Versatility aids Boland

Playing different positions on the soccer field hasn't tempered Nikki Boland's enthusiasm for the game.

And she's having even more fun with her brother helping coach her.

A four-year starter for Carmel Catholic, Boland has been a forward, defender and, this season, a midfielder.

"I really don't ask where I'm going to play," Boland said. "It depends on the game, the day and who we're playing -- and also how everyone else is playing on the field. I kind of like it, because I can play wherever and fit in."

Her brother is taking pride in watching her develop. Mike Boland is a former Corsairs player (Class of 2002) and has been an assistant to head coach John Halloran the last couple of years.

"I love having my brother as a coach," Boland said. "I really couldn't ask for a better coach because I look up to him. He can always pull me aside, tell me what to do and give me advice."

Boland's versatility has proved invaluable for Carmel. She's helped the Corsairs average more than three goals a game.

"I know my teammates count on me," Boland said. "It's fun, and I like it."

Soccer has always been fun for the senior. When she was little, she was seemingly never too far from Mike when he was kicking the ball. She, in fact, was a ball girl for her brother's team several years ago.

"Whenever he would get the ball on a breakaway, I'd be watching and running with him on the sidelines," Boland said. "It was fun for me to watch him and now he can coach and watch me."

"I can be a little extra hard on her because I know her," Mike Boland said. "But I treat them all the same. Everyone here is in it together.

"Nikki watched me when I played and I think that's how she got her toughness. I guess I knocked her around a little bit when she was younger."

Boland's work this spring certainly has been noticed by Halloran.

"She's got a lot of explosiveness in the middle and athleticism," Halloran said. "She's does a great job of going forward and opening up space, and she can do a great job covering defensively, too. She really can play anywhere on the field."

North Suburban title game: Mark you calendar for Thursday, May 8. That's when the North Suburban Conference championship will take place. This year the host will be out of the Prairie Division.

Who will be the teams to get there?

In the Lake, Lake Forest is the front-runner with divisional road games remaining against Lake Zurich and Zion-Benton. Others still with a fighting chance are Lake Zurich, Libertyville and Mundelein.

In the Prairie, Antioch and Lakes are still unbeaten, but Vernon Hills is still kicking.

The race might not be decided until May 5, when Lakes visits Antioch.

Stats stuff: Here are the area leaders, through Tuesday:

• Goals: Petermann (Carmel) 14, Hellweg (Wauconda), Neal (Lakes) 10, Brown (Carmel), Kulawiuk (Grant), Llewellyn (Wauconda) 8, Clatch (Vernon Hills) 6, Ogrinc (Carmel), Feece (Vernon Hills), LeBaron (Grayslake Central), Nagle (Vernon Hills) 5.

• Assists: Peterman (Carmel) 11, Hellweg (Wauconda), Neal (Lakes) 6, Brown (Carmel) 5, Boland (Carmel), Clatch (Vernon Hills), Nagle (Vernon Hills) Korecky (Grant) 4.

• Goals Against Average: Allen (Mundelein) 0.2, Eisenhuth (Lake Zurich) 0.69, Sapienza (Carmel) 1.09, Levy (Stevenson) 1.13, Burton (Vernon Hills) 2.

• Shutouts: Allen (Mundelein) 9, Eisenhuth (Lake Zurich) 6, Sapienza (Carmel) 5, Levy (Stevenson), Fitzpatrick (Lakes) 4.