Benet’s Rania Fikri didn’t let any grass grow under her feet.
The junior midfielder wasted no time in attacking Marian Catholic’s defense during an East Suburban Catholic Conference game in Lisle on Saturday.
“I know how people sometimes kind of work into the game,” Fikri said. “But I was trying to start off strong, like be on the front foot, so I was just trying to score right off the bat.”
Fikri knocked in a corner kick from Rachel Burns just 3:40 after the opening kickoff. It turned out to be the game winner and the first of two goals for Fikri as the Redwings rolled to an 8-0 victory.
“Rania is the type of player that is so good in technical spaces, just really comfortable on the ball,” Benet coach Gerard Oconer said. “What’s really improved for her this season has been her defense.
“She’s just gotten physically stronger and gotten a little bit more confident. Her shot has gotten better.”
That was evident against Marian Catholic, which never advanced the ball past midfield. Both of Fikri’s goals came on strong shots, and she had another drive hit the post.
Chloe Sentman, who had two assists for Benet (8-1, 4-0) on Saturday, has noticed the uptick in Fikri’s aggressiveness.
“She’s definitely really stepped up to the plate,” Sentman said. “She was great last year, but she was definitely more timid when shooting.
“But this year it seems like she’s a lot more confident, and it’s really helping her. She had an awesome game today.”
The play of Fikri is helping the Redwings, who are showcasing their enviable depth. Richmond-bound Brinkley Douglas hasn’t played this season due to an ankle injury, but Fikri has taken her place in the lineup and produced four goals and two assists.
“Rania’s been really important to have in that center mid spot,” Oconer said. “She has still yet to hit her full potential. As she gets a little bit stronger, as she gets a little bit more confident like she has been lately, I think she’s only going to get better.”
The performance against Marian Catholic (3-12, 0-4) was the first multigoal game of Fikri’s high school career, which began last season. She attended Nazareth for her freshman year but didn’t play high school soccer there.
Joining an elite program like Benet was an eye-opening experience for Fikri. She had two goals and two assists in 20 games off the bench to help the Redwings finish second in Class 2A.
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“I was really surprised because of how good our team was and how close everyone got over the season,” Fikri said. “I’ve never been on a team where the team is such a community and everyone is kind of friends with everyone. It was just great. Same with this year too.”
Because the Redwings have perhaps their deepest team ever — 13 players have scored at least one goal — playing time is tough to earn and well-deserved when awarded.
“It’s great to go against good players in practice,” Fikri said. “That’s how you get better. To be a part of a team where you’re maybe the star, you don’t really get a chance to get better during practice.”
Fikri has gotten better, as Saturday showed.
But Marian Catholic is one of the weaker teams on Benet’s schedule, which soon gets a lot tougher. The Redwings play St. Viator, Oswego and Naperville North this week. The latter two games are part of the prestigious Naperville Invitational.
“It’s definitely growing my confidence for those bigger games,” Fikri said.
Matt Le Cren is a freelance reporter for the Naperville Sun.
