Ever since last month’s 8-6 loss to St. Patrick, the Fenwick boys water polo team has dominated their Metro Catholic Aquatics Conference rival. The Friars downed the Shamrocks for the third straight time this season, 10-3, on Saturday to win their fourth consecutive MCAC tournament title.
Tom Parolin led Fenwick (28-2) with three goals, while Brian Barron, Chris Wendt, and Andrew McKernin added two goals apiece. The Friars’ counter attack led to a 3-0 lead in the first period. The team never looked back at that point, going up 7-1 by the start of the fourth frame.
“We played well across the board. Our defense was there and we did everything we wanted to do offensively,” said Fenwick head coach Dave Perry. “Except for the second period where we kind of struggled to score a bit, we played very well.”
The Friars, who held St. Patrick star player James Ridgeway scoreless for the second time this season, will likely see their MCAC foe again in their own pool for the sectional championship on Saturday (1:30 p.m.). St. Patrick was given the No. 1 seed in the sectional back when the Shamrocks were undefeated and had beaten the Friars. The No. 2 seed Fenwick opens the sectional Thursday with a game against Elk Grove Village (7 p.m.). They’ll likely either play York (No. 3 seed) or Morton on Friday in the semis, while St. Patrick takes on either OPRF (fourth seed) or Riverside Brookfield.
Friars gear up for fourth straight
The Fenwick girls water polo team won its MCAC championship match by edging Mother McAuley 10-9. The No. 1 seeded Friars open their own sectional today (Wednesday, 4:30 p.m.) against Elk Grove Village. A win would pit the three-time defending state champs up against either Riverside Brookfield or Curie on Friday at 4:30 p.m. in the semifinals. The sectional title game is scheduled for Saturday at Noon.
