DuPage County girls soccer All-Area team
Alyssa Bombacino, Neuqua Valley
Bombacino led the Wildcats to a DuPage Valley Conference title while scoring a team-high 15 goals. She added a pair of assists. "Alyssa is an outstanding athlete and dynamic player with an attacking mindset and our leading goal scorer," Wildcats coach Joe Moreau said. "Her tactical knowledge is impressive and she possesses solid technical skill." The all-state selection will take her game to Marquette.
Elizabeth Cablk, Naperville North
The Huskies may have just fallen short of a state appearance but recorded a school-record 20th shutout in their supersectional shootout loss to Downers Grove North. This senior all-state goalkeeper and Illinois recruit was rock solid all spring. "Elizabeth was a great presence in the goal this season once again and provided timely saves when needed," Huskies coach Steve Goletz said. "She was part of a back line that once again broke the school record for shutouts."
Maria Dohse, Wheaton Warrenville South
With so much youth on the field this spring, it was expected of the Tigers that they'd look great at times and struggle at others. That was apparent with a 9-10-1 record, but the future is bright thanks to Dohse and other up-and-comers. This sophomore was voted team MVP by her teammates and also earned all-DuPage Valley Conference and all-sectional honorable mention accolades.
Jade Eriksen-Russo, Metea Valley
It's hard to imagine Metea Valley without this four-year player who has been a fixture since 2014. She finished her senior year with another wonderful season, scoring 21 goals and contributing 7 assists for another team that won a regional title as well as a sectional semifinal. "She's had a great season again and a great career for us," Mustangs coach Chris Whaley said of the DePaul recruit. "She's not only a player who steps up in big games, but she knows how to lead."
Emmerson Fuller, Wheaton Academy
The Warriors were dominant defensively all year long, falling just short of their second consecutive state title despite not allowing any goals in regulation or overtime during the state semifinal and final games. This Lewis recruit was a big reason why, and she also contributed 11 goals and 3 assists from the center back position. "She's been a fantastic player," Warriors coach Jeff Brooke said. "Defenders don't often get recognition, and she's deserving."
Ryan Gareis, Neuqua Valley
Led the Wildcats with 12 assists and also scored 5 goals. "Ryan is a tremendously quick player on or off the ball," Neuqua Valley coach Joe Moreau said. "She is capable of breaking down an opponent's defense single-handedly with her speed and quickness. She is composed on the ball and makes great runs off the ball. She is excellent at maintaining possession due to her superior foot skills. She will play at South Carolina.
Annie Gelfer, Glenbard West
The Hilltoppers were especially tough on opponents. While their record was a modest 10-9-3, they limited opponents to a single goal or less on 17 of 22 occasions. This junior defender was a prime reason why Glenbard West was competitive all season long. "She was our Team MVP and took care of things in the back all season long," Hilltoppers coach Morgan Kasperek said. "She had a great season." She helped the team record 9 shutouts.
Katie Gesior, Benet
This four-year starter scored 12 goals and added 8 assists from the midfield. She was named East Suburban Catholic Conference Player of the Year and also received several other accolades. "She is a complete player whose versatility allows us to rotate her between the attacking and defensive midfield positions depending on game situations," Redwings coach Gerard Oconer said. "Katie excels with the ball at her feet and is lethal on free kicks."
Sarah Griffith, Waubonsie Valley
Arguably the top offensive threat in DuPage County, this Purdue recruit drew the utmost attention from opponents all spring and still scored 24 goals and contributed 11 assists. The Warriors (11-9-1) didn't win as much as they would've liked, but played at their best as the season wore on, which included a victory over Naperville North in early May.
Morgan Krause, Naperville North
This senior Iowa recruit scored 17 goals and added 12 assists while earning all-state honors as she made a seamless transition from the back line to midfield this spring. "Morgan's ability to not only score but set up her teammates helped provide some much needed offensive firepower throughout the season," Huskies coach Steve Goletz said.
Tessa Langan, IC Catholic Prep
The program reached new heights, including earning the first trophy in program history with fourth place in Class 1A. There was no doubt who was the offensive leader for the Knights as Langan, a four-year starter, scored a school-record 32 times and contributed 21 assists. "She has been one of the best pure soccer players to come through ICCP," Knights coach Tom Schergen said. "She is a well-rounded player that does it all on the soccer field and is an incredible teammate and leader."
Kendra Pasquale, St. Francis
This junior scored 13 times and added 7 assists. Her contributions along with Hannah Rittenhouse and Erin Peck made it difficult for opponents to lock down on any one of them as they combined for 67 goals in only 20 games. The Illinois recruit will be back next year, making the Spartans arguably the top Class 2A team next season. "Amongst the three, they play so well and off of each other," Spartans coach Jim Winslow said. "They will be a force to reckon with next year again."
Radhika Patel, Hinsdale South
The Hornets (18-5-3) enjoyed a tremendous regular season and a deep run in the playoffs. Having a goalkeeper who was about as perfect as possible was a good reason why. Patel posted 19 shutouts and only surrendered 11 goals. "Radhika never once missed a save or had a mental lapse where some goalkeepers may drop one, or punch one when they could have caught it, or they didn't come out properly," Hornets coach Jen Belmonte said. "Basically, she did everything right."
Gretchen Pearson, Wheaton Academy
The Davidson recruit was as good if not better than a season ago. She was named Metro Suburban Conference Player of the Year for the second straight season. The senior finished with 29 goals and 12 assists, nearly duplicating last year's output. "She's been a wonderful player here," Warriors coach Jeff Brooke said. "She's just so dangerous and she's constantly doing things."
Caitlin Reice, Naperville Central
The Redhawks struggled in putting the ball in the net but not in keeping it out of the net, and the four-year defender was a key reason why. Reice helped Naperville Central to an 11-8-4 record, which including shutting out six of eight DuPage Valley Conference foes. She will play at Washington University in St. Louis. "She was our rock," Redhawks coach Ed Watson said. "She played with five different center back partners and always made the girl next to her better."
Hannah Rittenhouse, St. Francis
It's pretty scary to think how potent the Spartans will be next season with most of their firepower on offense coming back. This Iowa recruit will return after a fantastic spring with 16 goals and 7 assists. The Spartans played a difficult schedule, compiling an 11-6-3 record, and Rittenhouse delivered countless times against tough teams, including victories over bigger schools such as Hinsdale Central and a draw against Naperville North.
Ashley Santos, Naperville North
She overcame the loss of her mother to help lead the Huskies to a sectional title. The Illinois State recruit finished the season with 6 goals and 10 assists. "Ashley's development at the defensive midfield spot was evident this season," Huskies coach Steve Goletz said. "She not only helped the defensive group record a school-record 20 shutouts but provided the team with some timely goals and assists throughout a very competitive season."
Sophia Senese, Metea Valley
The junior midfielder had a wonderful season to help the Mustangs (16-4-4), who were unbeaten for over a month before they saw their season end in heartbreaking fashion in the sectional finals. Senese had 13 assists and 2 goals this spring but has not committed to play in college yet. "She was unselfish and creative and did a lot of nice things for us," Mustangs coach Chris Whaley said.
Abby Swanson, Downers Grove North
Downers Grove North has earned a lot of state trophies that are on display at the school but had never had any from its girls soccer team. That changed this season thanks to players like Abby Swanson and the rest of the Trojans. They earned their first state trophy with a fourth-place finish in Class 3A. Swanson earned all-state honors, scoring 13 times and contributing 18 assists for the Trojans (20-4-2).
Elizabeth Toledo, Glenbard East
The Rams weren't as successful as their state run a season ago, but they finished 13-6-4, won the Windy City Ram Classic, Upstate Eight Conference Valley Division and a regional title. A lot of their success came via this junior, who scored 8 goals and led the Rams. "She was the engine that drove us," Rams coach Kent Overbey. "When we we're playing well, she was there to lead the way."
Honorable mention
Barbie Castellanos, so., West Chicago; Maggie Bleyer, jr., York; Kinzly Dressler, sr., Naperville Central; Erin Flynn, jr., Benet; Katie Hansen, sr., Glenbard East; Nicki Hernandez, sr., Metea Valley; Maggie Hillman, sr., Naperville Central; Niamh Kane, sr., Wheaton North; Maria Lara, jr., Fenton; Emily Lindbloom, sr., Metea Valley; Morgan Lockridge, sr., Naperville North; Jenna Lundgren, sr., York; Emma Martinez, sr., Glenbard North; Natalie Massa, so., Waubonsie Valley; Paige Miller, so., Wheaton Warrenville South; Nicole Mondi, sr., Neuqua Valley; Erin Peck, jr., St. Francis; Dana Plotke, sr., Glenbard East; Valentina Poggi, sr., Willowbrook; Jess Sobol, sr., Hinsdale South; Katie Sullivan, sr., Wheaton North.