Team preview: Lake Forest
By Rusty Silber
Expectations are running at an extremely high level for the Scouts. Now it's a matter of trying to get on the field this season.
Lake Forest has a lot to display with an experienced group returning from last season. They have 12 seniors on the roster and 13 players with starting experience.
A successful 2019 run ended at 11-8-2 with a Class AA sectional semifinal loss to Vernon Hills.
A look into the crystal ball for 2020 includes the defeat of COVID-19 and the resumption of the season. The drive form improvement includes upping the Scouts 4-2-1 third place finish in the North Suburban Conference last season.
"We have high expectations from a lot of people," Lake Forest coach Ty Stuckslager said. "We need to get several players playing different positions. It's kind of like merging two teams together. We have never had this much experience and depth."
Putting the team puzzle together is an annual challenge for a coach, but Stuckslager has a lot of key pieces.
Leading players for Lake Forest include: defender Sarah Bires; defender Nicole Doucette (Northwestern); midfielder Ingrid Falls (Northwestern); midfielder Julia Loeger; and midfielder Alyssa Marquis (Toledo).
Seasoned returnees include a trio of seniors: goalkeeper Sophia Divagno; defender Carny Espin; and forward Elise Stanley (Johns Hopkins). Junior defender Lindsey Asmussen and sophomore midfielder Emersen Waddle are expected to make an impact.
The group has a big chance for a long run in the Class AA tournament.
"If we work hard, stay focused and put the team first, then our goal will be playing in Naperville (in the state finals) in June," Stuckslager said.
Divagno returns in goal after a stellar season of 12 shutouts and a goals against average of .71. She will have plenty of other players in front of her that will keep the Scouts well-organized in every match that they will play.
"Obviously, we have four Division I players and three more who are still looking for the right college to play at," Stuckslager said. "They are a competitive group that have worked together."
The team is motivated to maintain its fitness and skill level in the hopes of getting back on the pitch.
"The girls have been working on their own," Stuckslager said. "They are very driven and focused. It's a shame that we can't do it together. Practices were fun and competitive before the break."
Trying to navigate and keep the team together as a whole is the work in progress in these different times for the Scouts.
"We did take a Zoom team picture together recently," Stucklager said. "It's a big change with this all and with the loss of the social benefits, that's the tough part with it.
“It's different all together; not sure who it's harder on, players like to play and coaches like to coach. It's just so different then what we've ever expected from what we started at the first days of practice."
Click here to see the Scouts team page!
By Rusty Silber
Expectations are running at an extremely high level for the Scouts. Now it's a matter of trying to get on the field this season.
Lake Forest has a lot to display with an experienced group returning from last season. They have 12 seniors on the roster and 13 players with starting experience.
A successful 2019 run ended at 11-8-2 with a Class AA sectional semifinal loss to Vernon Hills.
A look into the crystal ball for 2020 includes the defeat of COVID-19 and the resumption of the season. The drive form improvement includes upping the Scouts 4-2-1 third place finish in the North Suburban Conference last season.
"We have high expectations from a lot of people," Lake Forest coach Ty Stuckslager said. "We need to get several players playing different positions. It's kind of like merging two teams together. We have never had this much experience and depth."
Putting the team puzzle together is an annual challenge for a coach, but Stuckslager has a lot of key pieces.
Leading players for Lake Forest include: defender Sarah Bires; defender Nicole Doucette (Northwestern); midfielder Ingrid Falls (Northwestern); midfielder Julia Loeger; and midfielder Alyssa Marquis (Toledo).
Seasoned returnees include a trio of seniors: goalkeeper Sophia Divagno; defender Carny Espin; and forward Elise Stanley (Johns Hopkins). Junior defender Lindsey Asmussen and sophomore midfielder Emersen Waddle are expected to make an impact.
The group has a big chance for a long run in the Class AA tournament.
"If we work hard, stay focused and put the team first, then our goal will be playing in Naperville (in the state finals) in June," Stuckslager said.
Divagno returns in goal after a stellar season of 12 shutouts and a goals against average of .71. She will have plenty of other players in front of her that will keep the Scouts well-organized in every match that they will play.
"Obviously, we have four Division I players and three more who are still looking for the right college to play at," Stuckslager said. "They are a competitive group that have worked together."
The team is motivated to maintain its fitness and skill level in the hopes of getting back on the pitch.
"The girls have been working on their own," Stuckslager said. "They are very driven and focused. It's a shame that we can't do it together. Practices were fun and competitive before the break."
Trying to navigate and keep the team together as a whole is the work in progress in these different times for the Scouts.
"We did take a Zoom team picture together recently," Stucklager said. "It's a big change with this all and with the loss of the social benefits, that's the tough part with it.
“It's different all together; not sure who it's harder on, players like to play and coaches like to coach. It's just so different then what we've ever expected from what we started at the first days of practice."
Click here to see the Scouts team page!