Homegrown talent on display
in Illinois-DePaul match
By Patrick Z. McGavin
On a beautiful Saturday night in early June, Katelynn Buescher punctuated her remarkable career at Naperville North by converting a penalty kick in the 74th minute for the emphatic touch on the Huskies’ 3-0 victory over Andrew in the Class 3A third place game at North Central College.
So ended her high school career, and in a flash initiated the next phase of her life as the centerpiece of the recruiting class at Illinois. Fast forward last Sunday to Duke University, when a portrait of her sudden and explosive education as a young athlete came into exceptionally sharp focus.
At the iconic Blue Devils in Durham, North Carolina, Buescher made a glittering opening statement.
She played 54 minutes and registered her first career assist by playing a ball that freshman forward Makena Silber drilled home from 25 yards in the 18th minute as the Illini stunned no. 3 Duke 2-1.
Katie Le scored the game-winner in the 45th minute off a corner by former Von Steuben star Patricia George.
“I did not know I was going to play that many minutes,” Buescher said. “The coolest thing was to play in their stadium. [Illinois coach] Janet [Rayfield] told they were going to put me in at the wing, and she told me what I needed to do. It was so uplifting.
“The college game is so intense, but it is also so much fun to play.”
In a clash of state programs, the Illini look to ride the the momentum of what Rayfield called “a signature win,” by traveling to Lincoln Park in a marquee showdown with DePaul on Thursday afternoon at Wish Field.
DePaul has eight players from the city and suburbs on its roster. Illinois has 14. Freshman forward Peyton Willie, who scored 44 goals last spring for Yorkville, also saw some valuable time for the Illini against Duke.
The game touches on all sides. For players like Buescher, the game is a chance to play close to home. It also signifies a renewal, of friendships and personal connections, as the game features multiple former high school stars and teammates now dueling against each other.
Buescher is not in a proverbial Kansas anymore.
“At the college level, everything is lot faster,” she said. “Mentally, it’s a whole new ball game. You have to know what to do with the ball immediately. You have to think a lot harder.”
Illini junior forward, Kelly Maday has the experience and savvy that matches her remarkable talents, especially in the open field. One of the greatest players in the history of Illinois girls soccer, Maday powered New Trier to three-consecutive state championships from 2014-2016.
She played 41 minutes in the victory over Duke.
“Upping the speed of play and having to think faster, in college, you play off natural instincts and what you learn from coaches and how to apply that to the game,” Maday said. “The [Duke] win was a great team win. It gives us motivation for the games going forward. With [Duke’s] ranking, it shows we have the ability to compete at the highest level. Now we have to put that game behind us, and learn the things we need to improve upon.”
For a player like Maday, playing DePaul is a mirror object, going up against her closest friends. Her best friend Bina Saipi was her running mate with the Trevians. Sydney Parker, a three-time Chicagoland Soccer all-state player, is a freshman defender for the Blue Demons.
“It is going to be interesting to play,” Maday said. “There are five players there I have played with for the majority of my soccer career. The game is going to be exciting and just kind of fun.”
Friendship is essential, said Saipi. The Illinois game is business.
“I’m very excited to play against Kelly, and I am always going to want the best for her, but I am all about DePaul,” Saipi said. The junior midfielder is especially happy to be back after missing all of her sophomore year with an injury.
“This is definitely a year I have been waiting for. It has been a long time.”
At the time of the Illini win over Duke, the Blue Demons were making a solid statement of their own by thrashing UMass Lowell 7-0.
Sophomore forward Morgan Turner, of Maple Grove, Minnesota, scored three goals. Senior forward Franny Cerny of Berkeley, California, contributed two goals. Former Lake Forest star Gwen Walker, who played with Maday and Saipi with FC United, played the entire game.
Like Buescher, Parker also has made an instant impact. She played 67 minutes.
Saipi played 47 minutes. Sophomore defender Jackie Batliner started and played 55 minutes. She was the emotional leader of the Fillies’ 2017 state championship team that ended New Trier’s run of state championships.
Batliner has had a year to acclimate herself to the heightened athleticism, skill and physical style of the college game. Chemistry is also the crucial factor of the college game, she said. The Illinois game is an important gauge.
“You can see how much they have all grown,” she said. “The level of competition, we are all very excited for the opportunity. It is definitely going to be a test for us.”
in Illinois-DePaul match
By Patrick Z. McGavin
On a beautiful Saturday night in early June, Katelynn Buescher punctuated her remarkable career at Naperville North by converting a penalty kick in the 74th minute for the emphatic touch on the Huskies’ 3-0 victory over Andrew in the Class 3A third place game at North Central College.
So ended her high school career, and in a flash initiated the next phase of her life as the centerpiece of the recruiting class at Illinois. Fast forward last Sunday to Duke University, when a portrait of her sudden and explosive education as a young athlete came into exceptionally sharp focus.
At the iconic Blue Devils in Durham, North Carolina, Buescher made a glittering opening statement.
She played 54 minutes and registered her first career assist by playing a ball that freshman forward Makena Silber drilled home from 25 yards in the 18th minute as the Illini stunned no. 3 Duke 2-1.
Katie Le scored the game-winner in the 45th minute off a corner by former Von Steuben star Patricia George.
“I did not know I was going to play that many minutes,” Buescher said. “The coolest thing was to play in their stadium. [Illinois coach] Janet [Rayfield] told they were going to put me in at the wing, and she told me what I needed to do. It was so uplifting.
“The college game is so intense, but it is also so much fun to play.”
In a clash of state programs, the Illini look to ride the the momentum of what Rayfield called “a signature win,” by traveling to Lincoln Park in a marquee showdown with DePaul on Thursday afternoon at Wish Field.
DePaul has eight players from the city and suburbs on its roster. Illinois has 14. Freshman forward Peyton Willie, who scored 44 goals last spring for Yorkville, also saw some valuable time for the Illini against Duke.
The game touches on all sides. For players like Buescher, the game is a chance to play close to home. It also signifies a renewal, of friendships and personal connections, as the game features multiple former high school stars and teammates now dueling against each other.
Buescher is not in a proverbial Kansas anymore.
“At the college level, everything is lot faster,” she said. “Mentally, it’s a whole new ball game. You have to know what to do with the ball immediately. You have to think a lot harder.”
Illini junior forward, Kelly Maday has the experience and savvy that matches her remarkable talents, especially in the open field. One of the greatest players in the history of Illinois girls soccer, Maday powered New Trier to three-consecutive state championships from 2014-2016.
She played 41 minutes in the victory over Duke.
“Upping the speed of play and having to think faster, in college, you play off natural instincts and what you learn from coaches and how to apply that to the game,” Maday said. “The [Duke] win was a great team win. It gives us motivation for the games going forward. With [Duke’s] ranking, it shows we have the ability to compete at the highest level. Now we have to put that game behind us, and learn the things we need to improve upon.”
For a player like Maday, playing DePaul is a mirror object, going up against her closest friends. Her best friend Bina Saipi was her running mate with the Trevians. Sydney Parker, a three-time Chicagoland Soccer all-state player, is a freshman defender for the Blue Demons.
“It is going to be interesting to play,” Maday said. “There are five players there I have played with for the majority of my soccer career. The game is going to be exciting and just kind of fun.”
Friendship is essential, said Saipi. The Illinois game is business.
“I’m very excited to play against Kelly, and I am always going to want the best for her, but I am all about DePaul,” Saipi said. The junior midfielder is especially happy to be back after missing all of her sophomore year with an injury.
“This is definitely a year I have been waiting for. It has been a long time.”
At the time of the Illini win over Duke, the Blue Demons were making a solid statement of their own by thrashing UMass Lowell 7-0.
Sophomore forward Morgan Turner, of Maple Grove, Minnesota, scored three goals. Senior forward Franny Cerny of Berkeley, California, contributed two goals. Former Lake Forest star Gwen Walker, who played with Maday and Saipi with FC United, played the entire game.
Like Buescher, Parker also has made an instant impact. She played 67 minutes.
Saipi played 47 minutes. Sophomore defender Jackie Batliner started and played 55 minutes. She was the emotional leader of the Fillies’ 2017 state championship team that ended New Trier’s run of state championships.
Batliner has had a year to acclimate herself to the heightened athleticism, skill and physical style of the college game. Chemistry is also the crucial factor of the college game, she said. The Illinois game is an important gauge.
“You can see how much they have all grown,” she said. “The level of competition, we are all very excited for the opportunity. It is definitely going to be a test for us.”