Scouting DuPage County girls soccer

Addison Trail

Coach: Sergio Nunez (third year).

Last year: 3-12, 1-5 in West Suburban Gold.

Top players: Michelle Adamo (jr., M), Nicole Pacheco (fr., D), Tonia Parisi (fr., M), America Garcia (so., M), Sarah Tomasello (fr., F), Janet Garcia (so., D/M), Cynthia Hernandez (jr., F).

Outlook: Nunez sees promise in a core group of young but promising players. "They're young, but they have a lot of soccer experience and know exactly what to do with the ball," he said. The attack will hinge on the play of junior Adamo at midfield and junior forward Hernandez, a distributor with savvy. The freshman Pacheco brings speed and smarts to the sweeper spot, while America and Janet Garcia plus freshmen Parisi and Tomasello will help key the attack.

Benet

Coach: Henry Wind (19th year).

Last year: 16-8-2, 8-1 in East Suburban Catholic Conference.

Top players: Liz Dudek (sr., F), Brynne Miller (sr., D), Katelyn Flynn (sr., D), Jill Olliges (sr., D), Rachel Resek (sr., GK), Caytin Lewin (jr., D), Colleen Sheehan (jr., D). Outlook: Benet starts with an experienced defense led by Miller, Olliges, and one of the best keepers around in Resek. The attack will be spearheaded by Dudek, who had 18 goals and 7 assists last year, and Wind will also count on a core of sophomores in defenders Kelly Deidrick, Brittany Pullen, Maria Schwabe and midfielder Katie Kaufman. "This team will be very competitive, and if some of our younger players improve this could be a very good team," Wind said.

Downers Grove North

Coach: Jason Hunter (second year).

Last year: 13-8, 3-3 in West Suburban Silver.

Top players: Morgan Olsen (sr., D), Brianna Magill (sr., M), Kirstyn Harrington (jr., M/F), Jess Ballow (sr., F), Allison Gilbert (jr., M).

Outlook: Second-year coach Hunter returns a solid core of players from last year's squad led by sweeper and team leader Olsen. The attack features last year's leading scorer in Magill at midfield, where Gilbert will steady the ship and Harrington will roam when she's not up top. Forward Ballow also brings great speed to a team that also has "some very talented new prospects," Hunter said. "If we play as a unit, we can turn some heads."

Downers Grove South

Coach: Barry Jacobson (26th year).

Last year: 21-8, 6-0 in West Suburban Gold, fourth in state.

Top players: Amy Baschen (sr., F), Katie Baschen (sr., M), Keri Kujawa (so., M), Lauren Rusk (so., F), Kimmy Grimmer (so., D), Jessica Bronke (fr., M), Flo Beshiri (fr., D).

Outlook: The Mustangs are solid but young around the pitch, and a back line led by Grimmer and Beshiri, and the play of defensive midfielder Bronke will be pivotal as goalkeeping duties are sorted out. The Baschens bring a ton of experience, and Kujawa and Rusk figure to take a step forward toward bolstering the attack. "If we defend well, we'll have a good season," Jacobson said. "On the field it's one of the stronger teams we've had in a while."

Fenton

Coach: Victor Ruiz (11th year).

Last year: 7-5-1, 8-2 in Metro Suburban Conference.

Top players: Klaudia Osinska (sr., D/F), Dalila Guzman (sr., M/F), Katie Rubright (fr., M/F), Jaime Keller (so., D), Lindsay Speiden (so., D).

Outlook: The Bison have a young squad that Ruiz hopes "will bloom in the spring." Osinska will move from up top to the back line toward bolstering a young defense, where the speedy Keller, Speiden and Stephanie Ronge will help protect Stephanie Zurita get used to her starting keeper duties. Rubright has speed and finishing ability, and Mia Chiamas, Yaricza Flores and Patty Morawa will all play key roles.

Glenbard East

Coach: Kent Overbey (first year).

Top players: Mandy Paleczny (sr., D), Christen Grumstrup (sr., M), Kelsey Taylor (sr., F/M), Jackie Foreman (sr., F/M), Christina Johnsen (sr., M).

Outlook: The Rams return their leading scorer in the tireless Grumstrup and a pair of attacking players in the versatile Taylor and the skilled Johnsen aiming to provide scoring for first-year coach Overbey. A young defense will rely on experienced senior Paleczny to lead the way. Junior Olivia Trefilek has solid 1-on-1 defensive skills on the outside, junior Alison Scott brings defensive skill to midfield, and freshman Erin Mrazek brings relentlessness and 1-on-1 offensive skills to an outside midfield spot.

Glenbard North

Coach: David Stanfield (fourth year).

Last year: 2-12-7, 0-6 in DuPage Valley Conference.

Top players: Brittney Taylor (sr., M/F), Sara Malatt (sr., M/F), Rachele Carney (sr., M), Monica Noti (sr., GK), Courtney Swanson (sr., F), Megan Strawn (jr., D), Jessica Kras (fr., F).

Outlook: The Panthers are aiming to take a step forward from last season, when they only managed to score 12 goals on the season. Stanfield's squad heads into the year with a roster of eight seniors, six juniors, four sophomores and a freshman. Swanson led the squad with 5 goals last year. "I'm obviously hoping to improve on our overall and conference record," Stanfield said. "We've got a good mix of players this year."

Glenbard South

Coach: Glen Eggert (second year).

Last year: 9-5-4, 4-1-1 in Western Sun Conference.

Top players: Danielle Warner (sr., M), Meghan Pipal (sr., M), Carrie Hanley (so., F), Emily Oprins (sr., D).

Outlook: The Warner name has long been connected to the Raiders program, and this year's captain, Danielle Warner, will set the tone at midfield. In his second season at the helm, Eggert has a team that will aim to compensate for a lack of size "with effort," he said. "Look for this team's tenacity to take some teams by surprise." Pipal is a varsity veteran at midfield, the tenacious Oprins anchors the back, and Hanley spearheads the attack in the final third.

Glenbard West

Coach: Maciek Kusmierz.

Top players: Sara Pinter (sr., GK), Lexi Crovatto (jr., M), Brooke Shanks (sr., M), Kari Abromitis (sr., D), Haverly Snyder (so., D), Katie Watt (so., F).

Outlook: Kusmierz hopes his squad is beginning to take shape. "The girls are putting a lot of effort into the games," he said, "and at times we play very entertaining and effective. At times it's not so great, and that's what we need to work on." In Watt he has someone who can put the ball in the back of the net, but Shanks looks like the team sparkplug. The defense is solid.

Hinsdale Central

Coach: Skip Begley (12th year).

Last year: 7-12-2, 1-5 in West Suburban Silver.

Top players: Courtney Arundel (sr., F), Toni Kokenis (jr., F), Lee Battaglia (sr., F), Tierney Burchett (sr., M), Nicole D'Agostino (jr., GK), Katie Schaller (jr., D).

Outlook: Begley hasn't overseen many sub-.500 seasons, and this year's squad aims to right the ship this year. All-state basketball player Kokenis netted 11 goals last season, Arundel scored 9, and after a year away the return of Northwestern-bound player Battaglia and Burchett add instant offensive punch. "These four attacking players should offer some exciting combinations," Begley said. D'Agostino enters her third season in net, with an all-sectional defender in Schaller in front of her.

Hinsdale South

Coach: Pat Wolf (13th year).

Top players: Samantha Schimmel (sr., M/F), Rachel Uhlar (sr., D), Meagan DeSalvo (so., D), Brittney Noble (so., M), Jackie Belmonte (so., F), Jamie Walker (so., F), Meagan McPherson (so., M).

Outlook: The talent is there, but it needs varsity seasoning. "We'll be tested with the schedule we're playing, and we'll need to learn to play together," Wolf said. The attack features Schimmel's touch and shot, Belmonte's toughness and Walker's physical style up top. Senior Uhlar is a team leader in back, where the sophomore DeSalvo's smarts will be key. Defensive mid Noble covers a lot of ground, and McPherson's quickness and touch at midfield will figure prominently.

Immaculate Conception

Coach: Brian Frank (second year).

Last season: 10-10-3, 2-6 in Suburban Catholic Conference.

Top players: Catherine Guido (sr., M), MaryKate Manion (sr., D), Danielle Remy (sr., F), Kelly Mulligan (jr., GK), Natalie D'Agostino (so., M), Kaliegh Dempsey (fr., M), Rocky Salinas (fr., F).

Outlook: The Knights advanced to the Class A state quarterfinals last year and return most of the players who got them there. The attack returns last year's top scorer in the dangerous D'Agostino and a tough all-SCC midfielder in Guido, plus a speedy forward in Remy to round out his top attacking pieces. Frank calls sweeper Manion "the rock of our defense", and Mulligan has a year of varsity experience in net under her belt.

Lake Park

Coach: John Gouriotis (ninth year).

Last year: 15-7-3, 5-3-2 in Upstate Eight Conference.

Top players: Devin Johnston (sr., M), Adrienne Ryba (sr., M), Brittany Davies (sr., F), Jenna Aloia (sr., M), Carolyn Herber (sr., GK), Elizabeth Riggio (jr., M), Trisha Erhardt (sr., M).

Outlook: The Lancers get Johnston back after she sat out last year due to injury. She brings an all-sectional player back to the fold. Ryba netted 9 goals, Davies posted 5, and Riggio scored 6 goals last season. Erhardt's return to the program adds promise to midfield, where Aloia will also figure prominently. "We're experienced in the midfield and up top," Gouriotis said. "We have a young defense and a senior keeper who will have to keep us in some games."

Lisle

Coach: Paul Kohorn (sixth year).

Last year: 17-7-3, 7-2 in Interstate Eight Conference

Top players: Nicole Urban (so., F), Emily DeLong (jr., M), Jen Potter (jr., F), Brynn Tomko (jr., M), Mary Gill (jr., D), Dor Raclawaska (sr., D), Christina Connena (sr., GK), Lexi Britton (so., M).

Outlook: The tenacious Urban returns after netting 41 goals in her freshman season. Potter posted "roughly 10 goals and 10 assists," Kohorn said, "and our strength will be our forward third." Center midfielder DeLong makes it all go, one year after posting 15 goals and 16 assists, and Tomko and Britton are relentless on the outside. Gill and Dor will lead in back until a new defensive unit finds chemistry in front of Connena.

Montini

Coach: Sue Brown (second year).

Last year: 5-11-2, 3-4 in Suburban Catholic Conference.

Top players: Mallory Sosnovich (jr., D), Becca Kern (jr., D), Marla Borsellino (so., M), Briana Borsellino (so., F), Yessenia Luna (so., M), Haley Werner (fr., M), Addie Foron (fr., F), Anna Ward (so., D).

Outlook: The Broncos have no seniors, but Brown has a core of quality players to work with. The speedy, tough Sosnovich moves from midfield to the back line "because I need her back there this year," Brown said. Kern and Ward are also veteran defenders. Marla Borsellino stirs the pot at midfield, and Briana Borsellino and Foron bring speed and finishing ability top. Luna and Werner have savvy and speed on the outside at midfield.

Naperville Central

Coach: Ed Watson (17th year).

Last year: 20-6-0, 6-1 in DuPage Valley Conference.

Top players: Taylor Heatherly (jr., M), Kelly Blumberg (sr., F), Jessica Rubin (sr., D), Hillary Scott (jr., F), Jill D'Amico (fr., GK).

Outlook: The Redhawks start with three Division I-caliber players in Blumberg, Rubin and Heatherly, and Watson sees promise in another solid team. "The area once again consists of some very good soccer teams," he said. "Our hope is that we will be considered one of them before the year is concluded." Blumberg and Heatherly are returning all-sectional players, and Rubin is one of the scrappiest and toughest defenders you'll find anywhere. Scott will help key the attack, and D'Amico should turn some heads in net this year.

Naperville North

Coach: Brent Terada (third year).

Last year: 6-7-3 overall.

Top players: Jessica Arabia (sr., M/D), Jessica Kodiak (sr., F), Emily Homan (jr., F), Emily Janecek (jr., D), Rycke Guiney (jr., M), Kristina Dolak (jr., D), Haley Krentz (sr., M/F), Jaime Meno (so., D), Adrienne Schertz (so., M).

Outlook: A quartet of Division I recruits lead the way for this year's Huskies, in Arabia, Kodiak, Homan and Krentz, and Terada welcomes 17 returnees back from last season. "This group has potential," Terada said. "We'll build confidence as the season progresses." The defensively skilled Arabia had 7 goals and 5 assists last year, Kodiak posted 6 goals and 9 assists, and Guiney had 5 goals and 9 assists. U-19 Eclipse player Krentz should open some eyes in her first season playing for North.

Neuqua Valley

Coach: Joe Moreau (fourth year).

Last season: 17-6, 8-2 in Upstate Eight Conference.

Top players: Rachel Suther (sr., GK), Alexa Gaul (sr., GK), Kelsey Mulcahy (sr., D), Megan Oyster (so. M), Courtney Ksiasek (jr., D), Shelbi Johnson (sr., M), Kelly Kalkofen (jr., F).

Outlook: Last year's young, talented team and the addition of Gaul and Kalkofen have helped the Wildcats to a national top-20 preseason ranking. "It's a pretty quick team, and we're hoping to play a more possession type of game this year," Moreau said. Johnson had 12 goals and 15 assists last year, Oyster posted 11 goals and 9 assists, and rock-solid defenders in Mulcahy and Ksiasek will help protect arguably the best goalkeeping tandem in the state, in Fordham-bound Suther and Texas-bound Gaul.

St. Francis

Coach: Tim Dailey (ninth year).

Last season: 15-6, 7-1 in Suburban Catholic Conference

Top players: Lauren Szalach (sr., D), Jackie Leffelman (sr., M), Megan Gitchell (jr., M), Kim Gianos (jr., GK), Ellie Sterner (fr., M), Andi Matichak (fr., F).

Outlook: Sweeper Szalach has led an exceptional defense to start the season for Dailey, who posted his 700th coaching win with a season-opening win this year. Gianos has high promise in net, Gitchell was the team's second leading scorer last year, and she and Leffelman will guide the midfield as a strong core of attacking freshman find their varsity footing. "We'll be young but talented," Dailey said. "We have several explosive offensive players."

Timothy Christian

Coach: Oliver Hersey (first year).

Top players: Katie Dirkse (sr., M/F), Kelsey Kaczynski (sr., D), Kyla Smits (so., M), Michelle Ditchfield (fr., M), Colleen Griffin (so., M), Niki Pizzello (jr., M), Ali Groot (sr., F).

Outlook: First-year coach Hersey likes what he sees so far from his Class 1A squad. "The girls are working hard and playing tough fundamental soccer. We have some great talent in our starting lineup," he said. Dirkse is a four-year starter leading the attack in the middle, with Smits and Griffin on the outside and Pizzello's presence keying a defensive mid spot. Groot will be expected to finish, and the freshman Ditchfield could turn some heads in the central midfield.

Waubonsie Valley

Coach: Julie Bergstrom (ninth year).

Last year: 26-0-1, 10-0 in Upstate Eight Conference, Class AA champion.

Top players: Bri Rodriguez (sr., M), Vanessa DiBernardo (jr., M), Rachel Bostick (sr., M), Claire Hanold (sr., GK), Catherine McClellan (sr., M), Ali Stahlke (sr., M), Molly Thayer (sr., D).

Outlook: The two-time defending state champs are ranked No. 1 nationally in two preseason polls. National player of the year Rodriguez and fellow All-America DiBernardo are back, Bostick will again be a force on the field, and Hanold is as good a keeper as you'll find. Add a bevy of talented sophomores in Megan Green, Hannah Klancic, Mary Wright and others, and this year's Warriors look every bit as good, if not better, than their two previous title teams.

West Chicago

Coach: Cesar Gomez (second year).

Key players: Meagan Radloff (so., F), Kristin Day (sr., M/D), Melanie Fischer (sr., D/F), Kari Granados (sr., F), Cristal Galvan (sr., M/F), Olga Pena (sr., M).

Outlook: Gomez sees players buying into his attacking style in his second season as coach. "We want to play attractive soccer, and if we do that we'll be OK," said Gomez, who will also count on contributions from juniors Stephanie Salinas and Anna Mercaldo, sophomores Mary Rojas and Rachel Thomas, and freshman Bianca Navejas. "Radloff will be a player the DVC knows about, and I'm very happy with the seniors we have on this team," Gomez said.

Wheaton Academy

Wheaton Academy Coach: Scott Marksberry (first year). Key players: Leah Fortune (sr., M), Alexa Sharkey (jr., F), Rebecca Long (sr., D), Jenn Lee (sr., M/F), Christi Dithrich (jr., D), Becca Long (sr., M), Emily Mulder (jr., GK), Crystal Thomas (fr., M/F).

Outlook: With a second stint playing with the U-20 Brazilian team behind her, Fortune enters the season as one of Illinois' top attacking players. "The experience she's had is probably her biggest strength. She's so calm in every situation," Marksberry said. The first-year coach has a strong arsenal of attacking weapons around Fortune in the speedy Sharkey, the versatile Lee and crafty newcomer Thomas to go with a defense led by a trio of varsity veterans in Long, Dithrich and Mulder.

Wheaton North

Coach: Tim McEvilly (eighth year).

Top players: Erin Karner (jr., M), Annie Torppey (sr., M), Chelsea Hupp (jr., D), Paige Fowler (jr., F), Sarah Carlson (sr., M), Ashley Oltman (so., F).

Outlook: Some big names graduated, but the Falcons have quality players that waited their turn to step onto the varsity pitch. The attack will aim to develop as Fowler and Oltman find chemistry, Karner and Torppey are a pair of solid defensive midfielders, and Hupp helps lead a defense that will have to stand tall as the offense grows. "It's an entire new team, but a bunch of kids who are excited to make their own marks," McEvilly said.

Wheaton Warrenville South

Coach: Guy Callipari (15th year).

Last season: 19-2-1, 6-1 in DuPage Valley Conference.

Top players: Bridgette Kragie (sr., M), Lauren Livingston (sr., M), Lexi Peterson (fr., F), Bridget Shrigley (jr., D), Katelyn Barnes (sr., GK), Liz Ciesielski (jr., F), Haley Charlton (so., D).

Outlook: With 14 regional titles in the last 15 years, the Tigers figure to field another tough team this year. "Our strength will be on the outside and our speed up front," Callipari said. "And the depth in our lineup is very good." Team captains Livingston and Kragie lead the midfield, Ciesielski had 9 goals last year, and newcomer Peterson is already having an impact. Sweeper Charlton and a scrappy marking back in Shrigley lead the defense in front of a veteran keeper in Barnes.

Willowbrook

Coach: Pete Montgomery (fourth year).

Last year: 8-12, 3-3 in West Suburban Gold.

Top players: Laura Franzen (jr., M), Maria Klingelhoffer (jr., M), Cindy McDonald (jr., M), Ashley Pedone (sr., D), Amelia Weyer (sr., D), Renate Willer (sr., D).

Outlook: Willer is a rock-solid sweeper who will lead the way for a back line that features experience across the board with Pedone and Weyer in the fold. Junior defender Corie Baldwin and freshman keeper Louisa Reese "will be challenged to be integral parts of that defensive group," Montgomery said. Klingelhoffer will spark the attack from the central midfield, and Franzen will also key an attack that will find its footing as the girls in back hold down the fort.

York

Coach: Rachael Shepherd (third year).

Last year: 17-4-1, 6-0 in West Suburban Silver.

Top players: Allie Cicinelli (sr., D), Stef Matsas (sr., GK), Jasmine Watkins (sr., M), Ashley Bowman (jr., F/M), Katie Gratzianna (jr., D), Danielle Vujovic (so., F).

Outlook: Six starters and eight players overall return from last year's WSS champs, and they're joined by a promising core of soccer-savvy newcomers. Vujovic posted 16 goals and 9 assists last year, Watkins had 4 goals and 6 assists, and Bowman adds a third veteran attacking player. Cicinelli and Gratzianna bring defensive experience in front a keeper in Matsas who posted a 0.59 goals-against average last year. "This team has speed and a great work ethic," Shepherd said. "They're excited about the season."

- Gary Larsen