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DuPage County Girls Soccer All-Area Team

Rachele Armand, Waubonsie Valley

The Warriors needed leadership on and off the field, especially with a dozen freshmen added to the roster this spring. They received it from junior Rachele Armand. “She's one of the best 1v1 defenders in the state,” Waubonsie Valley coach Julie Bergstrom said. Already committed to Louisville, Armand was key to the Warriors getting better as the season progressed and entering the playoffs on a run.

Jamei Borges, Benet

There wasn't a more exciting team to watch this spring than Benet, and the senior center midfielder was in the center of it all. An all-sectional and all-ESCC player, Borges was the engine of an offense that produced 95 goals in 26 games. “Jamei's creativity, vision and ability to break down defenders off the dribble or with a clever pass make our offense thrive,” Benet coach Bob Gros said. Borges led the Redwings with 13 assists and was second in goals with 12. She will play at St. Louis University next year.

Cora Climo, Naperville North

On most occasions the junior handled the restarts for the Huskies this spring and delivered often, collecting 19 assists. She also tallied 6 goals. “She is a true two-way midfielder who gets us into the attack but also has a tremendous work-rate defensively,” Naperville North coach Steve Goletz said. “Cora was one of our captains this spring and her ability to lead by example everyday in practice and games made her a special part of our team.”

Hope D'Addario, Neuqua Valley

Neuqua Valley wasn't on the losing end very often this spring, and when it was, the Wildcats were still in most contests to the very end. Junior Hope D'Addario did her part to keep games close. “She is an extremely competitive person and has a great battling mentality,” Neuqua Valley coach Joe Moreau said. “She simply doesn't get beat very often. Hope is good in the air and tactically very sound.” Ultimately, D'Addario will take her game down Interstate 57 to the University of Illinois.

Jill D'Amico, Naperville Central

An all-stater for the fourth straight year, Jill D'Amico only surrendered 9 goals all season and posted a 0.42 GAA. “She was perhaps the key to our team's record-breaking season,” Naperville Central coach Ed Watson said. “Her teammates played with such confidence because they believed that Jill would always make the save. In my opinion Jill was the premier shot-stopper in the state.”

Jenna DiTusa, St. Francis

How good of a goalkeeper was Jenna DiTusa? For one St. Francis recorded 18 shutouts on its way to a 24-3 season and a Class 2A title. One play that exemplified the talent of DiTusa occurred in the title game, where she collided with an opponent but didn't come off her line, handling the collision and making the save. Needless to say, DiTusa is one tough cookie. “She's no nonsense, just tough,” St. Francis coach Jim Winslow said. “There were games early where she didn't see action, but in the big games she made the right saves we needed.”

Sydney Fox, St. Francis

As one of the senior leaders of the Class 2A champion, Fox finished in fine fashion. “She's just a consummate great kid who is hardworking and improved all four years here,” Spartans coach Jim Winslow said. “She made herself into a really good high school player and has been a terrific teammate doing everything we've asked her to do.” Fox will play at Illinois Wesleyan.

Megan Geldernick, Metea Valley

One of the best goalkeepers to watch in Illinois, Geldernick made things difficult on high-scoring offenses all spring. “Megan is one of the the most competitive players I've ever had the pleasure to coach,” Metea Valley coach Pat Feulner said. “She is a true leader on and off the field and her work ethic is incredible.” Geldernick only yielded 13 goals while making 77 saves for a 0.59 GAA. She posted 12 shutouts.

Zoey Goralski, Neuqua Valley

One of the most dynamic players in the state, Goralski came up with big plays time and time again this spring for Neuqua Valley, finishing with 17 goals and 11 assists. She split her time at forward and outside back, utilizing a first touch that often propelled her past defenders. “Zoey finds ways to score,” Wildcats coach Joe Moreau said. “She has great compusure on the ball, sees the field and understands the game.” She's got one more spring to play before taking her game to UCLA.

Jenna Kentgen, Metea Valley

Seemingly always at the forefront of the Metea Valley attack, the senior helped the Mustangs to a 17-5-0 season. “Jenna gives our team incredible energy,” Metea Valley coach Pat Feulner said. “She plays the game with such passion and enthusiasm that it's contagious. She is setting the standard for all our future forwards.” Kentgen found the back of the net 18 times and added 12 assists, creating a great duo with Kristina Tomaras.

Jen Korn, Naperville North

The Naperville North back line only yielded 10 goals all season, and Korn, a senior who hadn't played for the Huskies since her freshman season, had a lot to do with the team's success. “Jen is very smart and a technical defender who reads the game so well,” Huskies coach Steve Goletz said. “Jen has been such a positive leader and her passion for the game is contagious to the rest of the team. She has truly been an amazing player to coach.” Korn will play at Northwestern next season.

Rachel Lovely, Benet

Few defenders have skill on the ball like the Benet senior who helped the Redwings shut out 12 opponents while also serving dangerous balls to the back side and shoot from long range. “Rachel is an athletic and physically strong defender who reads the game well from the back,” Benet coach Bob Gros said. “She is our best 1-on-1 defender and breaks up the attacks of many opponents before they have a chance to develop.” Lovely, who scored 3 goals and had 4 assists, will take her game to High Point University.

Sarrah Ludwig, Downers Grove South

Deservedly in the discussion as one of the best scorers in the state, Ludwig finished with 29 goals for Class 3A third-place Downers Grove South. “She has been the most dominating offensive player in the area this season,” Mustangs coach Barry Jacobson said. “Her ability and desire to score in a variety of different ways makes her untouchable to opponents' defense.”

Christina Ordonez, York

There's no doubt that Ordonez will go down as one of the best players to ever play the sport at York. Ordonez established a new scoring record for the Dukes with 35 goals and is the all-time school scoring champ with 116 goals. She added 8 assists this spring. “As a forward, she constantly put the opposing team under attack,” York coach Krzysztof Halupka said. “She was a threat to score every time she had the ball near the goal.”

Lexi Peterson, Wheaton Warrenville South

How involved was the senior in the Tigers' offense this spring to help them to a 13-7-3 mark? “Lexi has accounted for one-third of our goals scored and has set up another one-third,” Tigers coach Guy Callipari said. “Therefore, she has had a hand in two-thirds of our offense directly. I would venture to say that without the stats, she has had a hand in another one-third indirectly with the second or third pass created in the play.” The all-state, four-year player finished with 14 goals and 13 assists. She'll play for Wisconsin next year.

Jenna Romano, Waubonsie Valley

Not many players have the ability to serve the long ball with either foot to give their teams chances to create quickly or to finish, but the junior proved to be one of those rare players for Waubonsie Valley. “She has the ability to serve quality driven balls with either foot,” Warriors coach Julie Bergstrom said. Already committed to Wake Forest, Romano helped the Warriors to a 16-5-3 record, winning eight of their final nine contests.

Katherine Short, Naperville Central

Finding the back of the net has plagued even very good Naperville Central teams over the years. Short gave the team a pop it hadn't had in awhile as the Redhawks scored 2 or more goals in 14 of their 24 games and finished 20-2-2 while also handing Class 3A champ Naperville North its lone loss of the spring. “Katherine combined touch, power and speed to become the Redhawks' top offensive threat,” Naperville Central coach Ed Watson said. “She will be tough to replace because she was a leader both on and off the field.” Short led the team with 11 goals and added 11 assists.

Zoe Swift, Naperville North

As exciting of a player you will find in the state, Swift helped Naperville North to the Class 3A title, scoring both goals in a semifinal win and finishing the season with 25 goals. “She has the ability to change the game every time she touches the ball,” Naperville North coach Steve Goletz said. “Zoe's mixture of speed and skill allow her to score some amazing goals and her work-rate this season, along with her unselfish play, has taken her game to the next level.” A junior, Swift will eventually play at the University of Kentucky.

Crystal Thomas, Wheaton Academy

One of the premier scoring threats in the state, Thomas scored 36 goals and contributed 17 assists on a 15-win Wheaton Academy squad. She'll be taking her skills to the University of Notre Dame next season. “Her ability to break defenders down off the dribble made her a scoring threat at all times,” Wheaton Academy coach Dave Underwood said. “Most teams had to adjust to deal with her, which often opened up other opportunities for other players.”

Tiffany Traxinger, Wheaton North

Few players were as selfless as Traxinger, who took on different roles as a four-year player for the Falcons. “She has been both incredibly valuable and versatile for us during her tenure in the program,” Wheaton North coach Tim McEvilly said. “Due to her great flexibility as a player and knowledge of the game, Tiffany has become one of those players you look to fill and hole your team may develop.”

Honorable mention

Taylor Bucaro, Jr., St. Francis, Rachael Brots, So., Waubonsie Valley, Madie Burke, Sr., Benet, Catherine Caniglia, Sr., Benet, Gianna Dal Pozzo, Jr., Neuqua Valley, Kristen Dodson, So., Waubonsie Valley, Hunter Drendel, Sr., Naperville North, Veronica Ellis, Jr., Naperville Central, Kate Fowee, Sr., Wheaton Warrenville South, Amanda Gaggiola, Sr., St. Francis, Abby Joyce, So., Naperville Central, Holly Krol, Sr., Metea Valley, Meredith McEniff, Sr., Naperville Central, Erin Mrazek, Sr., Glenbard East, Lindsey Paganucci, Sr., Glenbard East, Dani Pitaro, Jr., Glenbard South, Anna Prescott, Sr., Naperville North, Christa Szalach, Sr., Naperville North, Sydney Tappin, Sr., Neuqua Valley, Kristina Tomaras, Sr., Metea Valley, Sydney Sharkey, Sr., Wheaton North

Jamei Borges
Cora Climo
Hope D'Addario
Jill D'Amico
Jenna DiTusa
Sydney Fox
Megan Geldernick
Zoey Goralski
Jenna Kentgen
Jen Korn
Rachel Lovely
Sarrah Ludwig
Christina Ordonez
Jenna Romano
Lexi Peterson
Katherine Short
Zoe Swift
Crystal Thomas
Tiffany Traxinger
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