Tri-Cities area girls soccer preview
Aurora Central Catholic
Coach: Kristy Kane
Last year: 8-6-2.
Key losses to graduation: None.
Key returning players: Jordan Sundberg, MF, Sr.; Bry Mandarino, GK, Jr.; Sabrina Dudziak, MF, Sr.; Becca Park, D, Sr.
Top newcomers: Anna Dudziak, D, Fr.; Alex Montalbano, GK, Fr.
Outlook: As Aurora Central moves into the Metro Suburban Conference, the Chargers do so after one of their best seasons. Second-year coach Kristy Kane can count on senior stars such as Jordan Sundberg, Sabrina Dudziak and Becca Park on a team that lost no one to graduation a year ago. "The hope is that we can maintain our strong defensive numbers from last season and improve offensively with more players creating opportunities and scoring goals," Kane said. Sundberg scored 16 goals and added 4 assists a year ago and was an all-sectional player. Mandarino made 157 saves and recorded 7 shutouts in 2014. "Immaculate Conception, St. Edward and Wheaton Academy are all strong teams that we played in the Suburban Catholic Conference and moved with us to the new conference," Kane said. "I know some of the larger public schools that are in our new conference will be tough. This year will have a big learning curve as many of us are playing each other for the first time."
Batavia
Coach: Mark Gianfrancesco
Last year: 12-9-1.
Key losses to graduation: Emily Stanczak, D; Kim Stanczak, MF; Lauren Suhi, GK; Brooke Lefevre, F.
Key returners: Karina Rosales, MF, Sr.; Ali Grimm, D, Sr.; Kayla Stolfa, D, Sr.; Olivia Callipari, MF, Sr.; Megan McEachern, F, Jr.; MacKenzie Foster, F, So.; Jenny Scara, GK, So.
Top newcomers: Keegan Maris, F, So.; Anna Lins, MF, Jr.; Carly Simonian, MF, Jr.; Abby Wood, D, Jr.
Outlook: With 14 returning players from last year's above-. 500 team, Mark Gianfrancesco has a strong group as he enters his fourth year as the program's varsity coach. "This is the first senior group I've had to go all the way through with me," Gianfrancesco said. "They reached the regional final as freshmen and won it as sophomores. Last year, there were some distractions and I don't think they lived up to what they should have done. We looked at some of the games we lost and the feeling was 'how did that happen?'" Gianfrancesco said this year's team has immense potential. There is strength throughout the team. "On paper, it looks great," he said. "It is similar to the boys team I had last fall. They're right there. But people have to step up and do what they need to do." Gianfrancesco said the overall talent in his team group gives him a nice sort of headache: getting all his varsity players the on-field time he feels they deserve. "This is a tight group and they have worked hard for four years to build an atmosphere of acceptance and camaraderie," Gianfrancesco said. "These girls get along and hang out a lot off the field. They have aspirations and goals for the season." Many teams struggle offensively, but Batavia figures to find the back of the net with its group of attackers. "Last year, we struggled a little bit," Gianfrancesco said. "Megan McEachern - I think the goals will be coming this year. MacKenzie Foster can score and there are other girls on our roster who can score. Karina Rosales has goals in her too."
Geneva
Coach: Megan Owens
Last year: 15-6-2.
Losses to graduation: Annie Waldoch, Molly Stanfa, Hope Goodman, Michaela Loebel, Tory Herbst, Maggie Bodine, Courtney Lardas, Sam Hauser, Anna Tegge.
Key returning players: Megan Fitz, MF, Sr.; Mary Landry, F, Sr.; Megan Newingham, Sr.; D, Quincy Swanson, D, Sr.; Megan Albrecht, F, Sr.; Briar Schwardt, D, Jr.; Allie Mikos, F, Jr.; Emma Harkleroad, GK, So.
Top newcomers: Leah Groven, D, So.; Jordan Andersen, D, Jr.; Olivia Tegge, MF, Fr.; Grace Stellick, D, Fr.; Maddie Stellick, F, Fr.; Lauren Albrecht, MF, Fr.; Katelyn Keenehan, F, Fr.; Emily Larson, MF, F; Maddy Parise, D, Jr.; Emily Hauser, MF, So.; Sarah Sommers, F, Jr.; Riley Sanders, MF, Sr.; Caitlin Harkleroad, D, Sr.
Outlook: In 2011, Megan Owens sent a team loaded with freshmen onto the field, watched that team grow and become successful and have a series of solid seasons. Now that group is gone, and Owens is again looking at a team filled with underclassmen. "There's definitely a lot of opportunities for players to show what they can do," Owens said. "That should make for competition for starting spots for playing time. I'm glad we don't have our first game until next Monday because right now, I couldn't give you a starting lineup." There are some freshmen who were key contributors a year ago, including forward Mary Landry, midfielder Megan Fitz and defender Megan Newingham. But with a goalkeeper and the bulk of the defensive core, including the 2014 Captain of the Tri Cities All-Area team Annie Waldoch graduated, the Vikings are going to take the term "new-look" to a new level this spring. "This year's group will grow to be great," Owens said. "We're just young again. We'll see what our freshmen and sophomores are made of. I think by the end of the season, we'll be pretty tough to compete with." As usual, the Vikings' schedule gives few easy matches. The Upstate Eight is a strong conference, the Vikings' tournaments are strong and there is a trip to the St. Louis area for a pair of matches that will be important for what happens away from the field as much as the results against Belleville East and O'Fallon. "We do a lot of team bonding, and that will be a good, positive experience for this year's team," Owens said.
Kaneland
Coach: Scott Parillo
Last year: 14-4-2.
Key losses to graduation: Delaney Stryczek, D; Michelle Ortiz, MF.
Key returning players: Heather Ortiz, MF, Sr.; Madi Jurcenko, MF, Sr.; Courtney Diddell, MF, Sr.; Emily Grams, D, Sr.; Taylor Opperman, D, Sr.; Colleen Landers, D, Sr.; Emily Chapman, GK, Jr.; Kiandra Powell, F, Jr.; Ashley Crotteau, F, Jr.; Taylor Emigh, D, Jr.; Nicole Koczka, D, Jr.; Gabby Cano, MF, Jr.; Paige Guyton, MF, So.; Holly Collingbourne, MF-F, So.; Lauren Ortiz, MF, So.; Taylor Zitkus, D, So.; Sage Schlehofer, D, Jr.
Top newcomers: Kristen Siebert, D, So.; Kylie Kurz, D-MF, So.; Kayley Bilotta, D, So.; Abby Taylor, F, Fr.; Lindsay Penkala, D-MF, Fr.
Outlook: Listing the accomplishments for Kaneland's 2014 squad takes some time. In 20 matches, the Knights allowed only 10 goals and shut out the opposition 15 times. And they did that with a team which only lost two seniors to graduation. But Kaneland once again lost to Rosary in the regional title match, and to some that is the sort of thing that will hang over the 2015 squad. Kaneland coach Scott Parillo is not one of those people, and he wants his team to think as little about the postseason as possible as the campaign begins. "I told the girls that there's no pressure on them," Parillo said. "Let's just go and play and have fun. Let's improve every game and every day and see what happens. I think they put pressure on themselves to win the big match, and believe me, there are much more important things than losing a soccer game. As much as we love it and live for it, in the grand scheme of things, though we'll be upset if it happens on the day if it happens again, then we'll move on." Make no mistake, this is a very talented group. The Knights won the West Aurora Invitational a year ago, beating Rosary on the way. The solid defense is back practically intact, midfield stars such as Madi Jurcenko and Courtney Diddell are back and the squad figures to score goals through players including Holly Collingbourne. There is also a group of newcomers to add depth and challenge for places too. "Heather (Ortiz) looks so good this year," Parillo said. "Gabby (Cano) had mono last year and she looks fabulous this year. They look so good that I had to stop them the other day and say, "Are you playing a game you love? They said 'yeah.' So I said 'smile. This is the greatest sport in the world. Enjoy it."
Rosary
Coach: Brian Frank
Last year: 10-11-2.
Loses to graduation: Lauren Frasca, GK; Abby Michael.
Key returning players: Quincy Kellett, F, Sr.; Elizabeth Kelley, MF, Sr.; Anna Sheen, D, Sr.; Maria Witte, MF, Sr.
Top newcomers: Julianne Hutchison, F, Fr.; Sarah Woodford, D, Fr.
Outlook: There are number of things the Royals are going to be unsure of this season - the largest of those being the lack of conference competition. The Suburban Christian Conference disbanded last summer, and the Royals have yet to find a league for their girls soccer team. "We are going to play some teams three times because we need opponents," Rosary coach Brian Frank said. "But our athletic director has put together a schedule that will be challenging and it will push the girls to where we need to be." This year's seniors accomplished something never done before as freshmen - they won a sectional contest. While they have won regional titles every year, they have been unable to add another sectional victory. "There has been talk of how far we can go, not having a conference," Frank said. "Obviously, winning conference is no longer a goal. There has been talk that we've been successful at the regional level. We've never won a sectional. I want them to take it one step at a time, and we have a long way to go, but they have some goals as a team." Setting goals isn't just idle talk for this team either. In Quincy Kellett, Rosary has one of the area's most dangerous forwards. Injuries forced Kellett into midfield in 2014, and Frank said this versatility will be useful. "We had to move her around," he said. "Her point total was up last year, but her goal total was down. (Kellett's) not a surprise to anyone any more. She was our main weapon and everybody knew it, and she still scored goals and got assists." Of the injuries last year, none hurt worse than the concussion suffered by central midfielder Maria Witte. "She's such a solid player," Frank said. "With her back on the field, it definitely helps us on the attack. She's strong defensively too." Of areas the Royals need to fill, the largest is at goalkeeper, where four-year star Lauren Frasca graduated. "Replacing someone of that talent is virtually impossible," Frank said. "But we have people who have come in and we can train them and they can be very effective for us."
St. Charles East
Coach: Paul Jennison
Last year: 19-5-5, 2nd in the Class 3A state tournament.
Key losses to graduation: Kendra Sheehan, GK; Hannah Rawson, F; Shannon Rasmussen, D; Rion Gaffney, F; Anna Corirorsi, MF; Amanda Hilton, MF.
Key returning players: Alison Chesterfield, Jr., GK; Julia Peterson, Jr. D; Kelli Santo Paulo, Sr., MF; Sarah Buetow, Sr., D; Darcy Cunningham, Sr., F; Claire Rasmussen, F, So.; Laura Olney, D, Sr.; Shannon Gatehouse, D, Jr.; Sonia Ost, D, Jr.; Kayla Polivka, MF, Sr.; Julia Herbrand, MF, Sr.; Molly Mollenhauer, D, Sr.; Sophie Jendrzejczyk, F, Sr.; Maggie Smith, D, Sr.
Top newcomers: Sara Rosenfeldt, GK, Fr.; Kyla Augustine, MF, So.; Megan O'Neal, MF, So.; Hannah Kolb, MF, So.; Kaitlyn Dziubinski, MF, So.; Morgan Kull, D, So.; Hayley Popiel, D, Fr.; Victoria Schumann, D, So.; Chantel Carranza, F, Fr.
Outlook: It would be very hard for St. Charles East's girls soccer team to improve on last year's performance, because the Saints finished second in the Class 3A state tournament. The thing is, the state title match wasn't the goal for last year's team on Day 1 and it isn't that way again this year. Stars graduated, new players need to be integrated to the lineup, there are more than 20 matches to play this season. In other words, June and matches played at North Central College are more than a few light years away. "We have a very positive vibe," St. Charles East coach Paul Jennison said. "We need to remember that last year, there was a sense of uncertainty and we didn't know what we could put together as a group. This year, the expectation is on maximizing our potential as a group, and realizing what is achievable if we have the right work ethic." What Jennison is hinting at is that the process of the season is what made last year's playoff run, and what he wants this year's team to do is to go through that process. "One thing is that when you can bring back a core group that's been there, it takes away the fear factor from those games," Jennison said. "But they're also very aware that everyone's going to be elevating their game to play us. Last year was a fun journey, but this year, other teams will be looking at them as a more serious opponent." Of the team's losses, none is larger than the midfield graduations of Amanda Hilton and Anna Corirossi. The pair helped provide the "engine" for the Saints in the tournament. "We had two players of real quality who graduated," Jennison said. "But even those two girls weren't the same girls at the beginning of the season. They grew and we grew as the season went." The Saints return a number of key players. Darcy Cunningham had 15 goals and 15 assists in 2014 and Sophie Jendrzejczyk added 9 goals and 7 assists. Kelli Santo Paulo and Claire Rasmussen are other keys while there are players returning in every area of the lineup. Others who played little in 2014, will look to see their roles enhanced this spring. "Last year's group was special, but this year's group has strengths too," Jennison said. "From the second we walked off the field last year, I couldn't wait to see what we had coming in this year."
St. Charles North
Coach: Ruth Vostal
Last year: 16-5-2.
Losses to graduation: Jenny Barr, D; Megan O'Leary, D; Alyssa Brandt, MF; Darcy, Stoecklin, D; Kathleen Murphy, D; Danielle Noverini, MF; Sophie Pohl, F.
Key returning players: Lizzie Parrilli, MF, Sr.; Hanna Durocher, F, Sr.; Shelby Stitz, GK, Sr.; Lauren Neslund, D, Jr.; Morgan Rerko, MF, Jr.
Top newcomers: Hailey Rydberg, Fr. MF.
Outlook: Graduation seems to hit some varsity groups, and some areas of some teams, more than others. For St. Charles North, graduation took the North Stars' entire starting defense. However, there was a lot of talent in the lower levels that those who only saw the school's varsity compete did not see. And there are newcomers to the program who figure to become part of one of the area's strongest traditions. Since its first season in 2001, the North Stars have twice played for the state championship, most recently in 2012. "We have had many conversations about how we have kids come into our program, play and perform and excel and we, as a program, are fortunate to have so much talent to where we are able to reload rather than rebuild," St. Charles North coach Ruth Vostal said. This again appears to be the case, where a handful of returning players will join with newcomers as the 2015 season begins. "We have sophomores and juniors who have been in our program who have been working their way to the varsity team," Vostal said. "It says so much of their work ethic that they put in the time and work to improve. It's hard to replace the players we lost, but we are always asked to do this, and I think we'll do it again this year." With the graduation of Sophie Pohl, the North Stars have a void on their front line, but Hanna Durocher and Lizzie Parrilli will fill attacking roles. "Every year at tryouts, the coaches and I sit and say where we think our strengths and weaknesses are," Vostal said. "I was thinking 'who's going to be our goal scorer?' We have one or two every year who get their goals, and I think Hanna and Lizzie will get goals. I expect some of these new players to get goals." If there is one area that's been solid through the history of the program, it is the defense which needs to be rebuilt. Behind the back line will be Shelby Stitz, who is back for her senior year. "She is more fit than I have ever seen her," Vostal said. "She has trained extremely hard."
West Aurora
Coach: Laura Wagley
Last year: 11-9-4.
Key losses to graduation: Sam O'Brien, F; Abriya Zeitz, D; Alicia Rotolo, MF; Sandra Chaidez, D; Reilly Kulakowski, MF.
Key returnees: Katharine Stephens, F, So.; Mariyah Zeitz, D, Jr.; Bailey Ziman, GK, So.; Yulissa Espino, F, Sr.; Hannah Pealstrom, MF, Sr.; Jocelyn Ferrar, D, So.
Top newcomers: Riley O'Brien, F, Fr.; Sofia Papoutis, F, Fr.
Outlook: One of the most talented groups of senior athletes graduated from West Aurora's program last year, and yet Blackhawks coach Laura Wagley is excited for this year's team - in part because she has a group of newcomers who start their careers in a more advanced place than the Class of 2014. And there are some very solid returnees too to a team that played for a regional championship for the first time in program history. "Nine of my 11 starters play club soccer," Wagley said. "We work a lot on possession drills, especially in the preseason. This year's group is getting it and we don't have to constantly stop and reteach. They're getting it." One of the newcomers is Riley O'Brien, the freshman sister of 2014 grad Sam O'Brien, who was the team's go-to midfielder last season. Of the returning players, sophomore Katharine Stephens proved she was a scoring threat as a freshman and Mariyah Zeitz has shown her talent defensively. "We are really excited," Wagley said. "I know we graduated four strong seniors and people are saying that this is a rebuilding year. I don't think it's a rebuilding year. We're putting in players with club experience who are as strong as our graduated players were, or stronger, when they were freshmen." West Aurora makes the move from the DuPage Valley Conference to the Upstate Eight Conference this spring. Every sport has different talent levels, but girls soccer is one where the competition level is incredible in both conferences. "We won't play the Naperville or Wheaton schools, but we'll see the 'Valleys,'" Wagley said. "Our schedule is going to be very tough, and the postseason is always very tough, and that makes our early-season matches important. We need to win matches because regional seeding is huge."