Ever since Benet sophomore Annie Fitzgerald was a little girl, she dreamed of playing basketball and soccer in high school.
Her father, John, who teaches social studies and coaches the freshman girls basketball team at Benet, took her to the girls basketball state finals every time the Redwings qualified. She was there when Kathleen Doyle led Benet to two state titles.
Every spring, Fitzgerald attended many of the girls soccer team’s home games too.
“She is the kind of kid who has been around our program since she was this tall,” Benet soccer coach Gerard Oconer said. “We’d be in practice or in games, and she’s working on individual drills right over there with dad.
“If there ever was a kid who was born for Benet girls soccer, then it’s Annie.”
Fitzgerald burst onto the high school scene as a freshman last season. The midfielder had seven goals and nine assists, including the game-winning strike in a 1-0 overtime victory against Peoria Notre Dame in a Class 2A supersectional, to help the Redwings finish second in the state for the second straight season.
“I’ve always dreamed of going to Benet, how it would be like being on the soccer team,” Fitzgerald said. “To finally be able to represent Benet as a school and as a soccer player is amazing. I’m so grateful I can do it.”
But Fitzgerald’s rise in soccer meant sacrificing her basketball career. While she loves both sports, soccer is her leading passion.
“Ever since I was little, I’ve always loved soccer a little bit more,” she said. “Don’t tell my dad.”
Actually, John Fitzgerald, who coached her in basketball in fifth grade, already knew that. Which is why he advised her not to continue basketball after eighth grade. Annie Fitzgerald wanted to play varsity soccer as a freshman, so those winter months were better spent honing her soccer skills.
“It was really tough to make the decision,” Fitzgerald said. “My dad was my coach for fifth grade, and that was amazing. I really wanted to play for him as a freshman in high school, too, but I really wanted to be committed for soccer. I knew that in order to be on varsity and in order to make an impact, I had to choose soccer.”
Fitzgerald has no regrets.
“Looking back now, I’m so glad that I did,” she said. “Last season, state runner-up. This season, we’re doing really well too. It was a little disappointing not being able to play for my dad, but I think it definitely was the right decision.”
Fitzgerald’s play this season has confirmed that. She has emerged as the leader of a balanced offense and has recorded a team-high seven goals and five assists.
Two of those goals came Tuesday during Benet’s come-from-behind 4-2 victory against visiting St. Viator that clinched the East Suburban Catholic Conference title.
The Redwings (9-2-1, 5-0) trailed the Lions (10-2, 3-1) before junior forward Eleanor Mahan scored her second goal of the game to tie it at 2-2 with 6:26 left in the first half. The right-footed Fitzgerald then scored twice in the second half, including the game-winner on a left-footed strike from 20 yards out off an assist from senior midfielder Rania Fikri with 27:51 left.
“The defender was kind of behind me, and I just took a touch past her, and I saw that the goalie was a little bit off her line, so I hit it with my left foot,” Fitzgerald said. “I was a little surprised that it went in, but I was super happy.”
As are the Redwings, who have won eight straight games. Fitzgerald has scored the game-winner in two of the past three.
“What I like most about Annie’s game is she’s always ready to shoot whenever,” Fikri said. “She’s also very skilled and technical and very great at turning.”
Oconer said the future is bright for Fitzgerald.
“She was in a little bit of a funk goal-scoring wise,” Oconer said. “We told her to be patient, it’s coming, and sure enough, that catapulted her.
“She scored the game-winner against Naperville Central, then twice again today. She’s got unlimited potential as long as she keeps working at the rate that she does. She’s always looking to get better.”
And giving credit to her teammates.
“This team has been awesome helping me grow as a player and as a person,” Fitzgerald said. “I couldn’t do it without any of the people on this team, so I’m very happy that I can play with players like Rania.”
Matt Le Cren is a freelance reporter.
