Notebook: Arrows are pointing up
for St. Charles North, Geneva
Reloaded North Stars, young Vikings show promise
By Patrick Z. McGavin
GENEVA — Nobody ever won a state title in March.
That is just one of the takeaways from the opening of Upstate Eight River play here on a cool and windy Wednesday night as two top programs, St. Charles North and Geneva, played a very competitive game that ended 3-1 in the favor of the North Stars.
"We don't rebuild, we reload, that's what [coach Ruth] Vostal always says," star senior goalkeeper Shelby Stitz said. About the only downside to the North Stars' dominant performance was Geneva's second-half goal by freshman reserve Katelyn Kennehan that prevented the Lewis University recruit from adding to her 28 career shutouts.
Time is everything in soccer. As the energy shifts from club to high school play, the new group of players looks to assert its identity. St. Charles North has been a gold standard. The North Stars reached the Class 3A state title game in 2012, where they lost in four overtimes to Naperville North. In 2013 St. Charles North reached the supersectional.
Last year the North Stars lost a 2-1 lightning-delayed heartbreaker to rival St. Charles East. The Saints rode that momentum to a state title appearance against New Trier.
"For 14 years now, we've had that consistency, and now we have that target because it's a big deal when somebody beats us," Vostal said.
The North Stars offer a sharp mix of veteran savvy exemplified by Stitz and her other captains, forward Hanna Durocher and midfielder Lizzie Parrilli.
"Coming into a new season like that, every team is going to have its kinks, and we're working on getting those out," Stitz said. "We have a really good team dynamic this year, and we're pushing each other, mentally and physically."
Stitz is a classic ball stopper whose alert, quick reactions have served her and the North Stars exceptionally well in her three years as the starter.
"Being a keeper, you have to have a kind of short-term memory loss," she said. "If you get scored on, you just forget about it, get the ball out of the net and get back into the game."
Like St. Charles North, Geneva reached the sectional semifinals last year before losing to Conant. Vikings coach Megan Owens returns eight starters who saw significant time, and she is working into the mix a group of precocious and talented freshmen and sophomores. The girls are getting an education.
"Some of these kids are just 14 or 15 years old and playing their first varsity game, so they're learning. They showed some nerves, obviously," Owens said.
One fortunate development from being down early was that Owens had a chance to experiment with different lineups and formations. Senior forward Mary Landry strung together some nice offensive possessions in the second half. Senior forward Megan Albrecht is another one to watch.
The learning curve is steep. Players adapt, even the youngest ones, and learn on the go.
"Definitely we're not doing our best in that first half, but you'd expect that with this being our first game," Kennehan said. "In the second half we definitely picked it up."
for St. Charles North, Geneva
Reloaded North Stars, young Vikings show promise
By Patrick Z. McGavin
GENEVA — Nobody ever won a state title in March.
That is just one of the takeaways from the opening of Upstate Eight River play here on a cool and windy Wednesday night as two top programs, St. Charles North and Geneva, played a very competitive game that ended 3-1 in the favor of the North Stars.
"We don't rebuild, we reload, that's what [coach Ruth] Vostal always says," star senior goalkeeper Shelby Stitz said. About the only downside to the North Stars' dominant performance was Geneva's second-half goal by freshman reserve Katelyn Kennehan that prevented the Lewis University recruit from adding to her 28 career shutouts.
Time is everything in soccer. As the energy shifts from club to high school play, the new group of players looks to assert its identity. St. Charles North has been a gold standard. The North Stars reached the Class 3A state title game in 2012, where they lost in four overtimes to Naperville North. In 2013 St. Charles North reached the supersectional.
Last year the North Stars lost a 2-1 lightning-delayed heartbreaker to rival St. Charles East. The Saints rode that momentum to a state title appearance against New Trier.
"For 14 years now, we've had that consistency, and now we have that target because it's a big deal when somebody beats us," Vostal said.
The North Stars offer a sharp mix of veteran savvy exemplified by Stitz and her other captains, forward Hanna Durocher and midfielder Lizzie Parrilli.
"Coming into a new season like that, every team is going to have its kinks, and we're working on getting those out," Stitz said. "We have a really good team dynamic this year, and we're pushing each other, mentally and physically."
Stitz is a classic ball stopper whose alert, quick reactions have served her and the North Stars exceptionally well in her three years as the starter.
"Being a keeper, you have to have a kind of short-term memory loss," she said. "If you get scored on, you just forget about it, get the ball out of the net and get back into the game."
Like St. Charles North, Geneva reached the sectional semifinals last year before losing to Conant. Vikings coach Megan Owens returns eight starters who saw significant time, and she is working into the mix a group of precocious and talented freshmen and sophomores. The girls are getting an education.
"Some of these kids are just 14 or 15 years old and playing their first varsity game, so they're learning. They showed some nerves, obviously," Owens said.
One fortunate development from being down early was that Owens had a chance to experiment with different lineups and formations. Senior forward Mary Landry strung together some nice offensive possessions in the second half. Senior forward Megan Albrecht is another one to watch.
The learning curve is steep. Players adapt, even the youngest ones, and learn on the go.
"Definitely we're not doing our best in that first half, but you'd expect that with this being our first game," Kennehan said. "In the second half we definitely picked it up."