Griffins off to 1-1 start, aiming for a solid 2012
By Gary Larsen

For all players with a ‘C’ next to their name on the roster, a captain is supposed to say things like this:

“This year we have a lot better team chemistry, which I think could build into something big, on and off the field. We have ten or twelve team standards that we’ve named and one of them was team unity and family, on and off the field. That contributes to playing as one on the field.”

Those words came from Lincoln-Way East senior captain Rebecca Dobrich. Along with co-captain Stacy Sons, the Griffins are aiming to erase last spring’s rocky season for coach Brian Papa.

“We have a lot of young kids that are all learning, and they’re biting at the bit just to do their best,” Papa said. “The problem is, they don’t believe yet. When you lose like we lost last year, it leaves a bad taste.”

A mix of five seniors, 10 juniors, two sophomores, and a core of quality freshmen have started the season at 1-1 for Papa, having beaten Marian Catholic 1-0 in a season opener and lost 5-0 to Downers Grove South.

Against Marian on a windy Wednesday, the Griffins got a goal from Sam Fiorella, connected passes, and kept the attacking pressure on to open with a win.

“We went in with the mindset that we were going to win,” Sons said. “We worked hard throughout the preseason. It was tough playing in that wind but we got the win we needed. We kept our heads up in the second half and did what we needed to do.”

Against DG South on Thursday, the Griffins trailed 2-0 just seven minutes into the contest – a hard pill to swallow for a team seeking confidence.

“When you give up two goals that fast, you start to hang your head and that’s not a situation that helps them to start believing in themselves,” Papa said. “In our first game against Marian we were going into the wind in the first half but we were controlling most of the play. And in the second half we played very, very well in that game. (Against DGS) we had space but we weren’t connecting the way we did against Marian.”

Papa and assistant coach Ryan Decker will tinker with this year’s lineup until they see what they want, but they’re confident that the pieces are there for a good season.

“I like what I’m seeing in the back from Lindsey Murphy. She’s been solid,” Papa said. “And Meaghan Grady and Jess Bicek have been very solid.

“Stephanie Budzinski is a worker and we’re not sure where we’re going to put her yet. Right now she’s our center back and we have two freshmen and we’re trying to give them time before we bring them up, so we can use Stephanie where she’s most comfortable, right in the middle of the field.”
Papa’s two captains are varsity veterans on a team aiming to carve out its identity as the season moves along.

“Stacy and Becca are my game-experienced girls but again, we’re not sure yet how we want to use them,” Papa said. “Stacy likes to play center mid and Becca gives us a presence in the front line. And Kelsey Elam has looked good in the front for us so far.”

Sons, Dobrich, Budzinski, Morgan Pigusch, and keeper Cristal Kurkowski are this year’s seniors at East. Juniors include Bicek, Elam, Bona Shin, Hanna McClard, Tracy Brinkman, Lindsey Jarrell, Kellie Herman, Ashley Slak, and keeper Kate Kazmierczak. Kurkowski started Thursday’s game and Kazmierczak entered the net in the second half.

Sophomores Fiorella and Mallory Stegmueller will be expected to contribute, while freshmen Murphy, Jillian Kilrea, and keeper Katie Wilson are the tip of the iceberg for a solid freshmen class at East this year.

“It’s the beginning of the year and we have a lot to do, but all the potential is there,” Sons said. “We just need to work together to figure it out, and I believe we’ll reach our potential.”