After Geneva return denied,
White hopes for college titles
By Dave Owen
Special talent sometimes comes with the need to make exceptionally hard decisions.
Alicia White was a freshman sensation for Geneva’s varsity girls soccer team, quickly stepping in as a starting forward and helping power the Vikings to a 21-2-1 record in 2017. She finished the season with five goals and 11 assists.
Presented with top-level club soccer opportunities, White made the choice to forego her sophomore and junior seasons of prep soccer to focus on playing in the Developmental Academy and later the Elite Clubs National League, the US Club Soccer-sanctioned league featuring top club players nationwide
Those experiences and exposure earned White a scholarship to play this fall at defending Division II national champion Grand Valley State.
Then came another big decision: to return to Geneva’s squad for her senior season.
As the preseason kicked off, it had all the makings of a very happy reunion.
“In the limited amount of practices we have had so far,” Geneva coach Megan Owens said during the preseason, “Alicia and the offense have been connected really well and have looked very solid.
“We are super excited to have her back this year. She has tremendous leadership skills and does a fantastic job of creating offensive opportunities.”
Then in mid-March, the COVID-19 pandemic intervened to halt the season and ruin what could have been a memorable spring for Geneva’s deep senior class.
“I returned to Geneva this year to kind of celebrate my senior season before college,” White said. “Not being able to play high school the last two years was hard, especially after having a successful freshman year. But I wouldn’t change my decision.
“Playing with my (high school) friends would’ve been fun, but I made so many friendships playing club. I also don’t think I’d be where I am now if I didn’t stick to it. But just because I haven’t played (since freshman year) doesn’t make the cancelling of this season any less heartbreaking.
“I had a good feeling for this team this year,” White added, “but unfortunately we couldn’t put it to the test. Luckily I get another four years of (soccer), but some seniors had their last game or practice and didn’t even know it.”
Rewinding to 2017, Geneva opponents often didn’t know how to defend White from the moment she burst on the prep soccer scene.
In her very first game March 16, White struck for two goals in the Vikings’ season-opening win over East Aurora.
Five weeks later, Geneva stood with a 13-0-0 record. And that perfect record didn’t show the complete dominance: the Vikings outscored those first 13 foes by a mind-numbing combined margin of 57-3.
A 4-0 win over St. Charles East in the April 8 title game of the Augsburg-Drach Tournament was one of the most impressive days of that run. And the beat literally went on most of that spring.
“Memories that stand out from my freshman year would definitely be when we won the Rose Augsburg-Drach invitational,” White said. “And there was the time after one game when our whole team sat in the shed and sang ‘Halo’ by Beyonce at the top of our lungs.”
A 2017 senior nucleus led by goalkeeper Emma Harkleroad (who posted two shutouts this spring for the University of South Dakota) provided a strong experienced influence.
And high-scoring young forwards like White and sophomores Jenna Dominguez and Stephanie Howe added a lot of flash to an incredible season.
“Adjusting to the varsity team came fairly easily,” White said. “The girls were so supportive and welcoming, everyone was so talented. I felt I fit in well with them, and we worked well as a group.”
White was a constant threat that year.
In a late April battle of unbeatens against Batavia, her perfectly placed corner kick led to a back post header goal by Jenni Santacaterina – a key moment in a 2-0 Geneva win.
White’s success rolled right into the postseason, when she had a goal and three assists in Geneva’s regional semifinal win over Lake Park.
Her phenomenal play continued to the very end of her freshman season. White’s second half goal was the Vikings’ offensive highlight in their 3-1 sectional final loss to St. Charles North.
Two other Class of 2020 standouts who contributed to that magical 2017 Geneva season.
One was freshman goalkeeper Katie Montgomery (the backup to Harkleroad).
"The leadership and poise both she and Katie Montgomery demonstrated led me to discuss their future as leaders in the program with them as only freshmen: something that rarely happens," Owens said.
"It is very fitting that both she and Katie were selected for our captains this year. They both do a great job of working hard and leading by example."
Midfielder Anna Spindle completed the trio. The late-season call-up in the spring 0f 2017 scored a regional goal vs. Lake Park.
White ended her freshman year with an already burgeoning resume: an Illinois State Cup under-14 club championship in 2016, and an honorable mention all-conference season at Geneva in 2017.
That opened the door to club soccer opportunities the next two years. But both the Geneva and club experiences had a huge impact on her development.
“High school soccer helped me improve my leadership skills and my confidence,” White said. “Being a leader is something all colleges look for in players, whether that’s leading by example or being a vocal leader.
“Club soccer has exposed me to the highest level of soccer,” White added. “Playing in both the Developmental Academy (fall of 2017 through spring 2019) and the ECNL (for Eclipse North last fall) has prepared me well for playing against the top players at the collegiate level.”
As much as soccer has grown into White’s passion, it wasn’t always entirely that way.
“I started playing soccer when I was about five years old,” she said, “but over the years I was also a competitive gymnast, and I played basketball for a couple of years.
“When my soccer career started to take off I had to make a decision on the sport I wanted to continue. I didn’t have time for more than soccer, because I traveled at least an hour for practices (for the Developmental Academy).”
A college future awaits at an elite program about four hours away in northwest Michigan. Among her teammates there will be a fellow Tri-Cities striker of note, St. Charles East graduate Chantel Carranza (23 goals last season at GVSU). The Lakers class of 2024 will also include Haley Lewis, of Oswego East.
“When I chose to play at Grand Valley I knew it was going to be the right fit for me,” White said. “The head coach (Jeff Hosler) was very welcoming and personable.
“Of course Grand Valley has a reputation as a winning team, being six-time national champions. But the team chemistry is like no other, which I think has a big impact on their success. The team’s success will help me push myself to make sure I can make an impact on and off the field.”
Her off-field impact as a nursing major will be a personal cause.
“I want to major in nursing because I enjoy helping others,” White said, “whether it’s physically or just being there to comfort someone.
“My grandpa was very sick for a long time and should not have lived as long as he did, but he was a fighter. I want to be able to fight for other people, and care for them when they might not be able to themselves.”
While White pursues impressive ambitions in medicine, her soccer odyssey rolls on as well.
And for a sport that has taken her to high levels and world travels, the basic feelings remain that had her hooked on soccer long ago.
“The game is so simple, yet can be made more challenging with a few touches and movements,” White said. “Also (I like) the fact that all 11 players on the field have to play their part in order to have success.
“It’s not an individual sport. That’s what makes the beauty of the game.”
White hopes for college titles
By Dave Owen
Special talent sometimes comes with the need to make exceptionally hard decisions.
Alicia White was a freshman sensation for Geneva’s varsity girls soccer team, quickly stepping in as a starting forward and helping power the Vikings to a 21-2-1 record in 2017. She finished the season with five goals and 11 assists.
Presented with top-level club soccer opportunities, White made the choice to forego her sophomore and junior seasons of prep soccer to focus on playing in the Developmental Academy and later the Elite Clubs National League, the US Club Soccer-sanctioned league featuring top club players nationwide
Those experiences and exposure earned White a scholarship to play this fall at defending Division II national champion Grand Valley State.
Then came another big decision: to return to Geneva’s squad for her senior season.
As the preseason kicked off, it had all the makings of a very happy reunion.
“In the limited amount of practices we have had so far,” Geneva coach Megan Owens said during the preseason, “Alicia and the offense have been connected really well and have looked very solid.
“We are super excited to have her back this year. She has tremendous leadership skills and does a fantastic job of creating offensive opportunities.”
Then in mid-March, the COVID-19 pandemic intervened to halt the season and ruin what could have been a memorable spring for Geneva’s deep senior class.
“I returned to Geneva this year to kind of celebrate my senior season before college,” White said. “Not being able to play high school the last two years was hard, especially after having a successful freshman year. But I wouldn’t change my decision.
“Playing with my (high school) friends would’ve been fun, but I made so many friendships playing club. I also don’t think I’d be where I am now if I didn’t stick to it. But just because I haven’t played (since freshman year) doesn’t make the cancelling of this season any less heartbreaking.
“I had a good feeling for this team this year,” White added, “but unfortunately we couldn’t put it to the test. Luckily I get another four years of (soccer), but some seniors had their last game or practice and didn’t even know it.”
Rewinding to 2017, Geneva opponents often didn’t know how to defend White from the moment she burst on the prep soccer scene.
In her very first game March 16, White struck for two goals in the Vikings’ season-opening win over East Aurora.
Five weeks later, Geneva stood with a 13-0-0 record. And that perfect record didn’t show the complete dominance: the Vikings outscored those first 13 foes by a mind-numbing combined margin of 57-3.
A 4-0 win over St. Charles East in the April 8 title game of the Augsburg-Drach Tournament was one of the most impressive days of that run. And the beat literally went on most of that spring.
“Memories that stand out from my freshman year would definitely be when we won the Rose Augsburg-Drach invitational,” White said. “And there was the time after one game when our whole team sat in the shed and sang ‘Halo’ by Beyonce at the top of our lungs.”
A 2017 senior nucleus led by goalkeeper Emma Harkleroad (who posted two shutouts this spring for the University of South Dakota) provided a strong experienced influence.
And high-scoring young forwards like White and sophomores Jenna Dominguez and Stephanie Howe added a lot of flash to an incredible season.
“Adjusting to the varsity team came fairly easily,” White said. “The girls were so supportive and welcoming, everyone was so talented. I felt I fit in well with them, and we worked well as a group.”
White was a constant threat that year.
In a late April battle of unbeatens against Batavia, her perfectly placed corner kick led to a back post header goal by Jenni Santacaterina – a key moment in a 2-0 Geneva win.
White’s success rolled right into the postseason, when she had a goal and three assists in Geneva’s regional semifinal win over Lake Park.
Her phenomenal play continued to the very end of her freshman season. White’s second half goal was the Vikings’ offensive highlight in their 3-1 sectional final loss to St. Charles North.
Two other Class of 2020 standouts who contributed to that magical 2017 Geneva season.
One was freshman goalkeeper Katie Montgomery (the backup to Harkleroad).
"The leadership and poise both she and Katie Montgomery demonstrated led me to discuss their future as leaders in the program with them as only freshmen: something that rarely happens," Owens said.
"It is very fitting that both she and Katie were selected for our captains this year. They both do a great job of working hard and leading by example."
Midfielder Anna Spindle completed the trio. The late-season call-up in the spring 0f 2017 scored a regional goal vs. Lake Park.
White ended her freshman year with an already burgeoning resume: an Illinois State Cup under-14 club championship in 2016, and an honorable mention all-conference season at Geneva in 2017.
That opened the door to club soccer opportunities the next two years. But both the Geneva and club experiences had a huge impact on her development.
“High school soccer helped me improve my leadership skills and my confidence,” White said. “Being a leader is something all colleges look for in players, whether that’s leading by example or being a vocal leader.
“Club soccer has exposed me to the highest level of soccer,” White added. “Playing in both the Developmental Academy (fall of 2017 through spring 2019) and the ECNL (for Eclipse North last fall) has prepared me well for playing against the top players at the collegiate level.”
As much as soccer has grown into White’s passion, it wasn’t always entirely that way.
“I started playing soccer when I was about five years old,” she said, “but over the years I was also a competitive gymnast, and I played basketball for a couple of years.
“When my soccer career started to take off I had to make a decision on the sport I wanted to continue. I didn’t have time for more than soccer, because I traveled at least an hour for practices (for the Developmental Academy).”
A college future awaits at an elite program about four hours away in northwest Michigan. Among her teammates there will be a fellow Tri-Cities striker of note, St. Charles East graduate Chantel Carranza (23 goals last season at GVSU). The Lakers class of 2024 will also include Haley Lewis, of Oswego East.
“When I chose to play at Grand Valley I knew it was going to be the right fit for me,” White said. “The head coach (Jeff Hosler) was very welcoming and personable.
“Of course Grand Valley has a reputation as a winning team, being six-time national champions. But the team chemistry is like no other, which I think has a big impact on their success. The team’s success will help me push myself to make sure I can make an impact on and off the field.”
Her off-field impact as a nursing major will be a personal cause.
“I want to major in nursing because I enjoy helping others,” White said, “whether it’s physically or just being there to comfort someone.
“My grandpa was very sick for a long time and should not have lived as long as he did, but he was a fighter. I want to be able to fight for other people, and care for them when they might not be able to themselves.”
While White pursues impressive ambitions in medicine, her soccer odyssey rolls on as well.
And for a sport that has taken her to high levels and world travels, the basic feelings remain that had her hooked on soccer long ago.
“The game is so simple, yet can be made more challenging with a few touches and movements,” White said. “Also (I like) the fact that all 11 players on the field have to play their part in order to have success.
“It’s not an individual sport. That’s what makes the beauty of the game.”