Soar winner: Sara Petermann gives Carmel huge lift

Each year there's a standout player who steps to the forefront -- or in this case, flies to it.

Sara Petermann, a senior, had one of the most remarkable girls soccer seasons on record. Not just for her goal-scoring capability, but for how she increased her productivity and helped take her team someplace it had never gone before -- the Elite Eight of the state tournament.

More Coverage Links The Lake County All-Area team

Petermann has earned the nod as captain of the Daily Herald's Lake County All-Area Team.

"She's a once-in-a-generation player," Carmel coach John Halloran said. "You don't find kids with natural ability to go with an unmatched work ethic."

Petermann has 37 goals and 20 assists going into today's state quarterfinals at Naperville's North Central College.

In scoring, Petermann, according to IHSA records, has the fourth-best single-season total for Lake County behind Lissa Coby (Grant) with seasons of 48 and 46, and Kendall Brown (Carmel) with 42.

"I was hoping for like 20," said Petermann, who now is second in career goals in the school record book behind Brown (113). "I managed to get over 30 and it was exciting to see it happen. We've had so much offense this year. There were so many games that we got 5 goals or more (against quality teams)."

But scoring was only a part of her game. Petermann couldn't achieve her goals without her teammates, as the Corsairs achieved a 22-1 mark heading into the Elite Eight.

"This was one of the best years -- we've been so close as a team," Petermann said. "Everyone put in so much effort. It comes from Kassidy, Maddie (Ogrinc), Alex (Hauser), Stephanie (Swanson). All the way back to the defense, because they play the perfect ball up.

"That's where our speed is at and that's where we beat teams. If it wasn't for them I wouldn't have that many goals. I give my props to them.

"Every game we put our hearts out there and played our hardest. We want to win for each other. Every single player out there, I wanted to do it for them. At the same time, they want to do it for me, too. That's what got us to state."

So where did all the talent come from? Petermann's ability is concentrated into 5-feet and 2 inches, though she'll tell you there's another quarter inch of height in there.

"It comes my mom (Vikki) and dad (Michael)," Petermann said. "My dad was a great athlete, and I have older brothers -- Jason and Matt -- helping out."

What Petermann relies on most is her natural ability. In all faces of the game, she has always played at a quick rate.

"Speed is important," Petermann said. "If you've got the skills and not the speed, it's not enough. Skills are important, but speed adds to it."

Halloran says he's never seen a player like Petermann take off on the run.

"It's a big part of her game to leave a defender on her back," Halloran said. "It's lights out. It takes one turn on the sweeper and nobody can catch her."

Another big part was the fact Petermann stayed healthy all season. Petermann dealt with a quadriceps injury her sophomore year and she was bothered with an ankle injury last year.

She worked extra hard going into her senior year and wanted this one to be her best season yet.

"It's been a fun one, so exciting," said Petermann, a four-year starter. "I've worked hard in the off-season lifting weights and preparing for the season. It took a lot of training and hard work. Being healthy was a big part of it."

Finishing well was a key to Petermann's game. She has taken about 60 shots and has made 37 of them -- an outstanding percentage and one that caught the eye Corsairs defender Liz Perrenot.

"She's been so great this year," said Perrenot, "Because she knows how to put the ball in the back of the net. She's got the speed to bring the ball down the field and is so fast -- probably the fastest on the team. Maybe she has an extra gear or special aerodynamics in her.

"She may be able to fly out there."