Geneva's big senior class
leaves an impression
By Dave Owen
In both quantity and quality, the 12 seniors on Geneva’s 2020 varsity girls soccer team are something special.
“As a science teacher, I am pumped that at least eight of my seniors are going into a science related field (in college),” Geneva coach Megan Owens said. “And seven will continue on with their love of soccer.
“It's not often that you can have an entire starting line-up consisting of all seniors. We have 12 very talented seniors this year, and we really rely on their leadership during this unique and difficult time where we are not allowed to be together.”
Unfortunately, the unique time became even more difficult shortly after Owens’ comments. The 2020 season that was originally delayed by concerns over the COVID-19 virus was completely canceled in late April.
That left Geneva’s senior group in the same unfortunate boat with spring sport senior athletes statewide: denied a final chance to play alongside their longtime classmates and friends.
But it didn’t alter the impact each of the dozen players had on the Geneva program.
For varsity experience, goalkeeper Katie Montgomery and midfielder Anna Spindle top the list.
“She has been our starting keeper for the past two years,” Owens said of Montgomery, who also was on varsity as a freshman. “Her leadership and direction is key for us.”
Montgomery holds a further distinction. She is the lone Division I signee on the Vikings (Missouri State of the Missouri Valley Conference), and is part of the science-savvy group with her biology/pre-med major.
Spindle also tackles challenging subjects as effectively as she does soccer opponents. She will major in civil engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, where she will also play soccer.
“Anna has been a starter for us in the midfield the past two years,” Owens said. “She does an exceptional job of leading by example: she has the best work ethic on the team, hands-down.
“She is like the Energizer Bunny: he just keeps going and going. And she is a total team player.”
After the Vikings won five of six games late in the 2019 regular season to finish 11-6-2, Spindle was looking forward to what the Vikings’ senior-dominated 2020 core could achieve.
“Having a large group of seniors plays to our advantage,” Spindle said in April. “I have been playing with some of my senior teammates since elementary school, and this helps our team chemistry. This makes it easier for us to connect passes and move the ball efficiently on the field.”
Besides Spindle, two other senior midfielders will continue their soccer careers in college.
Katie Desens will head to Carthage, where she will major in physical therapy.
“She reads the field really well and does a great job of connecting with the forwards,” Owens said. “She was injured the majority of the season last year. We were excited to see what she would do this year.”
Desens will get to continue her soccer career, as will Lindsay Ferris at Waubonsee Junior College.
“Her speed and ability to make runs up with the forwards is a valuable asset,” Owens said.
Geneva’s senior forward corps also made longtime impacts on the program.
While Ava Geen will focus on academics in college (social work major at the University of Kansas), she was on the Geneva varsity since sophomore year.
“Her speed is hard to match,” Owens said of Geen. “She plays a very physical style, and it's hard for defenses to contain her. She fights for every ball.”
With Montgomery, Spindle, Geen and current juniors Annie Brolly and Kelly Anderson on board in both 2018 and 2019, the Vikings had a combined 23-13-6 record in that time. That mark came while facing top competition in both nonconference play and in the DuKane Conference.
Alicia White was on the Geneva varsity as a freshman in 2017, before playing club soccer the past two years.
White had returned to the Vikings squad for her senior season, but unfortunately will have to wait to take the field until this fall when she joins defending Division II national champion Grand Valley State, where she will major in nursing.
“Her speed, foot skills and talent up-top are difficult for any opposing defense to shut down,” Owens said.
Like White, former junior varsity standout Sophia Medina she was set to fortify the Geneva forward corps this spring as well.
“She was our leading scorer on JV last year,” Owens said. “She reads the field very well and is excellent at setting up her teammates.”
Medina will attend Marquette this fall and major in political science.
The four seniors in the defender corps includes Margot Yelle, who will play soccer this fall at Wisconsin-Whitewater and major in marketing/business.
“Her composure and poise on the ball are invaluable, and she helps direct the backline,” Owens said.
Chloe Frison will head to Missouri and major in nursing, after making an impact at Geneva limiting opponents’ scoring chances.
“Her speed is unmatched,” Owens said. “Forwards can't get by her.”
Kate Warta will also focus on her nursing major at Tennessee this fall, but also helped cure any defensive ills for the Vikings.
“She connects well out of the back,” Owens said, “and also does a good job of directing the backline.”
Defender Jess Coller will major in biology at Illinois.
“She is one of the hardest workers on the team,” Owens said. “Always striving to get better, and a great teammate.”
Geneva goalkeeper Paige MacRitchie showed a great team attitude of her own.
Talented enough to play this fall at Division II Nova Southeastern in Florida, MacRitchie played a backup role to Montgomery.
“Paige is also a very talented goalkeeper,” Owens said. “It's a shame they are both the same age as they are both very, very talented.”
As it turned out, the 2020 season turned out to be a shame for all the talent in the Geneva program.
But plenty of great memories remain.
"Coach Owens places a lot of emphasis on team bonding,” Coller said, “so we have all become very close. That chemistry definitely translated onto the field.”
leaves an impression
By Dave Owen
In both quantity and quality, the 12 seniors on Geneva’s 2020 varsity girls soccer team are something special.
“As a science teacher, I am pumped that at least eight of my seniors are going into a science related field (in college),” Geneva coach Megan Owens said. “And seven will continue on with their love of soccer.
“It's not often that you can have an entire starting line-up consisting of all seniors. We have 12 very talented seniors this year, and we really rely on their leadership during this unique and difficult time where we are not allowed to be together.”
Unfortunately, the unique time became even more difficult shortly after Owens’ comments. The 2020 season that was originally delayed by concerns over the COVID-19 virus was completely canceled in late April.
That left Geneva’s senior group in the same unfortunate boat with spring sport senior athletes statewide: denied a final chance to play alongside their longtime classmates and friends.
But it didn’t alter the impact each of the dozen players had on the Geneva program.
For varsity experience, goalkeeper Katie Montgomery and midfielder Anna Spindle top the list.
“She has been our starting keeper for the past two years,” Owens said of Montgomery, who also was on varsity as a freshman. “Her leadership and direction is key for us.”
Montgomery holds a further distinction. She is the lone Division I signee on the Vikings (Missouri State of the Missouri Valley Conference), and is part of the science-savvy group with her biology/pre-med major.
Spindle also tackles challenging subjects as effectively as she does soccer opponents. She will major in civil engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, where she will also play soccer.
“Anna has been a starter for us in the midfield the past two years,” Owens said. “She does an exceptional job of leading by example: she has the best work ethic on the team, hands-down.
“She is like the Energizer Bunny: he just keeps going and going. And she is a total team player.”
After the Vikings won five of six games late in the 2019 regular season to finish 11-6-2, Spindle was looking forward to what the Vikings’ senior-dominated 2020 core could achieve.
“Having a large group of seniors plays to our advantage,” Spindle said in April. “I have been playing with some of my senior teammates since elementary school, and this helps our team chemistry. This makes it easier for us to connect passes and move the ball efficiently on the field.”
Besides Spindle, two other senior midfielders will continue their soccer careers in college.
Katie Desens will head to Carthage, where she will major in physical therapy.
“She reads the field really well and does a great job of connecting with the forwards,” Owens said. “She was injured the majority of the season last year. We were excited to see what she would do this year.”
Desens will get to continue her soccer career, as will Lindsay Ferris at Waubonsee Junior College.
“Her speed and ability to make runs up with the forwards is a valuable asset,” Owens said.
Geneva’s senior forward corps also made longtime impacts on the program.
While Ava Geen will focus on academics in college (social work major at the University of Kansas), she was on the Geneva varsity since sophomore year.
“Her speed is hard to match,” Owens said of Geen. “She plays a very physical style, and it's hard for defenses to contain her. She fights for every ball.”
With Montgomery, Spindle, Geen and current juniors Annie Brolly and Kelly Anderson on board in both 2018 and 2019, the Vikings had a combined 23-13-6 record in that time. That mark came while facing top competition in both nonconference play and in the DuKane Conference.
Alicia White was on the Geneva varsity as a freshman in 2017, before playing club soccer the past two years.
White had returned to the Vikings squad for her senior season, but unfortunately will have to wait to take the field until this fall when she joins defending Division II national champion Grand Valley State, where she will major in nursing.
“Her speed, foot skills and talent up-top are difficult for any opposing defense to shut down,” Owens said.
Like White, former junior varsity standout Sophia Medina she was set to fortify the Geneva forward corps this spring as well.
“She was our leading scorer on JV last year,” Owens said. “She reads the field very well and is excellent at setting up her teammates.”
Medina will attend Marquette this fall and major in political science.
The four seniors in the defender corps includes Margot Yelle, who will play soccer this fall at Wisconsin-Whitewater and major in marketing/business.
“Her composure and poise on the ball are invaluable, and she helps direct the backline,” Owens said.
Chloe Frison will head to Missouri and major in nursing, after making an impact at Geneva limiting opponents’ scoring chances.
“Her speed is unmatched,” Owens said. “Forwards can't get by her.”
Kate Warta will also focus on her nursing major at Tennessee this fall, but also helped cure any defensive ills for the Vikings.
“She connects well out of the back,” Owens said, “and also does a good job of directing the backline.”
Defender Jess Coller will major in biology at Illinois.
“She is one of the hardest workers on the team,” Owens said. “Always striving to get better, and a great teammate.”
Geneva goalkeeper Paige MacRitchie showed a great team attitude of her own.
Talented enough to play this fall at Division II Nova Southeastern in Florida, MacRitchie played a backup role to Montgomery.
“Paige is also a very talented goalkeeper,” Owens said. “It's a shame they are both the same age as they are both very, very talented.”
As it turned out, the 2020 season turned out to be a shame for all the talent in the Geneva program.
But plenty of great memories remain.
"Coach Owens places a lot of emphasis on team bonding,” Coller said, “so we have all become very close. That chemistry definitely translated onto the field.”