AA state crown there for the taking
By Steve Nemeth
Pick a team, any team, and there’s a solid argument for how that squad could become the 2018 IHSA Class AA girls state soccer champion.
With a single one-goal loss and as the only one of this year’s Final Four back from the 2017 tourney, Lemont could easily be a favorite. The Indians (24-1-0) have even broken their “curse” of capturing a trophy only in odd-numbered years.
Lemont’s 11 a.m. Friday semifinal foe at North Central College’s Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium is St. Francis, which owns the most recent championship trophy of this Final Four, having ruled in 2012. The Spartans (16-4-3) prepped with a typically arduous schedule that included the distinction of being one of only two schools not to lose (i.e., tie) to perennial Class 3A state title contender New Trier. In the final Chicagoland Soccer Top 25, Lemont was no. 10 and St. Francis no. 11.
Going back to the days of a two-class system, Saint Viator has the most state crowns in this AA field (2002-03, 2005). The Lions (17-5-2) just eliminated offensive juggernaut Burlington Central, which was the highest ranked AA program (seventh) in the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25.
Saint Viator’s 1 p.m. semifinal opponent Normal West has a chip on its shoulder that's the size of Illinois without the Chicago suburban area. The Wildcats (20-5-3) want to add a first place trophy to go with a runner-up version from 2014 and third-place hardware from 2008. Normal West was ranked no. 2 in the final Chicagoland Soccer Illinois 10 ratings.
Lemont
Perhaps unknown to those outside of Lemont, players did actually discuss the notion of a curse which appeared to limit the Indians’ state finals success only to odd-numbered years: second place in 2009 and third in 2011 with fourth place finishes in 2013, 2015, and 2017.
“Honestly the idea it's so crazy, but we did talk about breaking that curse,” senior Jacqueline Aleman admitted. “We’ve got eight seniors who’ve been through the state tourney experience before, several of us who have the distinction of being on state units in three of our four years. We definitely want to go out with a more memorable finish.”
Even 24-year veteran coach Rick Prangen – a potential IHSSCA Hall of Fame candidate (361-147-25) -- now acknowledges the topic being discussed in the preseason.
“Opportunities don’t always come around just when you’d like, so you have to take them when they’re available. Six of the eight seniors have been on varsity for four years and for them the expectation on postseason wins included being the first Lemont team to do something in an even-numbered year,” Prangen said. “As for us being the favorite, I’d say all four teams have been there and done that, so every game is a 50-50 shot. Saint Viator has tradition, St. Francis has the most recent title, West was a shootout from the top spot.”
The Indians scored in all 25 contests including a 2-1 loss to former Illinois 10 poll no. 1 Columbia in the adidas Tournament of Champions. Lemont’s 126 goals translate to the most scored (5.04) among the four finalists and the 11 allowed are the lowest yield (0.44), giving them an impressive +4.6 goal differential. In the post-season alone, the Indians have outscored foes 33-3.
“In high school soccer there will be some lopsided games, but I believe good defense is an important metric,” Prangen insisted prior to praising senior goalie Michele Jerantowski and an Indian defense that boasts the most shutouts (18) among the final four.
Shoring up the backline for much of the year has been a mix of defenders and midfielders: Sarah Knoepfle, Danielle Irwin, Adrian Patino, Michaele Egan, Aleman, Ruane and the now-sidelined junior Katrina Retzke.
“Offensively we’re not defined by a single player or couple players, we’re not star-reliant,” Prangen said. “We don’t design things around any one player, and we’re deep enough to be the embodiment of what a team attack should be.”
Exclusive of the goalkeepers, 20 of 24 on the roster have contributed a goal or an assist. Top guns include 2017 Chicagoland Soccer All-Stater Mairead Ruane (23 goals/20 assists), Erin Crispo (22/5), Victoria Silvar (18/5), Katie Knutte (17/7), Niamh Hehir (11/4), Aleman (9/19), and Irwin (4/6).
This season, Aleman, a Wisconsin-Stevens Point signee, earned IHSSCA All-State recogniton along with Ruane, while Jerantowski – a Division I Jacksonville recruit – and Egan made All-Section 13. Aleman, Irwin, Hehir and Patino were on the Chicagoland Soccer 2017 Watch List.
“Lemont soccer is really a family unto itself, so it not only means the world to us, but what we accomplish this weekend means that much more because we’ll have done it together,” Aleman concluded.
With six state showings in a 10-year span, it could be described as a family tradition.
St. Francis
Technically the Spartans may have the fewest victories among the finalists, but a glance at the schedule necessitates a double-take on statistics like 102 goals scored (4.43) and a mere 21 allowed (0.91) for a +3.52 goal differential. And remember those many 3A opponents include New Trier, which St. Francis fought to a 1-1 draw.
With 11 seniors and the top four scorers among six starters back from the 2016 lineup that took fourth place, eighth-year boss Jim Winslow figured his run of nothing but double-digit victories would continue.
“We knew we could be good, just not how good. Against Stevenson things really clicked and then tying New Trier and battling Evanston (2-1 loss) helped convince us we were legit,” Winslow said. “The year before against New Trier, when they scored we buckled and broke down. This year, we buckled but didn’t break.
“Truthfully, last year we were still a little young and perhaps too confident. We could lose 1-0 even if we outplayed someone, or we’d be up 1-0 but lose 2-1. Our last loss in the sectional final stuck in my craw,” Winslow admitted.
“To not get this group down here would have been gut-wrenching. The big difference with this group is their ability to compete like crazy. I’m also a big believer in culture and doing things with class. This group works hard, does things the right way, takes no shortcuts, and competes with class.”
Winslow noted how senior Sarah Maller has continued to be a presence despite a season-ending ankle injury that requires surgery in a week.
“Last year was the motivation we had from the start of the season. With 12 seniors we were very focused on the idea of improving throughout the year,” Maller said.
“It’s frustrating not to be on the field, but I try to be very vocal not just to support my teammates, but to help them. I know our system so I can help our backline on when and where to stop or drop.”
Senior keeper Courtney Kozak and the Spartan defenders can point to St. Francis having outscored its opponents 28-1 in the playoffs. Include a regular-season ending 0-0 draw with Class 3A Metea Valley, and five of the year’s 11 shutouts have occurred in the last six matches. The 1-0 supersectional win over Benet featured the only goal the Redwings allowed in their postseason and in their last six games. In setting a single-season record for victories (20-4-1), Benet was denied a 17th clean-sheet.
That goal was courtesy of junior Hannah Rittenhouse, an early commit for Iowa. St. Francis has a quartet of seniors who will be playing collegially this fall. Start with Illinois-bound Kendra Pasquale (18 goals/9 assists), plus St. Bonaventure signee Claire Hensley (5/9), Illinois Wesleyan pick-up Erin Peck (11/10), and Loras addition Nicole Platt.
Pasquale and Rittenhouse (21/7) were 2017 Chicagoland Soccer All-State honorees while Hensley and junior Jill DiTusa made the All-State Watch List. Deciding to no longer be strictly a club player, Caroline Zimmer (13/5) has brought new energy to the Spartan attack.
“This team has so much talent and it’s been great to see those skills come together as a team,” Zimmer said. “For me I’m really excited with this new experience of having a whole school behind you. Having classmates congratulate and cheer you on helped get us to state. Now it’s on us to make them prouder.”
Saint Viator
Led by IHSSCA Hall of Famer Mike Taylor, Saint Viator also has a veteran nucleus whose mission includes getting the Lions a third state trophy to go with the ones from the start of Taylor’s tenure. The long-term goal is to get the AA version of the trio of Class A first place trophies Saint Viator claimed in 2002-03 and 2005.
In Taylor’s debut season of 2010, his team finished second in state before a third place finish in 2012. The Lions thought 2017 was going to be a banner year, however, a sectional semifinal loss derailed that dream.
“I’ve got 11 seniors so I said, ‘Hey, remember that pain. Remember what it’s like to lose’?”
That speech was part of Saint Viator’s 2-1 supersectional triumph over a Burlington Central crew that anticipated improving on a third place finish in last year’s AA state tourney. The Rockets’ resume included some eye-opening results like a shootout win over Barrington, a narrow 1-0 loss to Loyola, and a 2-1 win over Hinsdale Central followed by a 1-0 victory over Evanston as part of a 3-1-0 finish against Naperville Invitational competition.
Saint Viator may not have won the match statistically against the Rockets, but had the advantage where it counted the most -- on the scoreboard. Even with that nail-biting triumph, Taylor’s squad has outscored its postseason opposition by an 18-2 count. They enter Friday’s semifinal on a nine-match win streak, second only to the 10-game skeins owned by Lemont and Normal West.
In 2010 and 2014, the Lions tied for the East Suburban Catholic Conference title, but in 2018 their 6-0-1 results in an unscored-upon campaign gave them their first outright league crown since 2005.
“We do believe there is a special tradition here at Viator,” Taylor said. ”A lot of great players have worn our jersey, but that doesn’t mean pressure. Instead it drives us. We’ve got a very tight group of seniors and most of the seniors have played for me since their freshman year.”
Taylor considers defense to be the Lions’ major strength and points to hard-fought 1-0 victories and a schedule loaded with quality opposition. “Quincy Notre Dame, which just won the Class A title, plus of the eight supers being contested (in AA and 3A), four of them were on our schedule,” Taylor noted.
Senior goalie Anna Johnston was on Chicagoland Soccer’s Watch List following the 2017 campaign and is primarily responsible for the team’s 16 shutouts. Taylor prefers to credit her with 17 since a back-up was on the field for the final minute of the regional title win over Grayslake Central. A late penalty kick accounted for the 6-1 final score.
“The Viator soccer community is so tight, and we have tremendous alumni backing,” Johnston said. “Prior to every game we read a letter from a past player expressing their support and pride. That motivates us and being so close-knit on and off the field is why we know no one person can win it alone, so we win or lose as a team.”
The New Hampshire-bound Johnston continued and demonstrated why she’s an ideal spokesperson for the team.
“We really are one when we step out on the field, from the first minute to the last. We work together for the common goal of a win. Whether it’s ugly or pretty, doesn’t matter as long as we get to hold a state championship trophy above our heads,” Johnston said. “Our season didn’t start off the smoothest. We were giving up goals, losing or tying teams we should have put away.
“After a weekend in Iowa of team bonding and playing some tough, games we hit a turning point. Our attitudes changed, we got serious about executing our game plan,” Johnston added. “Our coaches (Taylor, Brian Dahlquist, T.J. King and Mark Leverentz) are crucial to our success, keeping us motivated and focused, plus supplying us with the knowledge needed to win. We believe our theme of ‘SAUT’, which is ‘Strong Alone Unstoppable Together’. That’s truly what Saint Viator is.”
Both Taylor and Johnston also noted the talent infusion which came in the form of Palatine transfer Samantha DeJulio and former club-only player Brinley McVeigh. The former has bolstered the defense as a junior while the latter is a senior forward who spearheads the offense with 19 goals and six assists. McVeigh is backed by junior Payton McDonnell (15/9), sophomore Meghan Martin (5/2), and the senior trio of Michaela Mueller (6/5), Meagan Vicens (5/1), Caitlin Kenney (4/2).
Should Saint Viator advance, the only possible rematch from the regular season in this Final Four exists if Lemont does the same. At the Burlington, Ia.-based Tournament of Champions, the two sides met up with the Indians pulling off a 1-0 victory to have a 2-1-0 weekend. Saint Viator was 1-2-0 having beaten newly-crowned Class A champion Notre Dame (Quincy) before coming up short in a shootout with Notre Dame (Peoria), who Lemont beat 3-1 in the supersectional. When it comes to the Chicagoland Soccer Illinois 10 rankings, Notre Dame (Peoria) is a mainstay on that list.
Normal West
Speaking of wanting to make a logical progression-style addition to the trophy case, Normal West skipper Val Walker doesn’t try to sugarcoat the Wildcats’ intentions.
“Don’t underestimate us just because we come from south of I-80,” Walker said. “We have the same emphasis on technique, training, girls with national club experience, and perhaps more hunger.
“We pride ourselves on having a strong defense and possessing the ball well in order to create and then finish opportunities. We won a very competitive conference and that included winning at Peoria Notre Dame,” Walker noted.
The Big 12 championship included many respected programs regardless of geography, like Sacred Heart-Griffin, Normal, Bloomington, Urbana, plus Champaign Central and Centennial, along with nonconference outings with Glenbrook South and Lincoln-Way Central.
The postseason contributed four of the 13 Normal West shutouts for the year and beyond a hard-fought 3-2 sectional win over Springfield, no one has scored on the Wildcats. Bekah Nielsen is the key figure there. The junior goalie was joined on the IHSSCA All-Section 8 unit by senior teammate Olivia Peters (12 goals/10 assists) and junior Audrey Marsaglia (22/5). The latter has scored in nine of the last 10 matches with Normal West improving to 20-5-3 for the year.
Beyond the goalies, everyone on the Wildcat roster has tallied either a goal or assist in helping Normal West produce a +3.18 goal differential based on 112 goals (4.0 average) and 23 allowed (0.82). Additional offensive weapons include Jess Hieb (17/12), Madison Bergeron (10/6), Rylee Billington (8/6), Olivia Teplitz-Crawford (7/3), Annastacia Hollins (6/4) and Melanie Bautista (5g).
It’s the fourth appearance for Normal West at state, but Walker is responsible for a third-place finish in 2008 and a runner-up effort in 2014. He’s also earned the respect and admiration of his players.
“This year we’ve changed some formations as coach Walker has adjusted game plans to take advantage of our skill set,” Peters noted. “That kind of flexibility is special as is his understanding of all that we have to balance including perhaps missing a practice because of a family event, personal situation, job interview, or academics.”
“In the past we always talked about making it to state,” Jess Hieb said. “This year we’ve taken a different approach and focused just on little things. In essence we narrowed our focus to one game, one half or one play at a time.”
And sharing the results and responsibilities as a unit extends from defense to offense.
“All the shutouts I give credit to my teammates because our approach is that it takes all 11 players to be good defenders,” Nielsen insisted from her goalie view. “If I consider things from just an individual standpoint, I’m determined to get to every ball so that I don’t let the team down. If one does get by, analyze how it happened but then don’t dwell on it because you have to move on to the next minute.”
“To me scoring is a result of my teammates setting me up,” Marsaglia stated. “I can’t do it without them. After that it’s a matter of repetition of placement and practice. We’ve always been a strong team in terms of technique, conditioning and physical play, but we’ve grown tremendously mentally.”
Peters and her teammates also relish disproving the stereotypes associated with being from “downstate.”
“We might be surrounded by a lot of corn, but we’re closer to Chicago than the southern end of the state,” Peters explained. “So it’s funny to have people think of us as ‘these little farm girls.’
“If we have a little chip on our shoulders it’s because we really do put in the hours. I’m not just talking about on the field. We do hours of video work. We’ll do community projects, have team breakfasts or lunches, all kinds of ways to make our team chemistry stronger. And as people will see, we enjoy great fan support.”
By Steve Nemeth
Pick a team, any team, and there’s a solid argument for how that squad could become the 2018 IHSA Class AA girls state soccer champion.
With a single one-goal loss and as the only one of this year’s Final Four back from the 2017 tourney, Lemont could easily be a favorite. The Indians (24-1-0) have even broken their “curse” of capturing a trophy only in odd-numbered years.
Lemont’s 11 a.m. Friday semifinal foe at North Central College’s Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium is St. Francis, which owns the most recent championship trophy of this Final Four, having ruled in 2012. The Spartans (16-4-3) prepped with a typically arduous schedule that included the distinction of being one of only two schools not to lose (i.e., tie) to perennial Class 3A state title contender New Trier. In the final Chicagoland Soccer Top 25, Lemont was no. 10 and St. Francis no. 11.
Going back to the days of a two-class system, Saint Viator has the most state crowns in this AA field (2002-03, 2005). The Lions (17-5-2) just eliminated offensive juggernaut Burlington Central, which was the highest ranked AA program (seventh) in the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25.
Saint Viator’s 1 p.m. semifinal opponent Normal West has a chip on its shoulder that's the size of Illinois without the Chicago suburban area. The Wildcats (20-5-3) want to add a first place trophy to go with a runner-up version from 2014 and third-place hardware from 2008. Normal West was ranked no. 2 in the final Chicagoland Soccer Illinois 10 ratings.
Lemont
Perhaps unknown to those outside of Lemont, players did actually discuss the notion of a curse which appeared to limit the Indians’ state finals success only to odd-numbered years: second place in 2009 and third in 2011 with fourth place finishes in 2013, 2015, and 2017.
“Honestly the idea it's so crazy, but we did talk about breaking that curse,” senior Jacqueline Aleman admitted. “We’ve got eight seniors who’ve been through the state tourney experience before, several of us who have the distinction of being on state units in three of our four years. We definitely want to go out with a more memorable finish.”
Even 24-year veteran coach Rick Prangen – a potential IHSSCA Hall of Fame candidate (361-147-25) -- now acknowledges the topic being discussed in the preseason.
“Opportunities don’t always come around just when you’d like, so you have to take them when they’re available. Six of the eight seniors have been on varsity for four years and for them the expectation on postseason wins included being the first Lemont team to do something in an even-numbered year,” Prangen said. “As for us being the favorite, I’d say all four teams have been there and done that, so every game is a 50-50 shot. Saint Viator has tradition, St. Francis has the most recent title, West was a shootout from the top spot.”
The Indians scored in all 25 contests including a 2-1 loss to former Illinois 10 poll no. 1 Columbia in the adidas Tournament of Champions. Lemont’s 126 goals translate to the most scored (5.04) among the four finalists and the 11 allowed are the lowest yield (0.44), giving them an impressive +4.6 goal differential. In the post-season alone, the Indians have outscored foes 33-3.
“In high school soccer there will be some lopsided games, but I believe good defense is an important metric,” Prangen insisted prior to praising senior goalie Michele Jerantowski and an Indian defense that boasts the most shutouts (18) among the final four.
Shoring up the backline for much of the year has been a mix of defenders and midfielders: Sarah Knoepfle, Danielle Irwin, Adrian Patino, Michaele Egan, Aleman, Ruane and the now-sidelined junior Katrina Retzke.
“Offensively we’re not defined by a single player or couple players, we’re not star-reliant,” Prangen said. “We don’t design things around any one player, and we’re deep enough to be the embodiment of what a team attack should be.”
Exclusive of the goalkeepers, 20 of 24 on the roster have contributed a goal or an assist. Top guns include 2017 Chicagoland Soccer All-Stater Mairead Ruane (23 goals/20 assists), Erin Crispo (22/5), Victoria Silvar (18/5), Katie Knutte (17/7), Niamh Hehir (11/4), Aleman (9/19), and Irwin (4/6).
This season, Aleman, a Wisconsin-Stevens Point signee, earned IHSSCA All-State recogniton along with Ruane, while Jerantowski – a Division I Jacksonville recruit – and Egan made All-Section 13. Aleman, Irwin, Hehir and Patino were on the Chicagoland Soccer 2017 Watch List.
“Lemont soccer is really a family unto itself, so it not only means the world to us, but what we accomplish this weekend means that much more because we’ll have done it together,” Aleman concluded.
With six state showings in a 10-year span, it could be described as a family tradition.
St. Francis
Technically the Spartans may have the fewest victories among the finalists, but a glance at the schedule necessitates a double-take on statistics like 102 goals scored (4.43) and a mere 21 allowed (0.91) for a +3.52 goal differential. And remember those many 3A opponents include New Trier, which St. Francis fought to a 1-1 draw.
With 11 seniors and the top four scorers among six starters back from the 2016 lineup that took fourth place, eighth-year boss Jim Winslow figured his run of nothing but double-digit victories would continue.
“We knew we could be good, just not how good. Against Stevenson things really clicked and then tying New Trier and battling Evanston (2-1 loss) helped convince us we were legit,” Winslow said. “The year before against New Trier, when they scored we buckled and broke down. This year, we buckled but didn’t break.
“Truthfully, last year we were still a little young and perhaps too confident. We could lose 1-0 even if we outplayed someone, or we’d be up 1-0 but lose 2-1. Our last loss in the sectional final stuck in my craw,” Winslow admitted.
“To not get this group down here would have been gut-wrenching. The big difference with this group is their ability to compete like crazy. I’m also a big believer in culture and doing things with class. This group works hard, does things the right way, takes no shortcuts, and competes with class.”
Winslow noted how senior Sarah Maller has continued to be a presence despite a season-ending ankle injury that requires surgery in a week.
“Last year was the motivation we had from the start of the season. With 12 seniors we were very focused on the idea of improving throughout the year,” Maller said.
“It’s frustrating not to be on the field, but I try to be very vocal not just to support my teammates, but to help them. I know our system so I can help our backline on when and where to stop or drop.”
Senior keeper Courtney Kozak and the Spartan defenders can point to St. Francis having outscored its opponents 28-1 in the playoffs. Include a regular-season ending 0-0 draw with Class 3A Metea Valley, and five of the year’s 11 shutouts have occurred in the last six matches. The 1-0 supersectional win over Benet featured the only goal the Redwings allowed in their postseason and in their last six games. In setting a single-season record for victories (20-4-1), Benet was denied a 17th clean-sheet.
That goal was courtesy of junior Hannah Rittenhouse, an early commit for Iowa. St. Francis has a quartet of seniors who will be playing collegially this fall. Start with Illinois-bound Kendra Pasquale (18 goals/9 assists), plus St. Bonaventure signee Claire Hensley (5/9), Illinois Wesleyan pick-up Erin Peck (11/10), and Loras addition Nicole Platt.
Pasquale and Rittenhouse (21/7) were 2017 Chicagoland Soccer All-State honorees while Hensley and junior Jill DiTusa made the All-State Watch List. Deciding to no longer be strictly a club player, Caroline Zimmer (13/5) has brought new energy to the Spartan attack.
“This team has so much talent and it’s been great to see those skills come together as a team,” Zimmer said. “For me I’m really excited with this new experience of having a whole school behind you. Having classmates congratulate and cheer you on helped get us to state. Now it’s on us to make them prouder.”
Saint Viator
Led by IHSSCA Hall of Famer Mike Taylor, Saint Viator also has a veteran nucleus whose mission includes getting the Lions a third state trophy to go with the ones from the start of Taylor’s tenure. The long-term goal is to get the AA version of the trio of Class A first place trophies Saint Viator claimed in 2002-03 and 2005.
In Taylor’s debut season of 2010, his team finished second in state before a third place finish in 2012. The Lions thought 2017 was going to be a banner year, however, a sectional semifinal loss derailed that dream.
“I’ve got 11 seniors so I said, ‘Hey, remember that pain. Remember what it’s like to lose’?”
That speech was part of Saint Viator’s 2-1 supersectional triumph over a Burlington Central crew that anticipated improving on a third place finish in last year’s AA state tourney. The Rockets’ resume included some eye-opening results like a shootout win over Barrington, a narrow 1-0 loss to Loyola, and a 2-1 win over Hinsdale Central followed by a 1-0 victory over Evanston as part of a 3-1-0 finish against Naperville Invitational competition.
Saint Viator may not have won the match statistically against the Rockets, but had the advantage where it counted the most -- on the scoreboard. Even with that nail-biting triumph, Taylor’s squad has outscored its postseason opposition by an 18-2 count. They enter Friday’s semifinal on a nine-match win streak, second only to the 10-game skeins owned by Lemont and Normal West.
In 2010 and 2014, the Lions tied for the East Suburban Catholic Conference title, but in 2018 their 6-0-1 results in an unscored-upon campaign gave them their first outright league crown since 2005.
“We do believe there is a special tradition here at Viator,” Taylor said. ”A lot of great players have worn our jersey, but that doesn’t mean pressure. Instead it drives us. We’ve got a very tight group of seniors and most of the seniors have played for me since their freshman year.”
Taylor considers defense to be the Lions’ major strength and points to hard-fought 1-0 victories and a schedule loaded with quality opposition. “Quincy Notre Dame, which just won the Class A title, plus of the eight supers being contested (in AA and 3A), four of them were on our schedule,” Taylor noted.
Senior goalie Anna Johnston was on Chicagoland Soccer’s Watch List following the 2017 campaign and is primarily responsible for the team’s 16 shutouts. Taylor prefers to credit her with 17 since a back-up was on the field for the final minute of the regional title win over Grayslake Central. A late penalty kick accounted for the 6-1 final score.
“The Viator soccer community is so tight, and we have tremendous alumni backing,” Johnston said. “Prior to every game we read a letter from a past player expressing their support and pride. That motivates us and being so close-knit on and off the field is why we know no one person can win it alone, so we win or lose as a team.”
The New Hampshire-bound Johnston continued and demonstrated why she’s an ideal spokesperson for the team.
“We really are one when we step out on the field, from the first minute to the last. We work together for the common goal of a win. Whether it’s ugly or pretty, doesn’t matter as long as we get to hold a state championship trophy above our heads,” Johnston said. “Our season didn’t start off the smoothest. We were giving up goals, losing or tying teams we should have put away.
“After a weekend in Iowa of team bonding and playing some tough, games we hit a turning point. Our attitudes changed, we got serious about executing our game plan,” Johnston added. “Our coaches (Taylor, Brian Dahlquist, T.J. King and Mark Leverentz) are crucial to our success, keeping us motivated and focused, plus supplying us with the knowledge needed to win. We believe our theme of ‘SAUT’, which is ‘Strong Alone Unstoppable Together’. That’s truly what Saint Viator is.”
Both Taylor and Johnston also noted the talent infusion which came in the form of Palatine transfer Samantha DeJulio and former club-only player Brinley McVeigh. The former has bolstered the defense as a junior while the latter is a senior forward who spearheads the offense with 19 goals and six assists. McVeigh is backed by junior Payton McDonnell (15/9), sophomore Meghan Martin (5/2), and the senior trio of Michaela Mueller (6/5), Meagan Vicens (5/1), Caitlin Kenney (4/2).
Should Saint Viator advance, the only possible rematch from the regular season in this Final Four exists if Lemont does the same. At the Burlington, Ia.-based Tournament of Champions, the two sides met up with the Indians pulling off a 1-0 victory to have a 2-1-0 weekend. Saint Viator was 1-2-0 having beaten newly-crowned Class A champion Notre Dame (Quincy) before coming up short in a shootout with Notre Dame (Peoria), who Lemont beat 3-1 in the supersectional. When it comes to the Chicagoland Soccer Illinois 10 rankings, Notre Dame (Peoria) is a mainstay on that list.
Normal West
Speaking of wanting to make a logical progression-style addition to the trophy case, Normal West skipper Val Walker doesn’t try to sugarcoat the Wildcats’ intentions.
“Don’t underestimate us just because we come from south of I-80,” Walker said. “We have the same emphasis on technique, training, girls with national club experience, and perhaps more hunger.
“We pride ourselves on having a strong defense and possessing the ball well in order to create and then finish opportunities. We won a very competitive conference and that included winning at Peoria Notre Dame,” Walker noted.
The Big 12 championship included many respected programs regardless of geography, like Sacred Heart-Griffin, Normal, Bloomington, Urbana, plus Champaign Central and Centennial, along with nonconference outings with Glenbrook South and Lincoln-Way Central.
The postseason contributed four of the 13 Normal West shutouts for the year and beyond a hard-fought 3-2 sectional win over Springfield, no one has scored on the Wildcats. Bekah Nielsen is the key figure there. The junior goalie was joined on the IHSSCA All-Section 8 unit by senior teammate Olivia Peters (12 goals/10 assists) and junior Audrey Marsaglia (22/5). The latter has scored in nine of the last 10 matches with Normal West improving to 20-5-3 for the year.
Beyond the goalies, everyone on the Wildcat roster has tallied either a goal or assist in helping Normal West produce a +3.18 goal differential based on 112 goals (4.0 average) and 23 allowed (0.82). Additional offensive weapons include Jess Hieb (17/12), Madison Bergeron (10/6), Rylee Billington (8/6), Olivia Teplitz-Crawford (7/3), Annastacia Hollins (6/4) and Melanie Bautista (5g).
It’s the fourth appearance for Normal West at state, but Walker is responsible for a third-place finish in 2008 and a runner-up effort in 2014. He’s also earned the respect and admiration of his players.
“This year we’ve changed some formations as coach Walker has adjusted game plans to take advantage of our skill set,” Peters noted. “That kind of flexibility is special as is his understanding of all that we have to balance including perhaps missing a practice because of a family event, personal situation, job interview, or academics.”
“In the past we always talked about making it to state,” Jess Hieb said. “This year we’ve taken a different approach and focused just on little things. In essence we narrowed our focus to one game, one half or one play at a time.”
And sharing the results and responsibilities as a unit extends from defense to offense.
“All the shutouts I give credit to my teammates because our approach is that it takes all 11 players to be good defenders,” Nielsen insisted from her goalie view. “If I consider things from just an individual standpoint, I’m determined to get to every ball so that I don’t let the team down. If one does get by, analyze how it happened but then don’t dwell on it because you have to move on to the next minute.”
“To me scoring is a result of my teammates setting me up,” Marsaglia stated. “I can’t do it without them. After that it’s a matter of repetition of placement and practice. We’ve always been a strong team in terms of technique, conditioning and physical play, but we’ve grown tremendously mentally.”
Peters and her teammates also relish disproving the stereotypes associated with being from “downstate.”
“We might be surrounded by a lot of corn, but we’re closer to Chicago than the southern end of the state,” Peters explained. “So it’s funny to have people think of us as ‘these little farm girls.’
“If we have a little chip on our shoulders it’s because we really do put in the hours. I’m not just talking about on the field. We do hours of video work. We’ll do community projects, have team breakfasts or lunches, all kinds of ways to make our team chemistry stronger. And as people will see, we enjoy great fan support.”