Team preview: Geneva
By Dave Owen
The last line of defense figures to be first rate for Geneva this spring.
The return of senior goalkeeper Katie Montgomery, who has committed to play at Missouri State University this fall, is just part of a huge area of strength for the Vikings.
Backup senior goalkeeper Paige MacRitchie also has a college career mapped out, at Division II Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
“Paige is also a very talented goalkeeper,” Geneva coach Megan Owens said. “It's a shame they are both the same age as they are both very, very talented.
“Katie and Paige are able to push each other each day in practice to make each other better, and have a great relationship. Both are very hard workers.”
Montgomery posted a 1.43 goals against average in 21 games last year.
“She has been our starting keeper for the past two years,” Owens said. “Her leadership and direction is key for us.”
Before taking her talents to the Missouri Valley Conference, Montgomery will again help set the tone for Geneva.
“I love being a goalkeeper, because I can see the entire field and help communicate and guide my teammates in front of me,” Montgomery said. "And I like being able to play with my hands as well as my feet as we build out of the back.”
While the task of denying goals will be in good hands, replacing some proven scorers will be a task.
Genna Dominguez (18 goals last year), Caitlin Farrell and Stephanie Howe were the team’s top three scorers in 2019, but all have graduated.
One big boost offensively will come with the return to high school soccer of senior Alicia White.
“Although Alicia played for the Developmental Academy the past two years, I call her a returning player, because I coached her as a freshman when she made the varsity team,” Owens said. “She has tremendous leadership skills and does a fantastic job of creating offensive opportunities.”
White will play at Grand Valley State in Michigan this fall.
“In the limited amount of practices we have had so far,” Owens said, “Alicia and the offense have been connected really well and have looked very solid. We are super excited to have her back this year.”
Sophomore Alana Rawls is another strong forward.
“She got a lot of time last year as a freshman,” Owens said, “and we are looking for her to step up and offer us the offensive firepower we saw flashes of last year.”
This year’s freshman of note at forward figures to be Rilee Hasegawa.
“Rilee offers us a threat at the forward position,” Owens said. “She does a great job of creating off the ball and combining with Alicia. We’re excited to see what she can do against opposing defenses this spring.”
Senior Sophia Medina figures to be another contributor at forward.
“She reads the game very well and is good at finding the seams in the defense,” Owens said. “She was the leading scorer on our JV team last year, and we can't wait to see her find the back of the net this season.”
Along with its strength at goalkeeper, the Vikings have a proven defender in junior Annie Brolly.
“Annie has been starting for us as outside back since her freshman year,” Owens said. “She has an extremely high soccer IQ, reads the field really well, and does an exceptional job of building out of the back and connecting with our midfields and forwards.
“She also does a really nice job of making runs up the field and crossing the ball in to our forwards.”
Senior Chloe Frison also returns at defender but has the versatility to contribute in multiple spots and ways.
“Chloe started at outside back for us last year, but we coverted her from a forward,” Owens said. “Her speed is phenomenal, and we couldn't afford to have her off the field.
“Her time was limited as a forward, because we had three elite forwards in Stephanie Howe, Jenna Dominguez and Cailtin Farrell, so we converted Chloe to a defender.
“She did a great job for us,” Owens added. “She is excellent at making runs up the field and contributing to the offense, and no one is going to beat her down the outside. Her speed in unmatched.”
The midfield has a similar versatile standout in senior Anna Spindle.
“Anna has been a starter for us in the midfield the past two years,” Owens said. “She does an exceptional job of leading by example: she has the best work ethic on the team, hands-down.
“She is like the Energizer Bunny, she just keeps going and going. And she is a total team player: she will play wherever she is needed and never complains. We even had to have her play center back a few times last year, and she did great.”
Lindsay Ferris will be another senior pillar at midfielder.
“She offers us speed and leadership in the midfield,” Owens said.
Margot Yelle, Jesse Coller, Katie Desens, Kate Warta and Ava Geen will also contribute as part of a deep 12-member senior class on the Geneva roster.
As for underclassmen newcomers, junior Kiki Lappin and sophomore Grace Belanger figure to make impacts at defender.
“These two offer us depth at the defensive position,” Owens said. “Their ability to read the game has impressed the coaching staff, and their ability to stay calm and collected on the ball will be an asset to our team.”
Sophomore Kya Trejo looks to play a key role at midfielder.
“Kya offers us a lot of flexibility,” Owens said, “as she can play in a wide variety of positions. She does a great job of connecting with our forwards, and we are looking for her to fill Sydney Gratz's shoes (a four-year varsity player and three-year starter at offensive mid).”
After finishing 11-6-2 last year and winning five of its last six regular season games, Geneva seeks to navigate its usual rugged schedule and grab its first regional title since 2017.
That goal has been put in limbo by the coronavirus-caused delay in the season. But when play resumes, a talented and cohesive team will provide the Vikings with high hopes.
“This year I believe a strength of the team is going to be communication,” Montgomery said. “Within our first two weeks of practice we found it to be really important to build our team chemistry through communication as fast as possible.
“With this delay our team chemistry and communication has only gotten better, as we do online team bonding every day for an hour. And we are keeping our teammates accountable, making sure we are all completing the daily workouts coach Owens has been sending out. We want to be in the best shape possible when we return to the field.”
While unable to swat aside opponents’ shots right now, Montgomery is helping the Vikings take charge of this unexpected off field obstacle.
“As a captain this year I plan to lead by example,” she said, “and hold myself and my teammates accountable to get better during this (off) time. I also plan to approach the (leadership) role by being an effective communicator who inspires my teammates.”
During the unexpected hiatus, Owens has done her part to keep the momentum rolling.
“Obviously it's frustrating, but this is where self-discipline kicks in,” she said. “I have been providing all players in the entire program (four levels) with abs, cardio and yoga workouts, as well as footwork drills and team bonding activities that they can do on a daily basis while practicing social distancing.
“My main job is to check in on them and help boost their spirits during this challenging time. Varsity meets online every day as a team, and spends at least an hour doing virtual team bonding activities.
“If nothing else, we've been connecting each day and sharing some laughs,” Owens added. “Hopefully this will strengthen the girls' bonds with one another and help with team chemistry when we return to playing.
“I think the keys to success this season will be how strongly the 12 seniors on the team step up and lead, and how much time and effort players are putting into their fitness and foot skills during this unplanned break.”
Based on what she saw before the break, the Vikings have a good foundation for success in place.
“I have been pleasantly surprised by how well the girls had been connecting and playing in practice before they (practices) ended,” Owens said.
“Before the season started, I naturally worried that after graduating four, four-year varsity players from my starting offense, our offense would struggle. The girls have proved me wrong, however.
“Our offense has looked solid and dangerous in practice,” Owens added. “I’m excited to take some teams by surprise this season.”
Click here to see the Vikings team page!
By Dave Owen
The last line of defense figures to be first rate for Geneva this spring.
The return of senior goalkeeper Katie Montgomery, who has committed to play at Missouri State University this fall, is just part of a huge area of strength for the Vikings.
Backup senior goalkeeper Paige MacRitchie also has a college career mapped out, at Division II Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
“Paige is also a very talented goalkeeper,” Geneva coach Megan Owens said. “It's a shame they are both the same age as they are both very, very talented.
“Katie and Paige are able to push each other each day in practice to make each other better, and have a great relationship. Both are very hard workers.”
Montgomery posted a 1.43 goals against average in 21 games last year.
“She has been our starting keeper for the past two years,” Owens said. “Her leadership and direction is key for us.”
Before taking her talents to the Missouri Valley Conference, Montgomery will again help set the tone for Geneva.
“I love being a goalkeeper, because I can see the entire field and help communicate and guide my teammates in front of me,” Montgomery said. "And I like being able to play with my hands as well as my feet as we build out of the back.”
While the task of denying goals will be in good hands, replacing some proven scorers will be a task.
Genna Dominguez (18 goals last year), Caitlin Farrell and Stephanie Howe were the team’s top three scorers in 2019, but all have graduated.
One big boost offensively will come with the return to high school soccer of senior Alicia White.
“Although Alicia played for the Developmental Academy the past two years, I call her a returning player, because I coached her as a freshman when she made the varsity team,” Owens said. “She has tremendous leadership skills and does a fantastic job of creating offensive opportunities.”
White will play at Grand Valley State in Michigan this fall.
“In the limited amount of practices we have had so far,” Owens said, “Alicia and the offense have been connected really well and have looked very solid. We are super excited to have her back this year.”
Sophomore Alana Rawls is another strong forward.
“She got a lot of time last year as a freshman,” Owens said, “and we are looking for her to step up and offer us the offensive firepower we saw flashes of last year.”
This year’s freshman of note at forward figures to be Rilee Hasegawa.
“Rilee offers us a threat at the forward position,” Owens said. “She does a great job of creating off the ball and combining with Alicia. We’re excited to see what she can do against opposing defenses this spring.”
Senior Sophia Medina figures to be another contributor at forward.
“She reads the game very well and is good at finding the seams in the defense,” Owens said. “She was the leading scorer on our JV team last year, and we can't wait to see her find the back of the net this season.”
Along with its strength at goalkeeper, the Vikings have a proven defender in junior Annie Brolly.
“Annie has been starting for us as outside back since her freshman year,” Owens said. “She has an extremely high soccer IQ, reads the field really well, and does an exceptional job of building out of the back and connecting with our midfields and forwards.
“She also does a really nice job of making runs up the field and crossing the ball in to our forwards.”
Senior Chloe Frison also returns at defender but has the versatility to contribute in multiple spots and ways.
“Chloe started at outside back for us last year, but we coverted her from a forward,” Owens said. “Her speed is phenomenal, and we couldn't afford to have her off the field.
“Her time was limited as a forward, because we had three elite forwards in Stephanie Howe, Jenna Dominguez and Cailtin Farrell, so we converted Chloe to a defender.
“She did a great job for us,” Owens added. “She is excellent at making runs up the field and contributing to the offense, and no one is going to beat her down the outside. Her speed in unmatched.”
The midfield has a similar versatile standout in senior Anna Spindle.
“Anna has been a starter for us in the midfield the past two years,” Owens said. “She does an exceptional job of leading by example: she has the best work ethic on the team, hands-down.
“She is like the Energizer Bunny, she just keeps going and going. And she is a total team player: she will play wherever she is needed and never complains. We even had to have her play center back a few times last year, and she did great.”
Lindsay Ferris will be another senior pillar at midfielder.
“She offers us speed and leadership in the midfield,” Owens said.
Margot Yelle, Jesse Coller, Katie Desens, Kate Warta and Ava Geen will also contribute as part of a deep 12-member senior class on the Geneva roster.
As for underclassmen newcomers, junior Kiki Lappin and sophomore Grace Belanger figure to make impacts at defender.
“These two offer us depth at the defensive position,” Owens said. “Their ability to read the game has impressed the coaching staff, and their ability to stay calm and collected on the ball will be an asset to our team.”
Sophomore Kya Trejo looks to play a key role at midfielder.
“Kya offers us a lot of flexibility,” Owens said, “as she can play in a wide variety of positions. She does a great job of connecting with our forwards, and we are looking for her to fill Sydney Gratz's shoes (a four-year varsity player and three-year starter at offensive mid).”
After finishing 11-6-2 last year and winning five of its last six regular season games, Geneva seeks to navigate its usual rugged schedule and grab its first regional title since 2017.
That goal has been put in limbo by the coronavirus-caused delay in the season. But when play resumes, a talented and cohesive team will provide the Vikings with high hopes.
“This year I believe a strength of the team is going to be communication,” Montgomery said. “Within our first two weeks of practice we found it to be really important to build our team chemistry through communication as fast as possible.
“With this delay our team chemistry and communication has only gotten better, as we do online team bonding every day for an hour. And we are keeping our teammates accountable, making sure we are all completing the daily workouts coach Owens has been sending out. We want to be in the best shape possible when we return to the field.”
While unable to swat aside opponents’ shots right now, Montgomery is helping the Vikings take charge of this unexpected off field obstacle.
“As a captain this year I plan to lead by example,” she said, “and hold myself and my teammates accountable to get better during this (off) time. I also plan to approach the (leadership) role by being an effective communicator who inspires my teammates.”
During the unexpected hiatus, Owens has done her part to keep the momentum rolling.
“Obviously it's frustrating, but this is where self-discipline kicks in,” she said. “I have been providing all players in the entire program (four levels) with abs, cardio and yoga workouts, as well as footwork drills and team bonding activities that they can do on a daily basis while practicing social distancing.
“My main job is to check in on them and help boost their spirits during this challenging time. Varsity meets online every day as a team, and spends at least an hour doing virtual team bonding activities.
“If nothing else, we've been connecting each day and sharing some laughs,” Owens added. “Hopefully this will strengthen the girls' bonds with one another and help with team chemistry when we return to playing.
“I think the keys to success this season will be how strongly the 12 seniors on the team step up and lead, and how much time and effort players are putting into their fitness and foot skills during this unplanned break.”
Based on what she saw before the break, the Vikings have a good foundation for success in place.
“I have been pleasantly surprised by how well the girls had been connecting and playing in practice before they (practices) ended,” Owens said.
“Before the season started, I naturally worried that after graduating four, four-year varsity players from my starting offense, our offense would struggle. The girls have proved me wrong, however.
“Our offense has looked solid and dangerous in practice,” Owens added. “I’m excited to take some teams by surprise this season.”
Click here to see the Vikings team page!