Journal & Topics Media Group

Hersey Blanks Rolling Meadows, Remains Undefeated


A year after feeling like the rug was pulled out beneath them, Hersey girls water polo is making the most of its opportunity in 2021.

The Huskies improved to 3-0 (1-0 MSL East) this season with a 16-0 win over Rolling Meadows (0-3, 0-1 MSL East) Wednesday, April 7 at Prospect High School.

It was a tale of two different teams. 

Hersey shared the MSL East title in 2019 after winning it outright in 2018. The Huskies were second in the MSL East in 2017. Since 2017, the Huskies are 28-3 in the MSL East.

Hersey coach Megan Brownley talks with the team before the game starts.

Rolling Meadows is 9-22 in that span.

Hersey went 68-18 overall during the 2017-19 seasons and returned all-state player Annie Lindgren (third team all-state in 2019; fourth team in 2018). 

Hersey came out swinging this season, knocking off Barrington (22-1 score) and Schaumburg (15-4) in the first two games of the year.

It was no surprise that Hersey defeated Rolling Meadows to remain undefeated this year, but it was still a win for the visiting Mustangs, who finally hit the pool for the first time this season after forfeiting the first two games.

The Mustangs competed with just seven players, the bare minimum to field a team. Rolling Meadows has nine players total, but two were absent Wednesday in the MSL East opener. 

The Huskies wasted little time piling on the goals early on, jumping out to a 4-0 lead only 2 minutes into the game. After 3 minutes, 45 seconds into the game, Hersey led 7-0. 

By the end of the first quarter, Hersey was ahead 11-0. Over the first three games this season, Hersey outscored their opponents 29-1 in the first quarter.

Rolling Meadows goalie Julia Zera reacts as Hersey’s Grace Steinberg (6) takes a shot on goal.

The Huskies pulled ahead 15-0 at half as they started letting off. Hersey started dumping the ball in the corners in the second half as they ran the clock out, deciding against piling on any more. Hersey had nine different players score in the win.

“There are always things you can work on in a game that’s super competitive or not,” Hersey coach Megan Brownley said. “I’ve coached some of those girls (at Rolling Meadows). It (letting off after a high scoring start) was a way to be respectful of other teams in our conference.”  

Through three games this season, Hersey’s outscored opponents a combined 53-5.  

Hersey was able to work on some things with their newer players or ones who don’t get as much action.

Hersey’s Anna Kreie passes the ball.

“No one is a perfect player, there are still things everyone can work on in their games,” Brownley said. “Passing, defense or shooting, etc. There is always room for improvement no matter who you are. The girls want to be better each game. I think that helps as well.” 

Sam Corley didn’t score for the Huskies, but she was given player of the game honors by Browley after leading the team with 5 steals. Corley and Tea Lang (3 goals) both missed the first two games, but made their season debuts Wednesday.  

Hersey was led in scoring Wednesday by Lang, Ila Nathanson (3 goals), Annika Lindberg (3 goals) and Blythe McIlrath (2 goals).

Hersey’s Sally Bornhorst prepares to take a shot.

Hersey’s Grace Steinberg (facing) tries to get a pass off before Rolling Meadows’ Sammi France (4) can try to block it.

Hersey hopes to win the MSL East this year, but Buffalo Grove (4-3 record) and Prospect (3-2, 2-0 MSL East) aren’t going to roll over.  

The Huskies defense should be a strength this season, Brownley hopes. Allowing only 5 goals in the first three games backs up what she wanted to see.

“I preach defense like crazy,” Brownley said. “If a team gets a shot, I think Alexa (Knutson) is going to stop a lot. Offensively, I think we are a little sharper than we were in the past. They are spreading the ball around and their accuracy is much better.”

Hersey goalie Alexa Knutson smiles as she talks with coach Megan Brownley after the first quarter.

Hersey swiped 24 steals against the Mustangs. On offense, Hersey made 16-of-22 shots.

One problem for Hersey this season is the fact Knutson, who had 10 saves Wednesday, is also a starter on the volleyball team for Hersey, so Brownley and volleyball coach Nancy Lill have to work out when they can have her. In the win against Schaumburg she played all four quarters for water polo and then changed and ran down the hall to the gym to play the third set of the volleyball game.

While Hersey battles that, Rolling Meadows battles having enough players each game to field a team. Rolling Meadows, under new coach Katlyn Tomasetti, is also still looking for its first goal of the season. 

“I am super excited the girls are back in the water,” Tomasetti said. “It helps and makes them better players. Today unfortunately we didn’t have any subs. The girls did great, even with a loss. I am really proud of them. Even with a loss, I think we still won.”

Not having any subs on the bench didn’t help the cause, especially when water polo can be a grueling game despite being just 28 minutes (four 7-minute quarters). 

“It is super stressful and super hard,” Tomasetti said of not having subs. “I am just happy there were enough girls to come out to field a team. I know it is difficult on them (playing all game), but they keep training and build that endurance up.”

Rolling Meadows’ Sammi France (4) and Hersey’s Anna Kreie (right) battle for a jump ball after the official dropped it in.

Right now there are 17 sports going on this week and next, so the number of athletes each program will have is kind of limited right now. Add in COVID-19 and some people taking a season off, some teams are barely hanging on numbers-wise.

With school attendance not being the same as normal this year and a lack of freshman orientation, Tomasetti wasn’t able to reach out to more students to try and bring the numbers up.

The Mustangs barely got in the pool last year before the season was canceled, so Meadows lost a lot of experienced players and a chance to develop players for this year.

“We have two new girls playing who are actually starting on varsity right now,” Tomasetti said. “They are doing a great job. You just have to work with what you’ve got. The new freshmen came in not really knowing what water polo is. I had two girls who didn’t know what it was, but were interested because they did swimming. They were like, hey, I want to stay in the water. 

“We also don’t have a pool at Rolling Meadows, we go share one with Elk Grove. That was tricky to try and navigate with four teams (EG girls and boys, RM girls and boys). For some girls, they went a whole year without going in the water.”

Hersey played Libertyville Friday, April 9 and won 10-2 to improve to 4-0 this season. Annie Lindgren (4 goals), Ila Nathanson (2 goals), Grace Steinberg (1 goal), Tea Lang (1 goal) and Anna Kreie (1 goal) led the Huskies.

Hersey girls water polo players are all smiles in the pool.

Scores by Quarter:

Hersey: 11-4-1-0 — 16

Rolling Meadows: 0-0-0-0 — 0

 

Scores:

First Quarter:

6:35 – Hersey’s Ila Nathanson goal; Hersey 1, Rolling Meadows 0

6:07 – Hersey’s Anna Kreie goal; Hersey 2, Rolling Meadows 0

5:39 – Hersey’s Annika Lindberg goal; Hersey 3, Rolling Meadows 0

5:00 – Hersey’s Blythe McIlrath goal; Hersey 4, Rolling Meadows 0

4:39 – Hersey’s Ila Nathanson goal; Hersey 5, Rolling Meadows 0

4:17 – Hersey’s Annika Lindberg goal; Hersey 6, Rolling Meadows 0

3:15 – Hersey’s Annie Lindgren goal; Hersey 7, Rolling Meadows 0

2:42 – Hersey’s Ila Nathanson goal; Hersey 8, Rolling Meadows 0

2:18 – Hersey’s Tea Lang goal; Hersey 9, Rolling Meadows 0

0:41 – Hersey’s Tea Lang goal; Hersey 10, Rolling Meadows 0

0:13 – Hersey’s Mary O’Sullivan goal; Hersey 11, Rolling Meadows 0

Second Quarter:

5:02 – Hersey’s Grace Steinberg goal; Hersey 12, Rolling Meadows 0

2:26 – Hersey’s Blythe McIlrath goal; Hersey 13, Rolling Meadows 0

1:27 – Hersey’s Sally Bornhorst goal; Hersey 14, Rolling Meadows 0

0:41 – Hersey’s Annika Lindberg goal; Hersey 15, Rolling Meadows 0

Third Quarter

3:41 – Hersey’s Tea Lang goal; Hersey 16, Rolling Meadows 0

 

Scoring:

Hersey: Ila Nathanson (3 goals), Annika Lindberg (3), Tea Lang (3), Blythe McIlrath (2), Anna Kreie (1), Annie Lindgren (1), Mary O’Sullivan (1), Grace Steinberg (1), Sally Bornhorst (1)

 

How Hersey Started 2021:

Hersey 15, Schaumburg 4: Hersey moved to 2-0 Thursday, April 1 with a MSL crossover win over the Saxons. Hersey trailed 1-0, but they were only behind 2 minutes and 2 seconds before tying the game and going on a 7-0 run. The Huskies led 9-3 at half and 13-4 after three quarters. Leading the Huskies were Annie Lindgren (7 goals, 2 steals), Ila Nathanson (3 goals), Annika Lindberg (2 goals, 2 steals), Anna Kreie (2 goals, 2 steals), Hannah Prior (1 goal) and Alexa Knutson (16 saves).

Hersey 22, Barrington 1: Hersey appeared to be making up for lost time and a lost 2020 season in their 2021 opener Wednesday, March 31 against Barrington. The Huskies built a 20-0 lead in the third quarter before the Fillies finally got on the scoreboard. Hersey led 17-0 at half and 21-1 after three quarters. The Huskies were led in the opener by Annika Lindberg (4 goals, 2 assists, 3 steals), Anna Kreie (4 goals, 4 steals), Ila Nathanson (3 goals, 2 assists, 2 steals), Mary O’Sullivan (2 goals, 3 steals), Hanna Prior (2 goals, 3 steals, 1 assist), Annie Lindgren (2 goals, 7 steals, 4 assists), Emma Patrichi (2 goals, 1 assist, 1 steal), Olivia Bieniek (1 goal, 1 assist), Blythe McIlrath (1 goal, 2 steals, 1 assist) and Grace Steinberg (1 goal). In the net, Alexa Knutson (9 saves, 2 steals, 1 assist) was stellar, allowing only one goal.

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