Mid-Suburban East preview
Mid-Suburban East
Buffalo Grove
Coach: Pat Dudle (second year)
Last year: 7-13-3 (2-7-2 in MSL)
Graduation losses: Alex Argiris, Brie Bohman, Megan Crompton, Allison Heissel, Jenny Kovach, Vickie Rich (Lees McRae College), Jaimee Shearn.
Top returnees: Seniors Kaitlin Hillner (D, all-conference, all-sectional), Jordyn Lucas (GK, 8 shutouts), Alyssa Andreasik (MF), Megan Cherney (MF), Maddie Gerling (MF), Katie Quill (D), Hillary Reynolds (MF); juniors Jeannette McNichols (D), Jackie Concialdi (F), Kim Gerling (F); sophomore Kelly Mahoney (MF)
New faces to watch: Senior Ashley Foster (D), Julie Shamo (F); juniors Morgan Bierman (D), Kelsey Foley (MF), Taylor Paoulos (MF); sophomore Lindsay Puppolo (MF); freshmen Carolyn Wieland (F).
Outlook: It all starts in the back, where two-sport star Hillner will provide stellar skill in front of Lucas (1.08 GAA) to help lead BG's strength. "To have both (seniors) returning to lead an already stingy defense helps," Dudle said, "as will our experience and the hope that our attack will be more balanced this spring."
Elk Grove
Coach: Dan Klaus (eighth year, 67-79-4)
Last Year: 5-11-4 (1-7-3 in MSL).
Graduation losses: Rachael Sloan (all-area, four-time all-MSL, 59 career goals, Marquette), Heather DeMoss (Elmhurst), Angie Podulka (St. Ambrose), Megan Maize (Harper), Anie Fitzpatrick (Harper), Amy Fries (Winona State), Jamie Regan (ISU).
Top returnees: Seniors Jesse Hubly (MF, committed to Loyola), Jen Jarvis (GK), Emily Stanke (MF), Heidi Klancik (D), Jen Zemola (D); sophomores Michelle Calmeyn (F), Carin Fearing (MF).
New faces to watch: Freshmen Katie Naughton (D, MF, regional ODP team member), Kelly Hubly (MF, F).
Outlook: Plenty of new players to keep an eye on this spring, including Naughton, who will look to fuel Grens' rebuilding program. "We're cautiously optimistic right now as we begin to sort things out to see who fits where and how we'll react and adjust to playing at the varsity level," Klaus said.
Hersey
Coach: Brad Abel (fifth year, 51-29-17).
Last Year: 19-3-3 (8-1-2 MSL), MSL champion, sectional champion
Graduation losses: Rosie White (all-area captain, all-state, all-conference, Illinois), Jackie Drees (all-area, all-sectional, all-conference), Amanda Slove (Lewis, all-conference), Chelsea Santora (all-conference), Sarah Stoltzner (all-conference).
Top returnees: Seniors Kristen Gierman (D, all-area, all-sectional, all-conference, 23 assists), Kristen Corley (MF); juniors Kathryn Korff (MF, all-area), Julia Fredian (GK, all-sectional honorable mention), Andrea Perkins (MF)
New faces to watch: Sophomores Eileen Zydek (D), Maeva Waterman (F), Jennifer Corley (MF).
Outlook: The Huskies will look to find some of the magic left from the 2008 club which won the first MSL title in and posted the best record in program history. A superb group of talent graduated, but the cupboard is still full beginning with Gierman, among the best along the back line. "We'll look to blend our veterans with some new players with the hope and desire to put ourselves in position to compete for the MSL Cup," Abel said.
Prospect
Coach: Tom Froats (seventh year, 65-42-22).
Last year: 11-5-5 (5-2-4 MSL).
Graduation losses: Marietta Smith (Dartmouth, all-state academic team), Alex Moxley (Fire all-state team), Maggie Fettis, Kelly Johnson, Kathie Barkan, Michelle Pappas, Megan Franck, Lauren Chlapaty.
Top returnees: Seniors Becky Santiago (MF, all-area, all-conference, 5 goals, 5 assists), Alyssa Glennon (MF), Rachel Lenke (F), Lauren Leipprandt (D), Danielle Brucci (MF); juniors Susie Lello (F, all-area, all-conference, 8 goals), Lexi Glennon (D, all-conference), Maureen O'Keefe (F).
New faces to watch: Megan McCabe, Andrea Wehrle.
Outlook: "Our seniors and returning veterans trained hard during the off-season and their expectations to succeed this season can be realized with the help of a talented group of underclassmen who combined give us a formidable and well-armed group in the MSL," Froats said.
Rolling Meadows
Coach: Jeff Adkins (10th year, 96-90-16)
Last year: 7-11-4 (2-3-0 East)
Graduation losses: Jessie DaPisa (all-area, all-conference, Eastern Kentucky), Bianca Serrato (all-conference).
Top returnees: Seniors Taylor Fritz (F), Kelly Zahorski (GK), sophomores Maddie Conlin (D), Alex Partipilo (F, 11 goals).
New faces to watch: Freshmen Maggie Morgan (F), Amanda Gunn (D), Ann Marie Lynch (MF).
Outlook: The Mustangs overcame the loss of two key players from their first 11 - Fritz and Zahorski (both with ACL injuries) - to advance to their third regional final in as many years. Adkins sees no reason his club won't return this season. "Our success will depend on how quickly our new players can adapt to the type of play (seen) in the MSL," Adkins said, "but I really believe we will be a very competitive club, especially with the return of Taylor and Kelly."
Wheeling
Coach: Darren Llewellyn (second year, 7-10-3).
Last year: 7-10-3.
Graduation losses: Nallely Arreola, Emily Kahn, Julianna Perandozzi.
Top returnees: Seniors Valerie Lelle (F, 7 goals, all-area), Sam Gorzelany, Allison Hart, Jackie Castillo; juniors Chloe Majowski (GK), Anna McQueen (D), Jessica Peterson (D), Stephanie Valerio (MF); sophomores Ellie Grinter (F), Kelsey Maczko.
New faces to watch: Junior Nataly DelToro (F).
Outlook: The strength of the Wildcats in the middle of the park was lost to graduation after Arreola and Kahan moved on, but Llewellyn believes the 1-2 punch of Lelle and Ginter will provide more weapons than last season after finishing with a school-record 7 victories. "We might have the best attacking line (ever) and if we can find a way to rebuild in the middle, we could surprise some people," Llewellyn said.
Mid-Suburban West
Barrington
Coach: Ryan Stengren (second year, 13-6-2)
Last year: 13-6-2 (8-3-0 MSL)
Graduation losses: Katie Goldrath.
Top returnees: Seniors Mary Kubiuk (F, all-area, all-conference, 56 career goals); juniors Caroline Condon (MF, all-area, all-conference), Amy Johnson (D, all-area, all-conference); sophomore Emmellie Hirdes
New face to watch: Junior Alexa Rowe (MF).
Outlook: The Fillies have a young core to build from, plus top striker Kubiuk, who was slowed in the early going with an ankle injury but scored a dozen goals. "We'll have a lot more experience after having so many first-year players last year, and we look to build from where we left off," said Stengren, whose club will be on the super fast and wide turf of its superb new stadium after playing its entire 2008 season on its practice fields.
Conant
Coach: Jason Franco (fourth year, 33-23-8).
Last year: 16-5-1
Graduation losses: Brittany Bodziak (all-state, all-sectional, all-conference, SIU-Edwardsville), Shaina Marnell (honorable mention all-sectional, Upper Iowa), Monica Danek (GK, 4-year starter, Lewis), Meghan Melone, Brittany Haggerty.
Top returnees: Seniors Alyssa Stylski (F, 9 goals, 7 assists), Lauren Jason (F, 9 goals), Becky Knoll (D, 5 goals, all-conference), Emma Loos (D).
New faces to watch: Senior Jessy Rosales (MF); junior Brenna Fitzpatrick (MF, transfer from St. Viator); freshmen Courtney Raetzman (F, under-15 National Team member), Kelsey Foss (D).
Outlook: If Cougars' youngsters step in and make the type of contributions Franco believes they can, then this could be the club to watch in the MSL West this spring. "I am excited to see what this year has in store for us," Franco said. Experience in the back with (Loos-Knoll) combined with a dangerous quartet up top in Stylski, Jason, Fitzpatrick and Raetzman should be able to hold its own with most every opponent.
Fremd
Coach: Steve Keller
Last year: 17-4-1 (MSL West champion), sectional finalist
Graduation losses: Alex Ehr (MSL West player of the year, all-state, all-area), Allison Casey (all-sectional, all-conference), Ariana Foster (all-conference, DePaul), Austin Henning (all-conference), Susie Plager (all-conference), Lauren Zimmer (all-conference).
Top returnees: Seniors Laura Mayer (7 goals), Kaitlyn Kinsella (8 assists), Danielle Romano (D); juniors Allison Norenberg (GK, 0.66 goals against), Crystal Rohan (6 goals); sophomores Elise Kotsakis, Nicole Leginski.
New faces to watch: Senior Natalie Kirchner (D); junior Kathleen Holmberg (MF); sophomore Alexis Tice (MF).
Outlook: The Soccer Cup rep from the West lost several key pieces from its championship side, including Ehr, and five other all-MSL players, however the Vikings still have the benefit of a settled squad at several spots in its first-11 to make them still one of the favorites in the MSL this spring. "If we stay healthy, we'll be strong," said Keller. "We obviously lost a lot, but we were very deep last season which should allow us to compete with most teams."
Hoffman Estates
Coach: Rob Schmidt (fifth season).
Last year: 5-10-1
Graduation losses: Brittany Calendo (GK, all-state, St. Louis University), Missy Douglas, Natalie Schwarz, Courtney Bobsin, Val Iehl, Nicole Moody, Maggie Keane.
Top returnees: Seniors Chrissy Tooren (F, all-area, all-sectional, all-conference, 17 goals), Leah Tednes (F, all-sectional honorable mention, all-conference), Maddie Harford (D-MF), Carol King (D), Megan Evans (D, MF), Becky Gilbert (D); junior Kelsey Lukowicz (MF); sophomores Melanie McGinn (D), Tanya Skworch (D).
New faces to watch: Juniors Sara Channer (MF), Eunice Ahn (MF), Vanessa Daughtery (GK); sophomores Colleen Thomas (MF), Kara Hartel (F); freshmen Mary Kate Pettit (MF), Meghan Thomas (MF).
Outlook: Hawks loss of all-state keeper Calendo and her co-captain mates (Douglas, Schwarz) is somewhat lessened by the return of a veteran back line foursome and a dynamic duo up top in Tooren and Tednes. "There's a solid core of players, which is anchored by seniors (King, Gilbert, Harford and Evans) in the back, which will make our (two) players up top that much more potent," Schmidt said.
Palatine
Coach: Willie Filian (16th year)
Last year: 10-9-2
Graduation losses: Luting Sun (MF, team MVP, captain, Alabama-Huntsville), Stephanie Thompson (D-F, Benedictine), Bethann Hamer (MF).
Top returnees: Seniors Megan McNulty (D), Stephanie Frost (MF); junior Melissa Depau (MF), Sydney Wiedman (F).
New faces to watch: Senior Beth Jump (F); juniors Rachel Houp (F), Kristen Straus (MF); sophomore Amanda Filian (MF-D).
Outlook: Introductions will be needed for this side which will be long on newcomers who are short on experience, but long on enthusiasm and energy. "Except for a just a few returning (players) we are going to have a roster full of freshmen and sophomores who will be learning on the job this spring," says Filian, who will welcome his daughter Amanda, who brings along a wonderful resume built from top club (Eclipse) to give the club an added bonus either in the back or the middle of the pack.
Schaumburg
Coach: Greg Charvat (17th year, 142-112-28)
Last Year: 7-7-4 (4-4-3 in MSL)
Graduation losses: Ashley Darnell (all-area, all-sectional, all-conference), Maggie Kostecki (all-conference), Heather Pawlish, Kathy Long, Sarah Maine, Ashley Wade.
Top returnees: Seniors Sarah Seyffert (MF, 3 goals, all-conference), Rachael Zolper (MF), Melissa Hernandez (D); juniors Kendra Sanderson (F, 7 goals), Rachael Kahan (MF), Sarah Christy (F), Aubrey Hayes (D), Devin Ryan (D); sophomore Stephanie Pouse (D)
New faces to watch: Sophomores Sam Halter (D), Bailey McNamara (D), Colette Falsey (MF); freshmen Ali Schmalz (D), Becky Sneddon (MF), Tess Skrobot (MF), Teagan Eberle (MF), Brooke Schocker (GK), Bryce Saxon (GK)
Outlook: An equal balance of youth (10 freshmen and sophomores) and veterans (9 juniors and seniors) presents Charvat with the challenge of blending it all together in the early going, while looking to replace the heart and soul of last season in Darnell, who held things together in the middle. "We'll need to get everyone together to adapt to playing on two different (field) surfaces including plenty of matches on our new, wide turf field (at) home," Charvat said.
CSL North
Maine West
Coach: Aaron Fleming (third year, 13-19-5, 35-37-9)
Last year: 6-11-3 (2-4-2 MSL)
Graduation losses: Christina Chervenak (Carthage, two-time all-area, GK, 21 career shutouts), Hannah Schmitz (Elmhurst), Betsy Barthel (Judson).
Top returnees: Juniors Amanda Ollerer (D), Dontina Walsten (F).
New faces to watch: None
Outlook: With 16 freshmen and sophomores on varsity roster, Fowler will rely heavily on leading scorer Walsten and back-line veteran Ollerer to handle leadership chores after losing 10 to graduation from 2008. "We are very young and there's plenty of questions to answer," Fleming said, "however the attitude has been very good as the girls continue to work on getting to know each other."
ESCC
St. Viator
Coach: Sam Donnelly (second year)
Last year: 7-3-0 (3rd ESCC).
Graduation losses: Brenna Fitzpatrick (all-ESCC, transfer to Conant)
Top returnees: Seniors Colleen Nolan (D-MF, two-time all-ESCC, all-sectional), Lauren Cozzi (F, all-ESCC); sophomore Taylor Skala (F, all-ESCC).
WSC Gold
Leyden
Coach: Robert Fowler (second year, 10-9-0)
Last year: 10-9-0 (2-4, fifth WSC Gold)
Graduation losses: Cristy Monarrez (College of DuPage, all-conference), Amanda Kostic (Triton, all-sectional honorable mention).
Top returnees: Senior Mayra Garcia (F); juniors Melissa Adlinger (MF), Brooke Fink (MF).
New faces to watch: Sophomores Yocelin Dorado (MF), Lucero Aguillar (MF).
Outlook: "Last year we lost five of our nine matches by a 1-goal differential, so if we can turn that around this season, we can improve on our overall won-loss record," said Fowler, whose club fell to eventual fourth-place state finisher Downers Grove South in its regional final match.