Anna Brodjian is a talented soccer player who always seems to be at the center of activity.
Brodjian smashed in a header off a cross by senior midfielder Sophia Spinell in the 50th minute that ignited Barrington’s 2-0 victory against Buffalo Grove to win the Mid-Suburban League championship on May 11.
A senior forward, Brodjian also scored the only goal in the Fillies’ 1-0 victory against Fremd on May 3 in a showdown of the league’s top two programs. She now has 13 goals on the year.
“As a team, we have all worked so hard together, so everyone really knows how we all play,” Brodjian said. “It is really easy when we shift the ball side-to-side to get it into the box. I am good with reading that. Sometimes I am lucky and it just gets to me.”
Senior forward Maesyn Poidomani put the game out of reach with a goal in the 64th minute as the Fillies (21-1-0) punctuated a dominant regular-season performance. Barrington posted a goal differential of 74-5.
Junior goalkeeper Samantha Schmitz has anchored a defense that has registered 18 shutouts. Spinell and senior defender Jackie Batliner shared MVP honors for the MSL West.
The Buffalo Grove victory marked an unprecedented sixth consecutive MSL championship.
The Fillies have won the title 10 times in the program’s history. Even with nine returning starters from last year’s team that reached the Class 3A supersectionals, coach Ryan Stengren said this team has exceeded expectations.
“They asked me a long time ago what they needed to do to get better, and they all did this extra training on their own in the offseason,” Stengren said. “They have all bought into what the coaching staff has asked them.”
Brodjian plays with a relentless drive and work ethic. She moved up to varsity halfway through her freshman year and saw the discipline and energy of star forward Jenna Szczesny, a current standout at Loyola University Chicago.
“Whenever I go out there, I want to give 110 percent because I want to make my team know that I am giving my full effort,” Brodjian said. “I like seeing players who are intense, because it makes me want to be like them. It really helps to have that high role model like Jenna to have somebody to look up to and want to be like.”
A year ago, Ashley Prell was a wide-eyed freshman eager to find her role on the team. She played mostly in conference blowouts. Despite limited time, she scored a team-best 13 goals. Now, she is a starter who has scored 10 goals. Her speed is a terrific complement to Brodjian’s play.
“I feel like this year my job is to get the goals in the games that are bigger and against tougher teams,” Prell said.
Barrington is the top seed in the Class 3A Warren Sectional. The Fillies are confident in their ability to contend for a state title.
“We have a really good shot,” Prell said. “So many of our forwards can score, and we have a really strong defense. We have to do it one game at a time, and we cannot think too far ahead.”
Patrick Z. McGavin is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
Twitter @Pioneer_Press
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