Notre Dame College Prep ousts OPRF boys' soccer team from playoffs

In a wide-open game where both teams earnestly try to score on the other, Notre Dame College Prep had little chance Saturday, October 21 against the Oak Park and River Forest boys’ soccer team.

The top-rated team in Illinois and undefeated through 23 games, the Huskies, led by three-time All-State performer Easton Bogard, were the most dominant team in school history.

So on their Niles home turf in the regional final, Notre Dame resorted to a strategy that gave them their greatest chance of coming out on top: prevent OPRF from scoring, then hope to win on penalty kicks.

That’s precisely how it played out, as the Dons edged the Huskies, 5-4, in the shootout phase after 100 minutes of windy, physical, scoreless soccer. Unable to pierce Notre Dame’s extreme defensive shell, then subjected to the vagaries of a few pressure-packed kicks, OPRF’s dream season came to a shocking end.

“It’s disappointing because everyone had expectations of us winning state or at least making it farther than we’ve gotten before,” Bogard said. “That’s just the way it goes and that’s why high school playoff soccer is a little rough sometimes.”

Despite dominating possession (three-quarters of the time) and generating several dramatic scoring threats, the Huskies’ hopes for a state championship were dashed. It was only the second of what they hoped would be a seven-game postseason run to a Class 3A Illinois High School Association title.

After making some offensive overtures in the opening minutes, the Dons (15-3-2) transitioned to a strategy of hunkering down, with as many as eight of their 10 field players crowding the box to minimize clear Huskie offensive opportunities.

“When teams do that, it’s really hard to score,” OPRF coach Jason Fried said. “We adapted and our players did a great job of changing the way we went at them and that created some opportunities, but it was still a lot of (Notre Dame) guys to go through.”

“It was just hard to find space when they congest the back so much near their goal,” Bogard added. “It’s hard to find the gaps.”

In addition to Bogard, Diego Zarate and Charlie Maguire were among those who nearly scored. At one point in the second half, Maguire’s free kick hit the crossbar; in the second 10-minute overtime, Bogard nearly scored on a free kick and on a header that was beautifully set up by Zarate. Both attempts were deflected by Notre Dame’s sterling goalkeeper, Cian Haugh.

As the Huskies raced against the clock, the Dons—who didn’t test OPRF goalkeeper Cam Smith with any threatening shots—held on for survival.

While OPRF completed 105 of 135 passes in the "attacking third"--the one-third portion of the field closest to the Notre Dame goal--the Dons completed a mere three of eight passes in that area of the Huskies' goal, according to a Hudl video analysis of the contest.

As the clock wound down, Notre Dame's play turned even more aggressive, with Amir Mehmeti, one of several Dons who had been physically hounding Bogard all afternoon, receiving his second yellow card.

It came with 4:27 left in the second overtime period, as Bogard was racing for the ball for a potential scoring opportunity. Mehmeti tripped him from behind.

The trip resulted in a red card that disqualified Mehmeti for the rest of the game, giving OPRF a one-man advantage. It wasn’t enough, and when the buzzer sounded, it felt like Notre Dame had momentum. That continued as a coin toss resulted in the Dons opting to go second for the penalty kicks.

OPRF’s Bryce Richards, Bogard, Zarate and Isaac Felder all converted their penalty kicks, outcomes matched by their Notre Dame counterparts. Next up was Maguire, whose attempt soared over the crossbar. That set the stage for the fifth Don penalty kick, which got past Huskie goalkeeper Christian Kellogg and set off a jubilant Notre Dame celebration.

The upset was complete, stunning the Huskies.

“It didn’t feel real,” Bogard said.

“It’s just so hard to take because our guys played fantastic,” Fried said. “I don’t think anyone (on OPRF) thought it was going to go to shootout. But it was one of those games. Whatever we did, the ball did not get into the net.”

A year ago, the Huskies were knocked out in similar fashion, losing on penalty kicks to Lane Tech in the Sectional semifinal.

Earlier in the week, on Tuesday, OPRF won its opening round, 4-0, over Maine West. The Huskies tallied a pair of goals five minutes apart midway through the first half, with Zarate the first to score on a Richards assist and then Zarate assisting Bogard for another score.

In the second half, off a Cole Shepherd pass, Bogard scored again with 13:55 to go. It was his 33rd goal of the season and the 91st of his career—both all-time Huskie records. The final goal, from Maguire, came with 1:34 left. The victory put the Huskies’ season record at 21-0-2.

For the season, OPRF posted 15 shutouts and outscored the opposition 85-11. It was by far the best goals-against average in Huskie history, and Maguire, a three-year starter and two-year captain, played a pivotal role that is “way, way more remarkable” than his one errant penalty kick, Fried said.

“It’s unfortunate how it ended like that, but that’s part of the game,” the coach added. “I am really proud of him and all these guys. They put together the most dominant year in the history of the school’s (soccer program).”

Season-Ending Huskie Notes:

In addition to earning his third straight All-State selection, Bogard was selected the top Sectional player.

Richards, the team’s second-leading scorer, gained All-Sectional laurels, while Maguire received All-Sectional Honorable Mention. In addition to Bogard, Richards and Maguire, three other Huskies received All-Conference recognition: Felder, Zarate and Ben Naber.

Meanwhile, Carlo Lissuzzo was tapped for All-Academic Sectional recognition and Naber received All-Sectional Sportsmanship Award.

Fried noted that the team was again nominated for the Myro Rys Sportsmanship Award, which was won this season by Proviso East. Over the past eight years, the Huskies have won the award twice and been nominated two other times from a field of 16 schools, said Fried.

“That’s very important to us,” he added. “It’s recognition that we are handling ourselves well in good times and bad.”

For the second time, Fried was selected Sectional Coach of the Year. He also won the honor in 2017 and said the award reflects the hard work and success of the players and the entire coaching staff, including his top two assistants, Luis Perez and Jon Cummings.