Soccer stars survived injuries, opened eyes

The 2009 Sun-Times All-Area girls soccer team is made up of Waubonsie Valley’s Bri Rodriguez (from left), Joliet’s Krissy Dorre, Lake Forest’s Nicole Lipp, Naperville North’s Haley Krentz, Glenbrook South’s Jannelle Flaws, Wheaton Academy’s Leah Fortune, Loyola’s Allison Suhey, Waubonsie Valley’s Vanessa DiBernardo, Huntley’s Alyse Williams and Neuqua Valley’s Alexa Gaul. Lake Forest’s Rachel Quon isn’t pictured.
(Richard A. Chapman/Sun-Times)

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If you’re looking for talented players who battled through injuries, traveled to different countries or opened eyes this spring, look no further than the 2009 Sun-Times All-Area girls soccer team.

From Huntley’s rising star, Alyse Williams, and Wheaton Academy’s all-around stud, Leah Fortune, to Alexa Gaul playing for Neuqua Valley after playing club the last three springs, the story lines are plentiful with this talented 11.

They stood out during the regular season, and now they stand above the rest at the end. Here’s a closer look at this year’s first team:

Forwards

Jannelle Flaws, Glenbrook South: The Illinois-bound junior had 38 goals, 11 assists and 84 shots on goal. She has 102 goals and 30 assists in her three-year career.

Haley Krentz, Naperville North: The Missouri-bound senior finished with 11 goals and four assists.

Bri Rodriguez, Waubonsie Valley: The West Virginia-bound senior had five goals and 11 assists.

Allison Suhey, Loyola: The 2009 Sun-Times Player of the Year, who will study at Penn State in the fall, had 26 goals and eight assists.

Midfielders

Vanessa DiBernardo, Waubonsie Valley: The Illinois-bound junior had 13 goals and 11 assists in the regular season. Krissy Dorre, Joliet: After making the squad as a defender a year ago, the Wisconsin-Milwaukee-bound junior played more of an offensive role, and her numbers show it — 37 goals and eight assists.

Leah Fortune, Wheaton Academy: The Texas-bound senior was a playmaker for the Warriors with 22 goals and nine assists. Nicole Lipp, Lake Forest: The Duke-bound senior ended up with 16 goals and 13 assists.

Rachel Quon, Lake Forest: The Stanford-bound senior scored 15 goals and had 11 assists.

Defender

Alyse Williams, Huntley: One of the top players in the 2011 class. Before a season-ending ACL injury, she was the area’s top defender.

Goalie

Alexa Gaul, Neuqua Valley: The Texas-bound senior had a .60 goals-against average, allowing six goals.

First Team

Forwards: Jannelle Flaws, Glenbrook South, jr., Illinois; Haley Krentz, Naperville North, sr., Missouri; Bri Rodriguez, Waubonsie Valley, sr., West Virginia; Allison Suhey, Loyola, sr., Penn State.

Midfielders: Vanessa DiBernardo, Waubonsie Valley, jr., Illinois; Krissy Dorre, Joliet, jr., Wisconsin-Milwaukee; Leah Fortune, Wheaton Academy, sr., Texas; Nicole Lipp, Lake Forest, sr., Duke; Rachel Quon, Lake Forest, sr., Stanford.

Defender: Alyse Williams, Huntley, so., N/A.

Goalie: Alexa Gaul, Neuqua Valley, sr., Texas.

Second team

Claire Hanold, Waubonsie Valley, sr., goalie; Amber Fry, New Trier, jr., forward; Leah DeMoss, St. Charles North, jr., forward; Aimee Wronski, Huntley, so., forward; Mary Kubiak, Barrington, sr., forward; Katie Nasenbenny, Lyons, jr., midfielder; Michelle Rowley, Mundelein, sr., defender; Kelsey Mulcahy, Neuqua Valley, sr., defender; Rachel Bostick, Waubonsie Valley, sr., defender; Megan Oyster, Neuqua Valley, so., forward; Lee Battaglia, Hinsdale Central, sr., midfielder.

Third team

Carly Stevens, Loyola, so., goalie; Jenna Shemkey, Maine South, jr., forward; Jill D’Amico, Naperville Central, fr., goalie; Kelly Lewers, H-F, so., forward; Stephanie Barr, Plainfield North, jr., midfielder; Toni Kokenis, Hinsdale Central, jr., forward; Carly Smith, Fenwick, sr., forward; Melanie Coderre, H-F, jr., forward; Liz Dudek, Benet, sr., forward; Laura Mayer, Fremd, sr., midfielder; Emily Kuo, U-High, sr., midfielder.