Previewing the Tri-Cities area soccer teams
Aurora Central
Coach: Nate Drye
Last year: The Chargers went 5-14, were 1-5 in the Suburban Catholic Conference and lost 5-3 to Princeton in a Class A sectional opening round match.
Key losses: Brittany Holzer, D.
Key returnees: Samantha Cowles, so., MF; Laura Saunders, jr., D; Soledad Varghas sr., MF; Nydia Griffin, sr., D; Isabel Garcia, so., GK.
Top newcomers: Allison Britton, so.; Elizabeth Carpenter, so.
Outlook: Forward movement has come in small increments for Aurora Central's girls soccer program, but the fact remains that the team has improved. And in sophomore Samantha Cowles, the Chargers have the kind of player many teams would like to have -- a legitimate goalscorer. Cowles scored 13 goals last year as a freshman, and she is poised to do more of the same this year, according to Aurora Central coach Nate Drye. The team remains very youthful despite only graduating one roster player last year. The Chargers also benefit from playing against strong competition in the Suburban Catholic Conference when they move to postseason competition. The Chargers had a serious chance to win their playoff opener last year before falling to Princeton in a wild contest.
Batavia
Coach: Jim McAlpin
Last year: The Bulldogs finished 11-5-2.
Key losses: Rachel Nerad, MF; Abbey Jania, D; Michelle Garon, D; Krystan Spranski, MF.
Top returnees: Kailey Gear, sr., F; Ashley Davey, sr., D; Teresa Orlow, sr., D; Amanda Weaver, sr., MF; Mary Wandolowski , sr., F; Kara Gear, jr., MF; Katie Morrissey, jr., GK; Megan Sutphen, jr., F; Liz Barnes, so., MF; Dana Landem, so., MF; Elana Mudrak, so., GK.
Key newcomers: Bre Chuffin, fr., D; Tara Rush, fr., F; Hanna Schweigert, fr., MF; Haleigh Erwin, so., MF; Lindsey Ewert, so., D; Torrey Kinniard, so., MF; Heather Stilin, so., D; Lauren Parisi, jr., MF; Joanne Lehman, jr., MF.
Outcome: After a very rocky start last year, Batavia hit a midseason stride. The combination of those two portions of the season left the Bulldogs 7-3 at one point entering the final run-in of matches. Batavia went 4-2-2 down the stretch. The Bulldogs have won 27 matches in two seasons. While they are still a youthful team this year, many of their players have plenty of players with considerable varsity season. Star forward Mary Wandolowski, one of the seniors, was blighted by injury again, this time by what should be a minor injury. She is expected back on the field at some point this spring. But in her place, Batavia has a large number of players who will hopefully share the scoring load. With the squad still youthful and with outdoor practices coming in small doses this year, the completion of gelling process could take some time. But this Bulldogs have a history of putting such matters aside and winning a bunch of games. This year could be more of the same.
Geneva
Coach: Ryan Estabrook
Last year: The Vikings were 16-5-2, finished 6-0 and were champions of the Western Sun Conference and lost to St. Charles East in the sectional semifinals.
Key losses: Callie Hemming, F; Annie Wyer, F; Janel Schmitt, MF; Kaitlyn Cunningham, MF; Colleen Baker, D; Dani Hill, MF; Megan Rowland, D; Brittany Spear, MF.
Top returnees: Elise Farrelly, sr., D; Emily Hinchman, jr., MF; Karli Saner, sr., GK; Alex Waldie, sr., D.
Top newcomers: Bri Santacaterina, sr., MF; Vero Castro-Lopez, sr., F; Stephanie Davison, so., D; Madeline Tennant, so., MF; Sarah Tennant, so., MF; Alexa Loegel, fr., D.
Outlook: The "Year" portion of last year's Geneva roster had a familiar look to it. "Senior" was the predominant category, and a team that had played varsity soccer for three or four years literally graduated together. So the holes are everywhere to be filled. Fortunately, this is Geneva, where talented soccer players are always entering the program. Joining some solid holdovers, the Vikings are about to experience a huge influx of new talent. These athletes will fuel the teams' fortunes for this year but also years to come. Bri Santacaterina also returns after playing club soccer for the past two seasons, giving experience to the team's defense. With so many new players, and the fact that many of them play for different clubs in the off-season, Geneva may need time to put its season together. The Vikings may be one of those teams that produces its best soccer at the end of the season, and given their talent, they might be able to pull a surprise or two after gelling.
Kaneland
Coach: Scott Parillo
Last year: The Knights finished 3-16 overall and were 0-6 in the Western Sun Conference. Kaneland lost in the opening round of regionals.
Key losses: Diane Barry, D-MF; Ashley Bringle, MF-F; Ericka Rogers, D.
Top returnees: Megan Gil, so., D; Julia Tockstein, sr., D; Bridget Crosby, jr., MF-F; Paige Rogers, jr., D; Alyssa Lucarelli, sr., F.
Top newcomers: Amy Fabrizius, fr., GK-MF-F; Sophia Blank, fr., GK-MF-F; Emily Heimerdinger, fr., F; Colleen Gebauer, so., MF; Haley Johnson, so., MF; Natalie Swieca, so., D; Shelby Koester, so., MF; Thalia Garcia, so., D-MF-F; Sarah Goodrich, jr., D; Emma Anderson, jr., MF.
Outlook: Injuries have decimated Kaneland's seasons in consecutive years, and the Knights enter 2008 with a new-look squad on the field. But the last time Kaneland had a squad built like this, the Knights engineered a superb season. Coach Scott Parillo feels there is a lot of young talent on this year's squad. And also just like the 2005 Knights, this year's squad has a lot of future to work with. The core of the squad is the sophomore class. So get to know this year's team, because the names should be very familiar for three seasons. Gaining some Western Sun victories will also be important, and the building process will involve the team's attempts to reach the .500 level, last reached in 2005.
Rosary
Coach: Kevin Callaghan
Last year: The Royals finished 14-3-2 and were a perfect 7-0 in the Suburban Catholic Conference. Rosary lost to Benet in the opening round of regionals.
Key losses: Annmarie Stanley, Kathleen Stanley, Gaby Deltoro, Erica Janota, Jessica Janota, Caitlin Fry.
Key returnees: Sydney Warda, jr., MF; Sarah Butz, jr., D; Laura Butz, so., MF; Ellie Hillstrom, sr., MF; Ryan Dickerson, jr., MF; Deb Happ, jr., MF; Caitlin Crosbie, so., GK.
Key newcomers: Christine Dickerson, Stephanie Haugen, Rosy Deltoro.
Outlook: Most programs would look at the losses suffered by Rosary and consider themselves to be in a rebuilding mode. The Royals lost plenty of talent in just about every area of the field. But there are also a lot of players back from last year's squad that motored through most of the regular season in fine shape. And much of that talent is still young. So whatever level to which Rosary has to rebuild, those efforts will have long-term benefits. Rosary has become the elite team in the Suburban Catholic Conference and completed last season undefeated. The next phase of the program will be toward becoming a postseason force.
St. Charles East
Coach: Pat Feulner
Last year: The Saints finished 16-5-1 and were 7-3 to finish fourth in the Upstate Eight Conference. St. Charles East advanced to the Class AA supersectional, where it lost 2-1 in overtime to eventual state champion Waubonsie Valley.
Key losses: Angela Bradburn, GK; Cara Morawski, MF; Mo Smunt, D; Kelsey White, MF; Alyssa Feulner, MF; Katelyn Cairns, D.
Top returnees: Kara Nitti, sr., F; Ashley Miller, sr., D; Cynthia Dominguez, sr., D; Tin Razalan, sr., F.
Top newcomers: Hannah Ketterling, so., F; Shaylee Pederson, so., MF; Liz Drennan, so., D; Kerry Savage, so., F; Zoie Samaan, so., GK.
Outlook: The magic returned in a big way for St. Charles East soccer fans last season. First came a solid regular season in which the Saints were in contention for the Upstate Eight Conference title heading into the final week of the season. Then the team engineered a sectional championship and took eventual state champion Waubonsie Valley to overtime before losing. A solid core of that team graduated, but the Saints return key players in all positions of the field -- and players such as forward Hannah Ketterling got an extended run on the varsity team late last season. One of the keys will be replacing sweeper Mo Smunt, the glue to the team's back line for four seasons. One of the characteristics of the five seasons Pat Feulner has coached the Saints is that the program is firmly in place, and there are players varsity fans haven't seen much of yet who will help power the team this season.
St. Charles North
Coaches: Ruth Vostal and Anne Poulin
Last year: The North Stars were 16-3-1, finished 8-2 in the Upstate Eight Conference and advanced to the sectional semifinals, where they lost to Wheaton North.
Key losses: Kelly McNamara, MF; Lynda Judy, MF.
Top returnees: Lauren Ostarello, sr., D; Laura Stoecklin, jr., D; Leah DeMoss, so., F; Paige Dusek, so., F; Caitlin Winkelman, sr., MF, Alyssa Peterson, jr., F-MF, Vicki Traven, sr., GK.
Top newcomers: Kristen Manski, fr., GK; Alicia Natale, fr., MF; Ren Stoecklin, so., D.
Outlook: Every year, St. Charles North graduates quality athletes and people say the time has come for the team to struggle. And every year, the North Stars confound such critics with another solid regular season and a trip to advanced levels of the state tournament. Last year was no different, and this year figures to be another outstanding campaign for the North Stars. One change from the start of the season involves head coach Ruth Vostal, who gave birth to twins in mid-winter. Her sister Anne Poulin will step from her role as varsity assistant coach to take the reins of the team until Vostal returns in midseason. The team the sisters coach this year is loaded with talent. Picking out just a few players is difficult, but in the senior class alone, rock-solid defender Lauren Ostarello, midfield stalwart Caitlin Winkelman and goalkeeper Vicki Traven can be found to anchor the team's "spine."
West Aurora
Coach: Joe Sustersic
Last year: The Blackhawks went 12-10-2, finished 2-5 in the DuPage Valley Conference and lost 3-0 to Neuqua Valley in a regional semifinal.
Key losses: Gaby Mendoza, D; Colleen O'Neil, MF; Alejandra Morales, D; Norma Ortiz, F.
Top returnees: Michelle Castaneda, jr., GK; Amber Malmgren, jr., D; Priscilla Diaz, so., D; Marisol Morales, jr., MF; Madison Pickett, jr., MF; Ashley Malmgren, jr., F; Raquel Rodriguez, jr., F; Erica Cepeda, jr., F.
Key newcomers: Haley O'Neil, fr., D; Jessica River, jr., MF.
Outlook: For the first time in awhile, there is a buzz associated with West Aurora's girls soccer program. The Blackhawks have 23 wins the last two seasons and have finished above .500 in consecutive seasons. The team's junior class is powering this success, in part from a number of players who played for the team as freshmen, including Madison Pickett, Ashley Malmgren and Amber Malmgren. But that group was enhanced last year with the addition of forward Raquel Rodriguez, a transfer from East Aurora who is also a junior this season. Add it together with some other newcomers, and the Blackhawks can entertain hopes of finishing in the middle part of a brutal DuPage Valley Conference. One worry is that the team has been successful enough the past two seasons to lose the "underdog" and "unrecognized" titles. Other teams will take the Blackhawks lightly at their peril, and so will prepare seriously to play them. How West Aurora deals with this new status will be one of the keys to the season.