Growing up as the youngest of five children in a sports-minded family can have a lasting impact on a person.
“Not only do you get knocked around physically, but mentally as well,” Fenwick junior Lauren Miller said. “I can definitely thank my siblings for making me mentally strong.”
Miller’s three older brothers and her older sister played lacrosse and ran cross country at Fenwick. She’s grateful for their support and encouragement, and their influence has contributed to her soccer career in ways that transcend athletic ability and game savvy.
In her third season as a starting varsity defender, the Hinsdale resident plays with a toughness that coach Rob Watson appreciates.
“(Miller) has probably had her butt kicked her entire home life,” Watson joked. “She’s an absolute warrior, and she doesn’t come off the field. She has played every minute of every game, and I don’t think we have another player that can say that. She’s the first one to practice and the last to leave.”
Fenwick lost 1-0 on Friday to local rival Oak Park-River Forest on the Huskies’ home field. The annual rivalry game featured a large crowd and a postseason level of intensity.
Playing on its senior night, OPRF fed off of its raucous home-field crowd. With a team that played only one senior on Friday, Fenwick’s young side got a good taste of the atmosphere that the state playoffs in Class 3A will bring.
“We’re going to play against big public schools in the playoffs and every time we do, we know we’re going up against good, physical teams,” Miller said.
“We have Loyola and St. Francis in our conference, but we aren’t constantly pressured every week the way a public school is. That’s why these games are so valuable because we have to play up to their level. So it was good for us to play in this environment.”
Fenwick and OPRF played scoreless soccer through the 64th minute, when Oak Park’s Ashley Gerin charged up the right side with a ball at her feet and buried the game’s lone goal from 12 yards out.
To that point, each team had created dangerous opportunities.
“It was a pretty even game. Both teams had some chances to score and both teams made a few mistakes,” Watson said. “Usually the difference in these rivalry games is heart and will, and whoever wants it more, and (OPRF) had a real good energy about them tonight.”
Fenwick junior forward Lauren Stibich, a Western Springs resident and one of the most dangerous attacking players around, liked a lot of what she saw from her side’s offense despite the loss.
“We started off slow this year but once we figured out how to play together, how to switch the ball around, things really started to come together,” Stibich said. “Even though we lost this game, we did a pretty good job of working on what we’ve been trying to accomplish.”
Gary Larsen is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
Twitter @Pioneer_Press