Season recap: DuPage Valley Conference
By Matt Le Cren
Neuqua Valley pulled off an impressive feat by going through the DuPage Valley Conference undefeated to win the championship in just its second year in the league.
But the most noteworthy of the Wildcats’ eight DVC games might have been the only one they didn’t win. That was the 0-0 draw at defending champion Naperville North, which proved to be the first chink in the Huskies’ formidable armor.
“I think that was a big game for us mentally,” Neuqua senior Haley Singer said. “We really put a lot into that game.
“You could see it as a turning point, because it did make us want to go out there and play harder and beat every team we played.”
The Wildcats did that en route to the league title, though it didn’t translate into deep playoff success. Third-place Naperville North was the last DVC team standing, beating runner-up Metea Valley to win the Class 3A Lockport Sectional title before losing on penalty kicks to Downers Grove North in the Lewis University Supersectional.
Here’s a look at how each school did (click on the school name to link to the team page):
To see the league standings click here.
NEUQUA VALLEY
DVC RECORD: 7-0-1 (CHAMPION) OVERALL RECORD: 12-4-4
PLAYOFF RESULT: Lost to Metea Valley in Lockport Sectional semifinal
The Wildcats’ 5-1 win over Wheaton Warrenville South on May 18 was a momentous occasion. The regular season finale came on Senior Day and literally was a crowning achievement for a team with seven Division I commits, several of whom returned to the team after a couple years of playing club ball.
“It’s a really big thing for us, winning the DVC,” Illinois-bound senior Haley Singer said afterward. “We’re all super excited about it. ... Winning the DVC gives us a lot of confidence.”
Senior Allie Fullriede, a Northern Illinois commit who was one of the club refugees, celebrated Senior Day with the first two-goal game of her career.
The Wildcats crushed East Aurora 9-0 and Lockport 5-0 to win the Lockport Regional championship to extend their winning streak to six games.
But the fun ended in the sectional semifinals, where Metea Valley eliminated Neuqua with a 3-1 win.
“It was two very good teams,” Neuqua coach Joe Moreau said after the game. “They were a little bit better than us today.”
The loss could not take the shine off the DVC championship.
“It’s fun,” Moreau said. “It’s arguably the toughest conference around and to go undefeated in it, you’ve got to be happy.”
“I’m very proud of our team. It was a real good season and a great group of young ladies. The toughest part is not being able to practice with them tomorrow.”
Marquette signee Alyssa Bombacino earned IHSSCA All-State honors for the Wildcats. Bombacino, Nicole Mondi, Ryan Gareis, Erin Sweda and Jenna Lafftery were All-DVC.
Those players were just a few members of a squad that had no weak links, which according to Fullriede why the Wildcats prevailed in the DVC.
“I don’t doubt one player on this team when we step onto the field,” Fullriede said after the Wheaton Warrenville South game. “Every girl on this team shows up and works their butt off every single game, no matter if we’re playing (Naperville) North or Lake Park.”
METEA VALLEY
DVC RECORD: 6-2-0 (2ND PLACE) OVERALL RECORD: 16-4-4
PLAYOFF RESULT: Lost to Naperville North in Lockport Sectional final
Metea Valley junior Sophia Senese loves the DVC.
“It’s a lot of fun playing against good competition,” Senese said.
The Mustangs not only play good competition, they compete. In their first two years in the league they posted an 11-4-1 record and have not finished lower than third.
That success has translated into the postseason, where the Mustangs have advanced to the sectional title game four years in a row.
This year was especially impressive considering they don’t have nearly as many Division I recruits as rivals like Naperville North and Neuqua Valley. They knocked off Waubonsie Valley twice on the road, including in the regional final, and avenged a loss to Neuqua Valley by eliminating the league champs 3-1 in the sectional semifinal.
“We had a bunch of tough games leading up to this,” Senese said after the win over Neuqua. “Although some of those games didn’t finish how we wanted, we knew that it would be preparing us for these types of games when it really mattered.”
The Mustangs prevailed despite a lack of across-the-board stars. DePaul-bound Jade Eriksen-Russo and Michigan recruit Nicki Hernandez are two of the best players in the area, but neither scored in the sectional win over Neuqua.
Instead, Senese set up sophomore Sophia Majher on what turned out to be the game-winning goal. Both players are uncommitted.
“I feel like we are a team,” Majher said. “Even though we don’t have that many commits, we just work really well together.
“We all have a lot of passion, and we all love the game. We all want to win, and that’s what works, I guess.”
A loss to Naperville North, which has eliminated the Mustangs in each of the past two years, ended Metea’s quest for its first sectional title as well as the prep career of Eriksen-Russo, who tallied 21 goals this spring to finish with 65 overall, one shy of the school’s career scoring record held by Jenna Kentgen.
“Something about this team is just special,” Eriksen-Russo said. “We all just love each other so much, regardless of the soccer part.
“We always brought our hardest (effort), and we all brought a different personality. This team was great, and I couldn’t have imagined ending my career with a better group of girls.
“I hope the younger girls just coming in know how much heart and soul this team brings to the field. They’ll want to put their cleats on and hop on.”
Metea coach Chris Whaley knows what the players put into the season.
“You need a little bit of talent because great players can make a difference at times, but really what you need is girls who give your best for you every day and this group is awesome in that regard,” Whaley said. “The kids really do play with everything they have because they just really love the program so much.
“I couldn’t ask for more. You hope for the results but it’s never guaranteed.
“Work hard, play hard and do your best. These girls did that.”
NAPERVILLE NORTH
DVC RECORD: 5-1-2 (3RD PLACE) OVERALL RECORD: 20-3-3
PLAYOFF RESULT: Lost to Downers Grove North in Lewis U. Supersectional
In terms of star power, there may have never been a more talented team that did not make it to the state finals.
Upset supersectional losses to Cinderella teams in each of the past two seasons derailed the Huskies’ quest for a state championship, but that shouldn’t take the shine off what was an amazing two-season run.
Since the start of the 2016 season, Naperville North has gone 41-5-4 and posted an incredible 39 shutouts, all with Illinois-bound Elizabeth Cablk in goal. The Huskies shut out 19 opponents last year, breaking the school record in the process, and broke it again this spring with 20 shutouts, including nine in a row to end the season.
Unfortunately, the 20th shutout turned out to be a loss as upstart Downers Grove North edged them 5-4 on penalty kicks. The Trojans, who were making their supersectional debut, won the six-round shootout 5-4 after the sides deadlocked 0-0 through regulation and two overtimes.
“It’s one of those things that has plagued us a little bit this year,” Naperville North coach Steve Goletz said. “Defensively, we once again get a shutout but at tournament time it eventually gets down to penalty kicks.
“It’s the worst way to lose. It really burns, but it doesn’t take away from what this senior group has done for this program.
“It’s a program that’s rich in success, but this is a group that has done just about everything I can ask them to do outside of winning a state championship. They made Huskies soccer fun and made it something that younger players want to be a part of, and that’s because of them.”
What a senior class it was. It was led by the likes of Cablk, a two-time IHSSCA All-State player, and midfielders Morgan Krause and Ashley Santos.
Krause, an Iowa recruit, moved from center back to midfield and led the team with 17 goals and 12 assists. Santos was the emotional and inspirational heart of the team.
One of five Huskies who will continue their careers in college, the Illinois State-bound Santos produced six goals through her gritty play, including the game-winners in sectional wins over West Aurora and Metea Valley, and 11 assists.
Santos shut the door on Metea Valley twice. In the playoffs, she denied the Mustangs a win and their first sectional championship with the only goal of the game with 26:31 remaining. Her goal in the conference game came with 19:31 left in the second half.
“Ashley is what Naperville North soccer is,” Goletz said after the sectional title victory. “She plays as hard as she can every minute of the game.
“It’s not always pretty, but you know you’re going to get everything she has in her. We’ve got so many of those kids; that’s why we’ve had so much success.”
The senior class also included two terrific outside backs Morgan Lockridge and Miami of Ohio recruit Emily Wilhelm, both four-year varsity standouts, and midfielder Jeanine Valera. Chloe Kotrba contributed eight goals and LSU-bound Caroline Weiss had six goals.
Another senior, Jessica Denney, made her high school debut just 6½ months after ACL surgery and scored a goal and added two assists in seven games. She will room with Santos when the two play at Illinois State.
“I will say it’s the most special group I’ve ever been a part of as far as the sense of family and love that we all have for each other," said Cablk. “Even more than the group two years ago where it still had pieces like (Abbie) Boswell and (Maddie) Krejci
“This group of seniors has just been the closest thing to family that I’ve ever had. I don’t know what I’m going to do without these girls next year.”
Cablk will go down as arguably the greatest goalkeeper in school history, but she didn’t have to make many saves thanks to the backline of Wilhelm, Lockridge and junior twins Alyssa and Jessica Siebers, as well as holding midfielders Santos and Katelynn Buescher, an Illinois-bound junior.
“The seniors have made an incredible impact on this program,” said Cablk, who allowed nine goals this season. “That’s never going to be forgotten.
“These last two years we’ve set and broken our own records. Even though we didn’t get to a state championship, we’ve done things that no other North team has done before, which is something I’m so proud to take credit for and to share the credit with the rest of the seniors.”
It's a group that won't be forgotten.
“It just hurts for me so bad as a coach to know that you’re saying ‘bye’ to these kids today,” Goletz said after the supersectional loss. “I told them that today doesn’t define what they’ve done as a team, and I couldn’t be prouder of how they’ve handled themselves. I just appreciate the fact that they let me in on the ride.”
WAUBONSIE VALLEY
DVC RECORD: 5-3-0 (4TH PLACE) OVERALL RECORD: 11-9-1
PLAYOFF RESULT: Lost to Metea Valley in Waubonsie Valley Regional final
The Warriors fielded one of the youngest teams in the area but also one of the best players in IHSSCA All-State team member Sarah Griffith. The Purdue recruit carried the team on her back for much of the season and had a direct part in 35 of the Warriors’ 59 goals.
Griffith's 24 goals and 11 assists brought her career totals to 52 goals and 32 assists. That’s an impressive body of work, especially considering she had one goal and three assists as a freshman when she started on Waubonsie’s state semifinal team.
“We had so many young players but they teach you everything and one of the challenges for me was leading a team,” Griffith said after the season-ending 1-0 loss to Metea Valley. “I’d never really been in that captain position and having so many young girls to learn from was amazing.
“They stepped up, too, getting their confidence and working on their strengths.”
Two other players continued their rise for the Warriors. Junior forward Kennedy Metzger bagged 16 goals and five assists, while sophomore midfielder Natalie Massa distributed nine assists, including one to Griffith that produced the final goal in the season’s biggest upset, a 2-0 win over Naperville North that ended the Huskies’ bid for a second-straight DVC title.
The Warriors battled Metea Valley down to the wire, conceding only a fluke goal in the second minute.
“I thought we played good,” Griffith said after the Metea loss. “We had players like Natalie Massa, I’ve never seen her play so hard. She was man-marking (Metea senior) Nicki Hernandez. who is one of the strongest girls, and she completely shut her down.
“Every single girl on this team stepped up tonight. (The goal) was unlucky. You can’t control that, but we’re going to stay positive and celebrate. We had an incredible season and learned so much.”
NAPERVILLE CENTRAL
DVC RECORD: 4-2-2 (5TH PLACE) OVERALL RECORD: 11-8-4
PLAYOFF RESULT: Lost to West Aurora in Naperville Central Regional final
Once again, Naperville Central rode an outstanding defense to the edge of elite status. But the Redhawks fell short, because they rode that defense too hard.
The offense produced only 30 goals, with Marquette recruit Meredith McGuire leading the team in scoring with seven goals and three assists. Fellow senior forward Meridith Hannan added six goals and four assists, but no other player scored more than two goals.
It was reminiscent of the Chicago Bears teams of the 2000s, which wasted a great defense. In Central’s case, the backline had two outstanding center backs in Washington University signee Caitlin Reice and Sarah Avery, a junior who has verbally committed to Northern Illinois.
They helped goalkeeper Kinzly Dressler post 13 shutouts -- the Redhawks surrendered just 21 goals.
“Our younger players came on as the season progressed thanks in large part to the leadership of our senior class,” Naperville Central coach Ed Watson said.
“Ultimately our struggles to score led to our season's end.
“Our schedule is tough enough when you can create goals. It is a gauntlet when you can't.”
Despite the lack of offense, the Redhawks notably advanced to the quarterfinals of the Naperville Invitational and held Naperville North to a scoreless tie, which proved to be the beginning of the end of the Huskies’ attempt to defend their DVC crown.
Reice, Avery, McGuire and senior midfielder Maggie Hillman earned All-DVC honors, while Hannan, Dressler and Maddie Redeker were Honorable Mention All-DVC.
For IHSSCA honors, Reice and Hillman earned All-Sectional recognition, while Dressler and McGuire were Honorable Mention All-Sectional.
WHEATON WARRENVILLE SOUTH
DVC RECORD: 3-5-0 (6TH PLACE) OVERALL RECORD: 9-10-1
PLAYOFF RESULT: Lost to DeKalb in DeKalb regional semifinal
Despite starting a lineup of mostly sophomores, the Tigers’ best results came early in the season. They won their first two DVC games and after 12 games the team overall record stood at 7-4-1.
While the team won the Wheaton Cup and improved throughout the year, the youngsters were unable to break into the league’s top tier and lost their last three games, albeit against the top three teams in Metea Valley, Naperville North and Neuqua Valley.
“Maybe we should have gotten the job done earlier and not left it to the end,” Wheaton Warrenville South coach Guy Callipari said. “I think we sealed our fate early.
“We did what we needed to do to finish where we we’re going to finish, but we thought against Naperville Central (a 1-0 loss) we could have done better. We outshot Waubonsie 17-5 and lost 4-0, and we played pretty well against Metea and lost there. So I guess we didn’t find our way.”
The Tigers lost only 1-0 to Metea, and after conceding twice in the first 10 minutes against Naperville North, held the Huskies scoreless for the final 70 minutes of a 2-0 loss.
“We’re trying to season our young guns a little bit, help them grow to a maturity level in which they can compete against teams like (Naperville North),” Callipari said. “Either trial and error is going to kill us, or we’re going to learn, and we live to see another day.
Several starters were among the seven seniors who graduated. One was defender Elizabeth Aalbue will play at Grace College. What's left is a huge contingent of underclassmen who will continue the fight.
That includes the Tigers’ two most talented players, sophomores Paige Miller and Maria Dohse. Both were All-DVC picks; Miller earned IHSSCA All-Sectional honors and Dohse was IHSSCA Honorable Mention All-Sectional.
Miller, a forward, led the team with nine goals and already has 20 for her career. Dohse, who like Miller also plays varsity basketball, leads the backline.
Also returning will be junior forward Morgan Schwerin, who had six goals, and sophomore midfielder/forward Allie Anderson, who scored twice and tied sophomore Audrey Siebert for the team lead with five assists. All three were IHSSCA Honorable Mention All-Sectional.
“I think we’ve come really far because basically our whole team is sophomores,” Schwerin said. “We’ve learned to work together really well.”
But Schwerin said the Tigers are aware that, as their league record indicates, there is still room for improvement.
“I think it shows us that we need to work harder and nothing is going to be given us in the DVC,” Schwerin said. “It shows how much more we need to work next year.”
WHEATON NORTH
DVC RECORD: 2-5-1 (7TH PLACE) OVERALL RECORD: 8-10-1
PLAYOFF RESULT: Lost to Glenbard West in Geneva Regional semifinal
The Falcons had an up-and-down season, but they put a solid product on the field considering they didn’t have any star players.
Only two graduates will play in college. Defender Addy Lorentsen, will continue her career at Gordon College in Boston, and goalkeeper Katie Sullivan will play at Creighton.
“We had a lot of players come back from last season, and I feel like we were all really focused and motivated,” Lorentsen said. “I think we gave it our all at every practice, and we left this season at a good spot, so for next season the girls can do better.”
The Falcons finished as the runnerup at the Wheaton Invitational and put together a five-game winning streak before going 0-4-1 in their last five games. Wheaton North scored just one goal in that last skein and were shut out in their final four matches, including a 4-2 loss to Glenbard West on penalty kicks in the regional semifinals after a 0-0 tie that epitomized their offensive frustration as well as demonstrating their defensive tenacity.
“That’s what we are,” Wheaton North coach Tim McEvilly said after that game. “We could have played another 100 minutes, and I don’t think we would have given up a goal tonight.
“They weren’t getting behind our defense at all. Any shots that they got were from 30 yards out and (goalkeeper) Katie (Sullivan) really didn’t have any problems with any of them.”
The defense kept the Falcons in nearly every game. They lost only three games by more than two goals.
“The only games we struggled with were against the Valleys,” McEvilly said. “They play with a speed we just didn’t see many times.
“All their forwards and midfielders were very aggressive and if there’s anything at all we struggled with in the back it’s playing against aggressive speed.”
GLENBARD NORTH
DVC RECORD: 1-7-0 (8TH PLACE) OVERALL RECORD: 2-14-1
PLAYOFF RESULT: Lost to St. Charles North in DeKalb Regional semifinal
The Panthers used the 2017 season to grow.
“We had a very young, inexperienced team, with only two seniors, one of whom we brought up to varsity from JV1,” Glenbard North coach David Stanfield said. “Several of the girls play at a decent level of club, but several don’t and that wide disparity within the roster makes it really tough in this conference.
“With all that said, I was pleased with the overall effort and attitude throughout the season. The girls ‘got where they were at,’ so I stressed that we take small achievable goals as the season wore on.”
The Panthers did get one DVC win, edging Lake Park 1-0 and senior Emma Martinez was named All-DVC Honorable Mention. In addition, Stanfield was pleased with the play of freshmen Alexis Bolger, Perla Kamini and Mariela Manuel.
“Alexis and Perla in particular looked at home,” Stanfield said. “And Mariela will only get better with experience.”
LAKE PARK
DVC RECORD: 0-8-0 (9TH PLACE) OVERALL RECORD: 3-19-1
PLAYOFF RESULT: Lost to Geneva in Geneva Regional semifinal
Lake Park coach Sean Crosby knew it would take a while to rebuild the Lancers, so this year’s struggles came as no surprise. But he believes the foundation has been put in place.
“We may have had one of the toughest schedules on paper this spring season which included the strong teams of the DVC and competitive nonconference opponents throughout regular season and tournament play,” Crosby said. “At the start of the season our girls kept their goals in perspective.
“We wanted to remain competitive in all of the games we played in. We wanted to remain positive and supportive as a team throughout every game.
“We also had goals to win DVC conference games which had not been done in the previous season, as well as going the entire season without losing time on the clock.
“We did not accomplish all of the preseason goals we had set for ourselves, but we did experience a transformation as a unit.”
Indeed, the Lancers did improve as the season wore on. The defense allowed 80 goals, though 34 of them were conceded in the first six games against ranked teams Batavia, Naperville North and Nazareth. The other three opening losses came to Waubonsie Valley, Wheaton Warrenville South and Oswego East.
“Believe it or not, that was a better performance than last season. Sophomore goalkeeper Sarah Yochem was the main reason why.
“One goal we were able to accomplish was a significantly lower goals-against average compared to last year,” Crosby said. “This was largely due to the growth of Yochem, who made double-digit saves in seven different games this season.
“Her confidence and ability to close down angles and take risks in net allowed her to stop breakaways in nearly every game this season. Because of her fearlessness, growth and ability in net we named Sarah our Most Improved Player.”
Yochem earned Honorable Mention All-DVC honors and her efforts eventually rubbed off on her teammates, who held Naperville Central to just one goal in a 1-0 late-season loss. They also posted a shutout in a 2-0 regional quarterfinal victory over Addison Trail after an earlier 0-0 tie versus the Blazers.
Stephanie Zachemski was a standout at center back and sweeper.
“Stephanie's speed, positioning and distribution from our defensive area allowed us to withstand continuous attack and transition quickly from our defensive end into our attack,” Crosby said. “Her confidence on the field can be summarized by her game-tying goal against Riverside Brookfield with less than three seconds remaining on the clock.
“After a hand ball earned us a penalty in the box, Steph was brave enough to step up and take the kick, and she had the presence of mind to follow up the initial save to put the ball in the back of the net before time expired. A remarkable moment for Steph who also earned DVC honorable mention this year.”
Crosby also was pleased with junior captain Briana McAloon, who played multiple positions. McAloon was All-DVC and IHSSCA Honorable Mention All-Sectional as well as team MVP.
“One of Briana's greatest strengths is her physicality on the field and ability to challenge every ball in the air with her head,” Crosby said. “She was a presence on the field that many opposing players tried to avoid.
“Although she did not receive the offensive stats similar to the previous season, she played a different role and shined as a lock-down defender at times, most notably helping us to a first half shutout against Naperville Central late in the regular season.”
While the defense improved, Lake Park’s offense remained a work in progress. The Lancers were shut out 18 times in 23 games, though Crosby saw glimmers of hope in the play of juniors Lauren Tarchala and Jaclyn Lamz.
“They provided constant pressure on outside backs and challenged defensive lines with their speed and presence on the ball,” Crosby said. “Their most notable connections came during our opening round regional win against Addison Trail when Jaclyn cut into the center of the field and sent a threading ball to the on-running Tarchala, who buried her second goal of the season and gave us an early lead.
“Tarchala got advanced in our attack again later in that first half and slotted Francesca Ottolino for our second goal which allowed us to move on.”
Tarchala earned Honorable Mention All-DVC honors, while Lamz received the conference sportsmanship award.
“Some of the measures taken by Jaclyn and her teammates have been recognized across the IHSSCA and placed our team as one of three finalists for the Myro Rys sportsmanship award for the state of Illinois,” Crosby said. “I have always said I am most proud of the character this team exemplifies on and off the field, and it is great to see them recognized for this. They certainly deserve it.”
While the Lancers did not earn any points in the DVC, Crosby was pleased with how his players handled defeat.
“Being on the losing end of conference games will test anyone's character, yet our girls never allowed that to shift their focus,” Crosby said. “They continued to show the support they have for each other and respect for the game even when the chips were down.
“They were able to walk off the field proud after each game, because they never quit. Regardless of the result, each game ended with leaders on our field picking others up around them and communicating our expectations to finish strong and feel proud of what we gave on the field.”
By Matt Le Cren
Neuqua Valley pulled off an impressive feat by going through the DuPage Valley Conference undefeated to win the championship in just its second year in the league.
But the most noteworthy of the Wildcats’ eight DVC games might have been the only one they didn’t win. That was the 0-0 draw at defending champion Naperville North, which proved to be the first chink in the Huskies’ formidable armor.
“I think that was a big game for us mentally,” Neuqua senior Haley Singer said. “We really put a lot into that game.
“You could see it as a turning point, because it did make us want to go out there and play harder and beat every team we played.”
The Wildcats did that en route to the league title, though it didn’t translate into deep playoff success. Third-place Naperville North was the last DVC team standing, beating runner-up Metea Valley to win the Class 3A Lockport Sectional title before losing on penalty kicks to Downers Grove North in the Lewis University Supersectional.
Here’s a look at how each school did (click on the school name to link to the team page):
To see the league standings click here.
NEUQUA VALLEY
DVC RECORD: 7-0-1 (CHAMPION) OVERALL RECORD: 12-4-4
PLAYOFF RESULT: Lost to Metea Valley in Lockport Sectional semifinal
The Wildcats’ 5-1 win over Wheaton Warrenville South on May 18 was a momentous occasion. The regular season finale came on Senior Day and literally was a crowning achievement for a team with seven Division I commits, several of whom returned to the team after a couple years of playing club ball.
“It’s a really big thing for us, winning the DVC,” Illinois-bound senior Haley Singer said afterward. “We’re all super excited about it. ... Winning the DVC gives us a lot of confidence.”
Senior Allie Fullriede, a Northern Illinois commit who was one of the club refugees, celebrated Senior Day with the first two-goal game of her career.
The Wildcats crushed East Aurora 9-0 and Lockport 5-0 to win the Lockport Regional championship to extend their winning streak to six games.
But the fun ended in the sectional semifinals, where Metea Valley eliminated Neuqua with a 3-1 win.
“It was two very good teams,” Neuqua coach Joe Moreau said after the game. “They were a little bit better than us today.”
The loss could not take the shine off the DVC championship.
“It’s fun,” Moreau said. “It’s arguably the toughest conference around and to go undefeated in it, you’ve got to be happy.”
“I’m very proud of our team. It was a real good season and a great group of young ladies. The toughest part is not being able to practice with them tomorrow.”
Marquette signee Alyssa Bombacino earned IHSSCA All-State honors for the Wildcats. Bombacino, Nicole Mondi, Ryan Gareis, Erin Sweda and Jenna Lafftery were All-DVC.
Those players were just a few members of a squad that had no weak links, which according to Fullriede why the Wildcats prevailed in the DVC.
“I don’t doubt one player on this team when we step onto the field,” Fullriede said after the Wheaton Warrenville South game. “Every girl on this team shows up and works their butt off every single game, no matter if we’re playing (Naperville) North or Lake Park.”
METEA VALLEY
DVC RECORD: 6-2-0 (2ND PLACE) OVERALL RECORD: 16-4-4
PLAYOFF RESULT: Lost to Naperville North in Lockport Sectional final
Metea Valley junior Sophia Senese loves the DVC.
“It’s a lot of fun playing against good competition,” Senese said.
The Mustangs not only play good competition, they compete. In their first two years in the league they posted an 11-4-1 record and have not finished lower than third.
That success has translated into the postseason, where the Mustangs have advanced to the sectional title game four years in a row.
This year was especially impressive considering they don’t have nearly as many Division I recruits as rivals like Naperville North and Neuqua Valley. They knocked off Waubonsie Valley twice on the road, including in the regional final, and avenged a loss to Neuqua Valley by eliminating the league champs 3-1 in the sectional semifinal.
“We had a bunch of tough games leading up to this,” Senese said after the win over Neuqua. “Although some of those games didn’t finish how we wanted, we knew that it would be preparing us for these types of games when it really mattered.”
The Mustangs prevailed despite a lack of across-the-board stars. DePaul-bound Jade Eriksen-Russo and Michigan recruit Nicki Hernandez are two of the best players in the area, but neither scored in the sectional win over Neuqua.
Instead, Senese set up sophomore Sophia Majher on what turned out to be the game-winning goal. Both players are uncommitted.
“I feel like we are a team,” Majher said. “Even though we don’t have that many commits, we just work really well together.
“We all have a lot of passion, and we all love the game. We all want to win, and that’s what works, I guess.”
A loss to Naperville North, which has eliminated the Mustangs in each of the past two years, ended Metea’s quest for its first sectional title as well as the prep career of Eriksen-Russo, who tallied 21 goals this spring to finish with 65 overall, one shy of the school’s career scoring record held by Jenna Kentgen.
“Something about this team is just special,” Eriksen-Russo said. “We all just love each other so much, regardless of the soccer part.
“We always brought our hardest (effort), and we all brought a different personality. This team was great, and I couldn’t have imagined ending my career with a better group of girls.
“I hope the younger girls just coming in know how much heart and soul this team brings to the field. They’ll want to put their cleats on and hop on.”
Metea coach Chris Whaley knows what the players put into the season.
“You need a little bit of talent because great players can make a difference at times, but really what you need is girls who give your best for you every day and this group is awesome in that regard,” Whaley said. “The kids really do play with everything they have because they just really love the program so much.
“I couldn’t ask for more. You hope for the results but it’s never guaranteed.
“Work hard, play hard and do your best. These girls did that.”
NAPERVILLE NORTH
DVC RECORD: 5-1-2 (3RD PLACE) OVERALL RECORD: 20-3-3
PLAYOFF RESULT: Lost to Downers Grove North in Lewis U. Supersectional
In terms of star power, there may have never been a more talented team that did not make it to the state finals.
Upset supersectional losses to Cinderella teams in each of the past two seasons derailed the Huskies’ quest for a state championship, but that shouldn’t take the shine off what was an amazing two-season run.
Since the start of the 2016 season, Naperville North has gone 41-5-4 and posted an incredible 39 shutouts, all with Illinois-bound Elizabeth Cablk in goal. The Huskies shut out 19 opponents last year, breaking the school record in the process, and broke it again this spring with 20 shutouts, including nine in a row to end the season.
Unfortunately, the 20th shutout turned out to be a loss as upstart Downers Grove North edged them 5-4 on penalty kicks. The Trojans, who were making their supersectional debut, won the six-round shootout 5-4 after the sides deadlocked 0-0 through regulation and two overtimes.
“It’s one of those things that has plagued us a little bit this year,” Naperville North coach Steve Goletz said. “Defensively, we once again get a shutout but at tournament time it eventually gets down to penalty kicks.
“It’s the worst way to lose. It really burns, but it doesn’t take away from what this senior group has done for this program.
“It’s a program that’s rich in success, but this is a group that has done just about everything I can ask them to do outside of winning a state championship. They made Huskies soccer fun and made it something that younger players want to be a part of, and that’s because of them.”
What a senior class it was. It was led by the likes of Cablk, a two-time IHSSCA All-State player, and midfielders Morgan Krause and Ashley Santos.
Krause, an Iowa recruit, moved from center back to midfield and led the team with 17 goals and 12 assists. Santos was the emotional and inspirational heart of the team.
One of five Huskies who will continue their careers in college, the Illinois State-bound Santos produced six goals through her gritty play, including the game-winners in sectional wins over West Aurora and Metea Valley, and 11 assists.
Santos shut the door on Metea Valley twice. In the playoffs, she denied the Mustangs a win and their first sectional championship with the only goal of the game with 26:31 remaining. Her goal in the conference game came with 19:31 left in the second half.
“Ashley is what Naperville North soccer is,” Goletz said after the sectional title victory. “She plays as hard as she can every minute of the game.
“It’s not always pretty, but you know you’re going to get everything she has in her. We’ve got so many of those kids; that’s why we’ve had so much success.”
The senior class also included two terrific outside backs Morgan Lockridge and Miami of Ohio recruit Emily Wilhelm, both four-year varsity standouts, and midfielder Jeanine Valera. Chloe Kotrba contributed eight goals and LSU-bound Caroline Weiss had six goals.
Another senior, Jessica Denney, made her high school debut just 6½ months after ACL surgery and scored a goal and added two assists in seven games. She will room with Santos when the two play at Illinois State.
“I will say it’s the most special group I’ve ever been a part of as far as the sense of family and love that we all have for each other," said Cablk. “Even more than the group two years ago where it still had pieces like (Abbie) Boswell and (Maddie) Krejci
“This group of seniors has just been the closest thing to family that I’ve ever had. I don’t know what I’m going to do without these girls next year.”
Cablk will go down as arguably the greatest goalkeeper in school history, but she didn’t have to make many saves thanks to the backline of Wilhelm, Lockridge and junior twins Alyssa and Jessica Siebers, as well as holding midfielders Santos and Katelynn Buescher, an Illinois-bound junior.
“The seniors have made an incredible impact on this program,” said Cablk, who allowed nine goals this season. “That’s never going to be forgotten.
“These last two years we’ve set and broken our own records. Even though we didn’t get to a state championship, we’ve done things that no other North team has done before, which is something I’m so proud to take credit for and to share the credit with the rest of the seniors.”
It's a group that won't be forgotten.
“It just hurts for me so bad as a coach to know that you’re saying ‘bye’ to these kids today,” Goletz said after the supersectional loss. “I told them that today doesn’t define what they’ve done as a team, and I couldn’t be prouder of how they’ve handled themselves. I just appreciate the fact that they let me in on the ride.”
WAUBONSIE VALLEY
DVC RECORD: 5-3-0 (4TH PLACE) OVERALL RECORD: 11-9-1
PLAYOFF RESULT: Lost to Metea Valley in Waubonsie Valley Regional final
The Warriors fielded one of the youngest teams in the area but also one of the best players in IHSSCA All-State team member Sarah Griffith. The Purdue recruit carried the team on her back for much of the season and had a direct part in 35 of the Warriors’ 59 goals.
Griffith's 24 goals and 11 assists brought her career totals to 52 goals and 32 assists. That’s an impressive body of work, especially considering she had one goal and three assists as a freshman when she started on Waubonsie’s state semifinal team.
“We had so many young players but they teach you everything and one of the challenges for me was leading a team,” Griffith said after the season-ending 1-0 loss to Metea Valley. “I’d never really been in that captain position and having so many young girls to learn from was amazing.
“They stepped up, too, getting their confidence and working on their strengths.”
Two other players continued their rise for the Warriors. Junior forward Kennedy Metzger bagged 16 goals and five assists, while sophomore midfielder Natalie Massa distributed nine assists, including one to Griffith that produced the final goal in the season’s biggest upset, a 2-0 win over Naperville North that ended the Huskies’ bid for a second-straight DVC title.
The Warriors battled Metea Valley down to the wire, conceding only a fluke goal in the second minute.
“I thought we played good,” Griffith said after the Metea loss. “We had players like Natalie Massa, I’ve never seen her play so hard. She was man-marking (Metea senior) Nicki Hernandez. who is one of the strongest girls, and she completely shut her down.
“Every single girl on this team stepped up tonight. (The goal) was unlucky. You can’t control that, but we’re going to stay positive and celebrate. We had an incredible season and learned so much.”
NAPERVILLE CENTRAL
DVC RECORD: 4-2-2 (5TH PLACE) OVERALL RECORD: 11-8-4
PLAYOFF RESULT: Lost to West Aurora in Naperville Central Regional final
Once again, Naperville Central rode an outstanding defense to the edge of elite status. But the Redhawks fell short, because they rode that defense too hard.
The offense produced only 30 goals, with Marquette recruit Meredith McGuire leading the team in scoring with seven goals and three assists. Fellow senior forward Meridith Hannan added six goals and four assists, but no other player scored more than two goals.
It was reminiscent of the Chicago Bears teams of the 2000s, which wasted a great defense. In Central’s case, the backline had two outstanding center backs in Washington University signee Caitlin Reice and Sarah Avery, a junior who has verbally committed to Northern Illinois.
They helped goalkeeper Kinzly Dressler post 13 shutouts -- the Redhawks surrendered just 21 goals.
“Our younger players came on as the season progressed thanks in large part to the leadership of our senior class,” Naperville Central coach Ed Watson said.
“Ultimately our struggles to score led to our season's end.
“Our schedule is tough enough when you can create goals. It is a gauntlet when you can't.”
Despite the lack of offense, the Redhawks notably advanced to the quarterfinals of the Naperville Invitational and held Naperville North to a scoreless tie, which proved to be the beginning of the end of the Huskies’ attempt to defend their DVC crown.
Reice, Avery, McGuire and senior midfielder Maggie Hillman earned All-DVC honors, while Hannan, Dressler and Maddie Redeker were Honorable Mention All-DVC.
For IHSSCA honors, Reice and Hillman earned All-Sectional recognition, while Dressler and McGuire were Honorable Mention All-Sectional.
WHEATON WARRENVILLE SOUTH
DVC RECORD: 3-5-0 (6TH PLACE) OVERALL RECORD: 9-10-1
PLAYOFF RESULT: Lost to DeKalb in DeKalb regional semifinal
Despite starting a lineup of mostly sophomores, the Tigers’ best results came early in the season. They won their first two DVC games and after 12 games the team overall record stood at 7-4-1.
While the team won the Wheaton Cup and improved throughout the year, the youngsters were unable to break into the league’s top tier and lost their last three games, albeit against the top three teams in Metea Valley, Naperville North and Neuqua Valley.
“Maybe we should have gotten the job done earlier and not left it to the end,” Wheaton Warrenville South coach Guy Callipari said. “I think we sealed our fate early.
“We did what we needed to do to finish where we we’re going to finish, but we thought against Naperville Central (a 1-0 loss) we could have done better. We outshot Waubonsie 17-5 and lost 4-0, and we played pretty well against Metea and lost there. So I guess we didn’t find our way.”
The Tigers lost only 1-0 to Metea, and after conceding twice in the first 10 minutes against Naperville North, held the Huskies scoreless for the final 70 minutes of a 2-0 loss.
“We’re trying to season our young guns a little bit, help them grow to a maturity level in which they can compete against teams like (Naperville North),” Callipari said. “Either trial and error is going to kill us, or we’re going to learn, and we live to see another day.
Several starters were among the seven seniors who graduated. One was defender Elizabeth Aalbue will play at Grace College. What's left is a huge contingent of underclassmen who will continue the fight.
That includes the Tigers’ two most talented players, sophomores Paige Miller and Maria Dohse. Both were All-DVC picks; Miller earned IHSSCA All-Sectional honors and Dohse was IHSSCA Honorable Mention All-Sectional.
Miller, a forward, led the team with nine goals and already has 20 for her career. Dohse, who like Miller also plays varsity basketball, leads the backline.
Also returning will be junior forward Morgan Schwerin, who had six goals, and sophomore midfielder/forward Allie Anderson, who scored twice and tied sophomore Audrey Siebert for the team lead with five assists. All three were IHSSCA Honorable Mention All-Sectional.
“I think we’ve come really far because basically our whole team is sophomores,” Schwerin said. “We’ve learned to work together really well.”
But Schwerin said the Tigers are aware that, as their league record indicates, there is still room for improvement.
“I think it shows us that we need to work harder and nothing is going to be given us in the DVC,” Schwerin said. “It shows how much more we need to work next year.”
WHEATON NORTH
DVC RECORD: 2-5-1 (7TH PLACE) OVERALL RECORD: 8-10-1
PLAYOFF RESULT: Lost to Glenbard West in Geneva Regional semifinal
The Falcons had an up-and-down season, but they put a solid product on the field considering they didn’t have any star players.
Only two graduates will play in college. Defender Addy Lorentsen, will continue her career at Gordon College in Boston, and goalkeeper Katie Sullivan will play at Creighton.
“We had a lot of players come back from last season, and I feel like we were all really focused and motivated,” Lorentsen said. “I think we gave it our all at every practice, and we left this season at a good spot, so for next season the girls can do better.”
The Falcons finished as the runnerup at the Wheaton Invitational and put together a five-game winning streak before going 0-4-1 in their last five games. Wheaton North scored just one goal in that last skein and were shut out in their final four matches, including a 4-2 loss to Glenbard West on penalty kicks in the regional semifinals after a 0-0 tie that epitomized their offensive frustration as well as demonstrating their defensive tenacity.
“That’s what we are,” Wheaton North coach Tim McEvilly said after that game. “We could have played another 100 minutes, and I don’t think we would have given up a goal tonight.
“They weren’t getting behind our defense at all. Any shots that they got were from 30 yards out and (goalkeeper) Katie (Sullivan) really didn’t have any problems with any of them.”
The defense kept the Falcons in nearly every game. They lost only three games by more than two goals.
“The only games we struggled with were against the Valleys,” McEvilly said. “They play with a speed we just didn’t see many times.
“All their forwards and midfielders were very aggressive and if there’s anything at all we struggled with in the back it’s playing against aggressive speed.”
GLENBARD NORTH
DVC RECORD: 1-7-0 (8TH PLACE) OVERALL RECORD: 2-14-1
PLAYOFF RESULT: Lost to St. Charles North in DeKalb Regional semifinal
The Panthers used the 2017 season to grow.
“We had a very young, inexperienced team, with only two seniors, one of whom we brought up to varsity from JV1,” Glenbard North coach David Stanfield said. “Several of the girls play at a decent level of club, but several don’t and that wide disparity within the roster makes it really tough in this conference.
“With all that said, I was pleased with the overall effort and attitude throughout the season. The girls ‘got where they were at,’ so I stressed that we take small achievable goals as the season wore on.”
The Panthers did get one DVC win, edging Lake Park 1-0 and senior Emma Martinez was named All-DVC Honorable Mention. In addition, Stanfield was pleased with the play of freshmen Alexis Bolger, Perla Kamini and Mariela Manuel.
“Alexis and Perla in particular looked at home,” Stanfield said. “And Mariela will only get better with experience.”
LAKE PARK
DVC RECORD: 0-8-0 (9TH PLACE) OVERALL RECORD: 3-19-1
PLAYOFF RESULT: Lost to Geneva in Geneva Regional semifinal
Lake Park coach Sean Crosby knew it would take a while to rebuild the Lancers, so this year’s struggles came as no surprise. But he believes the foundation has been put in place.
“We may have had one of the toughest schedules on paper this spring season which included the strong teams of the DVC and competitive nonconference opponents throughout regular season and tournament play,” Crosby said. “At the start of the season our girls kept their goals in perspective.
“We wanted to remain competitive in all of the games we played in. We wanted to remain positive and supportive as a team throughout every game.
“We also had goals to win DVC conference games which had not been done in the previous season, as well as going the entire season without losing time on the clock.
“We did not accomplish all of the preseason goals we had set for ourselves, but we did experience a transformation as a unit.”
Indeed, the Lancers did improve as the season wore on. The defense allowed 80 goals, though 34 of them were conceded in the first six games against ranked teams Batavia, Naperville North and Nazareth. The other three opening losses came to Waubonsie Valley, Wheaton Warrenville South and Oswego East.
“Believe it or not, that was a better performance than last season. Sophomore goalkeeper Sarah Yochem was the main reason why.
“One goal we were able to accomplish was a significantly lower goals-against average compared to last year,” Crosby said. “This was largely due to the growth of Yochem, who made double-digit saves in seven different games this season.
“Her confidence and ability to close down angles and take risks in net allowed her to stop breakaways in nearly every game this season. Because of her fearlessness, growth and ability in net we named Sarah our Most Improved Player.”
Yochem earned Honorable Mention All-DVC honors and her efforts eventually rubbed off on her teammates, who held Naperville Central to just one goal in a 1-0 late-season loss. They also posted a shutout in a 2-0 regional quarterfinal victory over Addison Trail after an earlier 0-0 tie versus the Blazers.
Stephanie Zachemski was a standout at center back and sweeper.
“Stephanie's speed, positioning and distribution from our defensive area allowed us to withstand continuous attack and transition quickly from our defensive end into our attack,” Crosby said. “Her confidence on the field can be summarized by her game-tying goal against Riverside Brookfield with less than three seconds remaining on the clock.
“After a hand ball earned us a penalty in the box, Steph was brave enough to step up and take the kick, and she had the presence of mind to follow up the initial save to put the ball in the back of the net before time expired. A remarkable moment for Steph who also earned DVC honorable mention this year.”
Crosby also was pleased with junior captain Briana McAloon, who played multiple positions. McAloon was All-DVC and IHSSCA Honorable Mention All-Sectional as well as team MVP.
“One of Briana's greatest strengths is her physicality on the field and ability to challenge every ball in the air with her head,” Crosby said. “She was a presence on the field that many opposing players tried to avoid.
“Although she did not receive the offensive stats similar to the previous season, she played a different role and shined as a lock-down defender at times, most notably helping us to a first half shutout against Naperville Central late in the regular season.”
While the defense improved, Lake Park’s offense remained a work in progress. The Lancers were shut out 18 times in 23 games, though Crosby saw glimmers of hope in the play of juniors Lauren Tarchala and Jaclyn Lamz.
“They provided constant pressure on outside backs and challenged defensive lines with their speed and presence on the ball,” Crosby said. “Their most notable connections came during our opening round regional win against Addison Trail when Jaclyn cut into the center of the field and sent a threading ball to the on-running Tarchala, who buried her second goal of the season and gave us an early lead.
“Tarchala got advanced in our attack again later in that first half and slotted Francesca Ottolino for our second goal which allowed us to move on.”
Tarchala earned Honorable Mention All-DVC honors, while Lamz received the conference sportsmanship award.
“Some of the measures taken by Jaclyn and her teammates have been recognized across the IHSSCA and placed our team as one of three finalists for the Myro Rys sportsmanship award for the state of Illinois,” Crosby said. “I have always said I am most proud of the character this team exemplifies on and off the field, and it is great to see them recognized for this. They certainly deserve it.”
While the Lancers did not earn any points in the DVC, Crosby was pleased with how his players handled defeat.
“Being on the losing end of conference games will test anyone's character, yet our girls never allowed that to shift their focus,” Crosby said. “They continued to show the support they have for each other and respect for the game even when the chips were down.
“They were able to walk off the field proud after each game, because they never quit. Regardless of the result, each game ended with leaders on our field picking others up around them and communicating our expectations to finish strong and feel proud of what we gave on the field.”