Season preview:
DuPage Valley Conference
By Patrick Z. McGavin
Place is vital in the American imagination. It says a lot about texture, a sense of history, a special connection to the landscape and point of view.
Girls soccer is a textbook example. Chicago has long cultivated its own hotbeds, privileged places that stand out as special incubators of talent and success. The North Shore naturally comes to mind. New Trier, Evanston, Loyola and Glenbrook South are marquee programs with a legacy of great players, coaches and collective achievement.
The Aurora/Naperville/Wheaton corridor is prep soccer’s nerve center. As the sport observes a watershed -- the 30th anniversary of Naperville North winning the first girls state tournament -- the moment of recognition is now here.
The girls soccer played in the iconic DuPage Valley Conference is, quite simply, the standard against which all other leagues define themselves. The Central Suburban League and Mid-Suburban League are brilliant. They tend to gleam from the top. The DuPage Valley is typically stacked from the top through the middle and down.
Naperville North has three state titles to its name, marked by back-to-back Class 3A state titles in 2012 and 2013. The Huskies have also been the state runnerup twice, and captured a third place and two fourth place state trophies. Naperville North reached three-consecutive state championship games from 2011-2013. Naperville Central qualified for back-to-back state title games in 1994 and 1995. Wheaton Warrenville South played in the first ever Class AA state title game in 2002, where it finished second.
An already formidable league achieved even greater significance with the addition of Neuqua Valley, Waubonsie Valley and Metea Valley. Their inclusion made a fantastic league even stronger, if that was possible. It was, for the purposes of girls soccer, a superconference that no other league or division in the state was capable of matching.
The new-look league now featured a Waubonsie Valley program that won Class AA state championships in 2007, 2008 and the second overall Class 3A title in 2010. Neuqua Valley captured the Class AA state title in 2004 and finished second in Class 3A in 2015. Metea Valley has appeared in three-consecutive Class 3A sectional championship games -- losing to DuPage Valley Conference rivals each time.
All sports are malleable, subject to history, time and changing demographics. The DuPage Valley Conference is the great leveler. The nine-team juggernaut league has been great for the sport, elevating the quality of play and sharpening respect and admiration for the players, coaches and elite programs.
But no sport exists in a vacuum. This spring marks a conclusion, a break with the past. This year marks the final season of the league in its current iteration -- only the Naperville and Valley schools will remain.
“This year is a little bittersweet,” said Naperville North coach Steve Goletz, who has coached the Huskies to two state titles and four sectional championships. “It’s the best soccer league, one that I’d put up against anybody. We have had numerous (occasions) of the team that has not won the conference championship make it downstate. This is all I’ve known as a coach, and I have made great friendships. We are sad to see these guys go.
“The DuPage Valley Conference breeds a competitive environment with each and every game.”
Thirteen players from the league, more than 10 percent of the squad, were named to last year’s elite Chicagoland Soccer all-state team. All sports, even girls soccer, are notoriously volatile. It is clear from the first three weeks of the season the strongest programs in the DuPage Valley belong in any discussion of the top teams in the state. Even with the heavy graduation losses and departures of major Division I recruits, the league features some of the top players in the state.
Four of the top 15 teams of the Chicagoland Soccer preseason Top 25 were programs from the DuPage Valley.
As teams finish their spreak break and the conference schedule takes off, here is a closer look at the teams and top players in the league. (All records and statistics are from 2017. All-state refers to Chicagoland Soccer’s 2017 all-state team. Ranking refers to March 25th Chicagoland Soccer Top 25 poll.)
The teams are listed in their projected finish in the standings.
Naperville North
Coach: Steve Goletz
2017 record and state tournament advancement: 20-3-3 (Class 3A supersectional round)
Chicagoland Soccer ranking: preseason and current, fourth
Neuqua Valley is the defending league champion. The Huskies remain first among equals. They reached a supersectional for the fifth time in the last seven years, losing against Downers Grove North in a shootout. During the regular season, they administered the only loss to Class 3A state champion Barrington; they also defeated state runnerup New Trier.
The Huskies return five Division I recruits led by one of the state’s best players, senior midfielder Katelynn Buescher, an Illinois recruit.
Megan Benmore (Northern Iowa) shows explosive tendencies and the ability to get to the goal. They also feature three Illinois State recruits: senior forward Shaina Dudas and identical twins Jessica and Alyssa Siebers, formidable and skilled defenders who were part of a nearly impenetrable defense that recorded 19 shutouts last year.
Two-time all-state keeper Elizabeth Cablk graduated. Loyola recruit Maddie Hausmann, a senior, takes over after playing three years in club. The no. 4 Huskies have shown what they are capable of: playing top-ranked Barrington to a draw and posting two shutouts this season.
“Katelynn, Shaina, the twins, Benmore, these girls have been around and have played in some pretty high level games the past four years,” Goletz said. “The seniors have been through a lot. They have done a really nice job of leading the group.”
The key question is finding elite goal scorers. As great as the Huskies were last year, the supersectional loss illustrated their difficulty scoring against elite defenses. The mix of the proven and the emerging is a source of great optimism.
“It’s a different dynamic than past years,” said Buescher. “There are a lot of young players I am really excited to have. I think we are going to be dangerous in different types of ways.”
She has been a part of great teams for four years. Now she becomes the face of the program.
“My freshman year, I played forward and my main job was getting Abbie Boswell the ball,” she said. “I moved to center midfielder and found my spot on the field. It is a lot easier to be a leader there. I really like having things around me.”
Defenders Paige Sylvester and Reilly Riggs solidify the backline. Emily Magee and Leah Shumate provide support in the midfield. Katie Murphy is skilled up-top. Goletz has been singing the praises of forward Hannah Martin.
“The conference is wide open;” Goletz said. “We all have some good pieces coming back. The question is probably whose newcomers are going to step up and fill the void from all those great players that graduated.”
Neuqua Valley
Coach: Joe Moreau
2017 record and state tournament advancement: 12-4-4 (Class 3A sectional semifinals)
Chicagoland Soccer ranking: preseason, eighth; current 24th
Records account for very little with Neuqua Valley. The Wildcats are the defending conference champion. They graduated six Division I recruits. This remains a formidable team that just needs time to jell.
Coach Joe Moreau has a formula: play the best teams the earlier the better; understand where you are vulnerable; and make the necessary improvements. In the team’s first three games against Illinois schools, the Wildcats played defending state champion Barrington, supersectional program St. Charles North and state tourney finalist Collinsville.
The Wildcats return four starters and 13 rotation players. Last year, Class of 2018 midfielder Alyssa Bombacino was the team’s most consistent player; she scored 15 goals and recorded two assists. The Marquette recruit is fast, skilled and explosive. Danielle Hopkins and Kayla Monis provide depth and talent in the middle. Sydney Rushing and Alison Dovalovsky are the attacking pieces.
Senior keeper Yanel Ortiz, an all-conference performer, anchors a tenacious and disruptive defense. Shannon Tagler, Erin McCarthy, Kailey Serna, Megan Olah and Leah Senese comprise the deep and skilled unit.
“We have a couple of players playing positions that they are not used to, so it is a process,” coach Joe Moreau said. “I thought we played well against Barrington and a good second half against St. Charles North. I will put up our schedule up against anyone.”
The Wildcats’ 4-0 victory over Collinsville, a program that has been in the state Final Four the last three years, underlines the capabilities of this year’s group.
“The girls are working hard, so I am excited about the progress so far,” Moreau said. “I think we will surprise some teams down the road.”
In this final year before the break up, Moreau sees a topsy-turvy league where anything is possible.
“The conference will be up for grabs this year,” he said.. “I think Naperville North is the team to beat, but then there are five or six other teams that can contend with them.”
Metea Valley
Coach: Chris Whaley
2017 record and state tournament advancement 17-4-4 (Class 3A sectional finalist)
Chicagoland Soccer ranking: preseason, ninth; current, eighth
Lately, the Mustangs have been a model of excellence not even Naperville North can match with three-consecutive Class 3A sectional championship appearances. The program graduated three major Division I recruits, including all-state performers Jade Eriksen-Russo and Nicki Hernandez.
Metea Valley has bolted from the gate and edged previously undefeated Deerfield to win the Kickoff Tournament. The team is electric, especially offensively, with four returning starters and five key rotation players. Metea Valley features riveting offensive personnel like senior forward Maeve Riordan. She scored five goals and recorded 11 assists as a junior. She is a dynamic and versatile talent.
Senior midfielder Sophia Senese benefitted from playing around so many great finishers, reflected in her 13 assists from a year ago. She has already exceeded her two-goal total of last year. Midfielder Chesney Wargo is another elite talent who had four goals and four assists last year.
“So far the girls have gotten off to a great start in the sense that they seem to clearly understand their roles and responsibilities, and they are working very hard to improve,” Metea Valley coach Chris Whaley said. “We have been possessing the ball really well and creating quality scoring chances against some quality opponents.
"We have a number of girls that are new to the varsity team, but we also have some returners who are taking on much larger roles. Having them in the program has helped us make a quick transition to playing the way we want to play.
“The beginning of the season will definitely give us some confidence.”
Kaya Hurst is another skilled attacking talent. Lauryn Wesoloski and Charlotte Ives have looked sharp in the midfield. Sophomore Paige Buranosky is one of the best players in her class. She started every game as a freshman. She brings a physical, disruptive presence in the back. She is ably supported by Katy Flanders, Nicole Dawson and Kaiya Hansen.
Whaley has two gifted keepers in sophomores Myah Schoolman and Nikki Coryell.
Metea Valley belongs at the top of the conversation.
“The conference is one of the best in the sense that there is a high level of soccer that is being played, there are great coaches, and there is great competition,” Whaley said. “Each year we battle with these teams during the regular season, and then we come together again in the playoffs and the gloves come off. I am very pleased with how well our girls have worked to improve each year and have some big wins against our (conference) opponents, especially in the state tournament.”
Waubonsie Valley
Coach: Julie Bergstrom
2017 record and state tournament advancement: 11-9-1 (Class 3A regional finals)
Chicagoland Soccer ranking: preseason, unranked; current, 17th
The Warriors are confronted with a central question: how to possibly replace two-time all-state performer Sarah Griffith, the electrifying Purdue recruit who scored 24 goals and added 11 assists. Waubonsie Valley was stealthy good last year. When they were at their best, like beating Naperville North 2-0, Waubonsie Valley was capable of going toe-to-toe with the best teams in the state.
Waubonsie Valley returns a solid foundation. Senior forward Kennedy Metzger, a Ball State recruit, had 16 goals and five assists. Senior midfielder Rachel White and junior midfielder Natalie Massa are other talents to watch. Junior defender Carolena Lund is very disruptive. Senior goalkeeper Sarah Young posted seven shutouts last year.
The early returns have been very encouraging. The Warriors are off to impressive start with an unbeaten record in their first four games. White and Jennifer Garcia sparked the team’s quality 2-1 victory over powerhouse Lyons. Coach Julie Bergstrom preaches a direct motto, “To be better today than we were yesterday.” That has resonated with her talented young team.
Naperville Central
Coach: Ed Watson
2017 record and state tournament advancement: 11-8-4 (Class 3A regional finals)
Chicagoland Soccer ranking: preseason, 15th; current, honorable mention
Ed Watson has won more than 400 games in his 26 years directing the Naperville Central program. The Redhawks have a tried and true profile: ferocious on defense, unselfish on offense. Great goalkeeping is a constant.
This year’s group is a work in progress, according to Watson. Like Neuqua Valley, Naperville Central plays a demanding, intensely challenging schedule, including early dates with some of the best programs, like Belleville West, outside of Chicago. With seven key returners, the Redhawks are taking their customary spot. They are a capable, proud and versatile team likely to be in the middle of the action.
“Our younger players are learning on the job,” Watson said. “Dealing with the speed of the varsity level along with tactically all being on the same (page) is why we are playing these (early) games.”
Naperville Central offers an intriguing mix of veteran talent and precocious newcomers. It has produced the early up-and-down action. When fused together the team has a high ceiling.
The team has a foundational talent in four-year starter Sarah Avery, who commands the midfield. Another standout is Maddie Redeker, who is also a four-year player. Jessica Sonner and Maddie Mills, second-year players who have exhibited sharp improvement, have also shown a great deal of promise.
One of the bright newcomers is sophomore forward Hannah Bradley-Leon. She scored a goal and recorded an assist in the strong win over St. Francis. Junior Caroline Reedy, on the team since her freshman year, is another dynamic player at the top of the formation.
Erin McHugh is heir to a great tradition of fast, capable keepers. Emma Irle, Grace Anderson, Emma Phillips and Abbey Hillman bring size, discipline and skill to the backline.
The combination of discipline, toughness and chemistry means the Redhawks are going to be in every game. If they find consistant scoring, Naperville Central is poised for an even greater impression.
“With a large roster it has been an emphasis to give our younger players opportunities to experience varsity game action,” Watson said. “With some of our experienced players being a bit dinged up during the first few games, we have tried many different combinations.”
Wheaton Warrenville South
Coach: Guy Callipari
2017 record and state tournament advancement: 9-10-1 (Class 3A regional semifinals)
Chicagoland Soccer ranking: preseason and current, honorable mention
The lament many coaches feel about the imminent break up of the league is particularly hard for Wheaton Warrenville South coach Guy Callipari, the league’s godfather. He is the oldest-tenured coach.
“There are so many great memories having played in one of the more competitive conferences year-in and year-out,” Callipari said. “The success of the programs at the state level speaks for itself and therefore it was important to raise the bar just to be competitive. Our record in conference play is but a testament to how you needed to prepare and execute at such a high level in each match played -- playing in the DVC brought out the best in everyone coupled with a genuine concern by the coaches to prioritize many of the values we felt were an intrinsic part of player development. The DVC represented what was best practice in developing players and more importantly young leaders.”
Callipari is looking to go out in grand style. He has 11 returners, featuring one of the state’s best juniors, midfielder Paige Miller. She scored a team-best nine goals and contributed three assists in building off the promise of her freshman year.
A deep and versatile junior class constitutes the cause for excitement. The team has six juniors who have been on the varsity since they were freshmen. They are big, rangy and athletic. Junior midfielders Allie Anderson, Audrey Siebert and Evelyn Demsher are skilled players worth tracking. Ellery Fahey, J.J. Albue and Molly Fank are junior midfielders who add to the athletic mix.
Forward Morgan Schwerin and defender Claire Kiple are the top seniors.
“I believe that given time and space we can provide moments of cohesive play -- create quality looks at goal and defend in numbers if we can control the tempo of the game. I was pleased (in our early games) to see many positives from many players who had much to prove while accepting unfamiliar roles.”
The Tigers are the league's wildcard, athletic and dangerous. If they develop consistency, Callipari’s final league team could be poised to make a grand closing statement.
“The DVC will be a major challenge given the depth and skill set each program possesses,” he said. “We will need a great effort and moments of chance if we’re to earn a positive result.”
Wheaton North
Coach: Tim McEvilly
2017 record and state tournament advancement: 8-10-1 (Class 3A regional semifinals)
Chicagoland Soccer rank: Unranked
Endings are always more important than starts. The Falcons are encouraged by a 2-2-1 2017 conference-concluding mark that helped make up for an 0-3-0 beginning.
With some talented newcomers and players from club joining three returning starters, Wheaton North is looking to make significant strides.
“Since the season has begun, we have been working to blend many new players to a returning group,” coach Tim McEvilly said. “The kids that have stood out the most so far are Kailee Sowers, a senior who is returning from (club) soccer. Kailee is an outstanding outside back with ability to both defend and attack from out of the back.
“Our three other returning (starters) are senior forward Rose Quinn, senior center back Jaden Trometer and junior midfielder Anna Warfield. They have each had very good starts to the season.”
McEvilly is incorporating transfers and other newcomers into the mix. He is surprised at how quickly the different parts have meshed together.
“I have been most encouraged at witnessing the attitude of our kids to continue to work to find an identity with the new makeup of our team,” he said. “We have two transfers, two other players returning from academy soccer and many other players working to come together. Despite our struggles, the kids are confident that we will gain our footing.”
As a Naperville Central graduate, McEvilly has witnessed the greatness of the league from multiple perspectives.
“The movement out of the conference is not an easy one,” he said. “I am going to miss the competition, the level of respect between teams and coaches, the willingness of coaches to place sportsmanship and players before winning and the competitive environment that was guaranteed every night. I am going to miss the willingness of people like Ed Watson, and coaches at Naperville North like (Jim) Konrad and Goletz to provide professional advice in an effort to help each other out.
“I always felt as if the coaches in the DVC placed players and people before winning.”
Lake Park
Coach: Sean Crosby
2017 record and state tournament advancement: 4-17-1 (Class 3A regional semifinals)
Chicagoland Soccer ranking: Unranked
The downside to a developing program from being part of this super conference is facing a succession of great programs and elite players. It is an overwhelming experience for young players trying to make their mark.
Now in his second year directing the Lancers, Sean Crosby saw up-close how demanding and rigorous it is going up against a gauntlet like the DuPage Valley. He is optimistic his team is now better able to withstand the elite competition.
As part of the process, he has 14 returning upperclassmen, with 11 seniors and three juniors. One positive of playing so many elite programs is it forces his team to catch up and adapt on the fly.
“We are focused as a team on improving and growing from year to year,” Crosby said. “One goal of ours is to keep health and competition a priority. If we can keep our top players on the field and competing among each other in training and games we will grow as a team and surpass our results from last season.”
The acknowledged leader is senior midfielder Bri McAloon, a three-year starter who brings poise, skill and a strong work ethic. She is joined in the middle by seniors Lauren Tarchala and Jaclyn Lamz. Seniors Stephanie Zachemski, Liz Guenther and Amber Sedwick are experienced defenders.
With most of the players having a year to absorb his system, Crosby is excited about the progress and development. He thinks he has more positional versatility and players ready to take on expanded roles. Like the other programs trying to move up in the standings, Lake Park has a lower margin of error.
“Although we have a very strong conference and nonconference schedule (including two tournaments) our sights are set on doubling our win total from 2017. We will be adjusting our defensive strategies and our personnel throughout the field to put out our best 11 out at all times.”
Glenbard North
Coach: David Stanfield
2017 record and state tournament advancement: 2-14-1 (Class 3A regional semifinals)
Chicagoland Soccer ranking: Unranked
The Panthers beat Lake Park for their only conference win of 2017. Coach David Stanfield returns eight starters as the team looks to carve out its identity and become more stout as a defensive team. The team must cut back on goals allowed to stay in the fight. An early shutout win over Rosary has already pushed the team near its 2017 victory total.
Glenbard North’s top seniors are Aurelia Carulli, Jess West and Rebecca Barretto. The leading juniors are Sofia Espana, Hannah Arista, Karissa Chalus, Vicki Szcklarczyk. Alexis Bolger is a promising sophomore.
DuPage Valley Conference
By Patrick Z. McGavin
Place is vital in the American imagination. It says a lot about texture, a sense of history, a special connection to the landscape and point of view.
Girls soccer is a textbook example. Chicago has long cultivated its own hotbeds, privileged places that stand out as special incubators of talent and success. The North Shore naturally comes to mind. New Trier, Evanston, Loyola and Glenbrook South are marquee programs with a legacy of great players, coaches and collective achievement.
The Aurora/Naperville/Wheaton corridor is prep soccer’s nerve center. As the sport observes a watershed -- the 30th anniversary of Naperville North winning the first girls state tournament -- the moment of recognition is now here.
The girls soccer played in the iconic DuPage Valley Conference is, quite simply, the standard against which all other leagues define themselves. The Central Suburban League and Mid-Suburban League are brilliant. They tend to gleam from the top. The DuPage Valley is typically stacked from the top through the middle and down.
Naperville North has three state titles to its name, marked by back-to-back Class 3A state titles in 2012 and 2013. The Huskies have also been the state runnerup twice, and captured a third place and two fourth place state trophies. Naperville North reached three-consecutive state championship games from 2011-2013. Naperville Central qualified for back-to-back state title games in 1994 and 1995. Wheaton Warrenville South played in the first ever Class AA state title game in 2002, where it finished second.
An already formidable league achieved even greater significance with the addition of Neuqua Valley, Waubonsie Valley and Metea Valley. Their inclusion made a fantastic league even stronger, if that was possible. It was, for the purposes of girls soccer, a superconference that no other league or division in the state was capable of matching.
The new-look league now featured a Waubonsie Valley program that won Class AA state championships in 2007, 2008 and the second overall Class 3A title in 2010. Neuqua Valley captured the Class AA state title in 2004 and finished second in Class 3A in 2015. Metea Valley has appeared in three-consecutive Class 3A sectional championship games -- losing to DuPage Valley Conference rivals each time.
All sports are malleable, subject to history, time and changing demographics. The DuPage Valley Conference is the great leveler. The nine-team juggernaut league has been great for the sport, elevating the quality of play and sharpening respect and admiration for the players, coaches and elite programs.
But no sport exists in a vacuum. This spring marks a conclusion, a break with the past. This year marks the final season of the league in its current iteration -- only the Naperville and Valley schools will remain.
“This year is a little bittersweet,” said Naperville North coach Steve Goletz, who has coached the Huskies to two state titles and four sectional championships. “It’s the best soccer league, one that I’d put up against anybody. We have had numerous (occasions) of the team that has not won the conference championship make it downstate. This is all I’ve known as a coach, and I have made great friendships. We are sad to see these guys go.
“The DuPage Valley Conference breeds a competitive environment with each and every game.”
Thirteen players from the league, more than 10 percent of the squad, were named to last year’s elite Chicagoland Soccer all-state team. All sports, even girls soccer, are notoriously volatile. It is clear from the first three weeks of the season the strongest programs in the DuPage Valley belong in any discussion of the top teams in the state. Even with the heavy graduation losses and departures of major Division I recruits, the league features some of the top players in the state.
Four of the top 15 teams of the Chicagoland Soccer preseason Top 25 were programs from the DuPage Valley.
As teams finish their spreak break and the conference schedule takes off, here is a closer look at the teams and top players in the league. (All records and statistics are from 2017. All-state refers to Chicagoland Soccer’s 2017 all-state team. Ranking refers to March 25th Chicagoland Soccer Top 25 poll.)
The teams are listed in their projected finish in the standings.
Naperville North
Coach: Steve Goletz
2017 record and state tournament advancement: 20-3-3 (Class 3A supersectional round)
Chicagoland Soccer ranking: preseason and current, fourth
Neuqua Valley is the defending league champion. The Huskies remain first among equals. They reached a supersectional for the fifth time in the last seven years, losing against Downers Grove North in a shootout. During the regular season, they administered the only loss to Class 3A state champion Barrington; they also defeated state runnerup New Trier.
The Huskies return five Division I recruits led by one of the state’s best players, senior midfielder Katelynn Buescher, an Illinois recruit.
Megan Benmore (Northern Iowa) shows explosive tendencies and the ability to get to the goal. They also feature three Illinois State recruits: senior forward Shaina Dudas and identical twins Jessica and Alyssa Siebers, formidable and skilled defenders who were part of a nearly impenetrable defense that recorded 19 shutouts last year.
Two-time all-state keeper Elizabeth Cablk graduated. Loyola recruit Maddie Hausmann, a senior, takes over after playing three years in club. The no. 4 Huskies have shown what they are capable of: playing top-ranked Barrington to a draw and posting two shutouts this season.
“Katelynn, Shaina, the twins, Benmore, these girls have been around and have played in some pretty high level games the past four years,” Goletz said. “The seniors have been through a lot. They have done a really nice job of leading the group.”
The key question is finding elite goal scorers. As great as the Huskies were last year, the supersectional loss illustrated their difficulty scoring against elite defenses. The mix of the proven and the emerging is a source of great optimism.
“It’s a different dynamic than past years,” said Buescher. “There are a lot of young players I am really excited to have. I think we are going to be dangerous in different types of ways.”
She has been a part of great teams for four years. Now she becomes the face of the program.
“My freshman year, I played forward and my main job was getting Abbie Boswell the ball,” she said. “I moved to center midfielder and found my spot on the field. It is a lot easier to be a leader there. I really like having things around me.”
Defenders Paige Sylvester and Reilly Riggs solidify the backline. Emily Magee and Leah Shumate provide support in the midfield. Katie Murphy is skilled up-top. Goletz has been singing the praises of forward Hannah Martin.
“The conference is wide open;” Goletz said. “We all have some good pieces coming back. The question is probably whose newcomers are going to step up and fill the void from all those great players that graduated.”
Neuqua Valley
Coach: Joe Moreau
2017 record and state tournament advancement: 12-4-4 (Class 3A sectional semifinals)
Chicagoland Soccer ranking: preseason, eighth; current 24th
Records account for very little with Neuqua Valley. The Wildcats are the defending conference champion. They graduated six Division I recruits. This remains a formidable team that just needs time to jell.
Coach Joe Moreau has a formula: play the best teams the earlier the better; understand where you are vulnerable; and make the necessary improvements. In the team’s first three games against Illinois schools, the Wildcats played defending state champion Barrington, supersectional program St. Charles North and state tourney finalist Collinsville.
The Wildcats return four starters and 13 rotation players. Last year, Class of 2018 midfielder Alyssa Bombacino was the team’s most consistent player; she scored 15 goals and recorded two assists. The Marquette recruit is fast, skilled and explosive. Danielle Hopkins and Kayla Monis provide depth and talent in the middle. Sydney Rushing and Alison Dovalovsky are the attacking pieces.
Senior keeper Yanel Ortiz, an all-conference performer, anchors a tenacious and disruptive defense. Shannon Tagler, Erin McCarthy, Kailey Serna, Megan Olah and Leah Senese comprise the deep and skilled unit.
“We have a couple of players playing positions that they are not used to, so it is a process,” coach Joe Moreau said. “I thought we played well against Barrington and a good second half against St. Charles North. I will put up our schedule up against anyone.”
The Wildcats’ 4-0 victory over Collinsville, a program that has been in the state Final Four the last three years, underlines the capabilities of this year’s group.
“The girls are working hard, so I am excited about the progress so far,” Moreau said. “I think we will surprise some teams down the road.”
In this final year before the break up, Moreau sees a topsy-turvy league where anything is possible.
“The conference will be up for grabs this year,” he said.. “I think Naperville North is the team to beat, but then there are five or six other teams that can contend with them.”
Metea Valley
Coach: Chris Whaley
2017 record and state tournament advancement 17-4-4 (Class 3A sectional finalist)
Chicagoland Soccer ranking: preseason, ninth; current, eighth
Lately, the Mustangs have been a model of excellence not even Naperville North can match with three-consecutive Class 3A sectional championship appearances. The program graduated three major Division I recruits, including all-state performers Jade Eriksen-Russo and Nicki Hernandez.
Metea Valley has bolted from the gate and edged previously undefeated Deerfield to win the Kickoff Tournament. The team is electric, especially offensively, with four returning starters and five key rotation players. Metea Valley features riveting offensive personnel like senior forward Maeve Riordan. She scored five goals and recorded 11 assists as a junior. She is a dynamic and versatile talent.
Senior midfielder Sophia Senese benefitted from playing around so many great finishers, reflected in her 13 assists from a year ago. She has already exceeded her two-goal total of last year. Midfielder Chesney Wargo is another elite talent who had four goals and four assists last year.
“So far the girls have gotten off to a great start in the sense that they seem to clearly understand their roles and responsibilities, and they are working very hard to improve,” Metea Valley coach Chris Whaley said. “We have been possessing the ball really well and creating quality scoring chances against some quality opponents.
"We have a number of girls that are new to the varsity team, but we also have some returners who are taking on much larger roles. Having them in the program has helped us make a quick transition to playing the way we want to play.
“The beginning of the season will definitely give us some confidence.”
Kaya Hurst is another skilled attacking talent. Lauryn Wesoloski and Charlotte Ives have looked sharp in the midfield. Sophomore Paige Buranosky is one of the best players in her class. She started every game as a freshman. She brings a physical, disruptive presence in the back. She is ably supported by Katy Flanders, Nicole Dawson and Kaiya Hansen.
Whaley has two gifted keepers in sophomores Myah Schoolman and Nikki Coryell.
Metea Valley belongs at the top of the conversation.
“The conference is one of the best in the sense that there is a high level of soccer that is being played, there are great coaches, and there is great competition,” Whaley said. “Each year we battle with these teams during the regular season, and then we come together again in the playoffs and the gloves come off. I am very pleased with how well our girls have worked to improve each year and have some big wins against our (conference) opponents, especially in the state tournament.”
Waubonsie Valley
Coach: Julie Bergstrom
2017 record and state tournament advancement: 11-9-1 (Class 3A regional finals)
Chicagoland Soccer ranking: preseason, unranked; current, 17th
The Warriors are confronted with a central question: how to possibly replace two-time all-state performer Sarah Griffith, the electrifying Purdue recruit who scored 24 goals and added 11 assists. Waubonsie Valley was stealthy good last year. When they were at their best, like beating Naperville North 2-0, Waubonsie Valley was capable of going toe-to-toe with the best teams in the state.
Waubonsie Valley returns a solid foundation. Senior forward Kennedy Metzger, a Ball State recruit, had 16 goals and five assists. Senior midfielder Rachel White and junior midfielder Natalie Massa are other talents to watch. Junior defender Carolena Lund is very disruptive. Senior goalkeeper Sarah Young posted seven shutouts last year.
The early returns have been very encouraging. The Warriors are off to impressive start with an unbeaten record in their first four games. White and Jennifer Garcia sparked the team’s quality 2-1 victory over powerhouse Lyons. Coach Julie Bergstrom preaches a direct motto, “To be better today than we were yesterday.” That has resonated with her talented young team.
Naperville Central
Coach: Ed Watson
2017 record and state tournament advancement: 11-8-4 (Class 3A regional finals)
Chicagoland Soccer ranking: preseason, 15th; current, honorable mention
Ed Watson has won more than 400 games in his 26 years directing the Naperville Central program. The Redhawks have a tried and true profile: ferocious on defense, unselfish on offense. Great goalkeeping is a constant.
This year’s group is a work in progress, according to Watson. Like Neuqua Valley, Naperville Central plays a demanding, intensely challenging schedule, including early dates with some of the best programs, like Belleville West, outside of Chicago. With seven key returners, the Redhawks are taking their customary spot. They are a capable, proud and versatile team likely to be in the middle of the action.
“Our younger players are learning on the job,” Watson said. “Dealing with the speed of the varsity level along with tactically all being on the same (page) is why we are playing these (early) games.”
Naperville Central offers an intriguing mix of veteran talent and precocious newcomers. It has produced the early up-and-down action. When fused together the team has a high ceiling.
The team has a foundational talent in four-year starter Sarah Avery, who commands the midfield. Another standout is Maddie Redeker, who is also a four-year player. Jessica Sonner and Maddie Mills, second-year players who have exhibited sharp improvement, have also shown a great deal of promise.
One of the bright newcomers is sophomore forward Hannah Bradley-Leon. She scored a goal and recorded an assist in the strong win over St. Francis. Junior Caroline Reedy, on the team since her freshman year, is another dynamic player at the top of the formation.
Erin McHugh is heir to a great tradition of fast, capable keepers. Emma Irle, Grace Anderson, Emma Phillips and Abbey Hillman bring size, discipline and skill to the backline.
The combination of discipline, toughness and chemistry means the Redhawks are going to be in every game. If they find consistant scoring, Naperville Central is poised for an even greater impression.
“With a large roster it has been an emphasis to give our younger players opportunities to experience varsity game action,” Watson said. “With some of our experienced players being a bit dinged up during the first few games, we have tried many different combinations.”
Wheaton Warrenville South
Coach: Guy Callipari
2017 record and state tournament advancement: 9-10-1 (Class 3A regional semifinals)
Chicagoland Soccer ranking: preseason and current, honorable mention
The lament many coaches feel about the imminent break up of the league is particularly hard for Wheaton Warrenville South coach Guy Callipari, the league’s godfather. He is the oldest-tenured coach.
“There are so many great memories having played in one of the more competitive conferences year-in and year-out,” Callipari said. “The success of the programs at the state level speaks for itself and therefore it was important to raise the bar just to be competitive. Our record in conference play is but a testament to how you needed to prepare and execute at such a high level in each match played -- playing in the DVC brought out the best in everyone coupled with a genuine concern by the coaches to prioritize many of the values we felt were an intrinsic part of player development. The DVC represented what was best practice in developing players and more importantly young leaders.”
Callipari is looking to go out in grand style. He has 11 returners, featuring one of the state’s best juniors, midfielder Paige Miller. She scored a team-best nine goals and contributed three assists in building off the promise of her freshman year.
A deep and versatile junior class constitutes the cause for excitement. The team has six juniors who have been on the varsity since they were freshmen. They are big, rangy and athletic. Junior midfielders Allie Anderson, Audrey Siebert and Evelyn Demsher are skilled players worth tracking. Ellery Fahey, J.J. Albue and Molly Fank are junior midfielders who add to the athletic mix.
Forward Morgan Schwerin and defender Claire Kiple are the top seniors.
“I believe that given time and space we can provide moments of cohesive play -- create quality looks at goal and defend in numbers if we can control the tempo of the game. I was pleased (in our early games) to see many positives from many players who had much to prove while accepting unfamiliar roles.”
The Tigers are the league's wildcard, athletic and dangerous. If they develop consistency, Callipari’s final league team could be poised to make a grand closing statement.
“The DVC will be a major challenge given the depth and skill set each program possesses,” he said. “We will need a great effort and moments of chance if we’re to earn a positive result.”
Wheaton North
Coach: Tim McEvilly
2017 record and state tournament advancement: 8-10-1 (Class 3A regional semifinals)
Chicagoland Soccer rank: Unranked
Endings are always more important than starts. The Falcons are encouraged by a 2-2-1 2017 conference-concluding mark that helped make up for an 0-3-0 beginning.
With some talented newcomers and players from club joining three returning starters, Wheaton North is looking to make significant strides.
“Since the season has begun, we have been working to blend many new players to a returning group,” coach Tim McEvilly said. “The kids that have stood out the most so far are Kailee Sowers, a senior who is returning from (club) soccer. Kailee is an outstanding outside back with ability to both defend and attack from out of the back.
“Our three other returning (starters) are senior forward Rose Quinn, senior center back Jaden Trometer and junior midfielder Anna Warfield. They have each had very good starts to the season.”
McEvilly is incorporating transfers and other newcomers into the mix. He is surprised at how quickly the different parts have meshed together.
“I have been most encouraged at witnessing the attitude of our kids to continue to work to find an identity with the new makeup of our team,” he said. “We have two transfers, two other players returning from academy soccer and many other players working to come together. Despite our struggles, the kids are confident that we will gain our footing.”
As a Naperville Central graduate, McEvilly has witnessed the greatness of the league from multiple perspectives.
“The movement out of the conference is not an easy one,” he said. “I am going to miss the competition, the level of respect between teams and coaches, the willingness of coaches to place sportsmanship and players before winning and the competitive environment that was guaranteed every night. I am going to miss the willingness of people like Ed Watson, and coaches at Naperville North like (Jim) Konrad and Goletz to provide professional advice in an effort to help each other out.
“I always felt as if the coaches in the DVC placed players and people before winning.”
Lake Park
Coach: Sean Crosby
2017 record and state tournament advancement: 4-17-1 (Class 3A regional semifinals)
Chicagoland Soccer ranking: Unranked
The downside to a developing program from being part of this super conference is facing a succession of great programs and elite players. It is an overwhelming experience for young players trying to make their mark.
Now in his second year directing the Lancers, Sean Crosby saw up-close how demanding and rigorous it is going up against a gauntlet like the DuPage Valley. He is optimistic his team is now better able to withstand the elite competition.
As part of the process, he has 14 returning upperclassmen, with 11 seniors and three juniors. One positive of playing so many elite programs is it forces his team to catch up and adapt on the fly.
“We are focused as a team on improving and growing from year to year,” Crosby said. “One goal of ours is to keep health and competition a priority. If we can keep our top players on the field and competing among each other in training and games we will grow as a team and surpass our results from last season.”
The acknowledged leader is senior midfielder Bri McAloon, a three-year starter who brings poise, skill and a strong work ethic. She is joined in the middle by seniors Lauren Tarchala and Jaclyn Lamz. Seniors Stephanie Zachemski, Liz Guenther and Amber Sedwick are experienced defenders.
With most of the players having a year to absorb his system, Crosby is excited about the progress and development. He thinks he has more positional versatility and players ready to take on expanded roles. Like the other programs trying to move up in the standings, Lake Park has a lower margin of error.
“Although we have a very strong conference and nonconference schedule (including two tournaments) our sights are set on doubling our win total from 2017. We will be adjusting our defensive strategies and our personnel throughout the field to put out our best 11 out at all times.”
Glenbard North
Coach: David Stanfield
2017 record and state tournament advancement: 2-14-1 (Class 3A regional semifinals)
Chicagoland Soccer ranking: Unranked
The Panthers beat Lake Park for their only conference win of 2017. Coach David Stanfield returns eight starters as the team looks to carve out its identity and become more stout as a defensive team. The team must cut back on goals allowed to stay in the fight. An early shutout win over Rosary has already pushed the team near its 2017 victory total.
Glenbard North’s top seniors are Aurelia Carulli, Jess West and Rebecca Barretto. The leading juniors are Sofia Espana, Hannah Arista, Karissa Chalus, Vicki Szcklarczyk. Alexis Bolger is a promising sophomore.