Fire Jrs. U15 girls take title over Team Chicago Botafogo

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By Gary Larsen

A first is always special, whether it’s a first-place finish or a first-time event in club history, and a Fire Jrs. girls’ team managed both at this year’s State Cup finals.

Ashley Handwork picked a fine time to put a pair of goals on the board as the Fire Jr.s Red team won 2-1 over Team Chicago Botafogo to capture this year’s State Cup crown in the U15 division in Rockford.

“It took all seventeen rostered kids that we have,” Fire Jrs. coach Steve Berry said. “We were playing not just for ourselves and the U15 team but for the Fire Jrs., who had never won a girls’ State Cup.”

Handwork and Team Chicago’s Hope D’Addario traded goals before Handwork broke in on the right side and faced a tough angle in the second half. Handwork roofed the shot for her second – and ultimately game-winning – goal.

Handwork scored first on a nice cross from Amanda Gaggioli. “Ashley hadn’t scored in the tournament but she was able to come up with the two biggest goals of her U15 career,” Berry said.

“I was really excited about it, to be able to step up and get a couple (goals) in,” Handwork said.

As tall as Handwork stood, the Fire defense stood even taller during State Cup play. D’Addario’s blast inside the post was the lone goal given up by the Red team in four State Cup games.

The Fire Jrs.’ Rachel Zampa and Sara Stankoskey played solidly throughout the weekend as central defenders, “and Veronica Ellis came up huge,” Berry said.

“We moved her around a little bit and overall she’s probably the best defender we have, in her ability to come in and play in a holding role. We moved her outside to match up with (Botafogo’s Zoey Goralski), and she answered that challenge.”

Speedy outside mid Goralski shined throughout State Cup play, scoring her biggest goal in Botafogo’s 1-0 semifinal win over Eclipse Select. Botafogo coach Phil Nielsen figured that for his girls to knock off the Eclipse, they would have to defend well and use their speedy midfielders on the counterattack.

That’s just how Botafogo’s semifinal win over Eclipse played out.

“We definitely just had to keep our energy up and not give up,” Goralski said. “We were tied until there were eighteen minutes left, and we capitalized on one of our chances. Our game plan throughout the tournament was to get our outsides up and attacking, to get shots or crosses off.”

“Once we get kids back from high school our goal is to get organized as quick as we can, and get after this as much as we can.”

After Handwork’s second goal in the title game, Fire keeper Jenna DiTusa and her back line were able to keep Botafogo from finding a tying goal. “(DiTusa) is fantastic,” Berry said. “In the quarterfinal we had to beat NSA in a shootout, and she made a save and then made our sixth shot.”

DiTusa played sweeper in her first high school season at St. Francis, but an outstanding save late in the title game hinted that her future may be between the pipes.

“I’m a full-time goalkeeper for the Fire, but it just worked out with St. Francis that I ended up playing defense,” DiTusa said. “But I like both positions.”

“Our defense was solid for the entire State Cup. It didn’t matter where they were, they cleared balls out. It’s really the defense that got it done, and I’m grateful to them.”

Berry’s girls opened State Cup play with a 4-0 win over Chicago Magic North before posting a pair of 1-0 wins over NSA Premier and Eclipse Select South, with the win over NSA coming via shootout.

“It’s a good group. We took this group to US Club Soccer Nationals last year and ended up losing in the finals – we tied zero-zero and lost in a shootout,” “Since then, they’ve collectively bonded together. They’re learning how to manage games, and manage moments.”

Team Chicago won 4-2 over Windy City Pride and then 4-0 over FC United Select before winning its semifinal over Eclipse Select.

Goralski, D’Addario, Dana Miller, McKenna Kiple, Molly Piech, Courtney Ksiazek, and Kaitlin Johnson all played a role in Botafogo’s attack during its run to the title game, while goalkeeper Kiley Dunning and defenders Jorie Clawson, Kaitlin Johnson, Kelly Langlas, Julianna DePoister, and Jenna Romano keyed Botafogo’s back line play.

“Jenna Romano played great in the back,” Goralski said. “And the rest of our defensive line played awesome. No one probably thought that these two teams would be here, and we finished second in the state, so we have to be proud of that.”