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Girls soccer all-area team / Tri-Cities

By Darryl Mellema

Daily Herald Correspondent

Jenny Barr, St. Charles North

Versatility was a key for Barr. Naturally a forward-thinking player blessed with great speed, the senior moved into the back line and helped solidify an area that was hit hard by graduation. "After losing Kenzie (Rose) and Jorie (Clawson), we were depending on her to be one of the solid defenders," St. Charles North coach Ruth Vostal said. "We still tried to find ways to get her forward, especially if we were needing help offensively. We tried to get her forward to take corners or free kicks." Defensively, the Miami of Ohio recruit showed her unselfishness as the North Stars advanced to the sectional semifinals. "Once we get a settled back four, we are hesitant to break it up," Vostal said. "We do preach that we have 11 on offense and 11 on defense, and that has a lot to do with our success in the back line."

Alyssa Brandt, St. Charles North

Another of St. Charles North's versatile players, Brandt moved from an attacking role to play in the team's defense when injuries hit late in the season. "Coaches always go through these 'on paper' situations, where you have these 'what if's,'" St. Charles North coach Ruth Vostal said. "You think what you might do if certain things happen, and we said that (Brandt) was one who could play in that defensive role. She had that game experience." The North Stars pride themselves on being one of the teams that fights for 80 minutes in every match, and Brandt epitomized that trait as much as any player this season. "She stepped up for us and we didn't miss a beat defensively," Vostal said. "But when we took her out of the midfield, we didn't have her in the attack. She truly gets what I try to get the kids to understand since St. Charles North opened, to fight, fight for each other and that we're a family." Brandt will play college soccer for Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh.

Anna Corirossi, St. Charles East

An honorable mention all-sectional player who sometimes got overlooked with some of the other stars on the Saints roster, Corirossi was the anchor to the team's midfield through its playoff run that ended with a second-place finish in the Class 3A finals. "She has the ability to quarterback the team," St. Charles East coach Paul Jennison said. "She links from the back line through midfield to the forwards. We like to link play, and her movement and vision is great." As the more defensive-minded central midfielder, Corirossi still managed to score key goals, including the match-winner in the team's semifinal victory over Lincoln-Way North. "She was a captain and one of our go-to players," Jennison said. "People put Amanda (Hilton) out there as a player to stop, and I think (Corirossi) has flourished in that role. She does a job and has never once complained about having to play the deeper role. She is going to be very, very difficult to replace."

Lauren Frasca, Rosary

It's always been said that goalkeepers need to be vocal, and there was never a problem in that area where Frasca was involved. Keepers also need to be shot-stoppers, and the DePaul recruit was one of the area's best, recording seven shutouts in her season. "She is an outstanding goalkeeper and she kept us in games all year," Rosary coach Brian Frank said. Frasca especially starred in key games, such as the Royals' 2012 sectional semifinal victory over Nazareth Academy and this year's penalty kick shootout victory over Kaneland in the regional title match. Frasca was also used periodically as a field player. This year, she scored 4 goals and added 1 assist and was named all-conference and honorable mention all-sectional.

Amanda Hilton, St. Charles East

The all-state player was the attacking partner in St. Charles East's central midfield, often moving into the front line to provide an attacking punch. The Nebraska recruit finished with 17 goals for the season. "When she wanted to play the ball, she had that ability to go from side to side," St. Charles East coach Paul Jennison said. "But if she needed to, she could drive forward through the defense to score. I think that was maybe her basketball training." St. Charles East's female most valuable athlete this year, Hilton also proved capable of throwing her body at crosses to score goals or create opportunities for teammates. "If you need someone to roll up her sleeves and fight, she can do that," Jennison said. "There's not too many players you can turn to who will throw themselves in front of a cross or put themselves into a tackle." In the Saints tournament run, Hilton scored key goals, including her team's first goal in a 3-1 come-from-behind semifinal victory over Lincoln-Way North. "She's going to be difficult to replace, but she's ready to move on to the next level," Jennison said.

Megan McEachern, Batavia

McEachern was an impact freshman for the Bulldogs in 2013 and had strong scoring numbers this year - 11 goals and 8 assists - but there were times she struggled. "Last year, with all the talented seniors we had, she didn't have to think about much," Batavia coach Mark Gianfrancesco said. "She could just go and play. This year, there was more responsibility and she had to produce, and that takes more understanding." For her career, McEachern has 26 goals and 13 assists with two years still to play for the Bulldogs. The team's 2013 MVP earned all-conference and honorable mention all-sectional honors this season. "She had a good year this year for us," Gianfrancesco said. "I think she had some of the confidence issues Karina (Rosales) had last year. But she also scored quite a few big goals for us." After playing primarily as a winger as a freshman, McEachern moved into the central striking role at times this season. "She realized it's more physical and you have to be 'on' all the time. Playing her up top with (Rosales) behind her allowed her to be confident in herself."

Sam O'Brien, West Aurora

Possessor of the best flip throw-in seen in years, O'Brien was also a strong field player for the Blackhawks. The Northern Illinois recruit led West Aurora with 16 goals and 7 assists this season. The all-sectional and all-conference player was West Aurora's leading scorer for the third straight year. "(O'Brien) is our best player and everything offensively is run through her," West Aurora coach Laura Wagley said. "She is an offensive threat on and off the ball. She can flip throw, which is a huge advantage for us. When she gets the ball at her feet, she is able to take a defender on or play it to an open teammate." West Aurora had a strong season this spring, including a DuPage Valley Conference victory over Wheaton North and an opening round playoff win against Plainfield Central. O'Brien was central in much of what the Blackhawks accomplished. "She is relentless is her effort each game and will play until the final whistle," Wagley said.

Karina Rosales, Batavia

After a starring freshman season, Rosales had a difficult sophomore campaign with the Bulldogs. She rebounded this year with 12 goals and 9 assists, to give her 35 goals and 21 assists in her career. She also earned team MVP, all-conference and honorable mention all-sectional honors. "I think she came in as a freshman and had a wonderful year," Batavia coach Mark Gianfrancesco said. "Then last year took a step back. She assured me before the season that it was all set aside and that she was focused and ready to go. A lot of it was mental and she really figured it out." Rosales' specialty is the way she works everyone on the team into the buildup, and this is something that is a part of her personality, Gianfrancesco said. "If you watch her before training or in games, she be-bops around everybody, makes a connection with everybody on the team. She does it on the field too." One of the keys this year was moving Rosales from a central striking role to an attacking midfielder's role. "She can pick up and hold the ball and she's a lot more flexible in midfield," Gianfrancesco said. "We'll use her in different roles next year, and she's open to that. She's come into her own as a leader."

Molly Stanfa, Geneva

Geneva's defense was so strong this season, and has been established for so long, and Stanfa has been one of those stalwarts. "She's a really good vocal leader back there with her four years of experience," Geneva coach Megan Owens said. "People thought I was crazy when I put three freshmen back there four years ago, but defense has been our strength, especially the last two years." Stanfa combined with Annie Waldoch, who eventually moved into a defensive midfield role, and Tory Herbst and Maggie Bodine to form a solid group in front of the Vikings goal. "(Waldoch and Stanfa) were both great captains for me," Owens said. "They're the kind of kids who'll do whatever you need them to do. Even in our last game, when we lost to Conant, they tried. It just didn't work out."

Delaney Stryczek, Kaneland

The Knights had one of their most successful seasons ever, and the team's defense was the key. The first two losses of the season were to two of the strongest teams in the state - Class 2A runner-up Normal West and Class 3A runner-up St. Charles East. "Our only other loss in the regular season was to Sycamore, and that was our sixth game in eight days," Kaneland coach Scott Parillo said. "We had a heck of a season and it's unfortunate the postseason didn't go like we wanted." Kaneland fell to Rosary in the regional title match, but Stryczek remained the anchor to a defense that recorded 12 shutouts in 20 games and only allowed 9 goals. She was the MVP of the Northern Illinois Big XII Conference. "We had a great defense," Parillo said. "They knew where they were going to be, and (Stryczek) stepped up big-time. When things weren't going well on the field, she righted the ship, along with the other seniors. I am very glad that she - and the other seniors - took that captainship and did the best with it that they could." Stryczek will play college soccer for Hiram College in Ohio.

Annie Waldoch, Geneva

The captain of the All-Area team, Waldoch finished a strong four-year varsity career by anchoring Geneva's team from a defensive midfield role and also sometimes slotting into the back line where she starred for three years previously. "She's one of our stronger players and we wanted to give her the freedom to push up," Geneva coach Megan Owens said. "Putting her in the midfield gave her the opportunity to do that. Plus she's one of our most physical players." One of the strongest players physically, Waldoch combined power in the air with the ability to play both long and short passes with precision. "I respect her toughness," Owens said. "You don't find that in every player out there. She's just really good at winning tackles and winning the ball in the air. It's rare that she didn't win the ball."

Jenny Barr, all-area soccer player from St. Charles North
Lauren Frasca
Sam O'Brien, West Aurora all-area soccer
Megan McEachern, Batavia all-area soccer
Anna Corirossi, St. Charles East all-area soccer
Karina Rosales, Batavia all-area soccer
Amanda Hilton, St. Charles East all-area soccer
Molly Stanfa
Delaney Stryczek, Kaneland all-area soccer
Alyssa Brandt, St. Charles North all-area soccer
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