Girls soccer: DuPage County all-area team
Rachele Armand Waubonsie Valley
It’s difficult to talk about the senior defender without also discussing Jenna Romano because the duo was phenomenal. The Warriors finished 19-4-1 and surrendered just 3 goals in their final 10 matches. “Jenna’s service and composure with Rachele’s speedy tenacity make up the best yin-yang duo defenders in the state,” Waubonsie Valley coach Julie Bergstrom said. “Through their composed, caring leadership, they guided a young team to an excellent season.” Armand will continue playing at Louisville.
Bryce Banuelos York
This senior central midfielder drove York to success. “Bryce has been one of the most talented and exciting players to play at York,” Dukes coach Krzysztof Halupka said. “Bryce used her speed, agility and technical ability to attack defenders and create goal-scoring opportunities.” Banuelos scored 9 goals and had 7 assists for the 13-5-2 Dukes and finished her two years on varsity with 16 goals and 14 assists. “Bryce is a great competitor, and her tenacity and desire to win helped York’s soccer program have another successful season.” Banuelos will play at West Virginia.
Abbie Boswell Naperville North
This dynamite sophomore forward might not get the recognition she deserves, but that sometimes happens when you’re a member of a dynasty. Boswell, who started strong despite Zoe Swift being out of the lineup, scored 27 goals and added 10 assists. “Abbie had a tremendous second year on varsity,” Huskies coach Steve Goletz said. “Her ability to hold the ball under pressure and her creativity and drive to beat opposing defenses propelled her to one of the best seasons a forward has had statistically in program history.”
Emily Bromagen Naperville North
This senior midfielder often drew the toughest assignments and still found great success in helping the Huskies to an undefeated season and 12 shutouts. “Emily is game in and game out responsible for making it tough on opposing attacking midfielders,” Huskies coach Steve Goletz said. “She has a tireless work rate and is exactly what you want in a defensive midfielder. She is a huge part of our success defensively.”
Hope D’Addario Neuqua Valley
D’Addario was asked to move from right back to attacking midfielder early in the season and selflessly made the transition a seamless one, assisting on 16 goals and scoring 11 of her own. “One of the most impressive things about Hope is her understanding of when to play simple and when to be more creative,” Wildcats coach Joe Moreau said. “She is composed on the ball, has great field vision and an understanding of the game that is second to none.” D’Addario is taking her skills to Champaign where she’ll play for the University of Illinois.
Gianna Dal Pozzo Neuqua Valley
This University of Miami recruit brought versatility, mental toughness and a strong skill set to Neuqua Valley. Dal Pozzo scored 15 goals and had 7 assists in helping the Wildcats to a 16-4-1 spring. “Gianna is a tremendously quick player on and off the ball,” Neuqua Valley coach Joe Moreau said. “She possesses great attacking instincts and is capable of breaking down an opponent’s defense singlehandedly with her speed and quickness to goal.” Dal Pozzo’s stellar foot skills allowed her to maintain possessions all spring. “She is composed on the ball, is a fierce competitor and simply hates to lose,” Moreau added.
Jenna DiTusa St. Francis
St. Francis fell short of defending its Class 2A champion but that should take nothing away from a brilliant season by the Spartans and their senior goalkeeper. St. Francis’ lone loss in the regular season was a 1-0 penalty-kicks decision against Rosary. The Spartans finished 17-2, didn’t surrender a goal in March, only allowed 5 goals all season and shut out 14 teams. DiTusa, who was supported by the strong back line of Taylor Bucaro, Corky Hart, Kate Roback and Meghan Wagner, will take her skills in the net to Bowling Green State.
Kristen Dodson Waubonsie Valley
One of the quicker players in the area, Kristen Dodson came up with countless big scoring plays this season for the Warriors. Dodson scored at key moments in key match-ups as well. She provided a goal and assist to beat St. Charles North, had a pair of assists and a goal in the Lemont Cup championship, scored and assisted in a 4-3 win over Rockford Boylan and netted a goal in a 2-1 nailbiter over Naperville Central. “Dodson’s speedy 1v1 attacking ability combined with her team play, helped balance our attack,” Waubonsie Valley coach Julie Bergstrom said.
Veronica Ellis Naperville Central
This four-year player pretty much played everywhere. She’ll take her game to Indiana University. “She’s a versatile player who was asked to play outside mid, center mid, forward and outside back during her four-year varsity career,” Redhawks coach Ed Watson said. “She demands a lot of herself, she’s a perfectionist and she challenges herself.” A knee injury slowed Ellis prior to her junior season, but she battled back to return to full strength. “She can play inside, she can score in different ways, she’s good in the air, two-footed, and can find ways to get herself open,” Watson said. “She’s one of those kids that you love having on your team.”
Veronica Fairbairn Glenbard East
Even when Glenbard East struggled to find the back of the net this spring, the Rams stayed in most contests thanks to having Veronica Fairbairn in the net. “Veronica displayed tremendous focus in every game she played this season, stopping every shot she was supposed to save and many shots that very few keepers would be able to handle,” Rams assistant coach Jeff Sabol said. “She plays her box well, wins crosses out of the air, has great instincts and has the necessary foot skills for when our defenders need to pass the ball back to her.” The Rams enjoyed a fine 11-6-4 campaign as Fairbairn recorded 10 shutouts and a 0.70 GAA. She’ll play at Wisconsin-Whitewater.
Megan Geldernick Metea Valley
Teams knew they were going to be in for a battle when they went up against Metea Valley as senior goalkeeper Megan Geldernick has been a dominant mainstay. She will continue to play at The Ohio State University. “With Megan in goal, we always felt we had a chance to win,” Mustangs coach Pat Feulner said. “She is the best goalkeeper I’ve ever coached and the epitome of a team captain.” Geldnerick finished with 20 varsity shutouts and a 0.85 GAA.
Jenna Kentgen Metea Valley
This junior forward scored 14 goals and added 4 assists to lead the Metea Valley attack. She scored a pair of game-winners, recorded a hat trick in a 3-1 win over Glenbrook North and added a goal and an assist against South Elgin. “Jenna was our leading scorer and our ‘go-to’ player,” Metea Valley coach Pat Feulner said. “She plays the game with an incredible passion and love for the game.” She’s already scored 35 goals, had 10 assists, 80 points and five game-winning goals in 62 total games.
Megan Lindbert Lake Park
Unless someone told you, you probably wouldn’t believe that this senior forward was coming off a devastating ACL injury. She didn’t seem to miss a beat, returning to score a team-best 26 goals for the Lancers. She added 7 assists and established two school records — one for goals in a season and another for all-time goals with 44. “I am so proud how she was able to come back form last year’s injury and have the kind of year she had this season,” Lancers coach Chris Fruehling said. Lindbert will play at Kent State.
Casey May Hinsdale Central
The Red Devils went on a terrific postseason run, finishing in second place in Class 3A. This senior forward, who scored 16 goals and assisted on seven others, had a lot to do with their success. “Casey May is a young woman who loves to play the game of soccer and does not allow a particular position to define her skill set,” Hinsdale Central coach Michael Smith said. “She has played as a winger in our system the last two years, becoming one of the most dangerous attacking players in the area.” May will continue as a student-athlete this fall at Miami University (Ohio).
Meaghan O’Hara Benet
This senior midfielder helped Benet to a regional title and a 17-5-1 season. In fact, O’Hara scored the game winner in the Redwings regional title victory. “As a four-year varsity player, Meaghan brought the leadership and on-field presence needed for our young team,” Benet coach Bob Gros said. “She was very strong on the ball as a forward, which opened up our offense to attack from multiple areas.”
Grace Orndorff Naperville Central
There’s no denying the importance a center midfielder, plays and this junior was tremendous for the Redhawks, helping them shut down many opponents this spring. Naperville Central posted 14 shutouts, and its victims included Barrington, Geneva and St. Charles East. “One of the top two-way center mids in the area,” Naperville Central coach Ed Watson said. “Grace will be one of the players that the Redhawks will build around in 2014.”
Ashley Pogue Glenbard North
David Stanfield called this year’s team the best one he’s coached in his nine years at the school, and junior Ashley Pogue led the way for the 11-8-2 squad with a team-high 12 goals. “She also had several assists, a few of them coming off her long throw which reaches the opponents’ goal,” Stanfield said. “She displays great athleticism and determination as one of our forwards, always looking for scoring opportunities while putting opponents under pressure to force turnovers.” Pogue wasn’t a captain, but proved to be a leader. “Her attitude on and off the field during practices and team-building activities reveals her qualities of leadership.”
Jenna Romano Waubonsie Valley
Jenna Romano has been a fixture at Waubonsie Valley and for good reason: she’s good, she’s very, very good. So good that she’ll continue playing at Wake Forest after helping Waubonsie Valley win a regional title and collect 19 wins. The Warriors’ season came to an end in a hard fought 2-1 game against eventual Class 3A champion, Naperville North. “Both Jenna and Rachele (Armand) are two of the best defenders in the state,” Huskies coach Steve Goletz said. “Not only do they read the game extremely well, but they are also great 1v1 defenders. Their ability to not only win the ball, but connect passes and play balls that make their team dangerous, makes them an awful tough combination to beat and a lot of fun to watch.”
Christa Szalach Naperville North
This senior midfielder proved to be a great leader for a championship team and was selected as captain. She finished with 13 goals and 5 assists. “Christa is a natural leader who helps control the middle of the field,” Huskies coach Steve Goletz said. “She is one of the best ball-winners in the state and an absolute warrior in the air. Christa comes up huge in pressure situations and has scored some of the biggest goals over the last two seasons.” Szalach will play at Purdue.
Zoe Swift Naperville North
Great players make great plays in the biggest games, and Zoe Swift scored twice in the Class 3A championship to finish an undefeated season and give the Redhawks back-to-back state titles. Although sidelined with an injury to begin the season, she picked up right where she left off when she returned, scoring twice and adding 3 assists to beat Metea Valley 5-1. She was voted Gatorade Player of the Year and finished with 15 goals and 9 assists. “Despite missing the first part of the season with an ankle injury, Zoe has put together another incredible season,” Huskies coach Steve Goletz said. “Her ability to stretch defenses and finish chances from anywhere on the field, make her one of the most dangerous players in the state.” She’ll play at the University of Kentucky.
Honorable mention
Amanda Alberts, Sr., Naperville Central, Taylor Bucaro, Sr., St. Francis, Katie Camden, Sr., Hinsdale Central, Katie Ciesiulka, Jr., Neuqua Valley, Sabrina Cisneros, Sr., Naperville Central, Cora Climo, Sr., Naperville North, Jess DeJong, Sr., Glenbard East, Paige Filipek, Fr., Waubonsie Valley, Rachel Garippo, Sr., Lake Park, Emma Hlavin, So., Benet, A.J. Jakuszewski, So., Wheaton Warrenville South, Dana Jourdan, Sr., Glenbard South, Morgan Kemerling, So., Waubonsie Valley, Brooke Ksiazek, Sr., Neuqua Valley, Andie Lazzerini, Sr., West Chicago, Abby Olson, Jr., Wheaton Academy, Dani Pitaro, Sr., Glenbard South, Emma Rigby, So., Waubonsie Valley, Kate Roback, Sr., St. Francis, Skyler Tomko, Sr., Lisle, Jillian Van Kampen, Sr., Naperville North.