Talent-rich Huntley, off to 9-0 start, has some lofty goals

Off to a 9-0 start, which includes a perfect 2 of 2 in championship tournament titles, a tally of 47 goals while holding opponents to just 3 en route to 7 shutouts, it might surprise some people to know that the Huntley girls soccer program does in fact have a problem.

Some might say the Red Raiders do have problems, though it depends on who you're asking.

Let's start by asking long-time head coach Kris Grabner.

He will tell you that it is one problem, but in all fairness, it is the type of problem that every coach dreams of having -- too much talent and not enough time in a game or enough space on the field to foster it.

With 11 spots to fill in each contest, and 23 girls on the varsity roster, Grabner's job is not easy.

And here's why.

In Ashley Williams, Gretchen Bachrodt and Megan Hamm, the Red Raiders have three 4-year varsity players who anchor different parts of the field.

Williams is a senior forward known for her raw power, her ability to cut the ball extremely well and her direct passing. Bachrodt brings knowledge and experience into each contest as she heads a virtually impenetrable flat-back-four as a lead defender. Hamm, who shares her name with one of U.S. Women's Soccer's finest, Mia Hamm, is a center-midfielder. She has tallied 2 goals to date, despite being that one player whose job is to do the leg work that leads to everyone else's success.

"Ashley is a huge impact player," said Grabner. "She has speed, she strikes the ball powerfully with both legs and she is aggressive on defense. She tackles hard and she is not going to hold back. She's a menace out there."

Grabner is happy to see her back on the field. While she has never left the team's side, Williams has been sidelined with a torn ACL and a torn MCL. She has also missed three games this year with a muscle pull.

"Gretchen and Megan are like second coaches on the field who also bring immense talent to the game," Grabner added.

Not only does this diverse trio bring talent and skill to the field, but they work as the primary team leaders.

"As a co-captain, I try to keep everybody's head in the game," said veteran Hamm. "People had doubts about us all getting along top to bottom, but Gretchen, Ashley and I have worked very hard to create unity here. We want everyone to feel that they can talk to us about anything."

And while they may pull rank when it comes to experience and time on the team, they do not separate themselves from the whole.

"We are just here to share our varsity experience," said Bachrodt. "We try to be role models, but we are all equals on this team.

"We work as one unit. When defense has the ball, offense is working too. We always have to be knowledgeable and we always work together."

Looking at freshman forward and soccer phenom, Aimee Wronski, class rank isn't everything after all. Wronski currently leads the Red Raider offense with 13 goals and 4 assists.

En route to the tally, she has scored in 8 consecutive games which is good enough to place her 7th on the all-time leader board for most consecutive matches scored in the state of Illinois.

"We call her giggles," Grabner explained. "All she does on the bus is giggle. Once she steps on the field, it is all business. She brings such a dynamic to the field that it changes the way we play.

"Aimee can do stuff with the ball and with her speed that not many girls can do. She sets up a lot for us, and makes other players better."

Of course, she didn't score all 47 goals.

Aimee Wronski is joined up top by sister Corinne Wronski, Williams, sophomore Taylor Henning-Fletter and Samantha Zobott.

Henning-Fletter has scored 11 goals and dished out 3 assists, while Williams and Corinne Wronski have each added 5 goals. Zobott has scored 2 goals thus far, and leads the team in assists with six. The remaining 13 goals scored to date have been spread amongst eight other players, which equates to 12 players scoring goals in just 9 games.

Grabner attributes his offense's prowess to speed and stamina, and of course it doesn't hurt that he has five girls that can play up top, and can play very well.

"Each of my forwards offers something different," Grabner said. "And truth be told, that is our situation all over the field.

"We have so many girls that can play, that it becomes a balancing act with playing time."

Defensively, there stands a bevy of talent -- and they are a stingy group.

In 9 games, the defense has allowed just 3 goals. At the same time, Huntley's two goalkeepers combined have recorded just 13 saves.

Alyse Williams, Jamie Wimberly and Alyssa Sylvestri work as the three main backs while Lauren Gaitsch, Bachrodt and Rachel Chapius play the wings.

"Defensively, we really try to congest the passing lanes," said Grabner. "With proper pressure on the ball, these girls are forcing opponents to go sideways. That leads to mistakes before opportunities."

Kristyn Brownwell and Ashley Spring can fill in any one of those slots.

"We have a very skilled defensive group," Grabner explained. "We play a game in practice called horseshoes. They chip the ball to one another and see who can trap it closest to a cone.

"Our defense wins every time which says that they have the skill to pass and the ability stop-trap a ball."

Then there is the midfield.

Hamm works with Lauren Opolony (2 goals, 3 assists), Bre Burry, Kaylee O'Brien (5 assists), Kristina Barreto, Kelly Creager and Heather Arcari to control the midsection.

"We would be nothing without wing-mids O'Brien and Barreto," Grabner said. "Opolony, Hamm and Burry are the unsung heroes. They never stop. They work so hard to congest the middle and spray the ball wide."

Those remaining in this soccer family are goalkeepers Sarah Hoffman, Kaytlyn Owens and Lauren Watts, who Grabner couldn't be more pleased with.

"The chemistry here is excellent," said Grabner. "The girls understand that if they want a chance at state, they have to get there together."

Playing alongside her sister Alyse for the first time ever, Ashley Williams knows that family feeling, and admits that it spreads beyond her and her sister.

"We all hang out outside of school and off the field," Williams said. "We love one another.

"Everybody is here to play the sport, to be friends and to achieve goals as a team, not as individuals."

With two sets of sisters in Ashley and Alyse as well as Corrine and Aimee, there is family inside of family as well as diversity.

While Ashley is raw power, Alyse is finesse.

"Alyse plays with finesse even though she is a defender," said Grabner. "Her first touch, it is incredible how mature it is. It isn't high school mature, but rather soccer mature."

In Aimee and Corinne, Grabner has his two least similar forwards.

"Cory's got finesse, while Aimee is raw power and strength," he explained. "Both have excellent touch. Cory is lefty and Aimee is a righty.

"When we played Richmond, a girl took Cory out. Aimee came flying in going for the ball, but got the foul. Her sister got knocked down, but she took the foul."

Thus far, Huntley has seen each of the four sisters score in four consecutive games.

So upon further review, maybe Grabner doesn't have a problem at all.

Perhaps the problem lies in the hands of any opponent that lines up across the pitch from the Red Raider roster on any given day.

Time will tell.

Already achieving one goal which was to win both tournaments they were slated to play, remaining goals include winning the Fox Valley Conference Fox Division title outright -- they shared it last year with Crystal Lake Central -- a regional title, a trip to the supersectional and a state berth.

"The girls are committed to each of these goals," said Grabner. "At the end of the day it is the result that really counts. These first nine games were just steps along the journey.

"But, I see no reason why we cannot get to state."