Buffalo Grove's Georgoulis commits to Kansas

Buffalo Grove junior Jackie Georgoulis has a pretty impressive soccer resume.

She was recently named to the U-17 Elite Clubs National League All-Event Team on Oct. 22 following an ECNL National Showcase event in Arizona from Oct. 8-10.

Georgoulis is part of a dominant Eclipse Select U-17 side that has posted a 9-0-0 record and is leading the Midwest Conference with 21 points.

In past years, she has also played on a handful of championship teams.

Georgoulis's talents as a midfielder have hardly gone unnoticed by the collegiate ranks.

She has made a verbal commitment to play for Kansas and plans to join the Jayhawks starting in 2013.

“I loved everything about Kansas and thought this is perfect,” Georgoulis said. “I'm excited. I love soccer and to be able to play even longer than high school makes this so unreal.”

Kansas coach Mark Francis, a native of London, is in his 13th season with the Jayhawks.

“I like the way he coaches and what he does to make you play better,” Georgoulis said of Francis. “He will give you the opportunity to work one-on-one and show me what I can do to get better. He's a good coach, and he wants to develop you as a player.”

Georgoulis hopes to continue to play a defensive midfield role when she gets to Kansas.

“I talked to (Francis) and he says that the year that I come in, they will need a defensive midfielder,” Georgoulis said. “So I most likely will play in that position. I can play different positions, but that is my favorite because I can see the game and see the field well from there.”

Georgoulis has been with Eclipse Select for the past 2½ years.

“Everything we do in practice, the games we play, getting down and slide tackling, winning 50-50 balls — it is created for the purpose of winning and it allows us to become better as players,” Georgoulis said.