Courier-News girls soccer preview capsules

Bartlett

Getting off the bus focused and ready to play may never be as important to Bartlett as it is in 2011 since all but four contests for the Hawks are away from their home roost. Coming off a 15-8-0 campaign that included a fifth-place (6-4-0) showing in the 11-school Upstate Eight Conference, Bartlett will now compete for the Upstate Eight Valley title minus two All-UEC grads in Erin Zaideman and Sam Barone, an Illinois High School Soccer Coaches Association (IHSSCA) Honorable Mention All-Section 7 pick. A solid nucleus of upperclassmen include junior F-M Nicole Gobbo (40 pts.-16 g/8 a), senior M-F Trish Donlon (30 pts.-13 g/4 a) and junior D-M Ashley Johnson (21 pts.-8 g/5 a). Junior Natalia Grodzki takes over for standout keeper Zaideman, who had seven shutouts. Fifth-year coach Heather Thomas says: "We have our work cut out for us this season with our schedule and the tough foes in our conference, but we have some great returnees that need to step up and help the newcomers adjust to playing on the road."

Burlington Central

Does coach Mike Gecan have a magical season up his other sleeve for the BC girls after a fall in which he directed the boys squad to fourth in state? There are plenty of returnees from a solid 12-5-6 squad that was the runner-up (7-1-2) in the Big Northern East. Spearheading the offense is an IHSSCA All-Section 7 and unanimous All-BNC East selection in Madalene Stoneman (53 pts.-23 g/7 a) along with senior Heather Krup (33 pts.-13 g/7 a). Other key returnees include senior M Michelle Fowler, junior GK Caitlin Solberg and sophomore M Camille Dela Cruz. Gecan, in his sixth year directing the girls program, says: "This may be one of the most talented teams I've had at Central. I have very high expectations for this team and I'm sure they would agree that this can be a season to remember."

Dundee-Crown

During a 5-14-3 season that included a sixth-place showing (1-9-0) in the Fox Valley Valley, the Chargers had to deal with youth and inexperience against a rugged schedule. So for 2011, just how much older and wiser can D-C prove to be? "With 10 girls returning and many of them gaining valuable playing experience last year, I expect this team to be more competitive and dedicated to winning the close games we lost," says fourth-year coach Sebastian Falinski. Dundee-Crown will miss talented netminder Deanna Libricz, but looks to D Mallory Fryer, plus fellow senior M Stephanie Letheby and sophomore F Carolyn Schneider to provide strength up the middle of the field.

Elgin

There's a new look at Elgin both literally and figuratively. The Maroons will not only be sporting new uniforms and have a new coach - Sarah Marks - but the former Bartlett assistant is vowing Elgin will have a new intensity as well as commitment to winning. "We're not focused so much on wins or losses, but I can assure you there's no place to go but up and we will go up," Marks said in regard to inheriting a squad that went 2-18-2 last season and finished ninth (2-8-0) in the Upstate Eight. As a freshman in 2010, Lexie Sprague received All-UEC notice and Marks insists the center midfielder can be one of the top 10 players not just in the league but in the Elgin area. Another key returnee is soph M Fabiola Ramirez while pair of freshmen - Jenny Lopez and Tanya Welch - are expected to make an impact in midfield as well. "Their fitness level is outstanding and they have knowledge of the game plus tenacity," Marks said. "This really is a new year for EHS soccer; previously Elgin was a blow-off team, but I promise in addition to new uniforms and a new coach, the players already have a new attitude toward winning."

Elgin Academy

Changes also abound for the Hilltoppers, who lost six starters among eight graduates including two phenomenal players in M Lauren Steimle and GK Bianca Swegler. An IHSSCA All-Section 7 selection, Steimle's 33 multi-goal games helped produce a whopping 259 career points from 113 goals and 46 assists. Steger made 802 career saves while protecting the net for 53 wins over her four-year career. EA posted a school record for wins in a 16-9-1 campaign that ended in a 4-3 sectional semifinal loss. The changes also include the top of the program as Peter Glon begins his first season in Elgin but boasts 40 years of coaching on his resume. Leading a duo of key returnees is junior M Ashley Barnes, plus senior F Emma Stone. One freshman expected to make an impact on defense is Veronica Clements. "The first key to success for us will be keeping our shape and organization on the field," Glon said. "We'll need to win one-on-one battles, so fitness will be another key."

Genoa-Kingston

Coach Randy Tate hopes the Cogs find the right chemistry by adding the energy of the newcomers to the savvy of a nucleus of returnees as Genoa-Kingston looks to improve upon last year's 9-13-1 overall mark and 3-5-0 record against Big Northern West opposition. Leading the offensive charge is sophomore F Shannon Schumacher (32 pts.-13 g/6 a) and junior M Ariel Rylko (21 pts.-5 g/11 a) while senior Nicole Crozier protects the goal. Newcomers expected to make an impact include junior F Rachael Ellstram and soph D Adriana Emillano. "We may be a little young, but we can have a solid year thanks to the experience of a good core of returnees," Tate said.

Hampshire

As the defending Big Northern East champion - 9-0-1 as part of an 18-6-1 record for a 2010 crew that lost a regional title by a 1-0 tally - the Whip-Purs already have a target on their backs, but the decision to leave the loop after this season for the Fox Valley Conference also guarantees no one in the BNC plans to yield a victory as a parting gift. Two major graduation losses are Cassie Dumoulin and Alex Field, however, a senior trio of multi-sport standouts in Kelsey Anderson, Karla Vietinghoff and Alex Dumoulin provide experience, leadership and athleticism for eighth-year coach Pat O'Brien. "We look to have a hard-working team that comes to compete in every match. Being our last season in the Big Northern means every last game will be special."

Huntley

With eight of 10 returning seniors already having signed letters of intent, look for the loaded Red Raiders to aim for a fourth 20-win season after last year's stellar 21-4-1 campaign (9-1-0 to claim the Fox Valley Valley crown) which ended in a 1-0 overtime sectional loss. Headlining all that talent is IHSSCA All-State forward and Illinois State signee Aimee Wronski, who looks to add the last chapter to a storied career during which she has amassed 151 career points from 66 goals and 19 assists while HHS has gone 66-8-2 (28-2-0 versus FVC foes). Bre Burry and Sam Zobott are the senior anchors in midfield and on defense, respectively. Freshmen Delaney Loprieno and Abigail Nordeen offer the promise of future success for Kris Grabner, who topped the 100-win coaching plateau with his record having risen to 110-43-5. Grabner said: "This should be a very good year because we have good speed and technical skill in every position plus our depth will be hard to match."

Jacobs

Continuing the progress made last year is the Golden Eagles' game plan for 2011. After two campaigns as the junior varsity boss, A.J. Cappello is optimistic about his second varsity season after Jacobs went 10-12-1 with a 3-7-0 record for fourth within the Fox Valley Valley. Jacobs boasts a trio of scorers in junior Cassidy Sherman (27 pts.-9 g/9 a) and sophomores Margaret Rivera (17 pts.-3 g/11 a) and Catie Sherman (14 pts.-6 g/2 a). Senior Shannon Grady and junior Lauren Grady are solid varsity newcomers. "We're still a fairly young team, but with eight of 11 starters back, we're looking to build on last year," Cappello says. "Despite a difficult schedule, we felt we were competitive in every game last year."

Larkin

As frustrating as last season (1-17-2 overall and in the Upstate Eight Conference cellar at 0-9-1) may have been, there's cause for optimism for the Royals. Although All-UEC pick Ana Medina graduated, Larkin predominantly has a core of juniors and sophomores plus promising freshmen whose moves forward in the initial year of the UEC River could lead to even more success the following season. Larkin lost eight matches by a goal largely due to the play of junior GK Dianna Hernandez and soph SW Stephanie Leon, whose solid play was matched by M juniors Amanda Lane and Abbi Alvarez. Two freshmen expected to bolster the offense up top include Liz Granada and Jaci Bridgers. Thirteenth-year coach Ken Hall said: "Our first priority is scoring more, but the key element for our season and beyond is showing improvement from each game to the next."

South Elgin

Aiming for a winning season like last year's 13-9-1 is now the norm for a Storm program which made its varsity debut just four campaigns ago. South Elgin was 4-5-1 for seventh place in the Upstate Eight in 2010, but now is part of the seven-team UEC Valley. Serving as cornerstones to a solid defense are senior Erica Williams and junior Dana McElwain, who both earned All-UEC acclaim. Juniors Jill Ellison and Lauren Vedrine are among coach Tiffany Disher's top returnees while newcomers expected to make a varsity impact include sophomore F Janette Salas and freshman M Savannah Uvegas. "We expect to play at a high level which is a must to handle the strong competition in the UEC," said Disher.

St. Charles East

Expect the Saints to be "fighting" to get back over the .500 mark after last year's 8-9-3 season ended in a 2-1 triple-overtime regional final loss to Conant. East believes the 6-3-1 ledger that was good for fourth in the old 11-school UEC alignment is more indicative of how competitive the team can be. Replacements need to be found for IHSSCA All-Section 7 D pick Maggie Hoscheit and Zoe Samaan, but four-year varsity regular Lauren Rohrmeier sparks the attack alongside Morgan Ketterling. Coach Paul Jennison has other returnees to count on like Kate Rosignal, Liz Gielow and Ellie Sterner.

St. Charles North

An encore to last year's third-place Class 3A finish for the North Stars may be asking too much considering the graduation of a trio of IHSSCA All-State performers in goalie Kristen Manski, forward Leah DeMoss and midfielder Paige Dusek. Duplicating last year's 23-2-1 overall mark (which included being part of a three-way tie for second (8-1-1) in the old UEC) isn't an impossibility thanks to Loyola-bound senior F-M Sammy Gage (29 pts.-10g/9a) and junior F Lauren Koehl (32 pts.-12 g/8 a) up top while the defense is anchored by senior K.K. Barr and junior Lisa Manski. "I expect us to be the hardest working team around," 11th-year coach Ruth Vostal said.

St. Edward

As far as the Green Wave is concerned, they're hoping 2010 was just an ebb tide. In 2008 a 1-0 loss kept St. Edward from the Final Four while 2009 closed in a sectional setback. So now that last year's 5-18-2 campaign (including tying for eighth in the Suburban Christian Conference at 2-7-0), is history, it's back to the old winning ways. While a trio of strong players graduated, eight starters are back and Tim Brieger - the program's only coach - has no trouble reciting his reasons for optimism: fourth-year regulars M-F Mallory Malone and M Shelby Shepherd, third-year vets in GK Paige Gannon and M Jordyn Madden, solid M sophomores Rena Ranallo and Kimmi Smith. And he's eager to see the impact that will be made by a quartet of freshmen: F Alison Kruk, M-F Corey Lepoudre, M Monica Ramirez and D Emily Witt. "Initially we'll be a work in progress as we figure out who fits where on the field to put us in the best position to win," Brieger said in regard to his 16th season. "Our mentality is not to look too far ahead, meaning we don't want to peak too soon, but we definitely want to be at our best at the end of the season."

Streamwood

Improving from game to game is the basic principle the Sabres are using in order to enjoy more success after compiling a 5-16-7 record in 2010 thanks to the mix of tough non-conference foes and the rigorous Upstate Eight Conference (3-7-0, eighth place). Now competing in the UEC River, Streamwood looks to the leadership of All-UEC senior D Sara Kemp (9 pts.-2 g/5 a), who tops the list of returnees along with standout junior M-F Stephanie Brown, sophomore M Sharice Ellenwood and sophomore D Stephanie Brown. Additions to the varsity roster expected to provide a boost are soph F Kimberly Jimenez and frosh D Daniela Sanchez. Second-year coach Chelsea Lloyd said: "I'm very happy with the depth and range of talent this year's team has brought to the table. They're working hard in practice and it's exciting to see their aggression and determination."

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