Chicagoland Soccer

Warriors' cruise against Fenton, rematch vs. St. Francis ahead

By Gary Larsen

The ice machine at Elmwood Park high school had to work overtime on Wednesday and nobody was more to blame than Wheaton Academy’s Christi Dithrich.

After the Warriors’ 4-0 sectional semifinal win over Fenton, with ice bags hanging off of her as she walked gingerly off the field, Dithrich was the poster child for how many high school soccer players feel at the end of a long season.

“I asked Christi right after the game how old she actually was, and she said she thinks about 55,” Wheaton Academy coach Scott Marksberry said. “She got a quad tweaked about three weeks ago and we rested her for about a week and a half. She’s nursing that a little bit and we’re trying to get her back in the rhythm.”

Dithrich is a key member of the defending Class 2A state champion’s back line. The Warriors’ controlled play throughout Wednesday’s game, and defenders Dithrich, Kerrin Clancy, Lindsey Burke, and goalkeepers Emily Mulder and Kristen Morency oversaw the team’s 10th shutout in 21 games.

“They’re so solid,” Marksberry said of his defense. “We’ve had six or seven games this year where we didn’t give up a shot. They’re just smart, tough, fast, and athletic. They’re kind of the ideal defense back there.”

In a game plagued by lightning delays early on, Mother Nature finally finally stepped aside to allow Rachel Nasralla, Alexa Sharkey, Kristen Wittmuss, and Crystal Thomas to finish on the Warriors’ four goals.

Top-seeded Wheaton Academy (17-3-1) will play No. 2 St. Francis (15-8-1) on Friday in Elmwood Park, with a sectional title on the line. Wheaton Academy topped St. Francis in a shootout on May 13.

"They brought the heat and we didn't," Warriors sophomore Ally Witt said of the teams’ first meeting. "They were really on and we were really off. I don't know what happened that game. It was weird. It was a weird game. We're really ready for this game Friday … we’ll definitely get a good training session in tomorrow.”

The stadium at Elmwood Park was emptied of fans, players, and coaches no less than four times due to lightning delays. Nasralla scored on a Wittmuss assist 14 minutes into the game, but the next 90 minutes for everyone present was spent mainly in the school parking lot.

"You just get so pumped and so ready and then it's like, all right, now we don't even know if we're going to get it in or not," Witt said of the delays. "It's frustrating, but you've got to learn to get up and get on the field and be ready to play. You can't be flat. You’ve just got to be mentally ready for it.”

Once play finally resumed, the Warriors lit into the Bison, scoring three more times before halftime. Sharkey scored on a Witt cross in the 17th minute, Thomas assisted on Wittmuss’ goal in the 30th minute, and Sydney Sharkey fed Thomas for a goal in the 39th minute. Marksberry substituted liberally and slid players around the pitch throughout the second half, and the Warriors kept up their intensity to the final buzzer.

“This team has been interesting in how they keep playing well even when they’re dominating a game,” Marksberry said. “Part of that is the motivation for the team. It’s not about winning every game and winning the state title. We’re really trying to show people what we’re all about as a team and as a school, and as Christians.”

“How did we do today as a team? How did we play? Were we classy out there and did we respect the officials? Did we treat the other team well, and represent Jesus well? Because those are the things we’re really trying to do.”

Witt echoed her coach’s assessment, as the Warriors attempt to capture Friday’s sectional final and advance downstate, where they’re aiming to repeat as state champions.

“We want (a second state title) but for different reasons. It would be great, but we really just want to bring glory to our God,” Witt said. “That’s what we’re about.”

After Wednesday’s win, Marksberry was particularly pleased with the effort put forth by one of his junior midfielders.

“Molly Cook came out at left mid and was great out here, combining, overlapping, getting around the corner and putting some crosses in,” Marksberry said. “So she did some great stuff.

Marksberry also applauded another steady day’s work put in by Alexa Sharkey, and he liked the energy that back-up keeper Morency brought when she replaced starting keeper Mulder in the second half.

Friday’s game in Elmwood Park will kick off at 4:00, with the winner advancing to a Class 2A Super-Sectional game on Tuesday at Benedictine College, versus the winner between Nazareth Academy and University High.