Rogers helps maintain
high standard at Evanston
By Mike Garofola
If there is one thing that fans and managers alike love, it's a hard-working footballer.
Aside from scoring goals with flashy play to help win matches single-handedly, nothing makes a player more popular than those who are experts in the art of constant pressure defense while covering plenty of ground.
Evanston junior Ruby Rogers is just that type of defender.
She honed her offseason skills for years with the Chicago Fire Juniors Northshore, where being good on the ball and understanding in the tactical and technical side of the game are must skills.
Evanston manager Stacy Salgado has been a beneficiary of Rogers’ training.
In addition to club work, Rogers was fortunate to have a wonderful group of seniors during her rookie season, including another Ruby (Ruby Siegel) who was a perfect mentor to the then-freshmen.
"We had a great group of seniors when I was a freshman, players like Avery Ackman, Vanessa Eljaiek, Meg Rogan and Ruby Siegel, who made the younger players feel like we belonged," began Rogers, who was in Salgado's first eleven in 2018.
"Ruby was someone I looked up to from the very start. She was someone I learned so much from; she was easy to talk to, and she was a great leader. Because of Ruby, I was able to form friendships with my older teammates, though there was 2-3-year differences in our ages."
Rogers began club soccer at Team Evanston with the U9 team. That group then morphed in with Chicago Fire Juniors.
Rogers is deployed mostly as a central defender or in the role of a defensive center-midfielder with the Fire, but when high school preseason camp got underway, she trained across the backline as well as in the midfield.
"We didn't get far enough in to know what my role would be this spring, but I figured most of the time I would be in the back,” Rogers said. “I was feeling very comfortable when (Salgado) pushed me into the midfield. Either way, I just want to do what's best for my team.”
A second-consecutive 14-win season last year provided plenty of optimism heading into the 2020 campaign. The Wildkits had a solid core of veterans back on board and the addition of plenty of quality newcomers.
"We were all excited about this coming season, we had a nice mix of young and older players, and all of our freshmen and sophomores looked like they could play at the varsity level,” Rogers said. “In the early going, we were playing quick and fast soccer with a lot of intensity.
"We were all holding out hope for a return back to school. We continued to stay in touch with 2-3 group chats between ourselves, and coach Salgado. When we heard the news the year was over, I felt especially sad for our seniors, who saw their last chance to play end."
Rogers and her teammates celebrated the graduation of the five seniors on the team with a Senior Night on May 9.
"We made up gift baskets for each senior, did a big Zoom presentation to let them know how much we cared for them,” Rogers said. “It was a very nice moment for all of us."
Rogers says last season was a memorable one. It ended in sectionals when the Wildkits fell in kicks to league rival Glenbrook South.
"We opened by going 8-0-0, which included a big win over Loyola that really energized all of us and helped build our confidence," said Rogers.
The Wildkits hit a rough stretch at both the Lou Malnati's Deep Dish Classic and Naperville Invitational, where the club fell to state powers St. Charles North and eventual state champion, Naperville North.
"We also lost to Carmel during that time. It was not a very good game for us, but we learned a lot from that game, and we were a much better team afterwards."
Evanston claimed its 15th regional crown before GBS converted three spot-kicks after 100 minutes of soccer produced a 1-1 draw.
"PKs are a tough way to go out. For us that night our first kick was saved. It took a toll mentally on all of us," said Rogers.
To play, or not play in college is a subject Rogers has spent plenty of time thinking about, but for now, she will use college visits to the University of Minnesota, and Carleton College (Minn.) as a starting point.
Whether she commits to playing or not, the focus on her studies will include either psychology or forensic science.
Rogers, who carries a weighted 4.44 GPA, had plans for a summer job dashed due to COVID-19. In school, she was involved in the Peer Tutoring Program her sophomore year, then followed up by volunteering in the Ambassador Program.
"We assist in on-campus events, helping our incoming freshmen, and their parents become comfortable at our school, while having activities to help create a supportive, and inclusive culture in our diverse high school setting," said a proud Rogers.
"It's a lot of fun, and I enjoy serving our school in programs such as these two."
high standard at Evanston
By Mike Garofola
If there is one thing that fans and managers alike love, it's a hard-working footballer.
Aside from scoring goals with flashy play to help win matches single-handedly, nothing makes a player more popular than those who are experts in the art of constant pressure defense while covering plenty of ground.
Evanston junior Ruby Rogers is just that type of defender.
She honed her offseason skills for years with the Chicago Fire Juniors Northshore, where being good on the ball and understanding in the tactical and technical side of the game are must skills.
Evanston manager Stacy Salgado has been a beneficiary of Rogers’ training.
In addition to club work, Rogers was fortunate to have a wonderful group of seniors during her rookie season, including another Ruby (Ruby Siegel) who was a perfect mentor to the then-freshmen.
"We had a great group of seniors when I was a freshman, players like Avery Ackman, Vanessa Eljaiek, Meg Rogan and Ruby Siegel, who made the younger players feel like we belonged," began Rogers, who was in Salgado's first eleven in 2018.
"Ruby was someone I looked up to from the very start. She was someone I learned so much from; she was easy to talk to, and she was a great leader. Because of Ruby, I was able to form friendships with my older teammates, though there was 2-3-year differences in our ages."
Rogers began club soccer at Team Evanston with the U9 team. That group then morphed in with Chicago Fire Juniors.
Rogers is deployed mostly as a central defender or in the role of a defensive center-midfielder with the Fire, but when high school preseason camp got underway, she trained across the backline as well as in the midfield.
"We didn't get far enough in to know what my role would be this spring, but I figured most of the time I would be in the back,” Rogers said. “I was feeling very comfortable when (Salgado) pushed me into the midfield. Either way, I just want to do what's best for my team.”
A second-consecutive 14-win season last year provided plenty of optimism heading into the 2020 campaign. The Wildkits had a solid core of veterans back on board and the addition of plenty of quality newcomers.
"We were all excited about this coming season, we had a nice mix of young and older players, and all of our freshmen and sophomores looked like they could play at the varsity level,” Rogers said. “In the early going, we were playing quick and fast soccer with a lot of intensity.
"We were all holding out hope for a return back to school. We continued to stay in touch with 2-3 group chats between ourselves, and coach Salgado. When we heard the news the year was over, I felt especially sad for our seniors, who saw their last chance to play end."
Rogers and her teammates celebrated the graduation of the five seniors on the team with a Senior Night on May 9.
"We made up gift baskets for each senior, did a big Zoom presentation to let them know how much we cared for them,” Rogers said. “It was a very nice moment for all of us."
Rogers says last season was a memorable one. It ended in sectionals when the Wildkits fell in kicks to league rival Glenbrook South.
"We opened by going 8-0-0, which included a big win over Loyola that really energized all of us and helped build our confidence," said Rogers.
The Wildkits hit a rough stretch at both the Lou Malnati's Deep Dish Classic and Naperville Invitational, where the club fell to state powers St. Charles North and eventual state champion, Naperville North.
"We also lost to Carmel during that time. It was not a very good game for us, but we learned a lot from that game, and we were a much better team afterwards."
Evanston claimed its 15th regional crown before GBS converted three spot-kicks after 100 minutes of soccer produced a 1-1 draw.
"PKs are a tough way to go out. For us that night our first kick was saved. It took a toll mentally on all of us," said Rogers.
To play, or not play in college is a subject Rogers has spent plenty of time thinking about, but for now, she will use college visits to the University of Minnesota, and Carleton College (Minn.) as a starting point.
Whether she commits to playing or not, the focus on her studies will include either psychology or forensic science.
Rogers, who carries a weighted 4.44 GPA, had plans for a summer job dashed due to COVID-19. In school, she was involved in the Peer Tutoring Program her sophomore year, then followed up by volunteering in the Ambassador Program.
"We assist in on-campus events, helping our incoming freshmen, and their parents become comfortable at our school, while having activities to help create a supportive, and inclusive culture in our diverse high school setting," said a proud Rogers.
"It's a lot of fun, and I enjoy serving our school in programs such as these two."