Holland & Lewis Lead Fillies to Win

Barrington's Megan Holland kicks a ball during the Fillies' 1-0 victory over Fremd, April 19, 2025, Palatine, Illinois. | Allen Cunningham FiveStarFrames.com

Soccer is the simplest game in the world. Put the ball in the net. But anyone who has tried to put the ball in the net--using only feet or head--knows there is no greater challenge in sport than scoring a goal in soccer.

For seventy-eight minutes, Fremd and Barrington demonstrated the difficulty of the challenge. In the first half a Fremd player just missed a shot to the left of the goal. The shot was close enough that I first thought it went in.

In the second half, Barrington put two shots just to the right of the frame. Both plays left Barrington players shaking their heads.

But in the seventy-eighth minute, senior Madeline Lewis received a pass on the move and put the perfect touch on the shot to guide the ball past Fremd's keeper. Lewis knew the ball was a goal before it even crossed the goal line. There was no doubt in her mind, and clearly this was not just another goal for the NIU-bound leader on the team. Barrington and Palatine are maybe five miles apart. It doesn't matter if we're shooting hoops in the driveway or shooting pool in the basement, we all love to beat our neighbors.

The intensity of the game was visible throughout. The effort on runs, defenders slamming a hip into a player with the ball, and even a few players knocking down an opponent made clear the importance of the game.

Through three-quarters of the game, Fremd had about as many chances to score as Barrington. A couple of Viking corner kicks looked promising until a frantic Fillie defender cleared the ball out of the area.

But a game that had felt like certain overtime changed with about ten minutes left to play. Barrington upped their energy. A number of passes and runs just missed connecting with quality shots.

Then Barrington's keeper Megan Holland came up to the offensive end of the field for an indirect kick. The play conveyed the Fillies' commitment to ending the game in regulation. The ball she served into the area bounced around, and a Fremd player took possession. The Palatine fans immediately yelled for a shot at the open goal at the other end of the field.

But Barrington got the ball back, and two passes later, Madeline Lewis confidently slotted the ball past Fremd's keeper.

Soccer is a simple game. It's a beautiful game. And any game that ends with a win against a neighbor is extra special.