Maine West Sports Roundup: Girls Water Polo Looking for New Start

Girls Water Polo: At this point in the season, coach Brett Unruh knows his team’s strong points and weaknesses.

“We have really done a great job in the half-court defense,” Unruh said. “We do a great job of putting pressure on other teams and forcing them to take tough contested shots.”

Unfortunately, Maine West hasn’t been able to correct its biggest weakness – transition defense – and other teams have taken advantage. Maine West is currently 1-11 and 0-7 in the CSL and hasn’t won since its win over Walter Payton in late March.

But Unruh is happy with the development the team’s two goaltenders, Tara Woodford and Sarah Godawa, and thinks the team is more comfortable moving the ball on the offensive end and setting up the offense.

As with all high school sports, only a team’s performance in the postseason is what ultimately matters. And Unruh hopes these problems can still be fixed in the upcoming weeks.

“If we can limit the amount of fast break points we give up we can really challenge some of the teams in the conference and sectional tournaments,” Unruh said. We play the game the right way and if we continue this effort, I think the future of Maine West girls water polo can be very bright.”

Boys Volleyball: After losing its first two games of the Downers Grove South Tournament to Lake Park and Evanston, Maine West rallied to take the final two matches and end with a record of 2-2.

On April 23, Maine West defeated Joliet Catholic 25-16, 25-22 setting up a match with Oak Lawn. After the two teams split the first two games of the match, the Warriors edged Oak Lawn, 27-25, in the final game to take the win.

Highland Park defeated Maine West in a CSL North battle, 25-18, 25-17, on Tuesday.

Baseball: Highland Park beat Maine West twice last week. The Giants defeated Maine West, 10-1, in their first matchup and took the second game, 7-3. Maine West’s Mike Farias went 2-for-3 with an RBI single in their second matchup on Monday.

Girls Soccer: Cara Franke scored two goals for Maine West in the Warriors’ 2-0 victory over Northside Prep on April 21. Maine West lost 2-0 to Deerfield in a CSL North game on Tuesday.

Badminton: Defending CSL champion New Trier defeated Maine West, 16-2, in badminton on April 21. First singles player Sarah Gangl lost to Mari Georgiadis (New Trier) 21-5, 21-2. The first doubles team of Gangl and Katrina Mira lost to New Trier’s Dora Saclarides and Nikki Vanderpal, 21-11, 21-15.

Boys Water Polo: Maine South took down Maine West (1-11, 0-6 CSL), 18-9, on Tuesday. Joe Heinz led Maine West with four goals, all coming in the second half, while A.J. Unander chipped in two goals for the Warriors.

SCOREBOARD WATCHING

Softball: 

Maine West 6, Glenbrook North 2 on April 25