McPhersons give West Aurora
foes double the trouble
By Dave Owen
Averaging 2.5 goals per game last year and being shut out just once all season, West Aurora’s offensive attack has clearly shown a special connection.
And that connection goes much, much deeper.
Twin sisters Kiara and Olivia McPherson have been pillars of the Blackhawks’ varsity attack since their freshman seasons of 2017.
“People say there’s twin telepathy,” Olivia said. “I kind of think of it like, you look across the field (to Kiara) and you see that look, a special look that you get from her. And I feed off of that, and she feeds off of me.
“She kinds of gets that fire going in me, and I look across the field with that game face, a ‘Let’s turn it up; let’s make something happen’ kind of feel.”
The McPherson twins (who both stand 5-foot-9) have helped make very special things happen from the start of their West Aurora soccer careers.
Part of a spectacular freshmen group on varsity that year along with Audrey Stephens, Mackenzie Thompson, Yanna Papoutsis, Gracie Prather and Hannah Gove, the McPhersons immediately were part of two firsts in the Blackhawks program.
“I think all seven of us coming in as freshmen,” Kiara said, “I felt like everybody pushed each other to be better. That was the year we actually won our first regional championship (in Blackhawks history). And we also won the first PepsiCo championship (for West Aurora) too.”
Current Illinois State player Riley O’Brien was another top players on that 2017 squad. And while she soon took her game to the collegiate level, the Blackhawks Class of 2020 has continued to take their play to new levels as well.
While Gove has focused on volleyball her final two years, the other six freshmen pillars remained on the soccer pitch.
“We really appreciated Wags (West Aurora coach Laura Wagley) having confidence in all seven of our freshmen coming up (to varsity),” Olivia said.
“I think it’s just amazing how much of an impact we could make as freshmen, because the senior class (in 2017) was great. They were climbing up the hill, and I think us freshmen were able to push them a little farther towards the top. That was nice to see as freshmen.
“The five freshman starters she (Wagley) put in (in 2017),” Olivia added, “I think the confidence build up from freshman year to now has been really good.”
The proof was certainly abundant last year. As juniors, Stephens (17 goals, nine assists), Olivia McPherson (14 goals, seven assists), Kiara McPherson (six goals, six assists) and Prather provided a talented, multi-pronged attack that gave opponents fits.
“I would say our offense is pretty dynamic,” Olivia said. “We work well together with Audrey at the top and Gracie in the midfield, and we always know what kind of runs to make with each other.”
Said Kiara: “Overall we have a very good offense through our midfield and of course our forwards. I feel like we all look for each other just to get the ball wide, and then we can cross it back in the middle and get the goal.”
As finishers or distributors, Olivia and Kiara are usually involved in the scoring play.
“They bring a tremendous amount of talent to our offense,” Wagley said. “They are dynamic in their attack and very physical up-front for us.
“We rely on the twins a ton when Audrey is getting man marked by other teams. It is to our advantage when teams man mark Audrey, because that allows the twins to take control of the attack.”
Playing soccer together since they were five years old, the twins have had plenty of practice. And have also developed a long-building chemistry with several teammates.
“We’ve been with Gracie Prather and Mackenzie Thompson since middle school,” Kiara said. “And we used to do club with Audrey Stephens.”
And when it comes to athletic success, soccer is just part of the story for Olivia, Kiara and their family.
In what is an increasing rarity in an age of specialization, the McPherson sisters also star on a West Aurora volleyball varsity that finished 24-10 last fall: Kiara at setter, Olivia at outside hitter.
That sport further fuels the unique chemistry the sisters have.
“For me, since I’m a setter for volleyball,” Kiara said, “you have a relationship with your hitters (when to set them for attacks). And as family and your sister, you have a different-type relationship. I just think you have that feeling like you know as a sister and teammate how they play. You know what they want.
“So to translate that to soccer, if she (Olivia) is in a certain spot, you just have a feeling like you know where and when they want that (ball).”
Before Kiara and Olivia left their mark on two sports at West Aurora, their older brother Brandon had done the same in style at nearby Marmion.
A star football quarterback and baseball pitcher, Brandon (now playing baseball at Northern Illinois) was a great role model.
“I always looked up to my brother,” Kiara said. “And I believe his amazing success throughout his high school career (leading Marmion to third place in Class 3A baseball in 2017, and twice to the state football quarterfinals) only made me want to achieve that same success with my sister.
“I wanted to make history stepping into a new stage where there was nothing written, and we too could write our story. His ability to achieve so much success and actually be part of historical achievements only made me want to work that much harder.”
Kiara literally shows proof of the immense pride she has in her brother.
“Every training, every practice and every game he put effort into it,” she said. “He made no one question his work ethic, and that’s what I wanted to take with me and replicate in my own way.
“That’s why I wear the number 12 (his football jersey at Marmion),” Kiara added. “He’ll always be with me, whether we are close or far away from each other.”
Olivia dons a twist on that number (21), and can offer her own testimonial to what Brandon has meant to her.
“My brother’s success influenced me by showing me what it means to be a great teammate, leader, and most importantly always giving every ounce of effort you have in you,” Olivia said. “Every time he ran onto the football field or stepped out on the baseball diamond, you could see he played with passion and gave all he had.
“He would often say he wanted to make everyone around him better, and the only way to do that was to always give your best.
“He made some amazing history at Marmion with both the football and baseball programs,” Olivia added. “Witnessing that happen was something my sister and I wanted to strive for at West Aurora.”
His words have meant as much as actions.
“He has also been a big support beam for me when I just needed to clear my head and talk sports,” Olivia said, “or (talk) about my next move on the journey of finding a college.
“We also compete with each other over what feels like everything, but I guess it pays off because we are all great competitors at our own craft.
“God truly blessed me,” Olivia added, “as I’ve always been able to compete with my best friend Kiara and having a brother like Brandon.”
The close-knit sisters will follow their brother into college sports, and aren’t done following a twin path.
“We actually just recently committed to Waubonsie Community College (in Aurora) to continue our volleyball careers,” Olivia said. We love both sports (soccer and volleyball), but we came to a spot where volleyball kind of filled that joy.
“For college, we always wanted to play together at the next level. It took a lot to decide which one we wanted to do, because for soccer we had some offers on the table. We just narrowed all the schools down and found our home at Waubonsee for two years.”
Being twin sisters has obviously been an enjoyable mutual ride.
“It’s an opportunity that I know very few people have,” Olivia said. “Our dad always says ‘if (Brandon) had a twin brother, they would be like us two.’ It’s an advantage I feel like, and an advantage you have to take.
“Having a sister comes with a lot of experience that I wouldn’t have without her. I love having her on the field with me, at home ... just to have someone to talk to, train with. It’s a really welcoming thing.”
Said Kiara: “On and off the field, everything’s different (as twins).
“I just feel like we push each other to a different level,” Kiara added. “When we train, we push each other. And I just think she has my back, and I have her back. If we fall, we can pick each other up.”
The twins diverge somewhat in academic interests, but little else.
Olivia’s favorite class this year is government, and she is leaning towards a criminal justice major or work with a not-for-profit organization. Kiara likes math class, and looks to pursue a major in sports medicine.
“When I reach that point in my career when I can no longer play,” Kiara said, “I want to continue to be around sports and help athletes achieve their goals and reach their potential. There are many life lessons learned through sports.”
West Aurora learned an early lesson about Kiara’s value in 2019. She missed the first two games of the year with injury, and the Blackhawks lost both by 2-1 and 5-1 scores.
Kiara returned the next game, and West Aurora began a seven-game win streak that produced 23 goals.
“She’s my sister and I kind of think of us as a dynamic duo,” Olivia said.
“When she got back, our offense ignited back up. It pushed us a lot better from an offensive standpoint of the game.”
Kiara prefers to play up the quick turnaround after her return as coincidence.
“The first couple of games we were finding our groove and stuff,” Kiara said, “and I just think as a team you grow together, find each other and figure out each others’ strengths.”
Olivia played a big role in another key point of the season. Bartlett had been a tough foe in 2017 and 2018, defeating the Blackhawks each year. In 2019, a 2-0 win over the Hawks was fueled by Olivia’s two goals.
“Obviously with Bartlett,” Olivia said, “I remember from freshman and sophomore year that they’ve been a team that we always had to look out for. Last year (winning) was a game-changer I guess. You always figure out teams that you have that extra chip on your shoulder for, and Bartlett was one of those games – and also unfortunately another was when we lost against Naperville North in the regional (a 3-2 final).”
But with the COVID-19 virus now delaying and potentially denying the 2020 season, all the past highs and lows are put in perspective.
“For our whole team,” Olivia said, “especially at times like this right now, every game last year is like a treasure to be honest.
“Obviously with the COVID-19, the issue at hand is more important than athletics and sports right now. But you’re left with that empty feeling of what our season could have been. If we can get back there in May and get playoff games in, I would be thrilled with that too.”
With a mutual volleyball future ahead, the McPherson twins would like to end their organized soccer careers with more great memories.
“All you can do is wish and hope (for the season to start),” Kiara said. “I hope we get that one more shot. Do it one more time and go out big.”
foes double the trouble
By Dave Owen
Averaging 2.5 goals per game last year and being shut out just once all season, West Aurora’s offensive attack has clearly shown a special connection.
And that connection goes much, much deeper.
Twin sisters Kiara and Olivia McPherson have been pillars of the Blackhawks’ varsity attack since their freshman seasons of 2017.
“People say there’s twin telepathy,” Olivia said. “I kind of think of it like, you look across the field (to Kiara) and you see that look, a special look that you get from her. And I feed off of that, and she feeds off of me.
“She kinds of gets that fire going in me, and I look across the field with that game face, a ‘Let’s turn it up; let’s make something happen’ kind of feel.”
The McPherson twins (who both stand 5-foot-9) have helped make very special things happen from the start of their West Aurora soccer careers.
Part of a spectacular freshmen group on varsity that year along with Audrey Stephens, Mackenzie Thompson, Yanna Papoutsis, Gracie Prather and Hannah Gove, the McPhersons immediately were part of two firsts in the Blackhawks program.
“I think all seven of us coming in as freshmen,” Kiara said, “I felt like everybody pushed each other to be better. That was the year we actually won our first regional championship (in Blackhawks history). And we also won the first PepsiCo championship (for West Aurora) too.”
Current Illinois State player Riley O’Brien was another top players on that 2017 squad. And while she soon took her game to the collegiate level, the Blackhawks Class of 2020 has continued to take their play to new levels as well.
While Gove has focused on volleyball her final two years, the other six freshmen pillars remained on the soccer pitch.
“We really appreciated Wags (West Aurora coach Laura Wagley) having confidence in all seven of our freshmen coming up (to varsity),” Olivia said.
“I think it’s just amazing how much of an impact we could make as freshmen, because the senior class (in 2017) was great. They were climbing up the hill, and I think us freshmen were able to push them a little farther towards the top. That was nice to see as freshmen.
“The five freshman starters she (Wagley) put in (in 2017),” Olivia added, “I think the confidence build up from freshman year to now has been really good.”
The proof was certainly abundant last year. As juniors, Stephens (17 goals, nine assists), Olivia McPherson (14 goals, seven assists), Kiara McPherson (six goals, six assists) and Prather provided a talented, multi-pronged attack that gave opponents fits.
“I would say our offense is pretty dynamic,” Olivia said. “We work well together with Audrey at the top and Gracie in the midfield, and we always know what kind of runs to make with each other.”
Said Kiara: “Overall we have a very good offense through our midfield and of course our forwards. I feel like we all look for each other just to get the ball wide, and then we can cross it back in the middle and get the goal.”
As finishers or distributors, Olivia and Kiara are usually involved in the scoring play.
“They bring a tremendous amount of talent to our offense,” Wagley said. “They are dynamic in their attack and very physical up-front for us.
“We rely on the twins a ton when Audrey is getting man marked by other teams. It is to our advantage when teams man mark Audrey, because that allows the twins to take control of the attack.”
Playing soccer together since they were five years old, the twins have had plenty of practice. And have also developed a long-building chemistry with several teammates.
“We’ve been with Gracie Prather and Mackenzie Thompson since middle school,” Kiara said. “And we used to do club with Audrey Stephens.”
And when it comes to athletic success, soccer is just part of the story for Olivia, Kiara and their family.
In what is an increasing rarity in an age of specialization, the McPherson sisters also star on a West Aurora volleyball varsity that finished 24-10 last fall: Kiara at setter, Olivia at outside hitter.
That sport further fuels the unique chemistry the sisters have.
“For me, since I’m a setter for volleyball,” Kiara said, “you have a relationship with your hitters (when to set them for attacks). And as family and your sister, you have a different-type relationship. I just think you have that feeling like you know as a sister and teammate how they play. You know what they want.
“So to translate that to soccer, if she (Olivia) is in a certain spot, you just have a feeling like you know where and when they want that (ball).”
Before Kiara and Olivia left their mark on two sports at West Aurora, their older brother Brandon had done the same in style at nearby Marmion.
A star football quarterback and baseball pitcher, Brandon (now playing baseball at Northern Illinois) was a great role model.
“I always looked up to my brother,” Kiara said. “And I believe his amazing success throughout his high school career (leading Marmion to third place in Class 3A baseball in 2017, and twice to the state football quarterfinals) only made me want to achieve that same success with my sister.
“I wanted to make history stepping into a new stage where there was nothing written, and we too could write our story. His ability to achieve so much success and actually be part of historical achievements only made me want to work that much harder.”
Kiara literally shows proof of the immense pride she has in her brother.
“Every training, every practice and every game he put effort into it,” she said. “He made no one question his work ethic, and that’s what I wanted to take with me and replicate in my own way.
“That’s why I wear the number 12 (his football jersey at Marmion),” Kiara added. “He’ll always be with me, whether we are close or far away from each other.”
Olivia dons a twist on that number (21), and can offer her own testimonial to what Brandon has meant to her.
“My brother’s success influenced me by showing me what it means to be a great teammate, leader, and most importantly always giving every ounce of effort you have in you,” Olivia said. “Every time he ran onto the football field or stepped out on the baseball diamond, you could see he played with passion and gave all he had.
“He would often say he wanted to make everyone around him better, and the only way to do that was to always give your best.
“He made some amazing history at Marmion with both the football and baseball programs,” Olivia added. “Witnessing that happen was something my sister and I wanted to strive for at West Aurora.”
His words have meant as much as actions.
“He has also been a big support beam for me when I just needed to clear my head and talk sports,” Olivia said, “or (talk) about my next move on the journey of finding a college.
“We also compete with each other over what feels like everything, but I guess it pays off because we are all great competitors at our own craft.
“God truly blessed me,” Olivia added, “as I’ve always been able to compete with my best friend Kiara and having a brother like Brandon.”
The close-knit sisters will follow their brother into college sports, and aren’t done following a twin path.
“We actually just recently committed to Waubonsie Community College (in Aurora) to continue our volleyball careers,” Olivia said. We love both sports (soccer and volleyball), but we came to a spot where volleyball kind of filled that joy.
“For college, we always wanted to play together at the next level. It took a lot to decide which one we wanted to do, because for soccer we had some offers on the table. We just narrowed all the schools down and found our home at Waubonsee for two years.”
Being twin sisters has obviously been an enjoyable mutual ride.
“It’s an opportunity that I know very few people have,” Olivia said. “Our dad always says ‘if (Brandon) had a twin brother, they would be like us two.’ It’s an advantage I feel like, and an advantage you have to take.
“Having a sister comes with a lot of experience that I wouldn’t have without her. I love having her on the field with me, at home ... just to have someone to talk to, train with. It’s a really welcoming thing.”
Said Kiara: “On and off the field, everything’s different (as twins).
“I just feel like we push each other to a different level,” Kiara added. “When we train, we push each other. And I just think she has my back, and I have her back. If we fall, we can pick each other up.”
The twins diverge somewhat in academic interests, but little else.
Olivia’s favorite class this year is government, and she is leaning towards a criminal justice major or work with a not-for-profit organization. Kiara likes math class, and looks to pursue a major in sports medicine.
“When I reach that point in my career when I can no longer play,” Kiara said, “I want to continue to be around sports and help athletes achieve their goals and reach their potential. There are many life lessons learned through sports.”
West Aurora learned an early lesson about Kiara’s value in 2019. She missed the first two games of the year with injury, and the Blackhawks lost both by 2-1 and 5-1 scores.
Kiara returned the next game, and West Aurora began a seven-game win streak that produced 23 goals.
“She’s my sister and I kind of think of us as a dynamic duo,” Olivia said.
“When she got back, our offense ignited back up. It pushed us a lot better from an offensive standpoint of the game.”
Kiara prefers to play up the quick turnaround after her return as coincidence.
“The first couple of games we were finding our groove and stuff,” Kiara said, “and I just think as a team you grow together, find each other and figure out each others’ strengths.”
Olivia played a big role in another key point of the season. Bartlett had been a tough foe in 2017 and 2018, defeating the Blackhawks each year. In 2019, a 2-0 win over the Hawks was fueled by Olivia’s two goals.
“Obviously with Bartlett,” Olivia said, “I remember from freshman and sophomore year that they’ve been a team that we always had to look out for. Last year (winning) was a game-changer I guess. You always figure out teams that you have that extra chip on your shoulder for, and Bartlett was one of those games – and also unfortunately another was when we lost against Naperville North in the regional (a 3-2 final).”
But with the COVID-19 virus now delaying and potentially denying the 2020 season, all the past highs and lows are put in perspective.
“For our whole team,” Olivia said, “especially at times like this right now, every game last year is like a treasure to be honest.
“Obviously with the COVID-19, the issue at hand is more important than athletics and sports right now. But you’re left with that empty feeling of what our season could have been. If we can get back there in May and get playoff games in, I would be thrilled with that too.”
With a mutual volleyball future ahead, the McPherson twins would like to end their organized soccer careers with more great memories.
“All you can do is wish and hope (for the season to start),” Kiara said. “I hope we get that one more shot. Do it one more time and go out big.”