Girls soccer: Lake County all-area team

Zenaya Barnes CarmelIt was a breakout season for Barnes, who led her high-achieving team with 15 goals and 6 assists from her forward and midfield positions. She came back from an off-season knee injury and provided what the Corsairs needed for a successful season and a run to the Class 4A supersectional. She was all-conference in the East Suburban Catholic. "Z was the key to our transition into the attack," Carmel coach Ray Krawzak said. "She was incredibly strong at holding the ball up top with a defender on her. She holds, as we race numbers up the field. She's a great goal scorer as well as a player with nice vision and she knows when to pass to others. One of the most promising players in the area."

Kristin Brousseau Lake ZurichBrousseau took her game to another level this season as both a scorer and distributor in the Bears' attack. She finished with 22 goals and 8 assists for career totals of 57 goals and 39 assists. An all-sectional and all-conference choice in the North Suburban, Brousseau is a returner to the all-area team. "Kristin was one of the most skilled players that I've ever coached," Lake Zurich coach Michael Castronova said. "She's a natural forward who has the ability to go to the goal with speed. She's a special player who has the ability to score every time she touches the ball. She creates tons of scoring opportunities for her teammates, all while being double-teamed in many games."

Dana Devera Round LakeAfter dealing with injuries her freshman year, Devera stayed healthy through her sophomore year. And a fit Devera ended up being a key to the Panthers' successful season, as she contributed 22 goals and 7 assists. "She was healthy the whole season, and her stats showed it," Round Lake coach Josue Jimenez said. "She fought for every ball and won many balls by her hustle and effort at the top. Her finishing and shots outside the box were consistent. Mentally and physically, she grew stronger."

Lauren Davis Grayslake North A leader by example for Grayslake North all season long, Davis had team highs of 28 goals and 11 assists to give her 71 and 40 over her career. She will play soccer next fall at Bethel University in Minnesota. Davis also earned all-sectional, all-conference in the NLCC and is a repeat choice to the all-area team. "Lauren's ability to take defenders on, creating chances for herself and for those around her, and her natural goal-scoring ability, kept defenders on their heels every minute she WA on the field," Grayslake North coach Adam DeCaluwe said. "Lauren has tons of pace while being very technically skilled, allowing her to finish with either foot, and making her incredibly effective and efficient in front of the goal for us over her four-year varsity career. Lauren's attacking qualities helped her become our leading career goal-scorer and career assist provider of our program."

Samantha Hartman Lake ZurichProviding senior leadership turned out to be a main responsibility for Hartman in the Bears' midfield. Her winning example was instructive to the team, as she scored 3 goals and dished out 10 assists. Playmaking was always a strength, and she finishes with 27 career assists. Hartman earned all-sectional and NSC all-conference honors. "She was an impactful leader and led our team in assists," Lake Zurich coach Michael Castronova said. "Samantha had the ability to put her teammates in great positions to score. She was also a tough defender and usually marked the other team's best midfielder. A fierce competitor and an all-around player who plays offense and defense."

Grace Herrmann Grayslake CentralHerrmann's knack for directing the midfield action made her extremely valuable on both sides of the ball for the Rams. She contributed 2 goals and 9 assists, and the junior provided a great example for her younger teammates while earning both all-sectional and NLCC all-conference selections. "She played a key part in our team," Grayslake Central coach Daniel DePaz said. "She controlled the middle of the field, often keeping other teams' central midfielders in check while being a great distributor and calming factor to our team. Each game we counted on her to carry the load in the middle, and time and time again she did. Her assists and stats do not represent her importance to our team. If we counted second assists as they do in hockey, she would probably have somewhere near 15-20 assists, without question. Much our attack went through her as she set up much of the attack on our team."

Krissy Hill StevensonHer junior year turned out to be a breakout season for Hill, who had a habit of scoring big goals against top competition. She finished with 9 goals and 3 assists and was named both all-sectional and all-conference in the NSC. "She scored goals against New Trier, Libertyville, Lake Zurich and Carmel and Libertyville in the playoffs," Stevenson coach PepeJon Chavez said. "She's a consistent attacking player who holds the ball well at the 9 for us to build and consistently wins battles in the box, with 7 goals coming off 1v1 finishing or finishing off balls in the air."

Emma Hochstein Grayslake NorthHer team needed her to play a big role, and the sophomore was not fazed by the challenge of being a high-performing center back for the Knights. The NLCC coaches agreed and selected her to the all-conference team. "She's shown the ability to do it all for us in that role," Grayslake North coach Adam DeCaluwe said. "She has the speed and tenacity to shut down top-notch attackers while having the composure on the ball to find success in possession. While she has the technical skill to bring the ball down and play out of the back, she also showed great ability to hit shots from distance, with power and accuracy. When we could, we really benefited from Emma getting involved in our attack a couple of times this season, scoring once and providing an assist as well. Emma is getting better and better in the air and shows tremendous signs of becoming a quality leader. She reads the game very well, helping those around her find comfort and success in their game."

Jamie Kwon WarrenAfter losing many talented players to graduation, the Blue Devils needed someone like Kwon to step up this season, especially on defense. The senior did so and also provided 2 goals and 3 assists on her way to earning all-conference acclaim in the NSC. She will be playing soccer next fall at Winona State in Minnesota. "The impact that Jamie has made on the program will last for years to come," Warren coach Ryan McCabe said of the team captain. "We met in the off-season to brainstorm ways to keep our team culture positive and moving in the right direction. With so many new faces on the varsity, this past season Jamie and I both thought the mental side of the game was as important as anything we did in training. Jamie's insight was crucial to our growth as a team. On the field, Jamie was a vocal leader who played mainly center back. She anchored our back line and helped develop a strong defensive mindset for players new to that role. She showed her versatility and soccer IQ when I asked her to play midfield on occasion."

Hannah Lapeire StevensonDependable and reliable match after match, Lapeire against showed winning consistency in the Patriots midfield this season in her third year with the program. The junior, a Purdue commit, provided the Patriots with 9 goals and 14 assists, bringing her career totals to 27 goals and 35 assists. She earned all-sectional, all-conference and all-academic honors two straight years. "She's an established consistent attacking threat on the dribble," Stevenson coach PepeJon Chavez said. "Her strength balances the midfield, where she consistently wins balls defensively, both in tackles and in the air. She has led Stevenson in scoring and converted several set pieces. Her work rate and ability to break lines on the dribble and pass have earned her the respect of being man-marked in multiple contests."

Annalyse Maze Wauconda Wauconda has been known for its defense for the last few years, and Maze was a big part of building that reputation through her back-line play. The senior earned all-sectional and all-conference in the NLCC and contributed 3 goals and 5 assists. "As a center back, Annalyse is like an on-field coach," Wauconda coach Beau Shogren said. "She has a very high soccer IQ, and she helps to keep things coordinated in the back line. Even with her small frame, she is able to win tackles against some of the best attackers in the area because she reads the game so well. She is very difficult to beat 1v1. This year, she stepped up to take our longer free kicks. Annalyse has been one of our most important players in the past few years, so we are really going to need another young player to make strides to fill her shoes. A tough task, for sure."

Rachel Moore Antioch Somehow, Moore managed to do more. Scoring has always been one of her best attributes, and she set a school scoring record with 34 goals while also dishing out 15 assists this spring. A four-year varsity standout, she wraps up her high school days with 68 goals and 29 assists along with all-conference and all-sectional selections, plus a return spot on the all-area team. Moore will be playing at College of Lake County next fall. "Usually the smallest player on the field, she wins most aerial duals and has a few goals off corners," Antioch coach Marni Polakow said. "She was a talented playmaker and worked hard defensively. Her pace and movement make her difficult to defend and she has single-handedly won us games this season by scoring important goals and/or creating something out of nothing."

Julia Neary Vernon HillsAlready a mainstay for the Cougars, Neary stepped in to become an even more important leader after a key injury provided Vernon Hills with a challenge this spring. She had 8 goals and 5 assists and came up with key goals in the postseason to help spark the Cougars to a Class 2A regional championship. Neary earned both all-sectional and all-conference honors in the Central Suburban North. "Julia was the rock for us all season long," Vernon Hills coach Mike McCaulou said. "After a tough loss to a top player this spring to injury, Julia really stepped up for this group. She was asked to play a defensive role for a majority of the season and then was moved up to a more natural position for herself, at the back end of the season. She led the team in goals and assists this season and scored both game-winners in the regional semifinal and regional championship. Her creativity on the ball had defenders on their heels and her tenacity to compete was contagious."

Jill Rejczyk Wauconda Setting herself apart with both her ability and her work ethic in goal, Rejczyk broke Wauconda's shutout records with 31 in two seasons, including 16 this year. She allowed only 6 goals in 20 games for 0.30 goals against average. In her career, she allowed 23 goals in 43 games for a 0.53 goals against. An all-sectional and all-conference choice and one of the better keepers in the state, Rejczyk will play next fall at Trine University in Indiana. "Jill is absolutely fearless," Wauconda coach Beau Shogren said. "She is more than willing to come off her line, attack a cross and get up for a ball. She never shies away from contact and she is very vocal. Her leadership has been very important to the team this year, and she has made game-changing saves on several occasions this season."

Nicole Robb MundeleinTaking on a new spot on the field didn't rob Robb of her effectiveness. As a junior, she played a big role in Mundelein's drive to the North Suburban Conference title. Robb finished with 4 goals and 9 assists and an all-NSC selection. "Nicole was moved into a new role on our team as a central midfielder and assumed more responsibility," Mundelein coach Ernie Billittier said. "As a result, in a spot she never played before, her success this season proves the player that she is - equally as intelligent as athletic and technical. Her work rate is second to none. She rarely came off the field and played box-to-box often, doing much of our team's dirty work. She won tackles, dominated the game in the air and was really solid in possession. She gave our team great width with the ability to string passes east and west and was able to pick her head up and penetrate opposing teams with her vertical passing as well. She's one heck of a soccer player and one heck of an athlete."

Ella Roberts AntiochA move out of the back and into the central midfield helped Roberts and the Sequoits have great success this spring. Her effectiveness is evident by the her assist (23) and goal (9) totals. An all-sectional selection, the senior will be playing at Winona State in Minnesota next school year. "Ella is a natural outside back who we have played at center mid the last few seasons out of necessity," Antioch coach Marni Polakow said. "She is feisty, tough and creative on the ball. She tackles hard and can pick out the killer pass. Ella works hard on both sides of the ball and is very skilled and talented, which makes her difficult to dispossess. Her creativity and range of passing help unlock defenses, and she truly makes her teammates better."

Faith Roberts LibertyvilleYes, it's true - this player was a freshman. It sure didn't seem likely based on appearances and given how effective Roberts was in her center back role for Libertyville this season. She was a big help defensively and played a big part in the team's 1.12 goals against and 7 shutouts. "She had the poise and tenacity of a seasoned varsity athlete as a freshman that earned her honors for all-conference in the NSC," said Libertyville coach Shannon Etnyre. "On the field, she never backed down from any challenge presented to her, and she always found a way to raise her level of play when it mattered most. In training, Faith was always the one pushing everyone to give their best effort, while always giving 100 percent herself. She was the anchor for our back line this spring."

Sophia Sarkis Carmel Injuries were a big problem for Carmel at one point of the season, including the one that kept Sarkis from her goalkeeping duties for several games. But when she returned at full strength, a stabilized defensive sparked a winning streak and strong finish to the season, including a supersectional appearance. "A great goalkeeper who worked hard her first two years as a backup," Carmel coach Ray Krawzak said. "She really stepped into her role now as a senior. She has an incredible ability to judge the ball in the air and made quick reflex saves. Her confidence with her feet makes her a very useful player whenever she comes off her line. She challenges attackers to get by her hands as well as her feet. She's a tremendous talent and one of the best goalkeepers we've ever had."

Myah Strokosch MundeleinAn all-state and all-conference selection as well a repeat all-area team choice, Strokosch had 7 goals and 10 assists this season, giving her 27 goals and 23 assists in her career. More impressive than those numbers was the fact this year's totals came despite a sustained battle with injury. Still, the senior demonstrated the ability to hit passes through the seams of opposing defenses, and she regularly scored from both the midfield and up top. "Myah's impact on our team was immeasurable," Mundelein coach Ernie Billittier said. "She played injured for the majority of the season and still was able to bag 7 goals and 10 assists. When you look at those numbers it's clear that she's a constant threat on goal in a variety of ways. She can put the finishing touches on attacking moves from distance in close or in the air, and her vision always allows her to make the critical killer pass. She's great 1v1 and she tirelessly tracks marks deep in the midfield even though she wasn't given much defensive responsibility. Her ability attracted other teams and she was man-marked or double teamed, so she opened up space for our other players."

Lily Sykes Carmel The Carmel defense had several tough players on its back line, and Lily Sykes was one of them - a dependable senior leader and an example to others. Her efforts raised the bar on defense all year, and her ability to help the offense was big on counterattacks. Sykes was both an all-sectional player and an all-conference choice in the ESCC. "Lily was critical to dictating how the team played," Carmel coach Ray Krawzak said. "A player like her can defend extraordinarily well and then turn into a dangerous attacker. She was a challenge for anyone to keep up with. She was also an incredibly intelligent player, knowing when to time her runs. She became our most vocal senior captain on the field. She brought out the best in her teammates by leading by example and holding teammates to high standards."

Morgan Verbeten Libertyville Moving forward from the back line into an attacking role turned out to be a great fit her Verbeten in her senior season. She scored 15 goals and had 5 assists, which earned her all-sectional and all-conference honors and a repeat spot on the all-area team. She will be playing soccer next fall at Winona State in Minnesota. "This spring we were able to play Morgan in more of an attacking role, which was more of a natural fit for her," Libertyville coach Shannon Etnyre said. "Morgan's speed created excellent scoring chances all season, and as she started to draw multiple defenders when on the ball, her teammates were able to exploit the space she created. Aside from her dynamic play on the field, Morgan was also one of our two captains this spring. Her leadership and work ethic contributed to a unified team culture that was integral to our success this spring as a team."

Alexandria Wawrzyniak Round LakeWith each year Wawrzyniak keeps getting better - and so does Round Lake. The Panthers had their best girls soccer season in school history, posting 12 victories and a winning record. Wawrzyniak had an all-around strong season, finishing with 17 goals and a school-record 20 assists to earn herself all-sectional and all-conference honors and a return to the all-area team. "Alex dominates the midfield and was the brain of our team," Round Lake coach Josue Jimenez said. "She took on the leadership right away. She took the time to work with girls on the side and even watched game film, to look at her and the team's positive and negative points from our games. She's an amazing player."

Monica Wilhelm AntiochAntioch got used to seeing Wilhelm perform at the highest level in goal over the past four seasons. The Iowa-bound senior keeper finished her standout career by earning all-state, all-conference and all-area recognition. This spring, Wilhelm had a 0.97 goals-against average and 10 shutouts. Over her full span of high school competition, she had a 1.3 goals-against along with a whopping 40 shutouts. "She excels at being a shot stopper, is strong on 1v1s, and is good in the air," Antioch coach Marni Polakow said. "Monica has a commanding presence on the field and leads by example in training. She is the best goalkeeper I have ever worked with or seen, and her contributions cannot be overstated."

Kayla Wisniewski Wauconda Without question a terrific leader for her own Bulldogs team, Wisniewski finished with another distinction: captain of the Daily Herald's Lake County all-area team. There are many more items on her career resume, including an all-state selection this season and four consecutive all-area team roster spots. Despite battling injury this spring, she led her team in scoring and helped Wauconda reach the Class 2A sectional final round for the second straight year. "She wouldn't be as productive without a great group of girls around her, but we also couldn't be as successful as we have been without her here," Wauconda coach Beau Shogren said. "I'm obviously sad to see her go, but we are very excited to see what the next stage of her soccer career is going to bring her."

All-area roster

Player School Jr. Pos.

Zenaya Barnes Carmel Jr. MF/F

Kristin Brousseau Lake Zurich Sr. F

Lauren Davis Grayslake North Sr. F

Dana Devera Round Lake So. F

Samantha Hartman Lake Zurich Sr. MF

Grace Herrmann Grayslake Central Jr. MF

Emma Hochstein Grayslake North So. D

Krissy Hill Stevenson Jr. F

Jamie Kwon Warren Sr. D

Hannah Lapeire Stevenson Jr. MF

Annalyse Maze Wauconda Sr. D

Julia Neary Vernon Hills Jr. MF

Rachel Moore Antioch Sr. F

Jill Rejczyk Wauconda Sr. GK

Nicole Robb Mundelein Jr. MF

Ella Roberts Antioch Sr. MF

Faith Roberts Libertyville Fr. D

Sophia Sarkis Carmel Sr. GK

Myah Strokosch Mundelein Sr. MF/F

Lily Sykes Carmel Sr. D

Morgan Verbeten Libertyville Sr. MF/F

Alexandria Wawrzyniak Round Lake Jr. MF

Monica Wilhelm Antioch Sr. GK

*Kayla Wisniewski Wauconda Sr. MF/F

* - All-area team captain

Honorable mentionSavannah Barnes (Grant Sr. MF), Lily Blase (Vernon Hills So. MF), Alyssa Bombicino (Lakes Sr. MF), Lindsey Brettman (Vernon Hills Sr. D), Stephanie Calderon (Round Lake Jr. D), Courtney Chomko (Warren Jr. MF), Cate Cullison (Warren Fr. F), Emily Dunne (Grayslake North Jr. GK), Kendall Edwards (Libertyville So. GK), Maura Fitzgerald (Grayslake Central Jr. F), Emma Heinrich (Carmel Sr. D/MF), Claudia Hernandez (Round Lake Sr. F), Savannah Johnson (Wauconda Jr. D), Morgan Keefer (Antioch Sr. F), Olivia Kuch (Wauconda Jr. D), Haley Leanna (Grayslake North Sr. GK/F), Hadlee Linane (Mundelein Sr. D), Rylie Matchett (Lakes Sr. MF), Lauren Micek (Stevenson Sr. D), Molly Mishler (Mundelein Sr. D), Karly Monaco (Antioch Sr. D), Hannah Morway (Lakes Sr. D), Madeline Mussay (Grayslake Central So. F), Gaby Nyc (Stevenson Fr. D), Rachel Krueger (Lake Zurich Jr. F), Mackenzie Parchment (Lake Zurich Jr. D, Maddy Piggott (Lake Zurich Jr. MF), Rachel Ramirez (Grant Sr. D), Gigi Sahagin (Mundelein Jr. MF), Ryan Schofield (Vernon Hills Jr. MF), Megan Sinnott (Wauconda Jr. F), Emily Soriaga (Warren Fr. MF), Emma Stopka (Grayslake Central So. D), Allison Tong (Libertyville Sr. D/MF), Ciara Thomas (Carmel Jr. D), Brianna VanZanten (Stevenson Sr. F), Lexi Werve (Grant Sr. GK), Maddie Wilkinson (Grayslake North Sr. MF), Savannah Winiecki (Libertyville Jr. MF)

Selections and profiles by Rusty Silber