Shootout is new to Shanahan

McHenry's Reilly Shanahan participated in a water polo shootout for the first time in his career Sunday in the Illinois Water Polo all-Star Game. Shanahan and the Black team lost, 13-12. Shanahan scored in the shootout. (Northwest Herald file photo)

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LINCOLNSHIRE – McHenry’s Reilly Shanahan has played in a lot of water polo games in his high school career, but experienced something new at the Illinois Water Polo All-Star game at Stevenson High School on Sunday.

With the score tied, 9-9, after four periods, the game went to a shootout rather than the typical overtimes. Shanahan was selected by Fenwick coach Dave Perry as one of the six players from each squad to shoot.

Shanahan has played in overtime games before but none that had advanced to the shootout phase.

Before the shootout, Shanahan looked over to Warriors coach Craig Fowles on the side of the pool with a deer-in-headlights expression on his face.  

Having never been in a shoot-out, Shanahan said he even had to ask teammates where to shoot from and what to do.

“I was so nervous,” Shanahan said.

Shanahan was the third to shoot and found the right-hand corner of the net to put his black team up, 12-11. The white squad eventually won the game, 13-12.

Shanahan also scored a late first-period goal and was one of only three players on his team to score more than one goal.

The inaugural all-star game put on by illpolo.com was a fitting capstone to Shanahan’s season and career.

Shanahan qualified for the game by being named to second team All-State by Illinois Polo. The Warriors qualified for the state finals for the second consecutive year and were led by Shanahan’s 167 goals.

The game looked similar in the quality of play to a state tournament game but Shanahan said the difference was marked in the water. With 25 of the top players in the state playing, the talent pool was deep.

“Everyone is playing defense. Everyone is playing the right offense. Everyone knew exactly what they were doing,” Shanahan said. “It’s a lot different.”

Fowles said Shanahan had a standout season but was the most laid-back person on his team. Shanahan led through his play but certainly was not a rah-rah kind of guy.

“It was hard to get the team pumped up because their leader was always half asleep,” Fowles joked. “That’s just the way he is.”

Fowles said that even with the graduation of Shanahan the Warriors’ water polo program still is looking good for next year.

“You’re always concerned about what you lost, but somebody steps up,” Fowles said.

For Shanahan, the all-star game might have been his last as a competitive water polo player. His graduation also marks the end of an era for McHenry water polo. Shanahan is the last of four brothers to play for the Warriors. Their father, Mike Shanahan, started the program in 1971 and coached until 2005 when Fowles took over.

“It was fun, but a little said,” Shanahan said of the game.