Team preview: Prospect
By Mike Garofola
Take a quick look at the Lady Knights roster for 2020 and its easy to see why Tom Froats and Ashley Erickson might have needed name tags on the first days of training.
Froats bid adeau to 13 seniors from his 2019 club, nine of whom were in his first 11 for Prospect in the regional final with Fremd.
"The 2019 team was an incredible mix of young women led by a senior class talented in the classroom as well as on the soccer field," Froats began.
"That mix made a huge impact at Prospect. I know they will continue that incredible impact on their respective college campuses."
Among the players who graduated was Ashley Welk, who earned a place on Chicagoland Soccer's All-State team last spring after her brilliant senior year in which dazzled with magnificent control on the ball, clever and crafty distribution and an ability to direct the attack with unselfish purpose and composure.
Welk, who was the 2019 Mid-Suburban League East Division Player of the Year, led her Marian University (Wis.) team in points (31), goals (14) and game-winning goals (3) last fall.
Three-year starter, Helen Siavelis, a mainstay along the backline for the Lady Knights, played at CalTech and then took her athletic talents to the basketball courts where she played in all 25 games.
"It was really sad to see all of my senior teammates graduate," said Ashley Erickson, who enjoyed a marvelous junior season a year ago and became one of the best at her craft along the backline. "(It) was tough to deal with when we (the 2020 Lady Knights) first began to get together.
"We all developed a very close bond with each other, and for me, especially, the senior players would help challenge me -- helping me to become a better player and person, (which) is especially important as I take on the role as a team leader."
Erickson, who admitted regret for playing club soccer over high school her freshman year, found the perfect match on the club level when she joined the Crystal Lake Force.
"When you played for Sockers FC, they did not allow you to play for your high school," she said. "It was important that I play with my friends here at Prospect, and for Mr. Froats, so I began to look around at other club programs."
The Force proved too good to be true with a manager who preached a style of play she enjoyed, which was all about possession. Erickson joined Hersey backline star McKenna Kopeny in Crystal Lake.
The three-year varsity veteran will leave the state next fall to attend Lipscomb University in Nashville, where she will major in Elementary Education with a minor in Spanish.
"I looked at playing at Illinois Wesleyan and Wis.-Platteville, but (Lipscomb) was beautiful," Erickson said. "Everything about their program in education was perfect, and the weather there is great."
Erickson's desire to help others is illustrated further by her volunteer work at the Northwest Special Recreation Association (NWSRA) in Rolling Meadows.
"I am part of the Education Academy at Prospect, and one day, someone came in from NWSRA to talk about their programs, and it sounded like something that I would like to do," said Erickson, who helps children with autism through therapy in gymnastics.
Erickson has been staying true to her training while in wait of what's to come in the near-future.
"I don't like being stuck in the house, so I am out for an early morning run, and doing my best to stay ready if and when the season begins."
2020 Prospect Lady Knights
Manager: Tom Froats (18th year, 185-143-46).
2019 Record: 12-10-5 (5-3-3)
Graduation losses: Ashley Adams, Katelyn Branch, Abbey Danciu, Karson Keller, Talor Kosla, Madalyn Ladd, Ella Marzolf, Kristin Schneider, Lauryn Schneider, Helen Siavelis, Tina Suto, Kendall Tapia, Ashley Welk.
Top players returning: seniors Ashley Erickson (D/MF), Ashley Behles (D), Isabelle Suto (D); junior Annie Ninness (GK); sophomore Abby Knott (MF).
New faces to watch: seniors Caroline Ayala (MF), Sarah Eyles (MF), Nina Faraci (D), Ryann Harold (F), Quinn Whisler (D); juniors Claire Beattie (D), Maddie Cowen (MF), Madison Cull (F), Isabella Hubrich (D), Caroline Johannesen (MF), Grace Martin (F); sophomores Jackie Keane (MF), Kaylee Naughton (MF), Kaela Salehzadeh (D), Hannah Samuelson (GK).
Click here to see the Knights team page!
By Mike Garofola
Take a quick look at the Lady Knights roster for 2020 and its easy to see why Tom Froats and Ashley Erickson might have needed name tags on the first days of training.
Froats bid adeau to 13 seniors from his 2019 club, nine of whom were in his first 11 for Prospect in the regional final with Fremd.
"The 2019 team was an incredible mix of young women led by a senior class talented in the classroom as well as on the soccer field," Froats began.
"That mix made a huge impact at Prospect. I know they will continue that incredible impact on their respective college campuses."
Among the players who graduated was Ashley Welk, who earned a place on Chicagoland Soccer's All-State team last spring after her brilliant senior year in which dazzled with magnificent control on the ball, clever and crafty distribution and an ability to direct the attack with unselfish purpose and composure.
Welk, who was the 2019 Mid-Suburban League East Division Player of the Year, led her Marian University (Wis.) team in points (31), goals (14) and game-winning goals (3) last fall.
Three-year starter, Helen Siavelis, a mainstay along the backline for the Lady Knights, played at CalTech and then took her athletic talents to the basketball courts where she played in all 25 games.
"It was really sad to see all of my senior teammates graduate," said Ashley Erickson, who enjoyed a marvelous junior season a year ago and became one of the best at her craft along the backline. "(It) was tough to deal with when we (the 2020 Lady Knights) first began to get together.
"We all developed a very close bond with each other, and for me, especially, the senior players would help challenge me -- helping me to become a better player and person, (which) is especially important as I take on the role as a team leader."
Erickson, who admitted regret for playing club soccer over high school her freshman year, found the perfect match on the club level when she joined the Crystal Lake Force.
"When you played for Sockers FC, they did not allow you to play for your high school," she said. "It was important that I play with my friends here at Prospect, and for Mr. Froats, so I began to look around at other club programs."
The Force proved too good to be true with a manager who preached a style of play she enjoyed, which was all about possession. Erickson joined Hersey backline star McKenna Kopeny in Crystal Lake.
The three-year varsity veteran will leave the state next fall to attend Lipscomb University in Nashville, where she will major in Elementary Education with a minor in Spanish.
"I looked at playing at Illinois Wesleyan and Wis.-Platteville, but (Lipscomb) was beautiful," Erickson said. "Everything about their program in education was perfect, and the weather there is great."
Erickson's desire to help others is illustrated further by her volunteer work at the Northwest Special Recreation Association (NWSRA) in Rolling Meadows.
"I am part of the Education Academy at Prospect, and one day, someone came in from NWSRA to talk about their programs, and it sounded like something that I would like to do," said Erickson, who helps children with autism through therapy in gymnastics.
Erickson has been staying true to her training while in wait of what's to come in the near-future.
"I don't like being stuck in the house, so I am out for an early morning run, and doing my best to stay ready if and when the season begins."
2020 Prospect Lady Knights
Manager: Tom Froats (18th year, 185-143-46).
2019 Record: 12-10-5 (5-3-3)
Graduation losses: Ashley Adams, Katelyn Branch, Abbey Danciu, Karson Keller, Talor Kosla, Madalyn Ladd, Ella Marzolf, Kristin Schneider, Lauryn Schneider, Helen Siavelis, Tina Suto, Kendall Tapia, Ashley Welk.
Top players returning: seniors Ashley Erickson (D/MF), Ashley Behles (D), Isabelle Suto (D); junior Annie Ninness (GK); sophomore Abby Knott (MF).
New faces to watch: seniors Caroline Ayala (MF), Sarah Eyles (MF), Nina Faraci (D), Ryann Harold (F), Quinn Whisler (D); juniors Claire Beattie (D), Maddie Cowen (MF), Madison Cull (F), Isabella Hubrich (D), Caroline Johannesen (MF), Grace Martin (F); sophomores Jackie Keane (MF), Kaylee Naughton (MF), Kaela Salehzadeh (D), Hannah Samuelson (GK).
Click here to see the Knights team page!