This soccer match was roughly a year in the making.
Seniors on the 2023 Riverside Brookfield High School varsity girls soccer team and members of the boys swimming and diving team discussed an exhibition scrimmage, but it never happened.
The 2024 seniors persevered — and the swimmers remained interested.
“Last year was kind of a running joke between the two teams,” senior soccer player Cassidy Erb said. “They were looking to play another sports team just for fun. And we thought it was time that it happened. And then we thought we’d make an event out of it.”
On Saturday afternoon, the matchup became reality — complete with the home stadium venue, near-perfect sunny weather and plenty of fans. The scrimmage raised $790 to benefit the Chicago Autism Network in recognition of April being Autism Awareness Month.
The varsity girls soccer team won 2-1 after trailing 1-0 at halftime of the 60-minute contest.
“I had a lot of fun, absolutely,” said senior swimmer Jack O’Brien, a team captain with senior Gabe Wiginton. “I’ve done swimming. I’ve done running [cross country and track]. I’ve never done a team sport like this so it was a lot of fun and it was great that it was for charity, too.”
Senior Niamh Larson scored the game-winner with about nine minutes left on a 23-yard direct kick over a four-player defensive wall.
“Man, that was essential,” Larson said. “I had a great feeling that it was going in. I’m glad it did.
“[This game] was so much fun. I was laughing the entire game at the fans, the commentating, the coaches, everything. It was a really good experience. It was a beautiful day out. It was a really good event.”
Girls soccer previously has held Kick Out Cancer fundraiser games against home opponents. For this event, the girls sold baked goods and the swimmers primarily sold $3 bracelets to supplement donations.
“[The swimmers] were down for charity. They were excited. There was a lot of hype on both sides,” senior soccer player Maddie Bisiules said. “It was really lucky. We kind of threw around a couple of dates and this was a day that worked with our soccer schedule. It worked out really well.”
Despite several swimmers now active with spring sports, most played. Their roster included Cooper Marrs and Carter Duda (baseball), O’Brien, Will Kallas and Hayden Marrs (track and field), and goalie Alex Jacobs and Avi Ponnappan (water polo).
“It’s always been like a side joke between our two teams,” Cooper Marrs said. “It was lucky that we all found a date for all of us. It was planned pretty well in advance.”
Senior Marty Bieliauskas and Wiginton were the lone varsity boys soccer players, but teammates Massimo Franceschina and Max Swicionis served as coaches, both wearing ties. Other players included all-state swimmer Drew Rosa, Lucas Hedrich, Kamil Ptak and diver Nate Kissel.
The swimmers practiced, but Cooper Marrs joked most were “rec warriors.”
“Obviously that comes with challenges, but I think everyone played well. We scored. I thought that was very good,” Bieliauskas said.
“Having a background of soccer and playing with these guys, it was just a blast, honestly. Just playing ball, having fun. It was a wonderful experience.”
Wiginton put the swimmers ahead 1-0 just before halftime after O’Brien’s corner kick was kept in the crease by Hedrich and Cooper Marrs. Earlier, Jacobs stopped Ella Caputo’s penalty kick in the 21st minute.
“It was very exciting. I just followed the ball,” Jacobs said. “The whole process has been fun and it’s going to a good cause.”
Junior Michelle Panduro tied the game in the 50th minute off a Bisiules corner kick right after Jacobs pushed her previous one over the crossbar.
Girls players painted their faces various ways with various colors. Some brought swim goggles.
“I think we’re all really competitive so we wanted to win, but we also understand this is a game for fun and charity,” senior Kate Newberry said. “We want to win, especially against the swim team, but it was good just to get moving and have fun.”
And in soccer tradition, the players congratulated each other afterwards. With poster in hand, senior Hazel Hall asked Hayden Marrs to prom as friends.
“It was just such a fun, exciting [event], especially for us seniors,” Hall said. “We have 24 days of school left so we’re trying to make some lasting memories. And this is one I’m going to cherish for a very long time.”