The DuPage All-Area girls soccer team
Jessica Arabia, Naperville North
The junior has done it all for coach Brent Terada, moving from the back line to a defensive midfield spot this year. "She has a defensive presence, she controls the middle for us, takes set pieces and is also a target on set pieces," he said. "She makes things happen for us." Arabia shined in two games against rival Naperville Central, posted 6 goals and 9 assists this year and has already verbally committed to play for Marist College in New York.
More Coverage Links Your captain: Bri Rodriguez
Rachel Bostick, Waubonsie Valley
You'd be hard-pressed to find a better combination of physical presence and ball skills anywhere, and the junior was again dominant up the middle of the field for the defending state champs. Also a Daily Herald all-area basketball player, the defensive-minded Bostick became even more of a scoring threat this year in scoring 12 goals for a team that has gone unbeaten in 55 games over two years heading into today's Class AA finals.
Jessica Carlson, Hinsdale South
The senior forward set a pair of program records with 76 goals and 52 assists in a four-year career after posting 31 goals and 16 assists this season. Carlson will play at Illinois State next year. According to Hornets coach Pat Wolf: "She's relentless, has a passion for the game, always wants the ball and she's a finisher. That's what makes her a great player." Carlson scored 3 goals and assisted on a fourth in a 4-3 regional title win over Stagg.
Kendra Collins, Neuqua Valley
The senior posted 12 goals and 8 assists as the Wildcats' lone four-year varsity player, and she'll take her strength and acceleration to Missouri in the fall, where sister and former all-area player Michelle Collins now plays. "She drew attention all year, she was a great leader, and she has a good, strong, right-footed shot," said Wildcats coach Joe Moreau, whose squad went 17-6 and relied on Collins' leadership for a roster featuring six freshmen and eight sophomores by season's end.
Vanessa DiBernardo, Waubonsie Valley
The two-year varsity sophomore has yet to play in a high school loss, and she can look in the mirror to see one of the major reasons why. All the forward has done is post 15 goals and 8 assists this year, 21 goals and 13 assists last year, scored the winning goal in overtime of last year's Class AA supersectional game, repeated the feat this year and scored a hat trick in the state title game that gave Waubonsie its first state title.
Leah Fortune, Wheaton Academy
The junior central midfielder led a 15-7-2 team to a Class AA regional title this year, posting 27 goals and 17 assists as a marked woman every time out. According to coach Dave Underwood, "I have never had a player that has the complete package that Leah does. She has great skill, smarts, work ethic and she's the best 1-v-1 attacker that I've seen." Fortune also played for the Brazilian U-18 team this season and has already verbally committed to play for Clemson.
Claire Hanold, Waubonsie Valley
The junior goalkeeper has given up 6 goals and has 19 shutouts thus far through a 23-0-1 Waubonsie campaign that brought the defending state champs back to the Elite Eight, giving the three-year starter 61 shutouts and 21 goals given up in 79 games, for a minuscule 0.26 goal-against average on the varsity. With an entirely new defense in front of her this year, Hanold has remained steady behind the most dangerous attack in Illinois.
Taylor Heatherly, Naperville Central
There was no shortage of responsibilities for the sophomore defender this year, and she met the challenge head on for a 20-6 Redhawks team that reached a Class AA sectional semifinal this year. "She's just a competitive player who plays at a high level," said Redhawks coach Ed Watson. With a powerful leg and consistent play, Heatherly helped keep the penalty area clean for a team that only gave up 20 goals in 26 games.
Leah Johnson, WW South
The four-year starter will play for Bowling Green in the fall after helping the Tigers to a 19-2-1 record and a season that surpassed expectations. "Her growth has been about confidence in herself, and she was our offensive leader this year," said Tigers coach Guy Callipari. After playing mainly on the outside, Johnson moved up top this year and posted 13 goals and 2 assists, giving her 29 goals and 15 assists for her career.
Sarah Langlas, WW South
Langlas will bring her size and athleticism to Iowa in the fall after providing a physical, attacking presence to the Tigers' midfield this season. "We might have been one of the smaller teams around, so her presence was huge for us," said Tigers coach Guy Callipari. Langlas combined deceptive foot skills with a quick step and a long stride. She was strong in the air, tackled well and shined in postseason games against St. Charles East and Wheaton North.
Rachel McMahon, Lake Park
The Lancers went 15-7-3 this year in setting a new program mark for wins and won a regional title, but per Lancers coach John Gouriotis, the Holy Cross-bound McMahon will be credited with "changing the climate of soccer at Lake Park." From her defensive midfield spot, the four-year varsity starter was strong on the ball, read the game fast, helped kick-start the attack and recovered well to defend for four years. McMahon also leaves with 19 goals and 17 assists for her career.
Jaime Orewiler, Wheaton North
No player in Illinois surpassed the Wheaton College-bound forward in all-out hustle and guts, every game out, on every play. The senior departs the program having posted 18 goals and 11 assists in an 18-3-2 campaign this year, which gave her 70 goals and 39 assists for her career. Orewiler scored 25 goals as a sophomore on the Falcons' team that finished third in state in 2006, and was part of a senior class that elevated the program to new heights in Illinois.
Megan Owens, Downers Grove South
The senior managed 9 goals and 5 assists from her defensive midfield spot this season for the Mustangs, who went 20-6 in reaching this year's Class AA Elite Eight. Owens was a defender for her first three varsity seasons before moving to a defensive midfield spot this year. According to Mustangs coach Barry Jacobson, "she starts our offense and defense, and she's just a very smart all-around player."
Megan Oyster, Neuqua Valley
The lone freshman on this year's all-area team, Oyster is an "incredible player, and as talented as she is, she's also very coachable," said Wildcats coach Joe Moreau. Oyster stood out as an attacking midfielder, and her willingness to attack the goal had her playing up top by season's end. The freshman showed Moreau promise in preseason practice, notched a goal and an assist in Neuqua's first game and went on to post 11 goals and 9 assists.
Kristin Papierski, Glenbard West
The junior central midfielder posted 15 goals and 12 assists for a team that went 12-5-1 and reached a Class AA regional title game this year. "She's the top player in our program," said first-year Hilltoppers coach Maciek Kusmierz. "Her work ethic and her attitude are exceptional." Third-year varsity starter Papierski began the season with a 30-yard blast for a goal in the Hilltoppers' very first game in 2008, and she was the Hilltoppers' creative force throughout the year.
Bri Rodriguez, Waubonsie Valley
The Gatorade player of the year in Illinois is the only two-time captain of the Daily Herald all-area team in the last 10 years. Already verbally committed to play for West Virginia, the junior central midfielder's skills on the ball are unequaled, her toughness is unsurpassed, and her ability to distribute is second to none. Rodriguez posted 13 goals and 25 assists in leading the defending Class AA champs to a 23-0-1 record through a supersectional win that sent the Warriors back downstate.
Michelle Scandora, Wheaton North
Scandora's four-year varsity career saw the program rise from competitive to elite status at Wheaton North, and the DePaul-bound midfielder combined size, skill and great distributive instincts to post 48 goals and 23 assists in her high school career. The senior was instrumental in helping the Falcons to a third-place downstate finish two years ago and an 18-3-2 record this year, which marked the third consecutive season that the Falcons reached a Class AA sectional title game.
Colleen Sestan, York
Her combination of offensive and defensive abilities made the senior a most valuable commodity for a Dukes team that went 16-3-1 and won the West Suburban Silver title for the program's first time. "She seemed to be involved in every goal we scored," said York coach Rachael Shepherd. Sestan posted 12 goals and 8 assists this year, 28 goals and 14 career assists as a two-year varsity starter. "She was creative, she distributed and she put shots on frame when we needed it," Shepherd said.
Casey Short, Naperville Central
An improved team and the addition of national team player Short allowed the Redhawks to score 43 more goals than last year, with essentially the same roster. The Florida-State bound senior returned after two seasons of winning state track titles, posting 18 goals and 9 assists for a 20-6 team. "She was banged up this year, but we couldn't keep her off the field," said Redhawks coach Ed Watson. "She was all about sharing the ball and setting kids up."
Crossley Simmons, St. Francis
Spartans coach Tim Dailey needed a tough, physical, athletic player to solidify his defense this year, and Simmons fit the bill, switching among sweeper, marking back and defensive midfield as situations dictated. Her 1-on-1 battle in marking Wheaton Academy's Leah Fortune in a Class AA regional "was one of the best matchups I saw this year. They just went at it," Dailey said. "She absolutely inspired other players with the intensity that she brings." Simmons will play soccer at Stetson University in Florida in the fall.
Honorable mention
Kelly Blumberg (Naperville Central, jr., M/F), Liz Dudek (Benet, jr., F), Danielle Janowiak (Downers Grove South, sr., F), Jessica Jones (West Chicago, sr., F), Jessica Kodiak (Naperville North, jr., F), Courtney Losito (Lake Park, sr., D), Kelsey Mulcahy (Neuqua Valley, jr., D), Taylor Nieling (WW South, sr., M), Blaise Murphy (Lake Park, sr., D), Morgan Olsen (Downers Grove North, sr., F), Hannah Perry (Wheaton North, sr., GK), Kayla Radloff (West Chicago, sr., GK), Rachel Resek (Benet, jr., GK), Jessica Rubin (Naperville Central, jr., D), Katie Schaller (Hinsdale Central, jr., D), Alexa Sharkey (Wheaton Academy, so. F), Erin Strom (Wheaton North, sr., D), Sarah Vargyas (St. Franc is, sr., F).