Girls Lacrosse

Girls lacrosse all-Daily Herald team

Posted June 16, 2011 12:00 am

By Mike Miazga Daily Herald Correspondent

Rachel Banas

Rachael Banas Stevenson

A junior middie, Banas was an honorable mention all-state pick and an all-North Suburban Conference choice after scoring 67 goals to go with 25 assists. Banas averaged 4.6 goals. Stevenson’s team captain was also selected to the Western Great Lakes regional team. “Rachael is a key impact player,” said Stevenson coach Janette Eichfeld. “Without her talent, energy, intensity and focus on the ultimate objective and her passion playing the game of lacrosse, the team would not have had as successful season as they had.”

Morgan Birck Benet Academy

Birck, a junior middie-attacker, finished the season with 20 goals and 10 assists for a Benet team that finished second in the Southwest Suburban Conference. Birck earned all-SSC accolades. “Morgan is an excellent midfielder, attacker and plays defense,” said Benet coach Kendall Vail. “She is an all-around solid player who I trust in the center position as well as on attack and defense. She has outstanding stick skills. Morgan has a terrific attitude and is a very coachable, respectful player.” Birck would like to play collegiately on the east coast.

Meghan Brady St. Charles

A senior middie, Brady was a second-team all-state honoree after recording 53 goals and 13 assists. Brady also earned all-DuPage Upstate Eight Conference accolades as well as being named the St. Charles MVP. “Meghan is a strong all-around player on both sides of the ball,” said St. Charles coach Peter Bogle. “She is a true leader, as noted with her being voted team captain for the second year in a row. She works very hard to involve the whole team in the offense. She is a true impact player.”

Clare Byrne Glenbard West

A junior goalie, Byrne was an all-state first-team selection and an all-West Suburban Conference choice. Byrne, named to the U.S. lacrosse national team for Illinois/Wisconsin, made 212 saves and registered a 7.17 goals-against average to go with a 61.6 save percentage. “It’s always nice to have one of the very best defending our goal,” said Glenbard West coach Bob Regan, whose team went 17-3 this season and tied for second in the WSC.

Jihee Choi Vernon Hills

Choi, a senior attacker, finished the 2011 season with 50 goals and 11 assists. She also amassed 46 ground ball controls, 7 interceptions, forced 11 turnovers and had 12 draw controls. Choi was an all-North Suburban Conference choice and the Vernon Hills offensive player of the year. “Jihee is, by far, one of the best players in the North Suburban Conference,” said Vernon Hills coach Bob Thompson. “In every contest, the coaches repeatedly told me how afraid of her their defense was. She is an incredible player and is a leader on the field. She was one of our go-to girls on the field. She was the one that wanted the ball and wanted to score the most. In our victories Warren and our one-goal loss to Libertyville in the playoffs, she was the key to our play.”

Ali Gosselin Neuqua Valley

A sophomore attacker, Gosselin sparked Neuqua Valley to the DuPage Upstate Eight Conference title in 2011. An all-state honorable-mention selection and an all-DUEC choice, Gosselin recorded 62 goals to go with 15 assists and 19 draw controls. She was named Neuqua Valley’s outstanding attacker.

Paige Hoerle Naperville North

Hoerle, a senior attacker, is the first four-year starter in Naperville North program history. She finished the season with 32 goals en route to earning all-DuPage Upstate Eight Conference honors for a second year in a row. “Paige is capable of playing any position on the field, but has led our attack this year,” said Naperville North coach Allison Galindo. Hoerle, the team captain, led the Huskies in goals. She will study at Georgia Tech next season.

Myia Kerr Schaumburg

Kerr, a senior attacker, was an all-Mid-Suburban Conference selection thanks to a productive 2011 campaign where she tallied 43 goals to go with 10 assists. “Myia was the captain of our team, our leading scorer and was the sparkplug of the team. Where she went, the team went,” said Schaumburg coach Drew Lazzara. “Myia is, without a doubt, the quickest girl I have ever seen on a lacrosse field. Kerr intends to play club lacrosse at Ohio State next season. “I wouldn’t be surprised if she walks onto their lacrosse team, though,” added Lazzara.

Maggie Langhamer Hinsdale Central

Langhamer, a senior attack, tallied 51 goals and 15 assists to go with 33 ground ball controls for a Hinsdale Central team that finished second in the state. “Maggie is an outstanding finisher on attack,” said Red Devils coach Lindsay Finocchiaro. “She’s a big playmaker, always finding an open player or space to dodge and make something happen. Maggie is very dangerous from behind the net with crease rolls and low angle shots. She’s a clutch player, always scoring the big goals when the team needs her.” Langhamer, who is headed to Villanova, was an all-state second-team pick and an all-West Suburban Conference selection.

Rachel Leibovitz Neuqua Valley

Leibovitz, a senior midfielder, was an all-state second-team selection that helped lead Neuqua Valley to a sectional championship game appearance. A team captain for the last two seasons, Leibovitz finished the 2011 season with 71 goals to go with 8 assists and 45 draw controls. An all-DuPage Upstate Eight Conference pick for a second season, Leibovitz was named the team MVP and helped the Wildcats go 14-2 overall and 8-0 in conference action.

Christina Letmanski Glenbard West

Letmanski, a senior attacker, racked up 73 goals, 39 assists and 112 points for a vastly improved Glenbard West squad. An honorable-mention all-state selection and an all-DuPage Upstate Eight Conference choice, Letmanski also recorded 66 ground ball controls. “Christina had an unbelievable year,” said Glenbard West coach Bob Regan. “She was a major factor in our success this year with her solid play and leadership all over the field.”

MacKenzie McPike Barrington

McPike, a senior defensive middie, was an all-Mid-Suburban Conference pick for the second year in a row and was named the Barrington team MVP. McPike finished with 117 ground balls and had 19 goals and 12 assists in helping the Fillies win the MSL. “MacKenzie is aggressive and is a tremendous leader,” said Barrington coach Suzanne Rich. “Her toughness and competitiveness helped us win big games and get the No. 1 sectional seed. She was instrumental in us winning our conference.” McPike will play net year at Wesleyan College in Connecticut.

Fran Meyer Montini

This sophomore middie earned her second-straight all-state second-team selection and was an Under Armour All-American pick and has been named a Great Lakes national team alternate. Meyer, one of the team captains and the team MVP, finished with 38 goals, 8 assists, 70 ground ball controls and 56 draw controls. “Fran is a key player on the field,” said Montini co-coach Virginia Kosenkova. “She is responsible for gaining possession off the draw and is a major scoring threat. She is also a role model and is one of the hardest workers on and off the field.” Meyer earned her second all-Southwest Suburban Conference selection this season in helping Montini go unbeaten in league play and advance to the supersectional round of the state playoffs.

Patty Miller Fremd

Miller, a sophomore attack middie, was an all-Mid-Suburban Conference pick thanks to a 2011 campaign where she scored 31 goals to go with 5 assists. Miller’s 31 goals rank second on the program’s all-time single-season chart. Of the 31 goals, 13 came against MSL foes. “Patty is only a sophomore this year and is already displaying the skills and attitude of a lader. I look forward to her play over the next two years. She will continue to grow into a great lacrosse player.”

Hope Nishimoto Libertyville

The honorary captain of the first Daily Herald’s all-area girls’ lacrosse team, Nishimoto helped Libertyville advance all the way to the state semifinals and an eventual fourth-place finish — the farthest a Wildcats’ team has ever gone. Nishimoto, a senior middie, finished the season with 57 goals and also had 95 ground ball controls. “The honors and stats speak for Hope alone,” said Libertyville coach Dana Brady. “She has worked several years to reach this peak in her career. She leads the team with her indomitable will on the field, never giving up in any game and her supportive and caring nature on the sidelines.” Nishimoto plans to walk on to the lacrosse team at Liberty University next season. An all-North Suburban Conference pick for a second year in a row, Nishimoto also was an honorable mention all-state selection.

Sarah Osier Naperville Central

Osier, a senior goalie, finished the season with 163 saves and posted a 57.4 save percentage. She will continue her career at Augustana College. “Sarah was the best player for us every game this year,” said Naperville Central coach Adam Washington. “She regularly faced 20-plys shots a game, saving 57 percent of them. At no time did she back down from a challenge and many times frustrated the opposition with her play in the net.” Osier was an all-DuPage Upstate Eight Conference pick.

Rose Silveira Palatine

Silveira, a junior middie, earned her second all-Mid-Suburban Conference selection this year after recording 70 goals (3.7 per game). She also averaged 2.4 draw controls, 2.0 interceptions and 1.7 ground balls per game for a Palatine team that advanced to the supersectional round of the state playoffs. “Rose is a huge reason we had such success this season,” said Palatine coach Leslie Schock. “She works extremely hard on the field and leads by example.”

Alexandra Sopocy Lake Zurich

An honorable-mention all-state choice and an all-North Suburban Conference selection, Sopocy finished the season with 298 saves and turned in a 63.4 save percentage. “Alex has done a great job commanding our defense,” said Lake Zurich coach Julie Bryniczka. “She sees the field well. She was a huge contributor to our success. She always gives 110 percent. As a team we can always count on Alex to perform great every game. Every year Alex continues to make great strides. We’re excited to see what she can do next year.”

Kelly Stelzer Wheaton United

Stelzer, a senior middie, was an all-DuPage Upstate Eight Conference selection for a second year in a row after scoring 37 goals to go with 9 assists. Stelzer finished with 76 ground ball controls, 37 caused turnovers, 7 interceptions and 32 draw controls. “Kelly is the most complete player and team leader on United,” said Wheaton United coach Charles Solomon. “Kelly is a defensive-minded midfielder who always does what is best for the team. Every coach wishes they could have a selfless player like Kelly. Kelly will play at Augustana next year and I am sure with her work ethic and great skills, she will become the leader of that team just as she has been for us.”

Alyse Suffield Montini

Suffield, a senior defender, was an all-state honorable-mention selection for a Broncos team that reached the final eight teams in the state. Suffield, a team captain, earned her second-straight all-Southwest Suburban Conference selection. “Even though Alyse is a defender, she can step up and play any position on the field,” said Montini co-coach Virginia Kosenkova. “She came through against tough teams like Loyola and was key in getting possession. She is a fearless competitor and a standout player on the field. Her teammates look up to her as a role model because she is not intimidated by any opponent.” Suffield will continue her LAX career at Augustana College.

Dylan Voneiff Hinsdale Central

Voneiff, a senior middie, was an all-state first-team pick and an all-West Suburban Conference Selection. Voneiff tallied 49 goals to go with 12 assists and also registered 69 draw controls and 57 ground ball controls, as well as 26 caused turnovers. “Dylan is one of the hardest workers I have ever coached,” said Hinsdale Central coach Lindsay Finocchiaro. “She is a true student of the game and is always looking for ways to improve her game. She’s a clutch player, always making the big plays when her team needs her. She’s had numerous draw controls, ground balls and goals to pull her team ahead of the opponent.” Voneiff will continue her career at Colorado College.

Honorable mention

Barrington: Caitlin Donohue (Sr., Attack-MF), Christa Madden (Jr., Attack-MF)

Benet Academy: Taylor Valentine (Jr., MF)

Glenbard West: Samantha Harkless (Soph., Attack-MF), Molly Strieker (Sr., D)

Hinsdale Central: Betsy Arnold (Sr., Attack), Chelsea Boyle (Soph., MF), Alex Olsen (Jr., D)

Hoffman Estates: Natalie Clarke (Jr., MF)

Lake Zurich: Katherine Anderson (Jr., MF), Emily Handrahan (Jr., Attack)

Libertyille: Gina Filippo (Sr., Middie-Attack), Katie Piazzi (Sr., D), Molly Toohey (Sr., GK)

Montini: Sarah Lugo (Soph., MF), Erin Steiner (Soph., MF)

Naperville Central: Sarah Schumacher (Sr., MF)

Naperville North: Natalie Weimer (Jr., GK)

Neuqua Valley: Taylor Maduro (Sr., MF)