Girls soccer all-area team / Lake County

Mikayla Abbeduto AntiochWhen Antioch found the net, it was usually Abbeduto doing the honors. The junior totaled 25 goals and 11 assists in putting together an all-sectional campaign. "Mikayla Abbeduto was an offensive juggernaut," coach Marni Polakow said. "She can play as a lone striker or drop into the middle as the false 9. Her ability to receive the ball and turn or even hold it is uncanny. Not only does she affect the game with goals during the run of play, but her set-piece ability is deadly. Every time there was a dead ball, we believed that she would score."

Mackenzie Burns Carmel CatholicGoalkeeper was a new position for Burns this season, and she handled the job like a veteran, recording 9 clean sheets and a 0.69 goals against average. "She made an enormous sacrifice for the team this year stepping into the net," coach John Halloran said. "Even though she had no experience at the position, she was a key part of our success and provided an assuring presence behind our defense."

Kaila Cancelli MundeleinWhen it came to providing a consistent effort every game, the Mustangs could count on Cancelli. A four-year varsity player and repeat all-area selection, she was named all-sectional. "She had a knack for finding goals at important moments," coach Ernie Billittier said. "What's most impressive was that she often created those chances herself through her high work-rate. She caused fits for opposing defenses because she plays full speed all the time and is very physical. On top of her ability to create and score goals, she was also the kind of striker who works hard to be the first line of defense for our team. Deep in to games when most players are getting tired, Kaila has always had the natural ability to compete and battle and is usually one of the fittest players on the field."

Liz Carrano WarrenThe junior compiled 9 clean sheets and carried a 1.14 goals against average. She helped the Blue Devils to a runner-up finish in the Glenbrook Cup. "She made some huge saves against quality teams," coach Ryan McCabe said. "She does a great job of commanding her back line and directing traffic. She was technically very sound and had an ability to make reaction saves that is rarely seen. She played every minute of every game and a few of those games she was not close to 100 percent healthy."

Shannon Carroll MundeleinShe found her "right" spot, and the results paid off for the Mustangs. "Her hard work over the last two seasons allowed her to excel this year," coach Ernie Billittier said. "When she was moved to right wing, something seemed to click for her. She was a box-to-box player who has the fitness to sprint up and down the sideline. She is a strong athlete with a great first touch. This allows her to be very versatile on the field. She can be used as a target and connect passes, and she can beat defenders one on one. Her enthusiasm for the game is clear to see when she plays through her high work rate and her creativity in the final third."

Michele Chernesky MundeleinThe junior midfielder was a complete player, showing technical skills and athleticism. She received all-state honors. "Her ability to make strong tackles and then penetrating passes makes her dangerous to every team she plays," coach Ernie Billittier said. "As a center midfielder, her ability to connect passes is vital to the team and she is one of the best around at doing so. She has a high soccer IQ and team-first approach to the game. She has the ability to take over any game."

Nicole D'Ambrose LakesThe Eagles went unbeaten in the North Suburban Prairie Division, and D'Ambrose played a huge role. She found the back of the net 17 times and added 12 assists, leading Lakes in scoring the past two seasons. Coach Kevin Kullby said, "She was very good in positioning herself around the goal to create numerous scoring chances for herself during any game we played this season. But to that end, she also has the awareness to spot her teammates." D'Ambrose led the team in assists.

Elly Daleske Lake ZurichStability and strength stood out in back for the Bears. Daleske had a hand in 13 shutouts this season with a 0.66 goals against. She also lead the team to 18 victories, a third-straight North Suburban Conference championship and Class 3A sectional appearance. A repeat all-area selection, she was named all-sectional. "She has great hand-eye coordination, communicates very well and has great foot skills for a goalkeeper," coach Michael Castronova said. "She was able to organize our defense and is our vocal leader. One of Elly's best qualities is that she has the ability to come up big in key situations."

Kendall Detweiler Grayslake NorthThe senior was a four-year varsity starter on the basketball team and duplicated the feat on the soccer field. "She brought versatility and athleticism to the program," coach Adam DeCaluwe said. "She has played and excelled at nearly every position on the field, aside of goalkeeper. Her versatility and consistency make her stand apart from the rest. Strong mentally and physically, she has been one who consistently pushes to make herself and the team better every day."

Alex Fracek AntiochFracek earns a second-straight all-area selection after a season in which she had 5 goals and 7 assists, even though offense wasn't her specialty. The senior also stood out defensively. "Alex Fracek is a wall in the back," coach Marni Polakow said. "Her ability to win the ball and distribute it or clear away danger is second to none. Her knowledge of the game made her position easy for her. Unfortunately, her offensive prowess was lost due to her center back/sweeper role, but she still managed to manufacture goals. The stability she brought to the back line brought a sense of comfort to the coaching staff."

Meaghan Gelinas Lake ZurichThe all-area captain earned an all-state honors. A tireless midfielder, she had 14 goals and 11 assists. "Meaghan was the most competitive and hardest-working player I have ever coached," coach Michael Castronova said. "She started every game for us at center midfield the past three seasons and was a huge reason why we won three straight conference championships."

Kaitlin Gramins Vernon HillsGramins was often on the prowl in the offensive end. She had 9 goals and 3 assists in being selected as an all-sectional player. "Kaitlin was an offensive force for us at outside left midfielder," coach Vince DeLuca said. "She's blessed with plenty of speed and a very dangerous left foot. She scored some huge goals for us this season. When needed, Kaitlin was instrumental in serving all free kicks. She improved her game this year by adding a right foot to her arsenal, and that has elevated her game."

Kayla Handel Carmel CatholicMoving from defender to the midfield turned out to be the right move for Handel and the Corsairs. She led the team with 8 goals and 6 assists, helping the Corsairs finish the season with seven straight victories. "She was a big part of our success," coach John Halloran said. " She helped us control possession in the middle third of the field, contributing invaluable service on our set pieces and pitched in offensively."

Emily Helle Carmel CatholicNo matter where she played, Helle worked hard. Playing mostly in the midfield, she had 6 goals and 6 assists. An all-sectional player, she will be playing in the fall at St. Olaf College. "She has been so valuable to our squad over the past two seasons that we have played her as a defender, a midfielder and even a forward," coach John Halloran said. "She absolutely loves to play the game and has a work rate which is simply unmatched. Her versatility, skill and leadership will be missed."

Mia Hollingsworth LibertyvilleA workhorse for the Wildcats, Hollingsworth displayed her talents whether in the midfield or up top. The all-sectional player led the team with 17 goals and 5 assists. She also helped the team enjoy a late-season run that included a regional victory over highly regarded Glenbrook South. "She's the hardest worker on the team," coach Andy Bitta said. "She has sprinters speed with or without the ball."

Jackie Lung WaucondaWith Wauconda installing artificial turf in its stadium, the Bulldogs were on the road all season long. They started out slowly but picked up steam for a successful season. Lung was a big contributor, scoring 5 goals and adding 7 assists. "Jackie was the engine that drove our entire team," coach Patrick Heckmann said. "She was always around the ball. When she gets a steal, she looks to jump start the offense or shield the ball in order to allow the defense time to get into the attack. Her control of the ball is something very special, as is her ability to keep possession of it while in traffic."

Kaitlyn McCurley Lake ZurichMcCurley was a big reason Lake Zurich had 13 shutouts this season. An all-sectional player, she will be playing soccer next fall at Ohio University. "She was a very intelligent defender," coach Michael Castronova said. "She understands the game and is a fundamentally sound player. She's very strong on the ball and is able to distribute it from the back extremely well. A great one-on-one defender, she is able to step in front of a forward to win the ball regularly. Katie plays with intensity and was the leader on our defense."

Sydney Mudd LibertyvilleMudd did the dirty work, while also displaying skill and savvy. Her distribution allowed the Wildcats to set up their offensive attack. She finished with 4 goals and 4 assists. "She's fundamentally a very sound player and was the vocal leader of the team," coach Andy Bitta said. "Many times, she was the player who started the offense."

Chelsea Olson Grayslake NorthOlson was the engine that kept going for the Knights. She had 13 goals and 9 assists in netting all-area honors for the second year in a row. She was also named all-sectional. She will be playing at Roosevelt University in Chicago next fall. "Chelsea runs the show for us," coach Adam DeCaluwe said. "We go as she goes. She's a workhorse, and she has carried our incredibly young roster. She plays with both feet, defends as well as she attacks, and she has better vision than any girl soccer player I have ever coached."

Nathalie Orozco Vernon HillsThe midfielder contributed 4 goals and 4 assists. "Nathalie controlled a lot of our tempo and movement," coach Vince DeLuca said. "She's very skilled with her first touch and accurate to distribute the ball. As the season went on, Nathalie became more comfortable and confident with her role of dictating play. She also is quick to go forward and quick to recover on the defensive side of the ball."

Alliyah Parker WarrenOne of many talented freshman on the Blue Devils, Parker led the team with 10 goals and 7 assists. She was named an all-sectional player and was also named to the Glenbrook Cup and PepsiCo all-tournament teams. "She did a great job creating goal-scoring opportunities for herself and for her teammates," coach Ryan McCabe said. "Her runs off the ball have improved greatly this season and became a tough mark for any team that we played this season. The stage was never too big for Alliyah. Being a freshman and starting on varsity can consume some players, but she played with poise and confidence from the start."

Jenna Pecorini GrantPecorini popped for 11 goals and dished out 11 assists, earning all-area and all-sectional honors for a second straight year. "Jenna raised her game again this season," coach Mike Kennedy said. "She has the ability to attack going forward that made her a threat to other teams. She is a true competitor who will do whatever it takes to get her team the victory."

Megan Petrick StevensonA four-year varsity player, Petrick contributed 4 goals and 2 assists, but her biggest asset was as a top-notch defender. She helped the Patriots record 8 shutouts, including two in regional play. "She was our top defender," coach Kevin Heffernan said. "She would be one of the first to practice and last to leave. Her dedication was unsurpassed. She led by example as well as lent support to her teammates. If the opponent had an exceptional scorer, Megan was the center force that kept opponent's chances at goal to a minimum."

Maya Schmitt LakesThe Eagles found stability with Schmitt in the midfield. She played every game and contributed with 10 goals and 7 assists. She is a three-year starter and all-sectional player. "She's as good on defense as she is on offense," coach Kevin Kullby said. "She rarely comes out of the game and is the hub of our midfield. She is a good distributor of the ball and can play both the short pass and the long pass. She is probably the best athlete on the team. It shows in her capacity to play entire games and be among the leaders on our team in goals and assists two years running."

Alexis Strothers WarrenStrothers put together another great season, collecting all-area honors and being selected to the Glenbrook all-tournament team. She was a true leader in back for the Blue Devils. "She was a great leader by command and example and is a huge reason for our success this season," coach Ryan McCabe said. "She was often given the task of marking our opponents best attacker. She's a versatile and smart player who can step in to the midfield if needed. Alexis has good speed and an unmatched work ethic."

Emily Werfel Grayslake CentralWerfel led by example with 15 goals and 2 assists. "She's an incredibly talented player," coach Bethany Russ said. "She had a knack for scoring and creating opportunities for her teammates. It was exciting to have a player like Emily who is confident on the ball, willing to take players on and possesses great skill."

All-area roster

Player School Yr. Pos.

Mikayla Abbeduto Antioch Jr. MF/F

Mackenzie Burns Carmel Catholic Sr. GK

Kaila Cancelli Mundelein Sr. F

Liz Carrano Warren Jr. GK

Shannon Carroll Mundelein Jr. F

Michele Chernesky Mundelein Jr. MF

Nicole D'Ambrose Lakes Jr. F

Elly Daleske Lake Zurich Jr. GK

Kendall Detweiler Grayslake North Sr. D

Alex Fracek Antioch Sr. D/MF

*Meaghan Gelinas Lake Zurich Sr. MF

Kaitlin Gramins Vernon Hills Jr. MF

Kayla Handel Carmel Catholic Jr. MF

Emily Helle Carmel Catholic Sr. MF

Mia Hollingsworth Libertyville Jr. MF/F

Jackie Lung Wauconda Jr. MF

Kaitlyn McCurley Lake Zurich Sr. D

Sydney Mudd Libertyville Sr. MF

Chelsea Olson Grayslake North Sr. MF

Nathalie Orozco Vernon Hills Jr. MF

Alliyah Parker Warren Fr. F

Jenna Pecorini Grant Jr. MF/F

Megan Petrick Stevenson Sr. D

Maya Schmitt Lakes Jr. MF

Alexis Strothers Warren Jr. D

Emily Werfel Grayslake Central Jr. MF/F

* All-area team captain

Honoroable mentionBrett Aichholzer (Grant, So. D), Amy Andrea (VH, Jr. D), Brianne Barnes (Grant, Fr. MF), Brenda Barros (Round Lake, Jr. D), Carolyn Briggs (Stevenson, Sr. D), Maddy Boutros (Stevenson, Sr. GK), Jen Capparelli (Carmel, Sr., MF), Megan Carroll (Mundelein, Jr. D), Jessica Cippola (Lakes, Sr. MF), Blair Coughenour (Lake Zurich, Jr. MF), Jasmine Cruz (Round Lake, Fr. MF), Haley Green (Stevenson, Sr. D), Kristen Guglielmi (Vernon Hills, Jr. F), Diana Guzik (Wauconda, Jr. F), Ashleigh Hansen (Grayslake North, So. D), Lindsey Hardiman (Warren, Fr. MF), Lauren Janousek (Libertyville, Jr. GK), Sadie Jung (Carmel, Sr. MF), Kelly Larson (Grayslake Central, Jr. MF/F), Emma Lewandowski (Wauconda, Fr. MF), Ally Magiera (Wauconda, Soph. GK), Melissa Mejia (Round Lake, Sr. MF), Leah Nehila (Grant, Jr. MF), Julia Neiweem (Libertyville, So. D), Dominique Nelson (Antioch, Jr. GK/MF), Nicole Nitti (Lakes, So. D), Kelly O'Brien (Grayslake North, So. MF), Alissa Ramsden (Warren, Fr. D/MF), Nicole Rasiarmos (Lake Zurich, Jr. F), Jessica Schultz (Mundelein, Jr. D), Katherine Schwede (Warren, Sr. D), Mackenzie Sheehan (Carmel, Jr. MF), Anna Sizelove (Grayslake Central, Jr. D/MF), Lauren Slack (Antioch, So. MF), Carson Sparkman (Grayslake Central, Sr. MF/F), Danielle Ufheil (Lake Zurich, Jr. MF), Ali Urbanski (Libertyville, Sr. MF).

Selections and capsules by Rusty Silber