Quad will provide early answers
Hersey, Lake Forest travel to Carmel for trio of games
By Rusty Silber
Coming back for the start of the 2015 season, Lake Forest's girls soccer team will be trying to match what they accomplished last year by netting the Class 2A state championship.
"Winning the state championship was a magical moment on so many levels for so many reasons," said Lake Forest coach Ty Stucklager of the schools first soccer title. "It created a special bond and memory that these girls will have for the rest of their life.
"I won (mine) as a player, many, many years ago and still have a connection with a group of guys that is more than a wonderful memory."
The Scouts will be open their season against quality opponents. They face Hersey on Monday, followed by matches with Prairie Ridge on Tuesday and host Carmel on Thursday in the Corsairs' four-team event.
Lake Forest lost some key players including Lucy Edwards, who played and started at DePaul last fall. Other former players include Amanda Bourne, Sydney Johnson and Ginnie Revenaugh.
The Scouts return with seniors Carly Hoke (Arkansas), Kendall Hoke, and Bailey Ehrens (DePauw), and juniors Paige Bourne and Adrian Walker.
"Our expectations are pretty high," Stuckslager said. "We should be ready for the end of the year."
Lake Forest went 19-6-1 last year and won 12 of its last 13 games. They also allowed only six goals during that stretch.
"In order to be successful we need to no concussions, no injuries, no worries, no graduation (conflicts) for our seniors so they can (play and) win the North Suburban Conference and their second state championship," Stuckslager added. "Last year, we found our identity after a bad loss to Loyola Academy. We hope to find our identity much earlier this year."
Hersey enters the season with a few key losses from last spring.
School record holder for goals (49) Lauren Gierman is now at Northern Illinois University. Defender Megan Brant and goalkeeper Morgan Harris have also graduated from the Huskies' pitch.
Hersey returns top seniors Annie Korf, Sara Magnuson and Jessica Schmidt. Magnuson is back after an injury last year. Sophomore Kelly Weyhrich will lead the team in the midfield. She was the point guard on the basketball team.
"I think we will be a good team," said Hersey coach Darren Llewellyn, whose team went 16-6-1 last year and finished second behind Barrington in the Mid-Suburban League.
"We have a solid foundation of seniors and tons of experience. Last year, we were rolling and had some injuries at the end of the year that made it tougher.
"Getting the new girls to fit in defensively and play a secure game and building our flow up front will be the key."
Carmel is back with some experience.
Key senior leaders include sisters McKenzie and Megan Runyan. Both will take the field next fall at Rochester College in Michigan. Kayla Handel also returns as a midfielder before she attends Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania.
The Corsairs recorded a 12-5-2 campaign last year and have their sights set high with 11 returning players.
"I fully expect us to be competing for the East Suburban Catholic Conference title and a regional championship," Carmel coach John Halloran said. "I'm excited to work with this group of players.
"We've got a great collection of talent, and if we put in the work, commit to a vision and play for each other we should be successful in 2015."
Schedule (all times p.m.)
March 16 (Monday)
Hersey vs. Lake Forest, 6
Prairie Ridge at Carmel, 4:30
March 17 (Tuesday)
Hersey vs. Prairie Ridge, 6
Lake Forest at Carmel, 4:30
March 19 (Thursday)
Hersey at Carmel, 4:30
Lake Forest vs. Prairie Ridge, 6
Hersey, Lake Forest travel to Carmel for trio of games
By Rusty Silber
Coming back for the start of the 2015 season, Lake Forest's girls soccer team will be trying to match what they accomplished last year by netting the Class 2A state championship.
"Winning the state championship was a magical moment on so many levels for so many reasons," said Lake Forest coach Ty Stucklager of the schools first soccer title. "It created a special bond and memory that these girls will have for the rest of their life.
"I won (mine) as a player, many, many years ago and still have a connection with a group of guys that is more than a wonderful memory."
The Scouts will be open their season against quality opponents. They face Hersey on Monday, followed by matches with Prairie Ridge on Tuesday and host Carmel on Thursday in the Corsairs' four-team event.
Lake Forest lost some key players including Lucy Edwards, who played and started at DePaul last fall. Other former players include Amanda Bourne, Sydney Johnson and Ginnie Revenaugh.
The Scouts return with seniors Carly Hoke (Arkansas), Kendall Hoke, and Bailey Ehrens (DePauw), and juniors Paige Bourne and Adrian Walker.
"Our expectations are pretty high," Stuckslager said. "We should be ready for the end of the year."
Lake Forest went 19-6-1 last year and won 12 of its last 13 games. They also allowed only six goals during that stretch.
"In order to be successful we need to no concussions, no injuries, no worries, no graduation (conflicts) for our seniors so they can (play and) win the North Suburban Conference and their second state championship," Stuckslager added. "Last year, we found our identity after a bad loss to Loyola Academy. We hope to find our identity much earlier this year."
Hersey enters the season with a few key losses from last spring.
School record holder for goals (49) Lauren Gierman is now at Northern Illinois University. Defender Megan Brant and goalkeeper Morgan Harris have also graduated from the Huskies' pitch.
Hersey returns top seniors Annie Korf, Sara Magnuson and Jessica Schmidt. Magnuson is back after an injury last year. Sophomore Kelly Weyhrich will lead the team in the midfield. She was the point guard on the basketball team.
"I think we will be a good team," said Hersey coach Darren Llewellyn, whose team went 16-6-1 last year and finished second behind Barrington in the Mid-Suburban League.
"We have a solid foundation of seniors and tons of experience. Last year, we were rolling and had some injuries at the end of the year that made it tougher.
"Getting the new girls to fit in defensively and play a secure game and building our flow up front will be the key."
Carmel is back with some experience.
Key senior leaders include sisters McKenzie and Megan Runyan. Both will take the field next fall at Rochester College in Michigan. Kayla Handel also returns as a midfielder before she attends Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania.
The Corsairs recorded a 12-5-2 campaign last year and have their sights set high with 11 returning players.
"I fully expect us to be competing for the East Suburban Catholic Conference title and a regional championship," Carmel coach John Halloran said. "I'm excited to work with this group of players.
"We've got a great collection of talent, and if we put in the work, commit to a vision and play for each other we should be successful in 2015."
Schedule (all times p.m.)
March 16 (Monday)
Hersey vs. Lake Forest, 6
Prairie Ridge at Carmel, 4:30
March 17 (Tuesday)
Hersey vs. Prairie Ridge, 6
Lake Forest at Carmel, 4:30
March 19 (Thursday)
Hersey at Carmel, 4:30
Lake Forest vs. Prairie Ridge, 6