Girls soccer: St. Viator, Elk Grove look to continue winning ways

St. Viator's girls soccer team nearly joined Class 3A state champion Barrington atop the podium at North Central College in Naperville last June, finishing second in Class 2A, and while the Lions were hit hard by graduation, they will still be one to watch when the state series begins.

Meanwhile in the Mid-Suburban East, Elk Grove is looking to repeat as champion for the second-straight year after appearing in the MSL Soccer Bowl last season for the first time since 2002.

Here's a look at the MSL East, St. Viator, Maine West, Leyden and Christian Liberty for this season.

MSL East

•Having sent several program records tumbling could coach Dean Burrier Sanchis' experience have been more memorable as Elk Grove's first-year coach?

Saying all along he believed his club could achieve success, Burrier Sanchis would guide the Grens to their first MSL Soccer Bowl appearance since 2002, and doing so in dramatic style by winning their last six games, three by shutout, to close out rivals Buffalo Grove and Hersey.

"Teamwork and hard work helped carry us to one of the best seasons in the league in recent memory at Elk Grove, and we want to continue to build by focusing on those two areas, as we continue to develop our young talent," says Burrier Sanchis.

Burrier Sanchis did well to maximize the Grens' strengths, which there were many of beginning with asking his two all-area stars, Zoe Blomquist and Emma Slattery, to lead by example on and away from the game.

Blomquist, playing at the University of Findlay in Ohio, was the Grens' engine in the middle of the park while Slattery, named MSL East Player of the Year was a key figure along the back line, helping her team register a 0.57 goals against average.

Despite the loss of those two plus four others, there's plenty of quality returning, including all-MSL keeper Rachel Kandefer, as well as the midfield trio of Alexa Joshi, Aliah Mendez and Katie Talens.

•Even with a roster infused with youth and inexperience, Buffalo Grove still managed to be even in points for the top spot in the division with two others, an accomplishment coach Pat Dudle is quite proud of.

"We were so young a year ago, but as things went on, we played well, and I believe this year, we can contend for the (East) title," said Dudle. "Our program continues to have high quality character athletes, and I know if we continue to work hard, we can become the best team we can be."

Dudle watched then-freshmen Pam Bolis (F), Savannah Larsen (D), Quinlan Libit (M) and Bridget Reynolds (D) become what appears to be the core of a bright future for the Bison after the club underwent a total makeover from the 2017 divisional championship team which was senior dominated.

Veteran defender Zoe Robertson is a smart positional player and one of just a few key holdovers from that 2018 team as is Zugey Olvera, who gives the Bison plenty of experience between the sticks.

•Hersey may be bound for bigger and better things following its strong finish a year ago in which the Huskies tied both Buffalo Grove and Elk Grove for the division title at 6-4-1.

Coach Mike Rusniak's club would watch Elk Grove go through to the MSL Soccer Bowl through tiebreaker protocol, but nonetheless the success for the first-year coach bodes well for the future of the program, according to Rusniak.

"With a mix of key returning players, as well as the infusion of some young talent, we're very determined to improve our record from last year, and to be much more competitive away from our conference games so everyone is eager for the season to begin," he said.

The Huskies lost just two from their starting 11 and return eight, including all-area, all-sectional junior Laura Burckhardt, who will likely operate out of the center of the park and is highly capable of running the show from that spot.

Burkhardt, Genevieve Hill, Madeline Kim, Avery Larson, Olivia Mrowicki and Chloe Sena can be an enterprising and impressive group in the attacking third for Rusniak.

•Prospect, complete with one of the best attacking groups in the league, outscored their first seven opponents 25-6 yet did a 180 in their last seven matches when they conceded seven while putting just six into the back of the net.

It's no surprise then that coach Tom Froats' club went 3-3-1 down the final stretch, including a heartbreaking 1-0 loss in overtime at Evanston in its regional final.

"We graduated a most gifted senior class last year who were remarkable role models for our program, both in the classroom and soccer field as well, but this year's team will be led by a historically talented senior class," says Froats, who will begin his 17th year.

"The 14 we have back are the epitome of the classic student-athlete that we have in our program, and our finish last year left them all feeling hungry and motivated to go much further this time around."

All-area back liner, Helen Siavelis returns to give Froats watertight defense while midfielder Ashley Welk, a 2017 all-area performer, looks ready to put an injury-filled 2018 season behind her.

Ella Marzolf gives the Knights a top-flight scorer, whether playing up top or as an attacking midfielder in this, her fourth year with the club.

•This spring, things might have been different at Rolling Meadows if not for how graduation hit coach Mike Drenth's team.

"We only graduated three players, unfortunately those three were the heart and soul for us last year," said Drenth, now in his seventh year in charge. "We'll have 13-14 seniors, which you assume is a good thing, but what we're searching for is the leadership we had with those who graduated. Until we find that, we may struggle at times."

Drenth would lean on Natalie Anderson, Sara Sheridan and Melissa Spiwak last season but it was the three-year starter Sheridan who later earned all-area and all-sectional honors the club will miss the most.

Sheridan, who was a starter all season long at North Central College last fall, was your classic box-to-box player who played both sides of the ball with boundless energy while still a major factor in the attack with 30 career helpers.

Drenth feels Alexa Davis is ready to assume a major role in the Mustangs' attack, along with seniors Kylie Konar, Kate Mallek, Meghan O'Grady and Grace Preissing ready and willing to do their part to make their final season a memorable one.

•Despite a third consecutive season that had Wheeling winless in league play, coach Dwayne Cruz enters his sixth year in charge more optimistic than ever.

"This has easily been our best preseason season since I took over, with much of that coming from a very talented class of freshmen players," said Cruz, who also doubles at the Director of Travel Soccer for the Arlington Aces.

"Cari Webber, who was our lone all-conference player last year, looks totally prepared to become a strong attacking player for us, so we're expecting a lot from her along with freshman Julia Kawa."

Cruz adds that senior Lupe Bucio has shown to be the type of leader during the Wildcats' early training sessions to help his younger players adjust to the speed and physical play of the MSL.

Maine West

Maine West may have finished near the bottom of the Central Suburban North at 1-3-1 and far off the pace of co-champions Deerfield and Glenbrook North, but it was the Warriors' overall record that allowed the club to earn its best seed since Jeff Bishop took over as coach six years ago.

"The expectation here is to build off of what we accomplished last year, which included a top ten seed in our sectional, and a record above .500," said Bishop. "Our side of the conference will always be good, but we're looking to do a better job of competing within our league, and in our tournament play also."

Once again, Bishop brought his club back to the mammoth PepsiCo Showdown, which during its two weeks of play gave the Warriors a closer look at opponents outside their area and the different styles of play each side would bring.

That and a visit to the Niles West Invite would help the duo of Sarah Magnoni and Vanessa Reyes later earn all-CSL honors.

Junior Dylan Van Fleet, who scored 17 points to help the Warriors defeat Mother McAuley in the Class 4A girls basketball state title game, is a good bet to enjoy a breakout season to give West a dangerous and potent finisher up top.

St. Viator

With Anna Johnston in the lineup, St. Viator was always in position to win.

The all-state keeper, and 2018 Daily Herald All Area Northwest co-captain, collected 40 career shutouts, 19 of which came during the Lions' state runner-up season a year ago.

Johnston and 10 others, including Brinley McVeigh (19 goals), are now in college, leaving behind two first-class talents - Payton McDonnell (MF) and Samantha DeJulio (D) - for coach Mike Taylor to rebuild from.

"Last year's team did so well because they were such a close knit group who all wanted to play and win for each other," said Taylor, who begins his 10th year in charge. "It was a hardworking team that defended really well in front of one of, if not the best, keepers in the state but to be honest this year's team might be more skilled, just lacking in experience."

Taylor will lean heavily on McDonnell and DeJulio, both named all-area and all-East Suburban Catholic last season, as he guides his near new club through a maze of terrific nonconference opponents, with an eye on longtime rivals Benet and Carmel Catholic who, as always, will challenge for the league crown.

"The plan, as always, will be to get through the regular season, sort things out, get our rotation together and be ready for the final few weeks of the season," added Taylor.

Christian Liberty

Coach Ryan Potelicki takes over to become the third head coach in as many years for Christian Liberty and the new man in charge inherits a solid core of players according to Jed Bennett, CLA's athletic director.

"Our biggest loss to graduation was our keeper, Becky Davis, but aside from that we're looking to have a good season with so many talented players back from a year ago," said Bennett.

The Chargers' 2018 attack was fueled by the then-freshmen group of Ava Bennett and Natalie and Veronique Tolpygo and with this trio back and ready to go, along with veterans Brae Aiello, Brianna Karr and Signe Bennett, the club should be in good shape from front to back as they and the rest of the Northeastern Athletic Conference go after favorite IMSA.

Leyden

Leyden would chase West Suburban Gold front-runners: Downers Grove South, Hinsdale South and Morton all throughout the spring of 2018, eventually ending league play at 2-4-0 behind the trio, which ended in a three-way tie for first place at 5-0-1.

John Scheimann did well to piece together a competitive club in his first year as head coach despite the loss of 12 seniors from the previous season and it appears he will need to do the same this year as well.

"We lost nine seniors, three of which were all-conference players, but just as last season we expect to get better each time out and to have success in tournament play and all throughout the regular season as well," said Scheimann.

The Eagles will miss the all-conference duo of Angelica Perez and Nicole Sedlacek but Scheimann has back line star Liliana Herrera-Reyes to lean on after her sparkling season a year ago. The senior, who was selected to the Windy City Ram Classic tournament team and later named all-conference and all-sectional, will provide important leadership at the top of a young Eagles roster that includes eight freshmen.