By Michael Wojtychiw

CHICAGO — Putting the ball into the back of the net has been a tricky part of the game for Fenwick this season. The Friars came into the postseason having let up five more goals than they’d scored and had been shutout in three of the team’s last four games of the regular season.

That trend, however, seems to have reversed itself in the state playoffs. In the squad’s first two playoff games, it outscored opponents 12-1.

“These one-off games are challenging and if you can get the lead, calm your nerves down, that’s a really good first step,” Fenwick manager Craig Blazer said. “We were starting to focus on doing that, and it calmed us down.

“We’ve played a little more in the attacking half and not had defenders that have to make all the plays in the back. But anytime you score a goal, it gives you a boost. It just took us a while to get everyone on the same page and now that we are, we’ve got some good momentum.”

The third-seeded Friars continued to put the ball in the net in their Class AA Speer Sectional semifinal against second-seeded Fenton.

The Friars finished enough for a 2-1 win that earned the sectional final against top-seeded Notre Dame.

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