Team preview: Deerfield
By Rusty Silber
Trying to resume the soccer season is a huge matter on everyone’s minds. After a couple weeks of practice. Deerfield along with the rest of the state have been put on hold with the Coronavirus crisis.
When things hopefully pick back up, the Warriors look ahead with its expectations on the rise.
The team played much better at the end of the 2019 season. It hopes to build on that momentum after a finish 6-3-1 in their final 10 games after a 7-9-1 start.
A 2-1 overtime loss to Wauconda in the sectional semifinals ended the campaign. That Bulldogs team went on to finish second in the Class AA state tournament. Wauconda held a 1-0 lead with one minute 46 seconds left in regulation when Benet scored and went on to win the title 2-1 in overtime.
Though Deerfield graduated 13 seniors from last year’s squad, they have numerous players back with plenty of talent. Nine players return from the starting lineup.
"This is the deepest and most talented team we've had from top to bottom," Deerfield coach Rich Grady said. "Last year, we battled through a lot of injuries and illnesses."
Senior midfielder Malori Killoren, a three-year varsity starter and two-time Chicagoland Soccer All-Stater, missed half of the season with mono and still recorded 17 goals and 4 assists. In her career she has 51 goals and 19 assists, including a number of spectacular efforts, since stepping on the field as a freshman.
"Malori is the most skilled player I have ever coached," Grady said. "She can take over a game in an instant. She makes everyone around her better, and she's an incredibly hard worker."
Killoren leads by example on the field.
"The other girls really look up to her for her skill," Grady said. "But, also for the fact that she is very humble about her ability. She never acts like she's better than anyone else."
Returning Warriors include: seniors, Mallory Sawyer (MF) and Emma Pelz (D); juniors, Megan David (D), Demi Friedman (F), Lexi Strauss (D), Isa Devila (GK) and Gabi Sipe (GK); sophomores, Holly Deutsch (F), Emma Gassman (MF), Ally Linn (D), Kate Morgan (D) and Riley Schimanski (F).
"This team this season, I think we have a really good group this year," Killoren said. "From the returning players to the new ones coming in. The intensity is really high among everybody from what we've seen in the first couple weeks of practice. We want to see what were capable of and where we can go this year."
Other players who look to make their mark include: seniors, Lauren Cowell (MF) and Cassidy Hanna (F); juniors, Anna Fang (MF), Noa Friedland (F), Izzy Johnson (D), Camille Rivera (MF), and Tyler Schreiber (D); sophomores, Erin Emory (MF) and Felecia Kotowsky (D), and freshman Simone Criz (F).
"What I like about this group is that they are totally focused on doing well as a team," Grady said. "When we voted for captains, it was only unanimous vote for all three captains that I have ever seen. Pelz, Sawyer and Killoren are the unquestioned leaders, but even the younger players are focused and committed to doing the little things needed for success."
That has kept the players at home away from school. However, the Warriors have been involved with e-learning and finding other ways in staying in shape for soccer.
"We have done Zoom meetings," Grady said. "The girls have worked out on their own, and we featured each player on our twitter feed."
The players are waiting day-by-day for when they can get back on the pitch.
"The girls are ready and really just want to go back," Grady said. "They want to get back to normal and get on the field together."
To help pass the time, Deerfield has highlighted its players on its Twitter feed. Some highlights follow:
Johnson has United States Women's National Team and National Women's Soccer League player Abby Wambach's jersey from her last professional game.
Colwell, Sawyer and Friedman will be carrying over success from the Class 3A girls basketball team that won a regional in February.
Schimanski is a second-generation Warrior. Her dad played football and basketball at Deerfield.
Click here to see the Warriors team page!
By Rusty Silber
Trying to resume the soccer season is a huge matter on everyone’s minds. After a couple weeks of practice. Deerfield along with the rest of the state have been put on hold with the Coronavirus crisis.
When things hopefully pick back up, the Warriors look ahead with its expectations on the rise.
The team played much better at the end of the 2019 season. It hopes to build on that momentum after a finish 6-3-1 in their final 10 games after a 7-9-1 start.
A 2-1 overtime loss to Wauconda in the sectional semifinals ended the campaign. That Bulldogs team went on to finish second in the Class AA state tournament. Wauconda held a 1-0 lead with one minute 46 seconds left in regulation when Benet scored and went on to win the title 2-1 in overtime.
Though Deerfield graduated 13 seniors from last year’s squad, they have numerous players back with plenty of talent. Nine players return from the starting lineup.
"This is the deepest and most talented team we've had from top to bottom," Deerfield coach Rich Grady said. "Last year, we battled through a lot of injuries and illnesses."
Senior midfielder Malori Killoren, a three-year varsity starter and two-time Chicagoland Soccer All-Stater, missed half of the season with mono and still recorded 17 goals and 4 assists. In her career she has 51 goals and 19 assists, including a number of spectacular efforts, since stepping on the field as a freshman.
"Malori is the most skilled player I have ever coached," Grady said. "She can take over a game in an instant. She makes everyone around her better, and she's an incredibly hard worker."
Killoren leads by example on the field.
"The other girls really look up to her for her skill," Grady said. "But, also for the fact that she is very humble about her ability. She never acts like she's better than anyone else."
Returning Warriors include: seniors, Mallory Sawyer (MF) and Emma Pelz (D); juniors, Megan David (D), Demi Friedman (F), Lexi Strauss (D), Isa Devila (GK) and Gabi Sipe (GK); sophomores, Holly Deutsch (F), Emma Gassman (MF), Ally Linn (D), Kate Morgan (D) and Riley Schimanski (F).
"This team this season, I think we have a really good group this year," Killoren said. "From the returning players to the new ones coming in. The intensity is really high among everybody from what we've seen in the first couple weeks of practice. We want to see what were capable of and where we can go this year."
Other players who look to make their mark include: seniors, Lauren Cowell (MF) and Cassidy Hanna (F); juniors, Anna Fang (MF), Noa Friedland (F), Izzy Johnson (D), Camille Rivera (MF), and Tyler Schreiber (D); sophomores, Erin Emory (MF) and Felecia Kotowsky (D), and freshman Simone Criz (F).
"What I like about this group is that they are totally focused on doing well as a team," Grady said. "When we voted for captains, it was only unanimous vote for all three captains that I have ever seen. Pelz, Sawyer and Killoren are the unquestioned leaders, but even the younger players are focused and committed to doing the little things needed for success."
That has kept the players at home away from school. However, the Warriors have been involved with e-learning and finding other ways in staying in shape for soccer.
"We have done Zoom meetings," Grady said. "The girls have worked out on their own, and we featured each player on our twitter feed."
The players are waiting day-by-day for when they can get back on the pitch.
"The girls are ready and really just want to go back," Grady said. "They want to get back to normal and get on the field together."
To help pass the time, Deerfield has highlighted its players on its Twitter feed. Some highlights follow:
Johnson has United States Women's National Team and National Women's Soccer League player Abby Wambach's jersey from her last professional game.
Colwell, Sawyer and Friedman will be carrying over success from the Class 3A girls basketball team that won a regional in February.
Schimanski is a second-generation Warrior. Her dad played football and basketball at Deerfield.
Click here to see the Warriors team page!