Pullen sisters push
each other, Benet to success
By Matt Le Cren
Few things in life add to the bond between siblings more than playing on the same team.
Winning a state championship together takes it to the pinnacle.
Just ask Benet’s Dani and Brooke Pullen. Both played major roles when the Redwings won their first state championship last spring.
Brooke Pullen started at right back in the Class AA state title game last June, while Dani Pullen relieved an injured Kayla Brannigan in the midfield. Their outstanding play helped Benet knock off Wauconda 2-1 in double overtime.
“It was extremely special,” said Dani, who is now a senior. “To share it with my sister was a really great experience.
“The team is like a family to me regardless, but having someone that’s actually my family, being able to share that moment with her is something that we’ll never forget.”
Brooke Pullen agreed.
“That was easily the best day of my life,” said Brooke, who is now a junior. “I have that memorized in my brain.
“The main reason I chose to play high school soccer was I had a chance to play with my sister. It was one of my last chances to play with her and watch her develop her game.”
Indeed, the Pullens had not played on the same team until two years ago, when Brooke made the varsity as a freshman and Dani made her varsity debut.
Interestingly, it is Brooke who has been the more accomplished player ever since she began playing for Benet. She split time on defense with Lauren Fischer as a freshman before earning a starting spot last year, while Dani has been used mostly as a reserve.
But that hasn’t led to any petty jealousy.
“It’s always a challenge when the older sister isn’t playing quite as much as the younger sister, but (Dani) never let that derail her,” Benet coach Gerard Oconer said. “If we needed some help at center back, she stepped in.
“We didn’t have Mary Kate Wilhelm for the Notre Dame (Peoria) game (a big early season road win). So we slotted her in at center back, and she played really well.”
That’s Dani’s modus operandi, regardless of how much playing time she gets.
“She’s just reliable, is the best way to describe Dani,” Oconer said. “If there’s something I need done, she’s one of the first I’m asking.
“Her teammates feel the same way, and that’s why she’s one of our captains this year.
She’s calm and friendly and very approachable, so she’s probably one of the most respected players on our team.”
Perhaps that’s why the Redwings didn’t miss a beat when Brannigan was hobbled by a knee injury at the state finals. Dani came off the bench to score the final goal in Benet’s 3-1 semifinal win over Triad and knew she would likely be called on to play a big role in the final.
“Dani is the kind of player that will do anything that’s asked of her,” Oconer said. “I told Dani at the end of (the semifinal) game, ‘You better be ready for the state championship game.’
“She came through in a big way and played probably the best game that she had played in her high school career in the state championship game. We don’t win that game without her.”
Dani’s performance didn’t surprise Brooke.
“She knew there was a chance she could be getting some big-time minutes,” Brooke said. “I remember she came to me before the game, and she was super-nervous. But I knew she would play at her best.
“We all knew how much potential she had. Even though she didn’t get that many minutes throughout the rest of the season, she knows how to play really well when it counts.”
Dani, who finished the season with two goals and two assists, modestly downplayed her contribution to the history victory.
“Every single player on that team had a role,” Dani said. “I was happy to fulfill my role in that state championship game.”
It wasn’t surprising that Dani would turn to Brooke for reassurance before a big moment.
She has the utmost respect for her younger sister.
“Honestly, I’m older than my sister, but I look up to her on the field. She’s such a strong player and such a smart player,” Dani said. “She gets the job done.
“There’s very few times where I’ve seen her get beat on the field, so I look up to her in many ways. Being able to be on the team with her has been an advantage for me, because she’s not afraid to give me advice, and I know she’ll always be honest with me.”
Brooke returns the praise, saying she leans on Dani for guidance in other areas and that soccer has brought them closer together.
“School is kind of her thing and soccer is mine, so if I need help with schoolwork, I go to her, and if she needs help with soccer, she comes to me,” Brooke said. “So, it’s kind of nice; because we each get a little something out of each other.”
And the Redwings get a lot of out of both. In Brooke, they have a tremendously athletic right back with Division I-level talent. She was the often-overlooked piece on a great defense.
“It’s hard not to be overshadowed when you’re playing with Kate Flynn, the only junior all-stater that we’ve ever had in our program, and then in the middle you have Mary Kate Wilhelm, who was three-time all-conference, and Mary Kate Hansen, who was all-sectional twice and all-conference twice,” Oconer said. “Her value to our team was huge.
“Probably the thing that stood out to me about Brooke last year is her passing is incredibly accurate. It’s easy when you’re having to pass maybe five or six yards, but she’s hitting 15-20-yard passes on the ground hard to feet accurately.
“One of the things we try to do offensively is try to play the ball into our forwards as quickly as possible, especially our target forward, and if those passes aren’t accurate, then we’ve turned the ball over. You’d be hard-pressed to find anyone who can pass as accurately from the back as Brooke.”
Dani got to see that up close.
“She did a fantastic job of finding (leading scorer) Abby (Casmere) on the field last year and finding those target forwards,” Dani said. “Her and Kate Flynn I think are two of the best outside backs in the state.
“I was really looking forward to my sister this year getting looked at a lot more because she works so hard, and it shows on the field. It stinks that she’s overlooked so much.”
While Brooke agrees that playing long balls is one of her strong suits, it’s not her only one.
“In high school season I usually sit back more and focus more on defending and not necessarily on running up, so I don’t really go in on corners,” Brooke said. “I’m really good on 1-v.-1s, and I’m also pretty good in the air. I love doing headers.
“I’m pretty strong on and off the ball too. I’m able to push people off the ball when I need to.”
Brooke can be an offensive force when the need arises. She tallied one goal and six assists last year.
But the Redwings use Flynn as their primary overlap runner on the wings, allowing Brooke to cover the back. She does it well.
“One other thing that stands out about Brooke is she is a very confident player, but she backs up that confidence with her play,” Oconer said. “So it doesn’t matter if she’s playing against an average player or one of the top players in the state.
“For most of the practices we had last year, she had to battle against (Loyola recruit) Jaimee Cibulka. You’re not going to get much better than that, so (she brings) competitive fire and toughness.”
Dani brings her own set of skills.
“I think some of my strengths are that I am calm on the ball, and I really find the ball in the air. I enjoy attacking in the air because of my height and my strength,” Dani said.
“That’s an advantage for me.
“But it’s always easier with my good teammates around me. I definitely wouldn’t look nearly as good if I didn’t have them around me getting into good positions for me to find their feet.”
Because of the coronavirus pandemic, the Pullen sisters lost their final season together as teammates. Dani, who plans to major in kinesiology at Illinois, will not play college soccer.
“We were trying to get out as much as possible,” Brooke said. “It kind of stinks being cooped up at home all day, but we go on runs together all the time, and we push each other.
“Even when we’re in the basement, (we’re) just kicking the ball off the wall and doing little drills. We’ve put a few holes in the wall downstairs.”
That may not be the same as full scrimmages or matches, but at least they are together.
“That’s definitely an advantage to having her on the team,” Dani said. “I always have somebody to play with, especially at this time.
“We’ve been playing together in the back yard, working on 1-v.-1, passing combinations. We’ve gone to Nike Park a couple times just to get some shots on goal.
“Playing against her is definitely one of the hardest competitions that I’ll have.”
each other, Benet to success
By Matt Le Cren
Few things in life add to the bond between siblings more than playing on the same team.
Winning a state championship together takes it to the pinnacle.
Just ask Benet’s Dani and Brooke Pullen. Both played major roles when the Redwings won their first state championship last spring.
Brooke Pullen started at right back in the Class AA state title game last June, while Dani Pullen relieved an injured Kayla Brannigan in the midfield. Their outstanding play helped Benet knock off Wauconda 2-1 in double overtime.
“It was extremely special,” said Dani, who is now a senior. “To share it with my sister was a really great experience.
“The team is like a family to me regardless, but having someone that’s actually my family, being able to share that moment with her is something that we’ll never forget.”
Brooke Pullen agreed.
“That was easily the best day of my life,” said Brooke, who is now a junior. “I have that memorized in my brain.
“The main reason I chose to play high school soccer was I had a chance to play with my sister. It was one of my last chances to play with her and watch her develop her game.”
Indeed, the Pullens had not played on the same team until two years ago, when Brooke made the varsity as a freshman and Dani made her varsity debut.
Interestingly, it is Brooke who has been the more accomplished player ever since she began playing for Benet. She split time on defense with Lauren Fischer as a freshman before earning a starting spot last year, while Dani has been used mostly as a reserve.
But that hasn’t led to any petty jealousy.
“It’s always a challenge when the older sister isn’t playing quite as much as the younger sister, but (Dani) never let that derail her,” Benet coach Gerard Oconer said. “If we needed some help at center back, she stepped in.
“We didn’t have Mary Kate Wilhelm for the Notre Dame (Peoria) game (a big early season road win). So we slotted her in at center back, and she played really well.”
That’s Dani’s modus operandi, regardless of how much playing time she gets.
“She’s just reliable, is the best way to describe Dani,” Oconer said. “If there’s something I need done, she’s one of the first I’m asking.
“Her teammates feel the same way, and that’s why she’s one of our captains this year.
She’s calm and friendly and very approachable, so she’s probably one of the most respected players on our team.”
Perhaps that’s why the Redwings didn’t miss a beat when Brannigan was hobbled by a knee injury at the state finals. Dani came off the bench to score the final goal in Benet’s 3-1 semifinal win over Triad and knew she would likely be called on to play a big role in the final.
“Dani is the kind of player that will do anything that’s asked of her,” Oconer said. “I told Dani at the end of (the semifinal) game, ‘You better be ready for the state championship game.’
“She came through in a big way and played probably the best game that she had played in her high school career in the state championship game. We don’t win that game without her.”
Dani’s performance didn’t surprise Brooke.
“She knew there was a chance she could be getting some big-time minutes,” Brooke said. “I remember she came to me before the game, and she was super-nervous. But I knew she would play at her best.
“We all knew how much potential she had. Even though she didn’t get that many minutes throughout the rest of the season, she knows how to play really well when it counts.”
Dani, who finished the season with two goals and two assists, modestly downplayed her contribution to the history victory.
“Every single player on that team had a role,” Dani said. “I was happy to fulfill my role in that state championship game.”
It wasn’t surprising that Dani would turn to Brooke for reassurance before a big moment.
She has the utmost respect for her younger sister.
“Honestly, I’m older than my sister, but I look up to her on the field. She’s such a strong player and such a smart player,” Dani said. “She gets the job done.
“There’s very few times where I’ve seen her get beat on the field, so I look up to her in many ways. Being able to be on the team with her has been an advantage for me, because she’s not afraid to give me advice, and I know she’ll always be honest with me.”
Brooke returns the praise, saying she leans on Dani for guidance in other areas and that soccer has brought them closer together.
“School is kind of her thing and soccer is mine, so if I need help with schoolwork, I go to her, and if she needs help with soccer, she comes to me,” Brooke said. “So, it’s kind of nice; because we each get a little something out of each other.”
And the Redwings get a lot of out of both. In Brooke, they have a tremendously athletic right back with Division I-level talent. She was the often-overlooked piece on a great defense.
“It’s hard not to be overshadowed when you’re playing with Kate Flynn, the only junior all-stater that we’ve ever had in our program, and then in the middle you have Mary Kate Wilhelm, who was three-time all-conference, and Mary Kate Hansen, who was all-sectional twice and all-conference twice,” Oconer said. “Her value to our team was huge.
“Probably the thing that stood out to me about Brooke last year is her passing is incredibly accurate. It’s easy when you’re having to pass maybe five or six yards, but she’s hitting 15-20-yard passes on the ground hard to feet accurately.
“One of the things we try to do offensively is try to play the ball into our forwards as quickly as possible, especially our target forward, and if those passes aren’t accurate, then we’ve turned the ball over. You’d be hard-pressed to find anyone who can pass as accurately from the back as Brooke.”
Dani got to see that up close.
“She did a fantastic job of finding (leading scorer) Abby (Casmere) on the field last year and finding those target forwards,” Dani said. “Her and Kate Flynn I think are two of the best outside backs in the state.
“I was really looking forward to my sister this year getting looked at a lot more because she works so hard, and it shows on the field. It stinks that she’s overlooked so much.”
While Brooke agrees that playing long balls is one of her strong suits, it’s not her only one.
“In high school season I usually sit back more and focus more on defending and not necessarily on running up, so I don’t really go in on corners,” Brooke said. “I’m really good on 1-v.-1s, and I’m also pretty good in the air. I love doing headers.
“I’m pretty strong on and off the ball too. I’m able to push people off the ball when I need to.”
Brooke can be an offensive force when the need arises. She tallied one goal and six assists last year.
But the Redwings use Flynn as their primary overlap runner on the wings, allowing Brooke to cover the back. She does it well.
“One other thing that stands out about Brooke is she is a very confident player, but she backs up that confidence with her play,” Oconer said. “So it doesn’t matter if she’s playing against an average player or one of the top players in the state.
“For most of the practices we had last year, she had to battle against (Loyola recruit) Jaimee Cibulka. You’re not going to get much better than that, so (she brings) competitive fire and toughness.”
Dani brings her own set of skills.
“I think some of my strengths are that I am calm on the ball, and I really find the ball in the air. I enjoy attacking in the air because of my height and my strength,” Dani said.
“That’s an advantage for me.
“But it’s always easier with my good teammates around me. I definitely wouldn’t look nearly as good if I didn’t have them around me getting into good positions for me to find their feet.”
Because of the coronavirus pandemic, the Pullen sisters lost their final season together as teammates. Dani, who plans to major in kinesiology at Illinois, will not play college soccer.
“We were trying to get out as much as possible,” Brooke said. “It kind of stinks being cooped up at home all day, but we go on runs together all the time, and we push each other.
“Even when we’re in the basement, (we’re) just kicking the ball off the wall and doing little drills. We’ve put a few holes in the wall downstairs.”
That may not be the same as full scrimmages or matches, but at least they are together.
“That’s definitely an advantage to having her on the team,” Dani said. “I always have somebody to play with, especially at this time.
“We’ve been playing together in the back yard, working on 1-v.-1, passing combinations. We’ve gone to Nike Park a couple times just to get some shots on goal.
“Playing against her is definitely one of the hardest competitions that I’ll have.”