Varsity newbies hope to
make impact at St. Francis
By Chris Walker
The rule of three would suggest that a trio of soccer players are more effective than any other number.
St. Francis should be onboard with that and has three particular newcomers with exceptional talent who also have a pinch of varsity experience, playing important minutes after being called up to the squad last postseason.
Sophomores Lauren Bruce and Claire Reinke and junior Meghan Ward are three impact players who will make an impact for the Spartans if the season resumes this spring, or even if they have to wait another year where their role will become even larger when the team loses 13 seniors.
“I think Lauren and Meghan would have breakout years, and Claire would contribute quite a bit,” St. Francis coach Jim Winslow said. “Claire’s best position is in middle of the pack, and we already have three really good players with (seniors) Emily (Thill), Isabella (DeFeo) and Ava (Hensley) and (junior) Kaitlin Chaparro also coming back.
“Claire would’ve seen time for sure. She could play outside back. She’s quick, and she’s good with the ball on her feet.”
Winslow said that Bruce might be faster than former Spartan, Erin Peck, who helped the team win a Class AA state title in 2018. That kind of speed does not come along often and should be fun to watch on its freshly installed new surface at Kuhn Memorial Stadium.
“Lauren would probably start up-top, and she’s fast and so good with the ball at her feet,” he said. “She’s slithery fast. I’m not sure how fast she really is, but she might be faster than Erin Peck and she was probably the fastest kid we’ve had.”
The need for speed has never been a concern for Bruce, who said she’s been rolling past opponents for years with her gift.
“It helps you if you are faster than the person you are playing against,” she said. “If someone plays the ball to you, you have so much ability to get the ball first before them and being really quick, it will help you in different aspects, in different parts of the field.
“You can make runs in different directions and turn and go and make it very difficult for the other team.”
Ward spent most of last spring playing with Bruce and Reinke on a JV squad that lost only once last season.
This year was set to be a big breakthrough season for Ward.
“She was so ready to play once we pulled her up for the state tournament, and she played a ton in those tournament games,” Winslow said. “Meg is a kid who was waiting for her chance this year.
“She was probably going to start mainly at outside back. She’s quick, a good decision-maker and good on the attack. She’s comfortable with the ball at her feet and solves problems well.”
Winslow could picture Ward working well playing alongside Katherine Lemke, Anna Moran and Julia Zeeman.
“We would’ve been solid with the two centers in the back,” Winslow said. “Those girls playing together would’ve been really nice.”
As much as she enjoyed playing for St. Francis JV soccer coach Meg Hanika, Ward is thrilled to play for Winslow, who she credits for making her feel like she was at home prior to even stepping into the school for her first-class freshman year.
“I felt like I came in kind of blind because my family hasn’t had a history with Francis like most families who have generations (of graduates),” Ward said. “I was the first one and right when I’m coming in they win state. I was like ‘Ok, ok, this is good.’
“I remember going to a summer camp for incoming freshmen, and I met Jim (Winslow). I’ve had a circle of coaches before him, and Jim is an outlier. He’s a great coach.
“He and (his wife) Amy are such a good combo together. When they coach it’s so fun, and I’m so excited. I feel I got lucky to because some kids don’t have a good experience with their high school coaches. He’s on top of things but also knows how to have fun.”
After playing in a predominantly striker role for most of her life, Ward has made the transition to defense. Some kids would balk at change. Others accept the change, but are slow in adapting. Ward has not only embraced the change but fell in love with the role.
“Jim really changed the way I played soccer, because I was a striker for 10 years,” she said. “The second I met him he said I’m going to play defense. At first, I was thrown off but honestly, I couldn’t be more thankful. I love playing defense. It kind of takes off the nervousness going into games.”
One would think the pressure of having to stop the opposition from creating scoring chances and firing shots would be nerve-wracking, but Ward sees it differently.
“I always used to feel that weight before touches and before shots and with defense you’re not really the final person on a goal or such,” she said. “But when you get that moment, it’s that more special. I really enjoy playing defense.”
She particularly relishes the experience when her teammates are on the same wavelength. Then it becomes athletic artistry.
“Anna Moran, one of my center defenders, always knows what to do and that silent communication of always knowing makes it so satisfying to play a game of soccer,” Ward said.
“They know how to play together. They know where to go. They see you go for the ball and pick up the slack for you, because everyone is behind you supporting you if you fail. It makes for a great game.”
Reinke, a Glen Ellyn resident, was already quite familiar with St. Francis as an academic institution when she started her freshman year in 2019. However, the soccer program was new to her; none of her older siblings took to the pitch for the Spartans.
“I think I knew it was a good soccer program since I had gone to some camps there beforehand, and I also knew Winslow through my club team and liked him,” she said. “It’s upsetting now, because I felt like this season we could’ve done really well. We did well on JV so we were looking forward to playing on varsity.”
Although admittedly most comfortable at midfield, Reinke is willing to switch positions to help the team and likely would’ve been doing some of that this spring to help a Spartans team that’s tough in the middle.
“Last year I mostly played midfield. In a few games, I was out at wing,” she said. “I’m not necessarily unfamiliar to the position, but I’m not super comfortable with it. But I would’ve played any position to help the team. I’d be happy to be playing.”
Reinke and Bruce, a Naperville resident, really connected last year as fellow freshmen who possessed a lot of talent.
“We got to know each other at soccer camp in the summer of freshman year,” Bruce said. “And when I joined soccer, it was us and Meghan (Ward) on the JV and we collaborated really well.
“We all connected and it was really fun and we all got along together really well. We were all super excited to get back on the field and start playing again.”
Last April, Reineke and Bruce roomed with a couple of seniors at the Tournament of Champions in Iowa. It provided them with the opportunity to learn more about what they had to look forward to as varsity players.
“We both … learned a lot from the seniors we roomed with,” Reineke said. “They gave us tips and helped us remain calm, because varsity is a lot more intense than JV.”
Unfortunately, such camaraderie and bonding between teammates has been limited this year because of the pandemic.
Joining the above trio are six more players new to the varsity: junior Abby Curtis; and seniors Chloe Cushing, Meredith Donley, Madeline Fasana, Ashley Sullivan and Sierra Zygmunt.
“Sierra is really athletic,” Winslow said. “She’s a volleyball player, a very good libero. She hadn’t played soccer for club, but she was improving on a daily basis.”
Winslow said that the addition of the senior newcomers has been a positive one.
“This senior group is all good friends which makes it even tougher or better depending on the perspective you have,” Winslow said.
“They are mature kids. I call them glue kids. They were going to play, and they aren’t looking for millions of minutes but are going to be great teammates. They’re all great human beings and bring all the intangibles stuff, which makes the whole experience even better.
“Some classes are better than others. These aren’t the same players as in 2018, but they’re all tight. They’re great kids, awesome kids.”
Unfortunately the seniors may not get a chance to play again. Players like Ward will just have to wait patiently. It might be for a while.
“I was very excited, not only because I thought I would have my time to shine,” Ward said. “I know from my experience of knowing the girls on the JV team and those who were back (on varsity) that the team dynamic was so good coming in.
“This is a really good group of girls to have.”
make impact at St. Francis
By Chris Walker
The rule of three would suggest that a trio of soccer players are more effective than any other number.
St. Francis should be onboard with that and has three particular newcomers with exceptional talent who also have a pinch of varsity experience, playing important minutes after being called up to the squad last postseason.
Sophomores Lauren Bruce and Claire Reinke and junior Meghan Ward are three impact players who will make an impact for the Spartans if the season resumes this spring, or even if they have to wait another year where their role will become even larger when the team loses 13 seniors.
“I think Lauren and Meghan would have breakout years, and Claire would contribute quite a bit,” St. Francis coach Jim Winslow said. “Claire’s best position is in middle of the pack, and we already have three really good players with (seniors) Emily (Thill), Isabella (DeFeo) and Ava (Hensley) and (junior) Kaitlin Chaparro also coming back.
“Claire would’ve seen time for sure. She could play outside back. She’s quick, and she’s good with the ball on her feet.”
Winslow said that Bruce might be faster than former Spartan, Erin Peck, who helped the team win a Class AA state title in 2018. That kind of speed does not come along often and should be fun to watch on its freshly installed new surface at Kuhn Memorial Stadium.
“Lauren would probably start up-top, and she’s fast and so good with the ball at her feet,” he said. “She’s slithery fast. I’m not sure how fast she really is, but she might be faster than Erin Peck and she was probably the fastest kid we’ve had.”
The need for speed has never been a concern for Bruce, who said she’s been rolling past opponents for years with her gift.
“It helps you if you are faster than the person you are playing against,” she said. “If someone plays the ball to you, you have so much ability to get the ball first before them and being really quick, it will help you in different aspects, in different parts of the field.
“You can make runs in different directions and turn and go and make it very difficult for the other team.”
Ward spent most of last spring playing with Bruce and Reinke on a JV squad that lost only once last season.
This year was set to be a big breakthrough season for Ward.
“She was so ready to play once we pulled her up for the state tournament, and she played a ton in those tournament games,” Winslow said. “Meg is a kid who was waiting for her chance this year.
“She was probably going to start mainly at outside back. She’s quick, a good decision-maker and good on the attack. She’s comfortable with the ball at her feet and solves problems well.”
Winslow could picture Ward working well playing alongside Katherine Lemke, Anna Moran and Julia Zeeman.
“We would’ve been solid with the two centers in the back,” Winslow said. “Those girls playing together would’ve been really nice.”
As much as she enjoyed playing for St. Francis JV soccer coach Meg Hanika, Ward is thrilled to play for Winslow, who she credits for making her feel like she was at home prior to even stepping into the school for her first-class freshman year.
“I felt like I came in kind of blind because my family hasn’t had a history with Francis like most families who have generations (of graduates),” Ward said. “I was the first one and right when I’m coming in they win state. I was like ‘Ok, ok, this is good.’
“I remember going to a summer camp for incoming freshmen, and I met Jim (Winslow). I’ve had a circle of coaches before him, and Jim is an outlier. He’s a great coach.
“He and (his wife) Amy are such a good combo together. When they coach it’s so fun, and I’m so excited. I feel I got lucky to because some kids don’t have a good experience with their high school coaches. He’s on top of things but also knows how to have fun.”
After playing in a predominantly striker role for most of her life, Ward has made the transition to defense. Some kids would balk at change. Others accept the change, but are slow in adapting. Ward has not only embraced the change but fell in love with the role.
“Jim really changed the way I played soccer, because I was a striker for 10 years,” she said. “The second I met him he said I’m going to play defense. At first, I was thrown off but honestly, I couldn’t be more thankful. I love playing defense. It kind of takes off the nervousness going into games.”
One would think the pressure of having to stop the opposition from creating scoring chances and firing shots would be nerve-wracking, but Ward sees it differently.
“I always used to feel that weight before touches and before shots and with defense you’re not really the final person on a goal or such,” she said. “But when you get that moment, it’s that more special. I really enjoy playing defense.”
She particularly relishes the experience when her teammates are on the same wavelength. Then it becomes athletic artistry.
“Anna Moran, one of my center defenders, always knows what to do and that silent communication of always knowing makes it so satisfying to play a game of soccer,” Ward said.
“They know how to play together. They know where to go. They see you go for the ball and pick up the slack for you, because everyone is behind you supporting you if you fail. It makes for a great game.”
Reinke, a Glen Ellyn resident, was already quite familiar with St. Francis as an academic institution when she started her freshman year in 2019. However, the soccer program was new to her; none of her older siblings took to the pitch for the Spartans.
“I think I knew it was a good soccer program since I had gone to some camps there beforehand, and I also knew Winslow through my club team and liked him,” she said. “It’s upsetting now, because I felt like this season we could’ve done really well. We did well on JV so we were looking forward to playing on varsity.”
Although admittedly most comfortable at midfield, Reinke is willing to switch positions to help the team and likely would’ve been doing some of that this spring to help a Spartans team that’s tough in the middle.
“Last year I mostly played midfield. In a few games, I was out at wing,” she said. “I’m not necessarily unfamiliar to the position, but I’m not super comfortable with it. But I would’ve played any position to help the team. I’d be happy to be playing.”
Reinke and Bruce, a Naperville resident, really connected last year as fellow freshmen who possessed a lot of talent.
“We got to know each other at soccer camp in the summer of freshman year,” Bruce said. “And when I joined soccer, it was us and Meghan (Ward) on the JV and we collaborated really well.
“We all connected and it was really fun and we all got along together really well. We were all super excited to get back on the field and start playing again.”
Last April, Reineke and Bruce roomed with a couple of seniors at the Tournament of Champions in Iowa. It provided them with the opportunity to learn more about what they had to look forward to as varsity players.
“We both … learned a lot from the seniors we roomed with,” Reineke said. “They gave us tips and helped us remain calm, because varsity is a lot more intense than JV.”
Unfortunately, such camaraderie and bonding between teammates has been limited this year because of the pandemic.
Joining the above trio are six more players new to the varsity: junior Abby Curtis; and seniors Chloe Cushing, Meredith Donley, Madeline Fasana, Ashley Sullivan and Sierra Zygmunt.
“Sierra is really athletic,” Winslow said. “She’s a volleyball player, a very good libero. She hadn’t played soccer for club, but she was improving on a daily basis.”
Winslow said that the addition of the senior newcomers has been a positive one.
“This senior group is all good friends which makes it even tougher or better depending on the perspective you have,” Winslow said.
“They are mature kids. I call them glue kids. They were going to play, and they aren’t looking for millions of minutes but are going to be great teammates. They’re all great human beings and bring all the intangibles stuff, which makes the whole experience even better.
“Some classes are better than others. These aren’t the same players as in 2018, but they’re all tight. They’re great kids, awesome kids.”
Unfortunately the seniors may not get a chance to play again. Players like Ward will just have to wait patiently. It might be for a while.
“I was very excited, not only because I thought I would have my time to shine,” Ward said. “I know from my experience of knowing the girls on the JV team and those who were back (on varsity) that the team dynamic was so good coming in.
“This is a really good group of girls to have.”