Girls soccer: Tri-Cities all-area team
By Darryl Mellema
Daily Herald Correspondent
Gabby Cano, Kaneland
When injuries ravaged Kaneland's defense and Knights coach Scott Parillo needed someone to fill in - he turned to senior Gabby Cano, and it proved to be one of the best decisions he could have made. Cano anchored the defense as a sweeper and helped the Knights move to unprecedented heights. After never winning a regional in school history, Kaneland did not lose until in the Class 2A DeKalb supersectional. Despite playing from such a deep role in her team's formation, Cano scored 2 goals and had 3 assists this season. "We went to (Cano) and said, 'We know you're a midfielder, but we need you to help in the defense,'" Parillo said. "She said, 'Whatever you need' - and you love players with that attitude. I couldn't have asked more from her. She pulled through and the rest of the defense pulled through. It wasn't often that opposing teams got behind her."
Holly Collingbourne, Kaneland
Finding a signature moment to Holly Collingbourne's breakout varsity season is impossible, because there were many. But there was a moment when when she dribbled through the attacking half of the field against Freeport, working momentarily free, before passing to a teammate rather than taking the shot herself, that showed the tremendous skill the Knights sophomore possesses. She was at the center of much of what the Knights did moving forward during a record-setting season, in which the team advanced to the Class 2A supersectionals before losing. She finished the season with 13 goals, including seven game-winning tallies, and 9 assists. "She dribbles through everybody - her footwork is so good," Kaneland coach Scott Parillo said. "She has that great first touch and can shoot to the corners of the net. Her soccer intelligence is great for a sophomore, and teams have fits with her."
Darcy Cunningham, St. Charles East
The captain of this all-area team, Cunningham capped a standout season by becoming the school's first All-State player since Ellen Bartindale in 2008. She showed her unselfishness as well, scoring 8 goals but adding a team-high 16 assists. She finished her career with 41 goals and 48 assists. "The best thing you can say about her is that she's a complete soccer player," St. Charles East coach Paul Jennison said. "She understands the game and she applies the fundamentals of the game into her play. If you asked her to play center back, she would try it, and probably do well with it." Cunningham will play this fall for Washington University in St. Louis.
Hanna Durocher, St. Charles North
One look at Hanna Durocher, and you may not see what makes her such a successful soccer forward. She's not the tallest player, for example. But if you take that one look when she's on the field for the St. Charles North North Stars, you'll understand why many of the sport's top forwards in the world aren't giants. Durocher scored 16 goals and added 18 assists this year, capping a stellar career. "I knew going into this season that (Durocher) was going to be a strong leader for us," St. Charles North coach Ruth Vostal said. "She's been awesome for four years with us. From watching her sister (Lauren) to playing four years of varsity soccer with us, we saw her take the responsibility on herself this year to be a difference-maker in games." Many of Durocher's assists were to freshman sensation Gia Wahlberg. "She complimented (Walhberg) really well," Vostal said. "(Durocher's) got tremendous foot skills and quickness in tight areas."
Quincy Kellett, Rosary
Not every impact freshman remains a key player for all four years in high school, but Rosary's Quincy Kellett never faded from the spotlight through her stellar career. She opened her career in startling fashion, as a speedy player on the team that won the school's first sectional contest back in 2012. As her high school career progressed, Kellett was routinely double-teamed, yet she still found ways to not only score, but otherwise contribute to her team's success. She capped her career by leading the Royals in both goals (22) and assists (18) this season. "She's been the backbone of our team," Rosary coach Brian Frank said. "Every coach wishes they had 11 players like (Kellett.) As a freshman, all she had was speed, but now she has skill to go along with it. She's going to Dayton on a soccer scholarship, and she'll do very well in college."
Mary Landry, Geneva
It was somehow appropriate that Mary Landry scored Geneva's final goal of the season in her team's regional championship loss to St. Charles North. Win, lose or draw, Landry had much to do with the things the Vikings put together on offense this year, scoring 17 goals, including five game-winners. Landry added 1 assist in her senior season. Her speed was a constant threat to defenses and her ability to move into positions either to pass to teammates or to get free to score herself was something area fans have seen for the last four years. "Throughout her four years in the program, she's never given up," Geneva coach Megan Owens said. "She's been a workhorse. Her work ethic is unmatchable. She's been the team's leading scorer the last two years and she's one of those players who can make plays in big games. She will be a legacy player in our program."
Lizzie Parrilli, St. Charles North
As the North Stars knitted together their team following graduation losses from the 2014 squad, Lizzie Parrilli's skills became more and more apparent - not just as a leader on the field, but away from competition as well. "It takes a lot of work to be a leader, and (Parrilli) showed tremendous growth," St. Charles North coach Ruth Vostal said. "When we had our team banquet, she had so many compliments about how she welcomed everybody to the team and treated everybody equally." Parrilli still made contributions on the field, scoring 7 goals and adding 10 assists for a team that advanced to the Class 3A Schaumburg sectional title match before being eliminated. "When (Parrilli) played well for us, we played well," Vostal said. "The girls love to play on the field with her, whether it's from the back line moving forward, or the forwards knocking it back to play off her again. She does all the little things." Parrilli will play this fall at DePaul.
Kelli Santo Paulo, St. Charles East
St. Charles East has had some very talented central midfielders recently, and any discussion of the very best must include Kelli Santo Paulo, who played her final season as a series of master classes in the art of playing the holding midfield role. Especially through the first two-thirds of the season, when the Saints were extremely dominant, Santo Paulo and her team's midfield was nearly unstoppable. "She's on a different level of high-level thinking out there," St. Charles East coach Paul Jennison said. "Her understanding, her movement and her ability to get the most out of any situation were outstanding, as was her ability to make the players around her better." Despite playing from a deep-lying position, Santo Paulo scored 5 goals and added 4 assists this season. "She offered us something this year that numbers on columns don't show," Jennison said. Santo Paulo will play this fall at St. Cloud State in Minnesota.
Jenny Scara, Batavia
As a freshman, Scara was a part-time goalkeeper. This year, she was her team's No. 1, and showed the improvement that can take place in one year, as she was named honorable mention all-sectional as well as to the all-conference team. She ended the year with 11 solo shutouts, and shared in another of her team's shutouts this season. "She matured and progressed and we want that to continue," Batavia coach Mark Gianfrancesco said. "She's improved on her communication and is better playing the ball with her feet." There were still moments this year when Scara struggled, but those came in the areas where all keepers tend to have difficulty. "An area to work on is to be mentally tough when you give up a soft goal," Gianfrancesco said. "But that's something for all keepers to work on."
Katharine Stephens, West Aurora
West Aurora had a very successful season in one of the most difficult girls soccer conferences in the state this spring, and sophomore Katharine Stephens was one of the offensive keys to that success. The Blackhawks played near-.500 soccer all season in the Upstate Eight Conference Valley Division, and put together a 4-2-2 stretch in midseason. A lightning-quick forward with strong reflexes to move to loose balls in the penalty area, Stephens scored a team-high 17 goals and added 8 assists for her team.
Jordyn Sundberg, Aurora Central Catholic
When Aurora Central Catholic was struggling in recent years, often the team's bright spot was Jordyn Sundberg. This year, the Chargers had unprecedented success, and while she had plenty of talented players around her, Sundberg still shone brightly. The senior starred as her team advanced to the Class 1A supersectionals before bowing out of the tournament. She ended her high school career by leading her team in both goals (24) and assists (11) this season. "I've said it before and can't say it enough, (Sundberg) is that player who just is consistently doing wonderful things for us," Aurora Central coach Kristy Kane said. "She still gets her goals, but she sets up players. She is used to having to do it all on her own, but she is unselfish enough to know when to let her teammates do the work too."
2015 Girls Soccer All-area roster
Player School Pos. Yr.
Gabby Cano Kaneland MF/D Sr.
Holly Collingbourne Kaneland MF So.
* Darcy Cunningham St. Charles East F Sr.
Hanna Durocher St. Charles North F Sr.
Quincy Kellett Rosary F Sr.
Mary Landry Geneva F Sr.
Lizzie Parrilli St. Charles North MF Sr.
Kelli Santo Paulo St. Charles East MF Sr.
Jenny Scara Batavia GK So.
Katharine Stephens West Aurora F So.
Jordyn Sundberg Aurora Central MF Sr.
Second Team
Chantel Carranza St. Charles East F Fr.
Emily Chapman Kaneland GK Jr.
Yulissa Espino West Aurora MF Sr.
Megan Fitz Geneva MF Sr.
Lizzie Kelley Rosary MF Sr.
Megan McEachern Batavia F Jr.
Kiandra Powell Kaneland MF/F Jr.
Karina Rosales Batavia F Sr.
Shelby Stitz St. Charles North GK Sr.
Gia Wahlberg St. Charles North F Fr.
* - Honorary captain
Honorable mentionAlexis Bryl, Batavia, sr., MF; Sarah Buetow, St. Charles East, sr., D; Alison Chesterfield, St. Charles East, jr., GK; Courtney Diddell, Kaneland, sr., MF; Anna Dudziak, Aurora Central Catholic, fr., D; Allie Grimm, Batavia, sr., D; Julianne Hutchison, Rosary, fr., F; Sophie Jendrzeczyk, St. Charles East, sr., MF; Madison Jurcenko, Kaneland, sr., MF; Bryana Mandarino, Aurora Central Catholic, jr., GK; Riley O'Brien, West Aurora, fr., F; Heather Ortiz, Kaneland, sr., MF; Hayley Rydberg, St. Charles North, fr., F; Kayla Stolfa, Batavia, sr., D; Quincy Swanson, Geneva, sr., D; Maria Witte, Rosary, sr., MF; Bailey Ziman, West Aurora, so., D.
The winnersConference champions
St. Charles East, St. Charles North
Regional champions
Aurora Central Catholic, Kaneland, St. Charles East, St. Charles North
Sectional champions
Aurora Central Catholic, Kaneland
The futureTeams to watch in
Kaneland, St. Charles East
- All-area selections and capsules by Darryl Mellema
Past captains1998: Becky Myers, St. Charles
1999: Becky Myers, St. Charles
2000: Anne Poulin, St. Charles
2001: Lexi Stormo, St. Charles East
2002: Katy Lindenmuth, Geneva
2003: Jen Lee, St. Charles North
2004: Lauren Switzer, St. Charles North
2005: Jackie Santacaterina, Geneva
2006: Janel Schmitt, Geneva
2007: Mo Smunt, St. Charles East
2008: Caitlin Winkelman, St. Charles North
2009: Emily Hinchman, Geneva
2010: Leah DeMoss, St. Charles North
2011: Sammy Gage, St. Charles North
2012: Catherine Allon, Geneva
2013: Alex Gage, St. Charles North
2014: Annie Waldoch, Geneva