Courtney Levy: Lake County girls soccer captain

Being the last line of defense just might be the toughest position on a soccer field.

You really don't have to tell Courtney Levy about it. Levy moved into the goalkeeper spot over the last couple of years and fit right in perfectly for Stevenson's girls soccer team this season.

As a senior, Levy took her leadership role to a new level, making her a natural choice as captain of the Daily Herald's Lake County All-Area Team.

That wasn't her only accolade - she also received all-state recognition.

"She's such an athlete and a great enforcer," Stevenson coach Mark Schartner said. "She's got an unbelievable positive attitude. On and off the field, she's a great leader, a dream athlete."

Levy had a season to remember, compiling a total of 14 clean sheets. Of those, 7 of came against top-quality teams like New Trier and Evanston.

The Patriots went unbeaten through those games, going 4-0-3 on their way to an 11-4-4 overall record.

The first goal Levy gave up was to North Suburban Conference champion Lake Forest in the Snowbowl Tournament final. The Scouts' Rachel Quon scored it in the final minutes with a great run though the Patriots' defense.

The Patriots also lost their only game in NSC divisional play by the same score to Lake Forest.

Levy let in only 6 goals all season long for a miniscule goals-against average of .32.

Over her two years in goal, Levy had a .65 goals-against with 20 shutouts.

"The whole season was unexpected," Levy said. "I give a lot of credit to the defense in front of me. Everybody came back and helped me in every game."

Those defenders included sophomores Taylor Connington and Lindsay Onysio, junior Emily Niedermayer and senior Jenna Schiller.

Communication was the key to success for Levy, the defense and the rest of the Patriots.

"She was always positive and never negative," said Connington, who played sweeper right in front of Levy. "She was always able to help me out - aAlways encouraging, even with the newer girls, and kept things in a positive way.

"She was very reliable and makes the amazing saves you don't expect. The best thing - she gets the job done. She's never nervous at all and doesn't want to let a goal in. She saved my butt all the time."

What you might not know about Levy when she first started playing on varsity as a sophomore, is that she scored her first 2 career goals in her opening game. Levy was a forward then and only a back-up goalkeeper.

Then, as a junior she made the move into the goalkeeper position full-time for the Patriots.

"It seemed like a good fit," Levy said. "I thought the first year was tough, but this year, I was more used to it and had more experience. We just were able to get along real well together."

<div class="infoBox"> <h1>All-Area Teams</h1> <div class="infoBoxContent"> <div class="infoArea"> <h2>Cook County</h2> <ul class="links"> <li><a href="/story/?id=298406"><B>Softball</B></a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=298405">Softball captain: Nikki Goranson</a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=298398"><B>Baseball</B></a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=298397">Baseball captain: Jon Carlson</a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=298403"><B>Girls soccer</B></a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=298402">Soccer captains: Laura Mayer, Mary Kubiuk</a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=298401"><B>Boys volleyball</B></a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=298400">Volleyball captain: Chris Falknor</a></li> </ul> <h2>DuPage County</h2> <ul class="links"> <li><a href="/story/?id=298388"><B>Softball</B></a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=298392">Softball captain: Hannah Santora</a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=298388"><B>Baseball</B></a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=298582">Baseball captain: Jack DeAno</a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=298391"><B>Girls soccer</B></a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=298394">Soccer captain: Leah Fortune</a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=298390"><B>Boys volleyball</B></a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=298393">Volleyball captain: Joe Kelly</a></li> </ul> <h2>Fox Valley</h2> <ul class="links"> <li><a href="/story/?id=298676"><B>Softball</B></a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=298362">Softball captain: Kimberly Pierce</a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=298660"><B>Baseball</B></a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=298356">Baseball co-captain: Brian Brauer</a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=298355">Baseball co-captain: Craig Lipp</a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=298658"><B>Girls soccer</B></a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=298361">Soccer captain: Cori Wronski</a></li> </ul> <h2>Lake County</h2> <ul class="links"> <li><a href="/story/?id=298410"><B>Softball</B></a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=298408">Softball captain: Olivia Duehr</a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=298407"><B>Baseball</B></a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=298396">Baseball captain: Chas Evans</a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=298404"><B>Girls soccer</B></a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=298409">Soccer captain: Courtney Levy</a></li> </ul> <h2>Tri-Cities</h2> <ul class="links"> <li><a href="/story/?id=298385"><B>Softball</B></a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=298379">Softball captain:Stephanie Becker</a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=298383"><B>Baseball</B></a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=298380">Baseball captain: Matt Milroy</a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=298382"><B>Girls soccer</B></a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=298378">Soccer captain: Emily Hinchman</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div>