Nothing should come as a surprise to the OPRF soccer team heading into the Class 3A playoffs this week.
The Huskies (15-6-1), who closed out the regular season with a 2-0 loss over New Trier on Thursday, have already faced many of the top opponents in the Hinsdale Central Sectional, including the fourth-seeded host, No. 1 seed Morton and second-seed Lyons Township. The bad news is OPRF lost to all three of those teams during the regular season, but not without proving that rematches may result in different outcomes.
On Sept. 22, the Huskies held a 1-0 lead on Hinsdale Central before the Red Devils made a comeback in the last four minutes of the game. A similar occurrence happened just two weeks ago when OPRF faced off against top-ranked Morton. The Huskies let slip a 2-0 lead late in the game. The Mustangs scored three unanswered goals in the last three minutes of action. Earlier this month, OPRF forced second-ranked Lyons Township into double overtime, but lost 1-0.
“It’s been bitter-sweet games against those teams,” said OPRF head coach Paul Wright. “While we played well for the most part, we ended up falling. But I do believe we have what it takes to make a long run in the playoffs. These guys are battle-tested. Now, it’s all about staying focused the entire game.”
In order to try to get revenge on any of these top teams, OPRF will likely need to get past cross-town rival Fenwick, which is never an easy task. The Huskies were to begin their own regional yesterday (Oct. 20, after deadline) against either Argo or Curie. The Friars needed to defeat 11th-seeded Hinsdale South to advance to Saturday’s regional championship at Oak Park (2 p.m.). Although they’ve met during the regular season in the past and plan to go head-to-head in a night game next year, OPRF and Fenwick did not play each other during the regular season.
“We’ve played some common opponents that we’ve beaten and they’ve lost to, but that doesn’t mean anything,” said Wright. “It’s always a tough game when we face them. Everyone comes ready to play and emotions are high. These are friends that have mostly grown up together, so it’s anyone’s game.”
The Friars, who ended their regular schedule with a record of 9-8-2, did not face any of the top three seeds in the sectional during the regular season. Head coach Robert Watson was not pleased about these teams finding their way into the same sectional.
“I have seen all three, and I can tell you that all three of these teams in one sectional is a crime,” he said. “All three of these teams are top 10 in the state caliber teams.”
Fenwick gets its strength from players like Mark Finan, Will Rigali, Matt Parrilli and goalkeeper Mike Jank.
The Huskies will counter with team scoring leader Jordan Golz, who has netted 18 thus far. Golz and Chimela Eneogwe have been a force up front for OPRF. Eneogwe has scored 16 goals this season.
Newcomer Zack Weigel, a sophomore who was brought up after senior Alex Gebert broke his middle toe during the Hinsdale Central game, has also made an impact for the Huskies.
“Zack has helped keep us in some big games,” said Wright.
A victory over Fenwick or Hinsdale South will likely pit the Huskies against Lyons Township in the Hinsdale Sectional semifinal on Oct. 28 (3:30 p.m.). The Lions (19-3) won the West Suburban (Silver) Conference title, finished second in the Pepsi Showdown Tournament and defeated both Morton and Hinsdale Central earlier in the season.