Team preview: Evanston
By Mike Garofola
With the luxury of having two quality keepers, it's no wonder Evanston went 14-6-2 a year ago, won a regional title and collected nine clean-sheets along the way.
Current senior Sylvi Imrem shared the work with Class of 2021 member Caitlin Fitzpatrick for manager Stacy Salgado and the duo claimed a tidy 0.92 goals against average on the season.
All of this was accomplished with a roster that included one-half dozen freshmen, including Sarah Bollinger and Carly Menocal, who earned time along the backline in front of Imrem.
"We may have lost some very good players from a year ago, but there's some really talented players back this season," Imrem said. "So I feel if we can get back out there this season, our chances to succeed will be good."
Graduated seniors Hadley Bushala, Keara Kerr and Katarina (Kat) Sehgal were a superb trio for the Wildkits. The gritty four-year veterans played in college last fall: Bushala at NYU; Kerr at Miami (Ohio); and Sehgal in club soccer at Wisconsin.
Evanston's next team plans to continue the program's history of success.
"I like the way our roster is put together," Imrem said. "We're still very young with (five) new sophomores, giving us (10), and one freshmen. But we have so many players back who gained plenty of experience, and I feel have something to prove this season."
Both keepers appeared ready to prove they belonged on the big club back in 2018. However Imrem caught her new boots in the turf and suffered a high ankle sprain that forced her onto the injured list for nearly six weeks. Just as unlucky was Fitzpatrick, who broke a pinky finger, which required surgery.
"(That) was not fun," recounted Imrem. "It was so disappointing for both of us to be injured at the same time."
The unfortunate set of circumstances tested the depth and versatility of the Wildkits system. Salgado was forced to throw defender and co-captain Ruby Siegel between the sticks and pull up then sophomore midfielder Abra Levin from the JV to serve as a part-time goalkeeping starter.
The subsitutes were a success for Evanston. Levin wore the gloves in the first 11 in a Lou Malnati's Deep Dish Classic final that saw the Wildkits fall 1-0 to league rival Glenbrook South.
Last spring, Evanston came into the postseason on its front foot and defeated eventual Class AA state champion Benet in its season finale. The Wildkits sent off Von Steuben and city champion Lane to lift their sixth-consecutive regional trophy.
Four days later, the 2019 campaign came to an abrupt end when the Wildkits lost in kicks to Glenbrook South.
"(PKs) is a brutal way to decide a winner, but that's our sport," said Imrem, who was in goal for the shootout session.
Imrem, who also was the lone female wrestler in the Wildkits program as a freshman, began her career as a keeper at the start of middle school. She has a clear vision of where she wants to continue her education.
She is waiting to hear if she was accepted at West Point. Her back-up plan is attending Hamilton College in Clinton, New York, where she would play soccer.
"Obviously, my first choice is West Point, but my love of the East Coast drew me to Hamilton, so that's my second option," said Imrem.
At West Point, all students must participate in a sport, and Imrem says at this juncture, that sport would be rugby.
Hamilton College also fits the bill for Imrem. It's a Division III school that excels in academics and competes in a conference which includes Amherst and Tufts.
"I first noticed Hamilton when I went there for keeper summer camps," she said. "So I became familiar with the campus, its surroundings, and, of course their academics, which are very important to me."
Imrem's current interests after college include politics, law or international relations. At Evanston, she carries a 4.43 grade point average on a 4.0 scale.
Her wide range of interests outside of soccer include Wildkit Buddies, which pairs high school students with their special needs peers to provide academic and tutoring support.
Imrem has worked alongside the school's athletic trainers during her four years. In addition, she has partnered with Evanston athletic director Chris Livatino in a program designed to bring awareness to many different sports at the school.
"In the fall and winter, the focus is always on football, then basketball, and the spring sports really get overlooked," said Imrem.
"Getting out there to support your friends and classmates is a good thing, and it can be a lot of fun at the same time.
"So, we're trying to make everyone more aware of the 'other' sports at Evanston, especially, girls sports. It's something I enjoy and feel very strongly about."
With the third quarter ending just prior to the COVID-19 crisis, Imrem has been staying on task with her school work along with workouts on her own.
"I'm getting some running and biking in, lifting, just doing what I can to stay in shape and ready. "We all want to get out there and play," she said.
2020 Evanston Wildkits
Manager: Stacy Salgado (4th year, 43-20-8).
2019 Record: 14-6-2 (2-2-1)
Graduation losses: Hadley Bushala, Annika DeStefano, Keara Kerr, Kelly Kleschen, Katarina Sehgal.
Top returning players: seniors, Sylvi Imren (GK), Abra Levin (F), Lily Hollingsworth (MF/F), Callista O'Connor (F), Kathryn Petersen (D); juniors, Eloise Gilbert Bartell (D/MF), Caitlin Fitzpatrick (GK), Josie Hansen (MF), Ruby Rogers (D/MF); sophomores, Nahla Dominguez (MF), Lucinda Lindland (D/MF), Carly Menocal (D), Sarah Sollinger (D/MF), Nadia VanDenBerg (MF-F), Brealyn Viamille (F).
New faces to watch: junior Alyssa Kimmel (D-MF); sophomores Shea Ackman (MF), Sofia Bailey (F), Eleanor Oif (D) and Stella Tobin (MF); and freshman Adrianna Merriam (F).
By Mike Garofola
With the luxury of having two quality keepers, it's no wonder Evanston went 14-6-2 a year ago, won a regional title and collected nine clean-sheets along the way.
Current senior Sylvi Imrem shared the work with Class of 2021 member Caitlin Fitzpatrick for manager Stacy Salgado and the duo claimed a tidy 0.92 goals against average on the season.
All of this was accomplished with a roster that included one-half dozen freshmen, including Sarah Bollinger and Carly Menocal, who earned time along the backline in front of Imrem.
"We may have lost some very good players from a year ago, but there's some really talented players back this season," Imrem said. "So I feel if we can get back out there this season, our chances to succeed will be good."
Graduated seniors Hadley Bushala, Keara Kerr and Katarina (Kat) Sehgal were a superb trio for the Wildkits. The gritty four-year veterans played in college last fall: Bushala at NYU; Kerr at Miami (Ohio); and Sehgal in club soccer at Wisconsin.
Evanston's next team plans to continue the program's history of success.
"I like the way our roster is put together," Imrem said. "We're still very young with (five) new sophomores, giving us (10), and one freshmen. But we have so many players back who gained plenty of experience, and I feel have something to prove this season."
Both keepers appeared ready to prove they belonged on the big club back in 2018. However Imrem caught her new boots in the turf and suffered a high ankle sprain that forced her onto the injured list for nearly six weeks. Just as unlucky was Fitzpatrick, who broke a pinky finger, which required surgery.
"(That) was not fun," recounted Imrem. "It was so disappointing for both of us to be injured at the same time."
The unfortunate set of circumstances tested the depth and versatility of the Wildkits system. Salgado was forced to throw defender and co-captain Ruby Siegel between the sticks and pull up then sophomore midfielder Abra Levin from the JV to serve as a part-time goalkeeping starter.
The subsitutes were a success for Evanston. Levin wore the gloves in the first 11 in a Lou Malnati's Deep Dish Classic final that saw the Wildkits fall 1-0 to league rival Glenbrook South.
Last spring, Evanston came into the postseason on its front foot and defeated eventual Class AA state champion Benet in its season finale. The Wildkits sent off Von Steuben and city champion Lane to lift their sixth-consecutive regional trophy.
Four days later, the 2019 campaign came to an abrupt end when the Wildkits lost in kicks to Glenbrook South.
"(PKs) is a brutal way to decide a winner, but that's our sport," said Imrem, who was in goal for the shootout session.
Imrem, who also was the lone female wrestler in the Wildkits program as a freshman, began her career as a keeper at the start of middle school. She has a clear vision of where she wants to continue her education.
She is waiting to hear if she was accepted at West Point. Her back-up plan is attending Hamilton College in Clinton, New York, where she would play soccer.
"Obviously, my first choice is West Point, but my love of the East Coast drew me to Hamilton, so that's my second option," said Imrem.
At West Point, all students must participate in a sport, and Imrem says at this juncture, that sport would be rugby.
Hamilton College also fits the bill for Imrem. It's a Division III school that excels in academics and competes in a conference which includes Amherst and Tufts.
"I first noticed Hamilton when I went there for keeper summer camps," she said. "So I became familiar with the campus, its surroundings, and, of course their academics, which are very important to me."
Imrem's current interests after college include politics, law or international relations. At Evanston, she carries a 4.43 grade point average on a 4.0 scale.
Her wide range of interests outside of soccer include Wildkit Buddies, which pairs high school students with their special needs peers to provide academic and tutoring support.
Imrem has worked alongside the school's athletic trainers during her four years. In addition, she has partnered with Evanston athletic director Chris Livatino in a program designed to bring awareness to many different sports at the school.
"In the fall and winter, the focus is always on football, then basketball, and the spring sports really get overlooked," said Imrem.
"Getting out there to support your friends and classmates is a good thing, and it can be a lot of fun at the same time.
"So, we're trying to make everyone more aware of the 'other' sports at Evanston, especially, girls sports. It's something I enjoy and feel very strongly about."
With the third quarter ending just prior to the COVID-19 crisis, Imrem has been staying on task with her school work along with workouts on her own.
"I'm getting some running and biking in, lifting, just doing what I can to stay in shape and ready. "We all want to get out there and play," she said.
2020 Evanston Wildkits
Manager: Stacy Salgado (4th year, 43-20-8).
2019 Record: 14-6-2 (2-2-1)
Graduation losses: Hadley Bushala, Annika DeStefano, Keara Kerr, Kelly Kleschen, Katarina Sehgal.
Top returning players: seniors, Sylvi Imren (GK), Abra Levin (F), Lily Hollingsworth (MF/F), Callista O'Connor (F), Kathryn Petersen (D); juniors, Eloise Gilbert Bartell (D/MF), Caitlin Fitzpatrick (GK), Josie Hansen (MF), Ruby Rogers (D/MF); sophomores, Nahla Dominguez (MF), Lucinda Lindland (D/MF), Carly Menocal (D), Sarah Sollinger (D/MF), Nadia VanDenBerg (MF-F), Brealyn Viamille (F).
New faces to watch: junior Alyssa Kimmel (D-MF); sophomores Shea Ackman (MF), Sofia Bailey (F), Eleanor Oif (D) and Stella Tobin (MF); and freshman Adrianna Merriam (F).