Girls soccer: Scouting DuPage County
Addison Trail
Coach: Sergio Nunez (22 years)
Last year’s record: 9-5-2, 3-3 West Suburban Gold (third place)
Top returning players: Monserat Abarca, sr., D; Natalie Lupa, sr., F
Key newcomers: Keyrin Castillo, jr., M; Isabella Gutierrez, fr., GK
Worth noting: Gutierrez will start in goal as a freshman and should get a great deal of support from Abarca, a four-year varsity athlete, who will anchor the back line. On the other side of the field, Lupa will look to blend her speed and technical finesse to put the ball in the back of the net. “With a solid foundation from the previous season and a commitment to teamwork and determination, the girls are eager to showcase their abilities and compete at the highest level,” Nunez said.
Benet
Coach: Gerard Oconer (eighth season)
Last year’s record: 21-5, 6-0 East Suburban Catholic Conference (first place), state appearance
Top returning players: Bailey Abbott, sr., D; Rania Fikri, sr., M; Annie Fitzgerald, so., M; Gabby Hedden, sr., D; Chloe Sentman, jr., D; Ivana Vukas, so, F
Top new players: Megan Bergman, fr., M/D; Audrey Eiseman, fr., F; Kasey Glynn, fr., D/M; Giada McGlynn, so., GK; Ellery Schulz, sr., M
Worth noting: The Redwings return 13 players from a conference champion squad that proceeded to take second in the state in Class 2A. Vukas (15 goals, 10 assists), Fitzgerald (seven goals, nine assists), Fikri (nine goals, five assists) and Bergman have playmaking and finishing abilities while the defense remains stellar behind Abbott, Hedden and Sentman who all started a year ago. Senior Kate Grubish will take over in net this spring.
Downers Grove North
Coach: Marty Manzke (first season)
Last year’s record: 10-11-2, 3-4 West Suburban Silver (fifth place)
Top returning players: Audrey Anderson, jr., F; Karlyn Harkness, jr., F; Lexi Keown, jr., M; Ell Larsen, jr., M; Addison Liszka, sr., D/M; Kaitlyn Parker, sr., M/F
Key newcomers: Gianna Goodwin, so., D/M; Campbell Thulin, fr., F; Olivia Watland, fr., D
Worth noting: Parker, Liszak and Keown are the Trojans captains that possess great rapport and hard work ethic. Manzke, a four-year standout at Sandburg during his recent playing days, is confident his captains will hold their teammates to “high standards and itching for wins.” Harkness is probably looking to scratch her way on the field as much as anyone as she’s working her way back from an injury. Larsen and Anderson are really fun to watch play, each possessing a mixed array of talents that will help the Trojans immensely.
Downers Grove South
Coach: Chris Hernandez (10th season)
Last year’s record: 16-4-1, 6-0-0 West Suburban Gold (first place)
Top returning players: Hannah Fedinec, sr., GK; Ashley Molinari, jr., M; Micah Olson, sr., D; Skylar Swanson, jr., F; Sienna Thurston, jr., M
Top new players: Hannah Hake, fr., M; Megan Pogorelec, so., D
Worth noting: The Mustangs were senior heavy with 10 of them a season ago. Fedinec, in her fourth season, had 13 shutouts last year and was an all-conference selection along with Molinari and Olson while Swanson had 11 goals and five assists. “(We hope to) earn the West Suburban Conference title,” Hernandez said. “And go as far as our talent and preparation takes us.”
Fenton
Coach: Victor Ruiz (29th season)
Last year’s record: 2-11-3, 1-7-1 Upstate Eight (ninth place)
Top returning players: Sihomara De La Cruz, sr., D; Mariel Lara, sr., M; Betsy Sanabria, sr., M; Grecia Zumaya, sr., D
Key newcomers: Isabel Javier, fr., M; Aubri Ocampo, fr., D; Marylin Palacios, fr., F
Worth noting: The Bison are looking to build good chemistry with a team that’s young in some key places. Ruiz said he expects the team to deal with some growing pains, especially against another tough schedule
Glenbard East
Coach: Athena Toliopoulos (second season)
Last year’s record: 11-9-1, 5-3-1 Upstate Eight (third place)
Top returning players: Julia Bereta, jr., D; Ciara Johnson, sr., F; Jamie Quirk, sr., D; Maya Reinheimer, sr., F; Brissa Sarabia, jr., D
Key newcomers: Sam Anderson, fr., M; Makenna Gibbons, jr., D; Teagan Murphy, fr., M
Worth noting: The five top returning players for the Rams are also two-year starters who will look to reduce the number of goals conceded and increase the number of goals scored from last season. Johnson scored 7 goals and Reinheimer added 4 goals last spring.
Glenbard North
Coach: Miguel Domínguez Carreño
Last year’s record: 3-15-2, 0-7 DuKane (eighth place)
Top returning players: Emily Coral, sr., GK; Reese Harle, jr., F; Nell Petersen, sr., D
Key newcomers: Vanessa Colín, sr., D; Julia Galindo, fr., M
Worth noting: Harle has led the team in scoring the past two seasons and Petersen played the most minutes last year while Coral is an all-conference, all-sectional goalie. “Being in such a competitive area drives us to be our best and push beyond our limits,” Carreño said. “As competitors, it’s always exciting to test our abilities against some of the best programs in the state. We’re looking forward to the challenge.”
Glenbard South
Coach: Kevin Berner (10th season)
Last year’s record: 11-8, 7-2 Upstate Eight (second place)
Top returning players: Sofia Alcala, sr., GK; Brooklynn Moore, jr., F; Lauren Price, sr., F; Olivia Seaman, jr., D
Key newcomers: Katelin Erickson, fr., M; Adamari Ortiz, fr., D
Worth noting: Price (9 goals), Seaman (6 goals), Moore (6 assists) and Alcala (8 clean sheets) are among the leaders for the Raiders who have returned this spring. “We strive to be the best public school in our pocket of 2A,” Berner said. “We look forward to our matchups against 2A opponents as a means to measure our potential sectional seeding.” A realigned Upstate Eight also will offer “an outstanding opportunity for our girls to play a competitive conference schedule each season,” Berner said.
Glenbard West
Coach: Adam Szyszko (sixth season)
Last year’s record: 10-9-3, 4-2 West Suburban Silver (third place)
Top returning players: Hanalei Allen, so., M; Ellie Beaudoin, sr., D; Ava Callaway, sr., GK; Lauren Escalante, jr., MF
Top new players: Kate Cooney, so., F; Lily Hubbuch, fr., M; Hannah Roberts, jr., M
Worth noting: The Hilltoppers only have eight varsity players back from last year but should be tight up the middle with Beaudoin, Allen (nine goals, five assists) and Escalante (six goals, four assists) leading the way. Last spring, all but one of the team’s losses came to teams ranked in the Top 25. Callaway (Taylor University) had 10 shutouts.
Hinsdale Central
Coach: Anthony Madonia (sixth season)
Last year’s record: 16-8-2, 3-3 West Suburban Silver (fourth place)
Top returning players: Avery Edgewater, jr., M; Julia Marinaccio, sr., D; Cate McDonnell, sr., M/F; Claire Snodgrass, sr., F
Top new players: Piper Bingham, so., M; Emily DiTomasso, fr., M; Eme McClenahan, jr., GK
Worth noting: Competitive and hyper focused, the 2024 Red Devils include confident newcomers with a strong group of returning players from a 16-win squad. “There is a palpable excitement in the air to represent our unique Hinsdale Central Red Devil athletic traditions proudly again this year as strong student athletes who are part of the whole community,” Madonia said. “We will have another competitive schedule of games that will prepare us for the postseason.”
Hinsdale South
Coach: Jen Belmonte (10th season)
Last year’s record: 14-7, 3-3 West Suburban Gold (fourth place)
Top returning players: Audrey Atkinson, jr., F; Olivia Fulton, sr., D; Kennedy Ruff, so., M; Alyssa Watson, so., D
Top new players: Brynn Diedrich, fr., M; Nina Kremper, fr., GK
Worth noting: The Hornets might be slow transitioning from basketball to soccer as six players helped the girls basketball team take fourth in Class 3A. They’ll be young with just five upperclassmen on the roster. “This is a young group who has the potential to come together and win games despite their youth,” Belmonte said. “We have a strong front line and some speed up there with Diedrich and Ruff being track stars also. Hoping to capitalize and score many goals this season.”
IC Catholic
Coach: Antonio Godinez (sixth season)
Last year’s record: 14-5-2, 5-0 Metro Suburban (second place), state appearance
Top returning players: Avery Berschel, sr., D; Evelyn Flores, so., GK; Molly Ryan, sr., D; Lucy Russ, sr., D
Key newcomers: None provided.
Worth noting: IC is coming off a fourth-place finish in Class 1A and welcome back all but one starter. “The group is very unified and is going to count on the senior leadership,” Godinez said. IC Catholic doesn’t give up goals. They allowed just five in 21 games last year and kept Rock Island Alleman out of the net in the state semifinals but lost in a PK shootout. Could this be the year they win it all?
Lake Park
Coach: Caroline Kilrea (second season)
Last year’s record: 5-13, 1-6 DuKane (seventh place)
Top returning players: Francesca Cali, sr., M; Kira Holliday, sr., F; Cora River, sr., M
Key newcomers: Megan Nguyen, fr., M; Amelia Szamatowicz, fr., M/D; Mizzia Vavalle, fr., M
Worth noting: Kilrea expects the Lancers to go through some growing pains with just five varsity returnees. “We will be a very young team this year with a fair amount of underclassmen (and) upperclassmen new to the varsity team,” she said. Cali had 9 goals and Holliday scored 4 times a year ago.
Lisle
Coach: Patrick Graff (second season)
Last year’s record: 8-7, 4-3 Illinois Central Eight (fourth place)
Top returning players: Abby Gavigan, sr., D; McKenna Kane, sr., M; Jordan Rodriguez, jr., F; Jacklyn Roper, sr., M
Top newcomers: Emma Ryan, so., F
Worth noting: With all but one starter returning, Lisle is feeling pretty good about the upcoming season. “Our entire starting defense and goalie are the same from last year and hope to build upon a strong 2023 season,” Graff said. Ryan missed last year due to an injury but is an added weapon at forward joining an attack that returns four of its top five scorers, including Rodriguez (15 goals last year), Roper (10 goals, 8 assists) and Kane (7 assists).
Metea Valley
Coach: Chris Whaley (10th season)
Last year’s record: 19-1-3, 5-0 DVC (1st place)
Top returning players: Lucy Burk, sr., F; Alyssa Gluting, sr., GK; Kyleigh Jannisch, sr., M; Zoe Kirkman, sr., D; Sydney Phillips, jr., D; Mckenna Wigfield, so., M
Key newcomers: Kaylee Hansen, sr., M; Olivia Hernandez, jr., M; Emma Strcic, so., M; Jessica Terada, fr., D
Worth noting: Whaley said some may think it would be impossible to replace the production of standouts Jordan Lange and Tyra King from the last two years. “What they may not know is that Jordan and Tyra both missed a significant amount of games last year,” he said. “We have a number of returning players that stepped up in their absence and will help us stay really competitive this year.” The Mustangs have added four club soccer newcomers to the mix which includes six returning starters and four field players who started some games and played significant roles last spring.
Naperville Central
Coach: Troy Adams (second season)
Last year’s record: 9-6-1, 3-2 DVC (third place)
Top returning players: Bella Brozek, jr., F; Erin Hackett, so., GK; Chloe Mowry, sr., D; Becca Ruggiero, jr., M; Malia Shen, so., F; Nicole Smith, so., D; Lauren Thorne, sr., D
Key newcomers: None listed.
Worth noting: Adams said the Redhawks will have a young look with Thorne and Mowry as their only returning senior varsity players and perhaps their only senior starters. A group of juniors and sophomores who are in their second varsity season will be key. Look for Brozek and Shen to create scoring chances with Ruggiero leading the attack.
Naperville North
Coach: Steve Goletz (12th season)
Last year’s record: 13-6-1, 4-1 DVC (second place)
Top returning players: Annie Chang, sr., F; Claire DeCook, so., F; Olivia Ochsner, so., GK; Jacey Struek, sr., MF
Key newcomers: Emily Buescher, jr., D; Kelly Wilson, jr., MF
Worth noting: DeCook took the area by storm last spring until an ACL tear in her right knee ended her freshman year prematurely after 16 goals and 6 assists in just 13 games. With DeCook back healthy, a pair of talented juniors in Buescher (University of Minnesota commit) and Wilson joining the program, Ochsner (8 shutouts) returning in net and Chang (12 goals) at forward and Stueck (5 goals, 3 assists) in the midfield, the Huskies should be a fun team to watch and a challenge to play.
Neuqua Valley
Coach: Arnoldo Gonzalez (second season)
Last year’s record: 6-8-2, 2-3 DVC (fourth place)
Top returning players: Brianna Clasen, sr., M; Victoria Jaimes, sr., M; Safa Jeffery, jr., Alexis May, so.; Chloe Orlow, jr.; Grace Petrina, sr., M
Key newcomers: Quinn Sigal, fr., GK; Gabrielle Smith, fr., F
Worth noting: Gonzalez is hopeful the Wildcats can get on the other side of .500 this year behind strong leadership amongst a young group, but an experienced one. The Wildcats only graduated five players. “We will be a very solid team with great leadership in every line,” he said. “We have a great group of returning players, but also lost two starting seniors and filling those positions will not be an easy task for the team.”
St. Francis
Coach: Jim Winslow (13th season)
Last year’s record: 12-5, 6-0 Metro Suburban (first place)
Top returning players: Ellie Bielenda, sr., F; Shannon Brown, sr., MF; Paige Chrustowski, sr., F; Alyssa Soriano, jr., D; Elle Wainscott, jr., D
Key newcomers: Caroline Kiesler, fr.; Ashley Kline, fr.; Macie Schweiner, so., F
Worth noting: Winslow said the Spartans are “more mature, deeper and more talented and our schedule is as tough as ever.” Plus, the Spartans have a whole new conference to try to tackle. Schweiner is returning from a knee injury after missing last season and is one of three key newcomers who should mix in well with the vets who have been through the battles and are accomplished players in their own right.
Timothy Christian
Coach: Nate Drye (first season)
Last year’s record: 14-5-2, 5-2 Metro Suburban (fourth place)
Top returning players: Samantha Drye, jr., M; Hope Huizenga, sr., F; Chloe Leppink, sr., D; Amanda Schnurr, jr., D; Lauren Wiegers, sr., M
Key newcomers: Avery Croff, fr., D; Mia Schilf, fr., M
Worth noting: Huizenga (17 goals, 15 assists last season) is making the move from midfield to the team’s number nine up top. “She has good pace and power and will hopefully continue on with her ability to find the back of the net,” Drye said. That’s just one of the new pieces being put in place by Drye in his first season. “Our main goal is to just get better every single day and then see where that has us when the tournament starts at the end of the season.”
Waubonsie Valley
Coach: Julie Bergstrom (24th season)
Last year’s record: 7-12-1, 2-3 DuPage Valley (fourth place)
Top returning players: Taylor Ahmadian, sr., M/F; Thanya Castelan, jr., F Katie Chapman, jr., M/D; Zoe Evans, sr., D; Eleanor Oster, sr., M
Key newcomers: None provided.
Worth noting: Bergstrom said last year’s young team is ready to build on what it learned after having a full season together. The Warriors are returning 15 varsity players, including Ahmadian and Castilian who combined for 30 goals in 2023. Macy Evans, Emerson Hallihan, McKinley Ladd, Elli Morris and Charlie Shaffer are among a talented group of sophomores.
West Chicago
Coach: J. Cesar Gomez (24th season)
Last year’s record: 11-6-3, 4-3-2 Upstate Eight (sixth place)
Top returning players: Jenny Espinal, sr., D; Natalie Fernandez, sr., M; Leslie Garnica, sr., M; Elina Velasco, jr., M; Ariz Zuniga, jr., M
Key newcomers: Ana Hurtado, fr., M; Kaylee Kreitzer, fr.,; Molly Merkel, so., M
Worth noting: With Fernandez and Garnica back in charge in the middle, Espinal returning to anchor the back and Velasco, Zuniga and Merkel leading the attack, the Wildcats are thrilled to be back in action this spring. “We’re looking to defend our Barb Fest championship at the DeKalb tournament and compete in the Upstate Eight,” Gomez said. “We have a tough schedule and we’re looking forward to testing our own limits.”
Westmont
Coach: Laura Pergande (10th year)
Last year’s record: 3-15-1, 0-6 Metro Suburban Conference
Top returning players; Danielle Hoover, jr., M, Heiry Sierra, jr., D
Key newcomers: Emma Franklin, fr., M/F; Peyton Monsivais, fr., M/F; Maria Vargas Quino, fr., M/F
Worth noting: Pergande is back for her second season after a 12-year hiatus. It’s her tenth year overall while it’ll be the first for Franklin, Movsivais and Vargas Quino who are blessed with the opportunity to contribute right away. They’re part of an enthusiastic school of kids who dig soccer as 34 athletes tried out so the Sentinels will field two teams this spring.
Wheaton Academy
Coach: Maria Selvaggio (fifth season)
Last year’s record: 11-7-3, 4-2 Metro Suburban (fifth place)
Top returning players: Eva De Souza, sr., M/F; Rebecca Schulenburg, sr., M/F; Annika Vandervelde, so., M/F
Key newcomers: Gianna Hughes, fr., M/F
Worth noting: With a seasoned, high skilled group led by a dozen seniors, the Warriors are ready for a big season in 2A and in a new Chicagoland Christian Conference. A few out-of-state games and an appearance in the Bodyarmor Dude Wipes Series will add excitement and help prepare the Warriors to be ready for a postseason run come May.
Wheaton North
Coach: Tim McEvilly (24th season)
Last year’s record: 14-6-2, 4-2-1 DuKane (third place)
Top returning players: Zoey Bohmer, sr., GK; Addison Falco, sr., D; Talia Kaempf, jr., F; Jane Rogers, so. F; Calah Strong, jr., M
Key newcomers: Shayne Berner, fr., M; Grace Kuczaj, jr., F; Leah Roe, jr., GK
Worth noting: About half of last year’s team returns and that group is even better than they were a year ago. Plus, some of the Falcons you’ll see this spring will be looking to provide an immediate impact. They’ll be assisted in their transition to varsity high school soccer behind strong talent that also includes Mira Spillane, Annie Pyykkonen, Delaney Ingbretson and Kylee Gosling.
Wheaton Warrenville South
Coach: J. Guy Callipari (30th season)
Last year’s record: 8-8-5, 2-2-3 DuKane (fifth place)
Top returning players: Ashley Adams, jr., F; Ella Byrnes, jr., D; Cam Fleming, sr., D; Brooke Ittersagen, jr., D; Lucy Jethani, jr., F; Lily Petrie, jr., D; Ava Walsh, sr., F
Top new players: Kelsey Clousing, fr., M; Emma Gronlund, so., M; Chloe Trinkl, so., D; Kayla Waterman, jr., D
Worth noting: Callipari said the goal production will need to come from a consorted effort from the front five and the defensive posture will seek four or five new faces. “Excitement reigns high while predictions may be difficult early on,” he said. “The possibilities are wide open if we entertain the ideas of working hard on both sides of the ball.”
Willowbrook
Coach: Julio Del Real (eighth season)
Last year’s record: 4-15, 2-4 West Suburban Gold (sixth place)
Top returning players: Halie Ahrens, jr., D; Emily Barth, jr., M; Payton Brose, jr., GK; Liz Tretina, jr., M; Lexi Rattin, sr., M/F
Key newcomers: Mia Catania, so., Miah Grochowski, fr.,; Lillian Macias, fr.
Worth noting: The program is generating a great deal of interest with 92 girls signed up to play this spring. “This situation brings out the best in all the girls,” Del Real said. “With a nice mixture of upper and lower classmen, we are looking to improve on last year’s performance by finishing higher in conference standings and improving on tournament play.”
York
Coach: Stevan Dobric (sixth season)
Last year’s record: 15-4-2, 5-1 West Suburban Silver (second place)
Top returning players: Mia Barton, sr., D; Ava Hansmann, sr., D; Hannah Meyers, sr., M/F; Michaela Quinn, sr., M/F
Top new players: Stella Kohl, sr., M; Sophia Musial, sr., F;
Worth noting: Kohl (Loyola) and Musial (DePaul) are two huge additions to the team. Quinn (26 goals, 16 assists as a Duke), and Meyers (10 assists last year) are among the team’s top returnees. “This season we look to build upon our past successes and move the bar even further,” Dobric said. “With many returning players and an influx of new talented players, the team is looking to have a very competitive season.”