SKOKIE -- As the season goes along, coaches develop not only a starting rotation, but also lineups of players he or she knows they can rely on in particular situations.
Occasionally there are situations where game-play allows those coaches to mix and match lineups that may not normally be seen during the season, much less the playoffs.
That’s what happened when top-seeded New Trier (19-2-4) took on Senn in a semifinal of the Class 3A Niles North Regional on Wednesday.
Due to a quick start by the Trevians’ offense, manager Jim Burnside was able to give pretty much his entire roster an opportunity to play in his team’s 9-0 win that was called at halftime due to the mercy rule.
“It’s nice to get, one, into games starting in the playoffs and, two, getting them into some different positions and different opportunities,” he said. “Anytime you can score goals, scoring goals is hard, so I thought we did a good job of attacking where we need to attack.”
Burnside isn’t the only one who saw the benefit of playing multiple players in different places a positive, however.
Quinn Brahm, the Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match, felt that that was something that could aid the Trevians as they go along.
“It helps us get a better feel for the entire field,” Brahm said. “You never know, a teammate could get injured, and you need to be ready to step in. It definitely helps in the earlier games to know how to play each position, be comfortable and know how to step in to help your team.”
It was the Trevians’ typical starters that got things going early.
Jaime Elias picked up a loose ball in the eighth minute and put it past the Senn keeper. Just over a minute later, she laid out a beautiful assist to freshman Addy Randall to put the Trevians up 2-0.
Prior to Elias’ goal, the Bulldogs’ keeper Karla Martinez had already made two saves on the day, one of which led to a corner for New Trier.
Just over four minutes later, Josie Noble took a cross from Randall and scored her first goal of the state playoffs.
With the Trevians up 3-0 13 minutes into the game, Burnside had an entire new set of field players on the field, and they capitalized on their opportunities.
“One of the best things we saw today was our attacking mindset,” New Trier’s Christina Tobon said. “We never stopped, kept going and were intense the entire game.”
Maria Petrakis scored 17 minutes in and Tobon added one a minute-and-a-half later.
As the offense fired on all cylinders, the defense shut down anything Senn tried. The Bulldogs rarely worked the ball past midfield.
“Everyone was just in their positions really well,” Brahm said. “The communication was really good as well.”
Even though her squad wasn’t able to get much offense going, Senn coach Wendy Castro was still pleased with what her team accomplished in the game.
“Our team never gave up,” she said. “We were playing a top five team in the state, and I think our girls played the strongest defensive game they’ve played all season. I’m very proud of them for never giving up.”
Senn (6-11-1) won its regional quarterfinal game on Saturday against Mather, a feat that didn’t go unnoticed by the school community.
According to Castro, the regional quarterfinal win was the program’s first playoff win in a while. According to the IHSA website, the Bulldogs’ last playoff win came in 2008 when they defeated Northtown 3-1 in the old two-class system.
“I think that’s something to be proud of,” she said. “I feel like every year we take one step closer to accomplishing something we haven’t done the year before.
“Communicating has gotten better, especially since a lot of the players have been new this year. But the returning players welcomed them and made it easy for them.”
Brahm scored the first of her two goals with just over 10 minutes remaining and added the final goal with two seconds left in the half.
“The first goal, Claire (Gallagher) was going endline, and we’re always told to find the gaps,” she said. “I just saw the ball was going toward the front post so I got there to finish it on time.
“The second goal, it was just bouncing around everywhere, and I felt like I just had to finish it right before the clock ran out.”
In between Brahm’s brace, Eleni Kanellos and Maeve Driscoll scored on free kicks.
In all, eight Trevians scored. That earned Burnside’s seal of approval.
“Everybody needs to be ready in the playoffs, you just don’t know what’s coming,” Burnside said. “You don’t know who’s going to be where or doing what, so it’s great to have them there and convert. Getting people in the game, involved and playing, it’s a great way to start the playoffs.”
His players know there’s a lot they can take away from the game for their march to a hoped-for semifinal spot at the finals at North Central College on May 31 and June 1.
“Everyone wants to work hard and stay determined throughout the entire playoffs,” New Trier’s Olivia Wilson said. “One of our biggest strengths our is competitiveness. We all want to score. We all want to win,
“Something we all want to see from each other is that support for each other, but also that drive and grit to bring it home.”
Tobon added: “It’s definitely a good start, but it’s only the beginning. We’ve got to keep going hard and keep focusing on what we need to do.”For Senn’s players, it’s an exciting time to be a part of the team. The majority of the squad is coming back next year; that’s something that hasn’t happened in a long time.
Sophomore Katie Silva-Bello, who was one of the team's top goal-scorers, is back for what will be only her second year in the program. And the backline of Isabel Auffiant, Ella Shanley and Romy Dolgin all return for another year together.
When Castro took over, the numbers weren’t great and player retention was a tough go. That isn’t the case anymore, and it excites her as she looks ahead to the 2025 season.
“A lot more of the new players come back every year,” she said. “They see what the older players before them did and want to do the same thing
“That’s something we’re good at at Senn, community building within the team.
“What’s great to see is that some girls who may not have been on the team this year, see what we accomplished and will want to be a part of that. So, they’ll come out next year.”
Starting lineups
Senn
GK: Karla Martinez
D: Isabel Auffiant
D: Ella Shanley
D: Romy Dolgin
MF: Lola Zimmerman
MF: Daniela Palacios
MF: Alexa Palacios
F: Madeline Cole
F: Lesly Sanchez
F: Katie Silva-Bello
F: Sarah Perez
New Trier
GK: Caroline Hague
D: Kennedy Cosegrove
D: Clara Deliduka
D: Basie Shannon
D: Honor Dold
MF: Annie Paden
MF: Addy Randall
MF: Sybil Evans
F: Charlotte Dellin
F: Josie Noble
F: Jaime Elias
Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match: Quinn Brahm, sophomore, MF, New Trier
Scoring summary
First half
New Trier - Jaime Elias (unassisted), eighth minute
New Trier - Addy Randall (Elias), ninth minute
New Trier - Josie Noble (Randall), 13th minute
New Trier - Maria Petrakis (unassisted), 17th minute
New Trier - Christina Tobon (unassisted), 19th minute
New Trier - Quinn Brahm (Claire Gallagher), 30th minute
New Trier - Eleni Kanellos (free kick), 32nd minute
New Trier - Maeve Driscoll (unassisted), 40th minute
New Trier - Brahm (unassisted), 40th minute
Second half
Not played
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