Fenwick's speed earns another state crown

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In a physical game that produced one black eye and a bruised mouth, Fenwick battled past Naperville Central 10-5 for its fifth consecutive state championship Saturday at Stevenson.

"We knew we it would be a tough game, or a dog fight," Fenwick coach Dave Perry said.

Chris Wendt and Brian Barron led the Friars (32-1) with four goals each.

Fenwick jumped out to a 4-1 lead by the end of the first quarter.

Mike Berkemeyer scored first, and Wendt added two goals, including one on a penalty shot, for a 3-0 lead.

Naperville’s Ben Reasons scored with 39 seconds left to make it 3-1 and Barron scored with eight seconds left in the first to make it 4-1.

"It feels great," said Brian Barron. "We had to do more swimming, they are more of a big and strong team and we're more of a speed team," Barron said.

Reasons, who led Naperville with three goals, said he got a black left eye by an apologetic Friar "sometime in the beginning of the second quarter.

Naperville’s Max Salzman added two goals.

Wendt and Barron scored early in the second to make it 6-1. Naperville’s Salzman scored on a penalty shot with three minutes left in the second to make it 6-2 at halftime and again early in the third to make it 6-3.

Barron, who was hit in the mouth at some point during the game, scored twice early in the third quarter. Wendt scored on a penalty shot with 56 seconds left in the third to make it 9-4.

Barron passed the ball to teammate Andrew McKernin, who scored on a penalty shot to make it 10-4 early in the fourth. Naperville’s Jack Howenstein passed the ball to Reasons for the game's final goal with 2:49 left. "It’s great to know all our hard work during the season paid off," said Wendt.