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Girls soccer: Fox Valley All-Area Team

Alondra Carranza St. Charles East

This first time all-area selection made a name for herself in a breakout sophomore campaign at the center back position. Carranza's 1 goal, 2 assist output doesn't show the grit she had in the back, which garnered all-Upstate Eight and all-sectional honors in addition to attention from several top colleges in the Midwest. Carranza's hard-nosed defense and physicality she brought to the Saints' back line is here for years to come. "She has great instincts and she is a fantastic tackler of the ball," Saints coach Vince DiNuzzo said. "I was impressed in the way she elevated her game from her freshman to sophomore year."

Gracey DiBiase Batavia

This senior shined in her last season. The all-area first timer was voted all-UEC and all-sectional with 8 goals and 11 assists but more importantly was a consomate team player from day one at the forward spot. "She is a coach's dream because she can be so tactically flexible," Bulldogs coach Mark Gianfrancesco said. "Her touch, strength on the ball, vision, composure, and her being left-footed separate her from many other players."

Jenna Dombrowski Bartlett

A second time all-area selection, this 4-year varsity player and 4-time all-UEC garnered an all-sectional selection thanks to 14 goals and 10 assists. Dombrowski, who had a career mark of 29 goals and 25 assists, could play at any position on the offensive and defensive end and provide results. "Jenna gave balance to the team," Hawks coach Victor Marquez said of his midfield co-captain. "Both defensively, winning air battles for instance, and while in the attack assisting and finishing plays." Dombrowski, who has great instincts on and off the ball, was also praised by her former Bartlett coach. "She is able to play a number of different positions on the field at a very high level because of her athleticism and her high soccer IQ," said Vince DiNuzzo, who currently coaches St. Charles East. "Jenna is a great defender who can really put a tackle in and has grown into a great leader and someone her peers respect and look up to."

Jenna Dominguez Geneva

According to coach Megan Owens, Dominguez was "a beast on the field" this year and by scoring 24 goals this season, that's hard to dispute. This junior forward, who scored 19 goals as a sophomore, surely had an uptick in goal scoring in her second all-area bid. The all-UEC and all-sectional selection received Geneva's Golden Boot award, as her career totals improved to 51 goals. "Jenna's ability to read the game and finish with the ball are exceptional," Owens added. "She is also a wonderful teammate with a great work ethic. Our team wouldn't have had the success it has had over the past three years without her."

Sydney Gratz Geneva

Making her second-straight all-area team, Gratz provided solid numbers again as an offensive center mid. Going from 12 goals and 9 assists as a sophomore to this year's 11-goal, and a team-leading 12 assist output, Gratz, who was all-UEC and all-sectional, garnered more points overall and excelled at winning balls out of the air and turning on defenders with the ball at her feet. "She has excellent field vision and does a fantastic job of slicing the opposing team's defense apart with her through balls," Geneva coach Megan Owens said. "She played a role in almost all of our goals this season even if it wasn't a direct assist."

Kylie Graves Elgin

This second-time all-UEC selection made all-area for the second-straight season thanks to her efforts on the defensive end. Graves, a 4-year starter, was able to focus mainly on being a sweeper in 2018 thanks to a bolstered back line and it certainly paid dividends for Elgin, which tallied another double digit win season and regional final appearance. "I think every year Kylie has gotten better and better, just learning the most effective at the sweeper position and after losing Hannah Erickson in goal last year, she really wanted to take that next step," Maroons coach Alicia Knoll said. "She just became that next force."

Jordan King Burlington Central

The 4-year career of one of the greatest BC athletes came to a close and when you tally 110 goals for your career along with two consecutive all-state honors, there's a reason why King made all-area all 4 years and heads to University of Miami (Ohio). King totaled 25 goals and 18 assists in her playmaking role during a supersectional run in 2018 but became the vocal leader coach Jess Arneson hoped to draw out of her. "(King) brought all the girls along with her and there are several girls this year she was able to make better," said Arneson, who touted King's field vision. "Fortunately for me, I've had her all four years of my coaching experience so I don't know what its like to not having a player like that. She's so dependable, reliable, a great kid, a great soccer player. It's never about her, it's always about her teammates and what she can do too contribute to the team."

Zoey Kollhoff Burlington Central

Asked what she had to do to become a starter last August, Kollhoff not only got what she bargained for, she gained a starting spot, all-Kishwaukee River honors, all-sectional and all-area honors for the first time. Thanks to 30 goals and 11 assists, the sophomore led the Rockets in scoring (second in the area in goals scored) and did so as an inverted midfielder, who played on the left side with her right foot boot. But that position on the outside reaped huge benefits during BC's supersectional run. "She was originally in the center of the field but we put her out on the wing and was able to do a lot more out there and have a freedom to do a ton of different things," BC coach Jess Arneson said, who praised her reliability and clutchness. "She's fast, strong, willing to take girls one-on-one. Her shooting abilities improved, ability to get the ball out of air," Arneson said.

Rachael Lutter Kaneland

Bouncing back from an injury that kept her out of all but 3 games in 2017, the Cincinnati-bound Lutter made her junior season with 17 goals and 9 assists, leading the team in both categories. Two goals were game-winners and her efforts awarded her all-sectional, all-NIB 12 honors and a first time selection for all-area. This coming from a natural defensive player at heart, who was able to move up in the final third and still have success. The only place she didn't play for Kaneland was keeper. "Just the fact she was able to play for us was huge this year," Knights coach Scott Parillo chimed. "She's got a great soccer IQ. She's fast, physical, you wouldn't think anybody with her build, she's slim but can knock people off the ball. She can steal that ball and she knock people off the ball and that surprised others."

Rachel Martini St. Edward

As a freshman, she played 4 games, scored 5 goals but tore her ACL. But this first-time all-area selection who grabbed all-sectional and all-MSC honors, showed her resiliency and proved that injury couldn't stop her from playing her sophomore year, let alone well. Martini scored 25 goals and totaled 9 assists, and the forward even included 4 goals in the regional title win. "She returned this year a stronger player than before she was injured," Green Wave coach Tim Brieger said. "She is quick, my best ballhandler, and has a nose for the goal. Along with Madalynn Duffy, as Rachel goes, so goes our offense. We were at our best when she was setting up our two high forwards and working the middle of the field both offensively and defensively."

Alex Montalbano Aurora Central Catholic

This 2-time team captain and all-Metro Suburban selection makes her first all-area team in her senior season thanks to 10 shutouts in goal and a 1.18 goals allowed average during ACC's run to supersectionals. Montalbano certainly made highlight-worthy saves; she stopped 178 shots and allowed 32 goals in 27 games this season. She finished with a 2-year mark of 1.16 GAA, 21 shutouts and 442 career saves. But she also is noted for her impact on and off the field at ACC. "I would say that Alex is the type of player both on the field and off that any program would love to have," Chargers coach Kristy Kane said. "She works hard in everything she does, and she is an excellent role model and mentor for the younger girls."

Jenna Nichols Batavia

In her first all-area selection as a junior, Nichols was an all-UEC, all-sectional selection and a plug on defense. She contributed to 9 shutouts, a 0.9 goals allowed averaged and helped the Bulldogs only allow 18 goals on the season during their 14 wins. "Jenna is so humble and really doesn't understand her impact on a team," Gianfrancesco said. "She has been the linchpin to our defense the past two years that have helped us produce 20 shutouts and 28 wins."

Riley O'Brien West Aurora

It's safe to say O'Brien leaves West Aurora as the most prolific dishier in school history. This 2-time all-area selection went for 5 goals and 17 assists, but set the school record this season for most assists with 62 to go with her 34 career goals. This tireless worker was also an all-UEC selection as a midfield threat. "As a senior, Riley stepped up as a leader on the field and was able to direct a lot of our other players with the runs they need to make off the ball," Blackhawks coach Laura Wagley said. "Riley played every minute of every game, worked her butt off and covered end line to end line."

Sydney Pryor Burlington Central

After scoring 15 goals during Central's state run last year, Pryor became more of a defensive player despite scoring 10 goals and adding 6 assists. This combination led to all-Kishwaukee honors and an all-area selection as a senior. "She didn't have as many opportunities but did have many crucial goals for us this season," BC coach Jess Arneson said. "She's a really strong player in the air and on the ground but she really creates this presence and we have two defenders behind her who are really fast so it was a nice complement. She was a hard player to get passed. She put that role on really well and when we needed to drop, she did so really well."

Hailey Rydberg St. Charles North

As last year's all-area captain, the Iowa-bound Rydberg followed her banner season with yet another stellar performance in her senior year. All-state, all-sectional and all-UEC yet again, Rydberg scored 22 goals and collected 15 assists by being a tireless worker, an excellent passer and a speedster who has a pure knack of finding the net. Rydberg finished with 53 goals and 50 assists for her 4-year career at North. "Hailey is a very talented athlete and soccer player. Her vision on the field is amazing, her speed is incredible and she has the endurance to work hard for 80 minutes," North Stars coach Brian Harks said. "Hailey has a way of making difficult plays seem effortless. Her composure is excellent, and she continually finds a way to get the job done. She's one of the top players in the state of Illinois."

Cam Sengstock CL South

This first-time all-area selection was the scoring boost South needed. Tremendous in their sectional final run, Sengstock, an all-FVC selection, scored 17 of South's 44 goals as a mid. "Cam's an electric player on the outside who creates goal scoring opportunities for herself by using her speed or with her teammates with quick and creative combination passing," Gators coach Jay Mueller said. "She stepped up to become our main scoring threat and also grew tremendously as a leader this year to help fill a void left by the graduation of so many seniors last year."

Rose Stackhouse St. Charles East

The Saints' captain, leading goal scorer and team MVP joins the all-area list for the first time as a senior. This target forward was all-UEC but a leader on and off the field at East and was a handful for opposing players scoring 13 goals to go with 2 assists. Five of her goals came on game-winners. "She has the ability to play with her back to goal or turn and run at defenders," SCE coach Vince DiNuzzo said. "Rose plays the game with determination and her work rate caused problems for opponents." Stackhouse, who totaled 29 goals and 11 assists in her career will continue her athletic and academic career at St. Mary's.

Kelly Stayart Cary-Grove

This first time all-area selection garnered all-FVC honors during a senior season when the Trojans made an incredible run to the sectional finals and had Class 3A champion Barrington on the ropes. Stayart, a 4-year varsity player who won 3 regional titles, scored 15 goals and tallied 11 assists leading the attack for the Trojans this season and held her own in a leadership role. "She was an impact player all four years and a player other teams had to account for," Trojans coach Ray Krystal said. "Kelly's been a dynamic force throughout her entire career. She's dynamic with pace, with and without the ball."

Caitlin Strong Jacobs

In 2015, Strong was voted Most Valuable Offender for scoring the most goals for Jacobs as a freshman. By 2018, the senior captain was busy preventing them, as her scoring sacrifice earned her a spot on the all-area list for the first time. "I am so grateful to Caitlin for being so noble with her senior season. She gave up the stats she could have racked up in goals and assists to go where her team needed her most in the back line," Jacobs coach Stephanie Schuck said. "Whenever she was there to help us in the back, I think everyone breathed a sigh of relief because we all have so much faith in her and her ability." Strong, who grabbed all-FVC honors for a second time and helped Jacobs to PepsiCo and regional titles, finished with 9 goals and 7 assists for her career and will play at Division II Saint Leo as a sports business major.

Cece Wahlberg St. Charles North

At the beginning of this year, the big question mark for St. Charles North was its back line. This first-time all-area, all-sectional and all-UEC selection as a junior wiped away those doubts. Wahlberg (2 goals, 4 assists), who showed good composure and a sense of calmness, had the ability to lock down on forwards and was integral part of the North's attack. "We asked Cece to move from midfield to center back, and she has more than exceeded our expectations," SCN coach Brian Harks said. "Cece does not boast the stats on the scoreboard, but she continues to stand out. We would not be the team we are if it was not for her contributions."

Gia Wahlberg St. Charles North

This dynamic forward and 3-time all-area selection heads to Michigan State as this year's Fox Valley All-Area captain, and for good reason. Wahlberg scored 22 goals and tallied 15 assists and finished her career with 80 goals, which is an all-time girls mark she set this season. She also finished with 49 assists. Wahlberg, as she was throughout her career, was ruthlessly relentless in either finding the goal herself or helping her teammates score as the North Stars reached supersectionals for a third-straight year. Walhberg's North Stars teams compiled a win-loss record of 80-9-7. "There are few players that encompass the total package like Gia," Stars coach Brian Harks said of the forward and 4-time all-UEC selection. "Gia's truly a magnificent player and competitor. She is a difference maker on the field, extremely athletic, skilled on the ball, and she is a relentless defender. Her work rate to earn the ball back is tremendous. She never stops working."

Honorable mention

Lauren Albrecht (Sr., MF) - Geneva

Maddie Belo (Sr., MF) - Jacobs

Anna Dudziak (Sr., MF) - Aurora Central

Grace Griffin (Jr., GK) - St. Charles East

Kelly Leon (Fr., F) - Larkin

Claudia Najera (Jr., MF) - St. Charles North

Sofia Papoutsis (Sr., D)- West Aurora

Hayley Popiel (Sr., D) - St. Charles East

Erin Rafferty (Sr., GK/D) - Burlington Central

Katelyn Skibinski (So., MF) - Dundee-Crown

Jenna Stayart (Fr., F) - Cary-Grove

Abby Zipse (So., MF) - Batavia

Gracey DiBiase
Jenna Dombrowski
Jenna Dominguez
Sydney Gratz
Kylie Graves
Jordan King
Zoey Kollhoff
Rachael Lutter
Rachel Martini
Alex Montalbano
Jenna Nichols
Riley O'Brien
Sydney Pryor
Hailey Rydberg
Cam Sengstock
Rose Stackhouse
Kelly Stayart
Caitlin Strong
Cece Wahlberg
Gia Wahlberg
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