Coller brings scientific
approach to Geneva soccer
By Dave Owen
Geneva’s Jessica Coller has interesting and unusual plans for the next four years as a biology major at the University of Illinois.
What she didn’t expect (and found far less appealing) was how the science of a contagious disease would derail her final season of high school soccer.
The COVID-19 pandemic first pushed back the start of the season, then resulted in an outright cancellation of spring 2020 sports by the IHSA earlier this week.
“Playing high school soccer has meant a lot to me,” said Coller, a defender for the Vikings, “and I’m heartbroken that I ended my senior season without having ever stepped onto the turf in my uniform.
“The way that this season ended is especially frustrating for me because I spent the majority of last year recovering from an ankle injury. This season I had hoped to make more of an impact and play a more active role in helping the team.
"It's unsettling to think that I already played my final game of high school soccer without ever realizing it."
Out of the dark cloud that destroyed the 2020 season, there is at least one soccer-related silver lining for her.
"It's important to me that I get to continue playing soccer throughout college," Coller said. "Even though I will not be playing (for the Illini) at the collegiate level, I plan on trying out for the club soccer team at Illinois."
But it’s the student part of student-athlete where Coller really excels.
“She's a great kid, super smart, who works so hard,” said Geneva coach Megan Owens, who is also a science teacher at the school.
Said Coller: “I have always enjoyed my science classes throughout high school. And even though I’m not entirely sure what I want to do as a career, I know that I will enjoy studying biology.
“I chose Illinois because of all of the opportunities it offers,” Coller added. “As a biology major, I hope to participate in research especially into animal behavior. I have already spoken with a few professors at the university who are studying some really interesting stuff, and I can’t wait to get involved.”
Coller already has a penchant for hands-on learning.
“I love tackling questions and designing experiments,” she said. “Last summer, I got an EEG to monitor my dog’s brainwaves. Even though not much came from that experiment, it was fun and I learned a lot about the brain and the technology used to study it.”
While not as unique as studying brainwaves, Coller’s soccer experience at Geneva has also been fun and enlightening.
“Playing high school soccer at Geneva is so different from any club team I’ve ever played for,” she said. “I think we all hold a lot of pride in representing our school and community on the field, and it makes everything we do so much more meaningful.”
And whether it’s school work or soccer, her technique for problem solving is the same: preparation and teamwork.
“When I approach a challenge I like to plan things out,” Coller said, “whether it be the steps to completing a lengthy assignment, or a workout regimen to get me in shape for the season.
“However, I have found that the best way to get something done is to do it with someone else. In school, I have a lot of supportive friends who are always willing to proofread my essay or study together after school.”
Her chosen sport provided a perfect outlet for that.
“Soccer offers a built-in support system with my teammates,” she said. “We plan time to train together outside of practice, and during brutal conditioning sessions we are always there to cheer each other on.”
Things certainly came together nicely for the Vikings last year.
Helped by a strong senior group that included top scorers Jenna Dominguez, Caitlin Farrell and Stephanie Howe, Geneva’s 11-6-2 record included a 5-1-0 mark to close the regular season.
“Leadership is a critical component to the success of any team, and the seniors last year were incredibly strong and inspiring leaders,” Coller said.
“They were competitive, passionate, welcoming, and really brought the entire team together. Without the leadership of those eight senior team members, there is no way that we would have played as we did.”
With an even larger 12-senior group this spring led by Division I goalkeeper Katie Montgomery (Missouri State), the Vikings hoped to pick up where last year left off.
Then came the shutdown of preseason practices in mid-March, and senior year at the school never resumed.
“With such a large senior class, we hoped to replicate their (the 2019 seniors’) powerful influence on the team,” Coller said. “Throughout the off season we participated in a book study on leadership with our coach, and came up with specific standards that we wanted to enforce and goals that we wanted to reach.
“We wanted to beat the other Tri-Cities teams, and win a regional championship.”
Now those goals and so much more remains unresolved.
“Obviously I’m sad about missing the spring break trip (to St. Louis) and Senior Night,” Coller said, “but more than anything I wish that this year’s varsity team could have taken the field together and played our hearts out.
“With so many experienced, returning players who had something to prove, and so many talented new players who offered new energy to the team, I genuinely think that we could have had a great season. I don’t know if we would have won regionals, but I do know that we would have put up a good fight.”
approach to Geneva soccer
By Dave Owen
Geneva’s Jessica Coller has interesting and unusual plans for the next four years as a biology major at the University of Illinois.
What she didn’t expect (and found far less appealing) was how the science of a contagious disease would derail her final season of high school soccer.
The COVID-19 pandemic first pushed back the start of the season, then resulted in an outright cancellation of spring 2020 sports by the IHSA earlier this week.
“Playing high school soccer has meant a lot to me,” said Coller, a defender for the Vikings, “and I’m heartbroken that I ended my senior season without having ever stepped onto the turf in my uniform.
“The way that this season ended is especially frustrating for me because I spent the majority of last year recovering from an ankle injury. This season I had hoped to make more of an impact and play a more active role in helping the team.
"It's unsettling to think that I already played my final game of high school soccer without ever realizing it."
Out of the dark cloud that destroyed the 2020 season, there is at least one soccer-related silver lining for her.
"It's important to me that I get to continue playing soccer throughout college," Coller said. "Even though I will not be playing (for the Illini) at the collegiate level, I plan on trying out for the club soccer team at Illinois."
But it’s the student part of student-athlete where Coller really excels.
“She's a great kid, super smart, who works so hard,” said Geneva coach Megan Owens, who is also a science teacher at the school.
Said Coller: “I have always enjoyed my science classes throughout high school. And even though I’m not entirely sure what I want to do as a career, I know that I will enjoy studying biology.
“I chose Illinois because of all of the opportunities it offers,” Coller added. “As a biology major, I hope to participate in research especially into animal behavior. I have already spoken with a few professors at the university who are studying some really interesting stuff, and I can’t wait to get involved.”
Coller already has a penchant for hands-on learning.
“I love tackling questions and designing experiments,” she said. “Last summer, I got an EEG to monitor my dog’s brainwaves. Even though not much came from that experiment, it was fun and I learned a lot about the brain and the technology used to study it.”
While not as unique as studying brainwaves, Coller’s soccer experience at Geneva has also been fun and enlightening.
“Playing high school soccer at Geneva is so different from any club team I’ve ever played for,” she said. “I think we all hold a lot of pride in representing our school and community on the field, and it makes everything we do so much more meaningful.”
And whether it’s school work or soccer, her technique for problem solving is the same: preparation and teamwork.
“When I approach a challenge I like to plan things out,” Coller said, “whether it be the steps to completing a lengthy assignment, or a workout regimen to get me in shape for the season.
“However, I have found that the best way to get something done is to do it with someone else. In school, I have a lot of supportive friends who are always willing to proofread my essay or study together after school.”
Her chosen sport provided a perfect outlet for that.
“Soccer offers a built-in support system with my teammates,” she said. “We plan time to train together outside of practice, and during brutal conditioning sessions we are always there to cheer each other on.”
Things certainly came together nicely for the Vikings last year.
Helped by a strong senior group that included top scorers Jenna Dominguez, Caitlin Farrell and Stephanie Howe, Geneva’s 11-6-2 record included a 5-1-0 mark to close the regular season.
“Leadership is a critical component to the success of any team, and the seniors last year were incredibly strong and inspiring leaders,” Coller said.
“They were competitive, passionate, welcoming, and really brought the entire team together. Without the leadership of those eight senior team members, there is no way that we would have played as we did.”
With an even larger 12-senior group this spring led by Division I goalkeeper Katie Montgomery (Missouri State), the Vikings hoped to pick up where last year left off.
Then came the shutdown of preseason practices in mid-March, and senior year at the school never resumed.
“With such a large senior class, we hoped to replicate their (the 2019 seniors’) powerful influence on the team,” Coller said. “Throughout the off season we participated in a book study on leadership with our coach, and came up with specific standards that we wanted to enforce and goals that we wanted to reach.
“We wanted to beat the other Tri-Cities teams, and win a regional championship.”
Now those goals and so much more remains unresolved.
“Obviously I’m sad about missing the spring break trip (to St. Louis) and Senior Night,” Coller said, “but more than anything I wish that this year’s varsity team could have taken the field together and played our hearts out.
“With so many experienced, returning players who had something to prove, and so many talented new players who offered new energy to the team, I genuinely think that we could have had a great season. I don’t know if we would have won regionals, but I do know that we would have put up a good fight.”