Peak performance for Warren's Hill
One of the tallest players on Warren's boys soccer team, R.J. Hill stands out at 6 feet 4.
He's been a figurative standout as well.
Hill was the last line of defense, commanding one of the toughest positions on the field at goalkeeper.
While his numbers were impressive — a goals-against average of 0.71 along with 9 shutouts — they only hint at how much Hill meant to his team.
Warren finished 15-3-4, producing an unbeaten run in the highly competitive Lake Division of the North Suburban Conference along with an overall NSC championship.
For handling the Blue Devils' goalkeeping detail with skills to match his stature, Hill is the captain of the Daily Herald's all-area boys soccer team for Lake County.
“It's cool, and it's an unreal feeing,” Hill said. “It's humbling to being noticed. I know that this was one of my best seasons.”
Going back to the summer, Hill was aware he'd be expected to take on a bigger role with the team. He knew the setting well enough, having competed for coach Jason Ahonen on the varsity for three years, including a spot on the 2012 state championship team.
“He took on more of the leadership,” Ahonen said. “He understood what needed to take place in training in order to be successful. But that wasn't the only area he thought we needed to improve. He wanted this group to be much more tightly knit, and the other seniors wanted the team to get along, to play for each other.
“I truly feel that R.J. took that to heart, and that's what led him to this point.”
Another thing that helped him was watching the world's best goalkeepers. Last summer's World Cup was a treat, as Hill has always followed Manuel Neuer, who plays for Bayern Munich and the German National Team. Neuer is one of 23 finalists for the FIFA Ballon d'Or, which goes to the best player of the year.
“He's really the one that I look up to the most,” Hill said of Neuer. “The one I try to be like, goalie-wise.”
This fall, Hill elevated his level of play in goal beyond simply making big saves. But make no mistake — big saves were his specialty, and many of them against top competition. Hill earned all-tournament honors at Barrington after making 6 point-blank saves in preserving a 1-0 shutout over the hosts for a third-place finish.
“You can look at me for making the saves,” said Hill, “but it's not just me. Without (defenders) Chris Travis and Alex Fratila, it's not possible. There are some saves that I make on my own. I just go after the ball — if I get it, then I get it.”
Hill's reliability in goal was reassuring to his teammates and frequently ended up sparking the Blue Devils' attack the other way.
“I feel like I'm always there,” Hill said. “It's like a calming sense and it starts with being focused. Every day the job has to be done. It's not a fun job, but I like to do it.”
After a recent game, Travis said to Hill, “I just have to tell you, what you do in back, we wouldn't be comfortable without you back there.”
A longtime teammate of Hill's, Travis has come to appreciate how special it was to have a goalie of such great skill behind him.
“He's totally rounded in the whole game,” Travis said. “He knows how to analyze the game well. We've been friends and have been playing soccer together since 8 or 9 years old. Playing soccer with him is amazing. You trust him that much.”
Recently, Hill verbally committed to compete next year at Eastern Illinois University.
“It was one of the biggest offers for me,” Hill said. “I like the campus, and the soccer is very good and has so much potential.”
This is Hill's second straight all-area team selection. Over his three years, he played 70 games for Warren, posting a 45-11-14 record and goals-against average of 0.80 with 26 shutouts.
Big numbers for a big goalie.
“R.J. is just a phenomenal goalie,” said Warren midfielder Nick Haas, who like Hill was an all-state selection. “He just knows how to use his big body to his advantage back there.”