Lake Zurich's Chmela will take her shots at Valparaiso

Hailey Chmela stands only 5-feet-3, but the Lake Zurich senior will be playing big-time college soccer.

Chmela, a midfielder, has signed a national letter of intent to play for Valparaiso University, which plays at the Division I level in the Horizon League.

"Hailey has good knowledge of the game and her experiences playing with her club team are going to be valuable in her transition to the college game," said Valparaiso coach John Marovich. "She has a nice grasp of the work and expectation of a wide player on the field. We are looking for her to give us the ability to explore the widths of the field in a dynamic way."

A varsity player since her freshman year, Chmela was named All-North Suburban Conference, Daily Herald All-Area and all-sectional for the Bears last spring. She had 15 goals and 4 assists.

While competing with ELA Elite, she played a vital role in the club team winning two Illinois State Cup championships and a Midwest regional title in 2006, as well as a national Final Four appearance.

"I decided Valparaiso University is the best fit for me after getting a tour of the campus and meeting the coaching staff," Chmela said. "I like the balance between the high expectations of academics and the competitive Division I soccer. I also like the size of the school. Coach Marovich made my decision easy by showing me how passionate he was about the game of soccer."