Former Chicago Blackhawks’ head coach Joel Quenneville would say whenever things were going well for his team, “Things are trending in the right direction.” The same logic applies to the Oak Park and River Forest High School varsity girls soccer team, which is playing its best brand of soccer with the IHSA state tournament around the corner.
In their East Avenue Showdown against Fenwick at Oak Park Stadium, May 9, following a scoreless first half, the Huskies scored twice in a 91-second span during the second half, sparking a 3-0 victory. The win was the fourth consecutive for OPRF, which has gone 5-0-1 in its last six matches.
“We had 13-14 seniors graduate last season. The beginning of this season, we were all together trying to figure out who was excelling at what position,” said OPRF junior midfielder Daphne Mason. “There are first-year varsity players who’ve really stepped up to the competition level and are performing well. The coaches have figured out where to put people in certain positions to give us the most success.”
Quinn Sansone had a good chance to break the scoreless deadlock for Fenwick (6-5-4) early in the second half with a good look outside the box on the right from 30 yards out, but her shot sailed just wide of the left post. OPRF (8-6-2) then gradually began tilting the pitch, keeping the Friars pinned down in their end.
The constant pressure finally paid off when Lilly Wright found Ana Sofia Mrotzek, who was being closely guarded. But she fought through the pressure to get off a shot from 30 yards out on the right. It beat Fenwick goalkeeper Mimi Carvalho and gave OPRF a 1-0 advantage with 28:35 remaining.
The Huskies doubled their lead just 91 seconds later on a brilliant play when Mason took a one-touch pass from Mrotzek and blasted a rocket past Carvalho.
“It was a really amazing assist by Ana. She no-looked a pass to me while I was making my run, and I finished into the right corner,” Mason said. “She had a great game.”
“Ana’s been a playmaker for us in every sense of the game,” OPRF coach Lauren Zallis said. “(Assistant) Coach (Jon) Cummings and I talk all the time about how she has this innate ability to receive the ball with somebody on her back. It doesn’t matter how tight the pressure is, she can keep the ball on her foot. It’s a unique skill, and for the style of possession we like to play, it creates more passing opportunities for us. She’s a workhorse, and we’re very lucky to have her.”
After the quick offensive burst, OPRF further locked in defensively, not allowing Fenwick to generate much movement upfield. Then with 9:53 left, Rose Drab scored off a rebound of a Mrozek shot that hit the crossbar, sealing the match for the Huskies. OPRF goalkeeper Lila VanderGriend earned the clean sheet.
“(Fenwick) feels like our most important non-conference game we play all year,” Mason said, “because it’s our rival and a lot of people show up. The place had energy, and it was really exciting to win for the second year in a row.”
“OPRF’s a really good team and they played well,” said Fenwick coach Craig Blazer. “We had some chances (in the first half) and were figuring it out as a team. In the second half, we just weren’t able to sustain it, we weren’t able to possess the ball.”
Fenwick sophomore Fiona MacKinnon (#3 in white) defends Oak Park-River Forest senior Lilly Wright in a girls’ soccer match, May 9. The Friars fell to the Huskies 3-0. (Courtesy of Carol Dunning) 
Fenwick junior Coco Braithwaite (#7) shields an Oak Park-River Forest defender as she maintains possession in a girls’ soccer match, May 9. The Friars fell to the Huskies 3-0. (Courtesy of Carol Dunning) 
Oak Park-River Forest junior Cecilia DeSantiago (left) and Fenwick senior Stephanie Gonzalez vie for possession in a girls’ soccer match, May 9. The Huskies blanked the Friars 3-0. (Courtesy of Carol Dunning) 
Oak Park-River Forest senior Ana Sofia Mrotzek (left) heads upfield as Fenwick senior Mary Brunick defends in a girls’ soccer match, May 9. Mrotzek had a goal and an assist in the Huskies’ 3-0 victory over the Friars. (Courtesy of Carol Dunning)
Mason likes how OPRF, seeded seventh in the Class 3A Downers Grove South Sectional and a regional host, is playing with the state tournament beginning next week.
“Our confidence is definitely boosted with our recent performances,” she said. “We’re excited, and we feel we can compete. Plus, the home-field advantage (in the regional) is definitely in our favor. Hopefully, it puts us over the edge.”
Despite the loss, Blazer is confident that Fenwick, which is the second seed at the 2A Wheaton St. Francis Sectional, will be ready for the postseason.
“We’ll keep learning. For me, our girls are still getting better, so we’re encouraged,” he said.
OPRF hosts Willowbrook in a regional semifinal May 19, with the winner likely meeting defending sectional champion York in the final May 22.
Fenwick faces either Noble/Mansueto or Acero/Soto in a regional semifinal at Chicago University High, May 19, with the winner facing either Nazareth Academy or U-High in the final, May 23.