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Preview

Quarterfinal #2: Mother McAuley (17-14) vs Fremd (24-4)

Game Time: 5:45pm; Thursday, May 19

Coaches: McAuley-Vanessa Carroll (2nd year) / Fremd-Brian Newby (10th year)

How They Got Here: McAuley beat Lyons 7-3 at the Lyons Sectional. Fremd beat Barrington 14-0 at the Barrington Sectional.

Previous 2011 Meetings: McAuley leads the series 1-0. McAuley beat Fremd 3-2 on 4/23 at the Stevenson Tournament

Current Rankings: McAuley - #7 / Fremd - #8

Top Performers: McAuley (Vicky Arciniega - 52 goals) / Fremd (Sam Matuszewski - 62 goals) (Sam del Prado - 59 goals)

The Goalies: McAuley (Sarah Abbott) / Fremd (Julie Conrath)

Key Factors: Low-scoring, defensive, and close. Those are probably a few of the words one could use to describe the matchup between Mother McAuley and Fremd, who earlier this season played to a 3-2 finish at the Stevenson Tournament (McAuley won). Both teams are coming in riding a wave of momentum, with McAuley busting through a tough sectional with wins over Lyons and Sandburg, while Fremd shutout Barrington in the sectional final and earned a convincing win over Prospect to claim the MSL title the week before. Experience could also be a factor, with most of Fremd's team returning from last year's state run, while McAuley has no one left from their roster from the last time they made the state tournament (2008). Ultimately, it will probably boil down to whoever's team defense is best on Thursday night. In the first meeting, the Mighty Macs held the Vikings scoreless over the final four minutes as Fremd desperately searched for the game-tying goal. Whichever team's defense supplies that kind of effort will probably win this game.

Other Players to Watch: 

McAuley (Amy Kopale, Adriana Izquerido, Bria Nolan, Clare Bryar, Jackie Knightly, Kristen Kleist)

Fremd (Emily McCarthy, Emily Orlowski, Lauren Zambelli, Megan Kennedy)