Kaneland’s Heimerdinger the Aurora-area’s best

Updated: June 24, 2011 1:28PM

When it came time to select The Beacon-News Girls Soccer Player of the Year, it became obvious that few could meet the standard set by Kaneland senior forward Emily Heimerdinger.

In terms of offensive productivity? Heimerdinger not only led the area in all three offensive categories, she had a sizeable lead over the next best player: 85 points (33 ahead of the runner-up), 33 goals (12 more than the next best) and 19 assists (six more than the runner-up).

Consistency? She not only scored in 18 of 24 matches, but had multiple goals in 11 contests — despite drawing double- and sometimes triple-team coverage. Heading into her junior year, she was the target of opposing defenses because of the 40 goals and 20 assists she had in her first two years as a starter. That third year, she boosted her output to 63 points, 23 goals and 17 assists. This past year, Heimerdinger posted new single-season highs of 85 points, 33 goals and 19 assists, despite drawing more and more defensive attention.

Respect? Even though it was the inaugural season for the Northern Illinois Big 12 Conference and none of the six West Division programs were familiar with the Knights — who ultimately finished fourth in the league (5-3-1) — Heimerdinger was named the league’s MVP. On the 61-player Illinois High School Soccer Coaches Association All-State squad, she was one of only 11 honorees not from Class 3A programs. The recognition was even more notable since 2A Kaneland’s postseason consisted of just two games, ending a 12-9-3 season with a regional championship loss.

Being a true student-athlete? Aside from never receiving a B grade in high school and ranking No. 9 in Kaneland’s 2011 graduating class, the National Honor Society member just received Chicago Fire Third-Team Academic All-State accolades.

Humility? How about her reaction to being named Player of the Year.

“My teammates are the reason I get to represent the school as the recipient of any award or honor, they just don’t get the same recognition,” Heimerdinger said. “Especially Amy (Fabrizius) and Sophie (Blank). Sophie volunteered to play in goal early until our freshman keeper (Michelle Ortiz) gained enough confidence. That meant Sophie sacrificed half the year in terms of her chances to score goals. Amy played a new position, learned to direct the team, and was a huge reason we won or stayed in so many games. Without them, I would not have been able to have accomplished as much as I did, and neither would our team.”

But seventh-year Kaneland coach Scott Parillo provided a different perspective.

“As any top player does, Emily made those around her better and in the end, it’s easy for me to say she brought us respectability,” Parillo said. “Previously, Kaneland soccer was considered a “W” on many teams’ schedules. That changed thanks to Emily. She was an absolute leader on and off the field.

“She came to me before the season and asked to start in midfield in order for others to score and get confident on offense. But I still made certain she took every corner and every free kick all year, knowing her accuracy always created scoring opportunities,” Parillo said. “Whether it was scoring or the types of assists she had, I have no trouble believing without the contributions she made on the field, we don’t get 90 percent of our wins.”

While verifiable records may be missing, Parillo is confident in his belief that it will be some time before the Knights have anyone come close to matching Heimerdinger’s career totals of 245 points, 96 goals and 56 assists. Her freshman year was the first of three years of IHSSCA All-Section 7 accolades, while her sophomore campaign was the first of three years earning Beacon-News All-Area status.

Heimerdinger, who earned All-Western Sun Conference acclaim in that loop’s final year of existence, also led this area for 2010 in points (63) and assists (17) while finishing two behind the co-leaders for goals.

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