing just one goal per game.
OPRF began the playoffs, after press time, on Oct. 22 in a Lane Tech regional semifinal versus Senn. A victory would move the Huskies into the final against either Lane Tech or Payton Prep, Oct. 26.
“They moved us up north a couple of years ago, but it didn’t get any easier for us,” Fried said. “There are a lot of great teams in our sectional: Evanston, Lane Tech, Maine South, New Trier. It’ll be tough to get through.
“We need to focus on what we’ve been doing all season, which is managing the details of the game and coming together as a group,” he added. “We have to be consistent, and if they do that, they’ll get the outcome they want.”
Fenwick
A first look at Fenwick’s 2-12-3 record would indicate that a likely early postseason exit is a distinct possibility. But the Friars have played competitively for the most part and enter the playoffs with momentum, having picked up victories in their final two regular-season matches.
“We’ve got a really good group,” said Fenwick coach Craig Blazer. “We’re young, and it’s taken us a while this season, but the guys have responded. There’s nothing like winning, and these last two wins have just provided such a fun environment for these guys to move forward on.”
Senior midfielder Sam Allaire leads Fenwick this season with four goals and three assists, while sophomore midfielder/forward Luke Menacho has three goals and three assists. Junior goalkeeper Dom Ballarin, despite having just two victories this year, has an impressive GAA of 1.50.
“We had 11 one-goal games,” Blazer said. “I give the guys a lot of credit for embracing the challenge and doing their best.”
Fenwick, seeded 12th in the Class 2A St. Laurence Sectional, opens the playoffs with a regional semifinal versus Chicago Latin at St. Ignatius on Oct. 23 at 5:30 pm. Should the Friars prevail, St. Ignatius would likely be the opponent in the final, Oct. 26.
Fenwick lost the season opener to Latin 2-1 on Aug. 30 at the Fenwick Priory in River Forest. Allaire’s goal in the first half gave the Friars the lead, but the Romans rallied for two second-half goals to take the win.
“They’re a good team,” Blazer said. “We know we’ve improved a lot from that time, but we know it’s going to be a tough game.”
He adds that Fenwick’s key to postseason success is continuing to have better communication on the pitch and playing good defense, among other things.
“We also need to have possession a lot and manage our free kicks,” he said. “Our guys understand what they’re doing now and they have a lot of confidence.”