Team preview: Metea Valley
By Dave Owen
Metea Valley’s late season surge in 2019 began with a very special feat.
The Mustangs were the last team to defeat eventual Class 3A state champion Naperville North, a 1-0 win on May 7 that marked the start of a very timely four-game winning streak.
That run produced Metea Valley’s sixth-straight regional title, and a sectional semifinal rematch with Naperville North (a 1-0 loss) was the only thing to cool off the Mustangs’ rise.
Now the Mustangs enter 2020 with seven returning starters from last year’s squad. And with a strong defensive nucleus intact, potential is high for more memorable accomplishments.
“I think one of our keys to success will be our defending again,” Mustangs senior defender Nicole Dawson said. “This year we have a pretty solid backline, so we just need to work on our positioning and stuff.
“And we have a pretty strong midfield, so we’ll be solid there,” Dawson added. “Plus we have some new players who I think will be strong on offense, so I think we’ll have better chances to score.”
But as in 2019, success figures to depend upon the defense.
Out of 21 games last year, only Benet (three goals in the season opener) and Wheaton Warrenville South (two) scored more than once on the Mustangs’ standout defense.
Having fourth-year varsity standouts Dawson and Paige Buranosky returning at defender spots provides a lot of good news. And the presence of Valparaiso-bound goalkeeper Nikki Coryell makes it even better.
“She (Coryell) is such an important player for the success of our team,” Mustangs coach Chris Whaley said.
Coryell posted an 0.86 goals against average last year, with nine shutouts.
“She was voted captain as a junior,” Whaley said, “and now as a senior due to her leadership and communication skills.
“And she is very talented of course, a good shot-stopper and great with the ball at her feet. She really is the general that helps keep the team moving in the right direction.”
If Coryell is the general, Buranosky and Dawson aren’t far behind in rank.
“(Buranosky) is a four-year starter on varsity and is such an effective player for us,” Whaley said. “She defends very well, holding down the middle of the defense. She is strong in the air defensively and offensively, and she occasionally helps spark some much needed offense.”
Buranosky and Coryell both earned spots on the 2019 Chicagoland Soccer All-State Team.
“She (Buranosky) is easily one of the best players in our conference and the area,” Whaley said.
Dawson’s contributions range from shutdown defense to taking corner kicks and free kicks.
“She has been on varsity for four years and has played multiple roles,” Whaley said, “but the last few years she has helped establish the strength of our team as a center defender.
“She quietly goes about her business and gets the job done. She is also dangerous on set pieces and has gained more and more confidence each year. We are expecting her to take on even more responsibility and leadership this year.”
After 17 matches last spring were decided by one goal or less (with one tie and a win on penalty kicks), the Mustangs will look to rely on defensive prowess again.
“We’ll play to our strength,” Whaley said, “which is to play solid defensively but to find new ways to create more scoring chances.”
A key to that offensive attack will be senior forward Sydney Rohm.
It was Rohm’s penalty kick goal that provided the difference in the huge win over Naperville North, a putaway that was just part of her strong 2019 season.
“She brings such a great attitude and work ethic to the team,” Whaley said. “She loves playing for Metea and inspires many of the other players in the program.
“She is strong on the ball, has a great touch, is confident and creative with the ball at her feet and provides some much needed experience on the offensive side for us.”
Rohm joins Dawson, Buranosky and Coryell as the Mustangs’ four captains.
That senior quartet will be joined by three other returning starters who have made impacts early in their Metea careers.
Ella Johnson started at midfielder as a freshman last year, and juniors Lauren Wardell and Katy Flanders saw extensive starting time in 2019 at both midfield and defender.
Among those being looked to for bigger roles is forward Livvy Toole, whose first varsity goal was the game-winner in the Mustangs’ regional semifinal victory over Oswego East.
Sophomore forward Jocelyn Grabow was another postseason luminary. Her goal off a Flanders assist was the game-winner in Metea Valley’s 2-1 regional final win over Lockport.
Whaley likes the mix of experience and emerging talent on the roster.
“We have a number of players returning and new (players) that we will be expecting many things from this year,” he said.
“(Our strengths are) experience and leadership on the defensive side of the ball, and youth and energy on the offensive side.
“We have a few returning players that will help in the midfield,” Whaley added, “ we have a few young players that look very capable of providing more offense, and we’re excited with the level of cohesiveness and competition that exists already with this group.”
Before concerns with the coronavirus forced the Illinois spring sports preseason to be suspended in early March, cohesiveness was one rapidly emerging element.
“This group showed a lot of promise early on,” Whaley said. “They seem to get along really well and already have a connection that should help make up for lost time.”
Said Dawson: “In the practices we had, we had really high intensity. We really connected well for not even playing with each other for awhile (in the offseason). So I think once we get back out there, that connection will really help us.”
Staying connected and prepared has been the theme of the unexpected break as well.
“We’re just trying to stay optimistic and positive,” Dawson said. “We’re working on our fitness, and we’re sending each other running workouts that we can all do on our own so that we stay in shape.
“That way, if and when we come back, we’re ready to jump right back into it.”
Click here to see the Mustangs team page!
By Dave Owen
Metea Valley’s late season surge in 2019 began with a very special feat.
The Mustangs were the last team to defeat eventual Class 3A state champion Naperville North, a 1-0 win on May 7 that marked the start of a very timely four-game winning streak.
That run produced Metea Valley’s sixth-straight regional title, and a sectional semifinal rematch with Naperville North (a 1-0 loss) was the only thing to cool off the Mustangs’ rise.
Now the Mustangs enter 2020 with seven returning starters from last year’s squad. And with a strong defensive nucleus intact, potential is high for more memorable accomplishments.
“I think one of our keys to success will be our defending again,” Mustangs senior defender Nicole Dawson said. “This year we have a pretty solid backline, so we just need to work on our positioning and stuff.
“And we have a pretty strong midfield, so we’ll be solid there,” Dawson added. “Plus we have some new players who I think will be strong on offense, so I think we’ll have better chances to score.”
But as in 2019, success figures to depend upon the defense.
Out of 21 games last year, only Benet (three goals in the season opener) and Wheaton Warrenville South (two) scored more than once on the Mustangs’ standout defense.
Having fourth-year varsity standouts Dawson and Paige Buranosky returning at defender spots provides a lot of good news. And the presence of Valparaiso-bound goalkeeper Nikki Coryell makes it even better.
“She (Coryell) is such an important player for the success of our team,” Mustangs coach Chris Whaley said.
Coryell posted an 0.86 goals against average last year, with nine shutouts.
“She was voted captain as a junior,” Whaley said, “and now as a senior due to her leadership and communication skills.
“And she is very talented of course, a good shot-stopper and great with the ball at her feet. She really is the general that helps keep the team moving in the right direction.”
If Coryell is the general, Buranosky and Dawson aren’t far behind in rank.
“(Buranosky) is a four-year starter on varsity and is such an effective player for us,” Whaley said. “She defends very well, holding down the middle of the defense. She is strong in the air defensively and offensively, and she occasionally helps spark some much needed offense.”
Buranosky and Coryell both earned spots on the 2019 Chicagoland Soccer All-State Team.
“She (Buranosky) is easily one of the best players in our conference and the area,” Whaley said.
Dawson’s contributions range from shutdown defense to taking corner kicks and free kicks.
“She has been on varsity for four years and has played multiple roles,” Whaley said, “but the last few years she has helped establish the strength of our team as a center defender.
“She quietly goes about her business and gets the job done. She is also dangerous on set pieces and has gained more and more confidence each year. We are expecting her to take on even more responsibility and leadership this year.”
After 17 matches last spring were decided by one goal or less (with one tie and a win on penalty kicks), the Mustangs will look to rely on defensive prowess again.
“We’ll play to our strength,” Whaley said, “which is to play solid defensively but to find new ways to create more scoring chances.”
A key to that offensive attack will be senior forward Sydney Rohm.
It was Rohm’s penalty kick goal that provided the difference in the huge win over Naperville North, a putaway that was just part of her strong 2019 season.
“She brings such a great attitude and work ethic to the team,” Whaley said. “She loves playing for Metea and inspires many of the other players in the program.
“She is strong on the ball, has a great touch, is confident and creative with the ball at her feet and provides some much needed experience on the offensive side for us.”
Rohm joins Dawson, Buranosky and Coryell as the Mustangs’ four captains.
That senior quartet will be joined by three other returning starters who have made impacts early in their Metea careers.
Ella Johnson started at midfielder as a freshman last year, and juniors Lauren Wardell and Katy Flanders saw extensive starting time in 2019 at both midfield and defender.
Among those being looked to for bigger roles is forward Livvy Toole, whose first varsity goal was the game-winner in the Mustangs’ regional semifinal victory over Oswego East.
Sophomore forward Jocelyn Grabow was another postseason luminary. Her goal off a Flanders assist was the game-winner in Metea Valley’s 2-1 regional final win over Lockport.
Whaley likes the mix of experience and emerging talent on the roster.
“We have a number of players returning and new (players) that we will be expecting many things from this year,” he said.
“(Our strengths are) experience and leadership on the defensive side of the ball, and youth and energy on the offensive side.
“We have a few returning players that will help in the midfield,” Whaley added, “ we have a few young players that look very capable of providing more offense, and we’re excited with the level of cohesiveness and competition that exists already with this group.”
Before concerns with the coronavirus forced the Illinois spring sports preseason to be suspended in early March, cohesiveness was one rapidly emerging element.
“This group showed a lot of promise early on,” Whaley said. “They seem to get along really well and already have a connection that should help make up for lost time.”
Said Dawson: “In the practices we had, we had really high intensity. We really connected well for not even playing with each other for awhile (in the offseason). So I think once we get back out there, that connection will really help us.”
Staying connected and prepared has been the theme of the unexpected break as well.
“We’re just trying to stay optimistic and positive,” Dawson said. “We’re working on our fitness, and we’re sending each other running workouts that we can all do on our own so that we stay in shape.
“That way, if and when we come back, we’re ready to jump right back into it.”
Click here to see the Mustangs team page!