Fenwick rallies past New Trier for first Girls Varsity Title

Fenwick scored three unanswered goals, including a penalty shot from Ellie Kaiser, as the Friars defeated New Trier 3-2 on Friday afternoon to claim their first Illinois State High School Hockey Championship, presented by Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana Chevy Dealers.
"I think the culture and camaraderie, it's a team-first attitude, from the best player all the way down," Fenwick head coach Mason Strom said. "They care about each other off the ice too. Hockey is just something that a bunch of friends do together."
New Trier looked like the more confident team early on, creating opportunities as the defending champs forced Fenwick to take costly penalties. Early in the first period, Ella Huber got the puck in front of net for the Trevians, where Sabrina Shvartsman jumped in a scramble and poked home a loose puck to give New Trier a 1-0 lead. With the Trevians back on the power play moments later, Huber would corral a puck and use a nifty move to find the space for her first goal of the night, putting New Trier up 2-0.

Fenwick pulled one back before the end of the opening frame, as a smothering forecheck freed up Erin Proctor all alone in front of goal. Her first shot was saved but her second effort tally cut the New Trier lead in half. The Friars would continue to pressure New Trier throughout the second period, but couldn't find the equalizer until a penalty on a breakaway gave Ellie Kaiser a chance to level the score. Her shot banged off the post blocker side and knotted the Girls Varsity championship game at 2-2 heading into the final frame.
"It was really cool, especially scoring those goals, and hearing the support from the crowd," Strohm said. "I think it just energized the girls."
The Friars would go to work on the power play in the third period, taking a 5-on-3 man advantage and snagging the game-winning goal thanks to a timely shot from Kaiser. The junior collected a rebound in front of net and gave Fenwick their first lead of the night with her second tally of the evening. It would be all the Friars needed, as they hung on to bring home the first state title in school history.
"We never lost any energy. We just kept going. We put a few lucky pucks away and we got the lead," Kaiser said. "It's amazing, I still can't believe we won."