Team preview: Reavis
By Bill Stone
Alyssa Froylan and Cami Valdez recall the excitement as underclassmen of playing for some of the stronger Reavis girls soccer teams ever.
The senior captains and fourth-year varsity veterans believe this season’s Rams could be better.
“My first year on varsity as a freshman I thought we had a really great year. We had a lot of experienced players that technically-wise were good,” Froylan said. “The chemistry was really great. We were able to communicate. Now the level to senior year has pretty much matched up to the team I had my freshman year.”
The Rams should be optimistic. They have eight returning starters and four All-South Suburban Conference Red Division players from their 2019 season (11-11-2, 4-5-2 in SSC Red), which included three three-game winning streaks and a six-game unbeaten streak before the season ended with six losses, two of them by one goal. Reavis lost to Lincoln-Way West 7-0 in the Class 3A Bloom Regional semifinals.
Froylan, Valdez and junior Sandy Garcia are tri-captains. The combination of returnees and a talented junior class has the Rams especially anxious for school and the season to get going.
“Personally I’ve been getting my touches in, watching soccer game reruns on TV and focusing on shape and form and ball movement,” Valdez said.
“We (captains) tell each other and we tell (teammates) not to get their hopes down even though we’re not where we want it to be (not playing). We get them to at least run outside and do drills and always keep a ball with them. Even though times like this are rough -- we don’t know if we’ll have a season or not -- we still have hopes of that. If we do, we’ll be in shape to take on any opponent.”
The first order of business? Winning the conference title after finishing third last season behind Eisenhower (10-1-0) and Argo (8-2-1).
Reavis finished second to Eisenhower in 2018 (13-10-1, 7-3-1) but then beat Eisenhower in the regional semifinals. The 2017 Rams also had double-digit victories (10-13-0, 5-6-0) with a fourth place league finish.
Reavis' only conference title came in 2011.
“We’ve been pretty aware of that. I think that’s something as a team that’s a big goal this year,” Froylan said.
“Despite all this that’s going on, it’s kind of disappointing, having our season on hold right now. We’re just hoping for the best. It’s very exciting because my freshman year we had a lot of hope of winning conference. This year I really think we have what it takes to accomplish.”
In 2019, Froylan earned all-sectional honors and Valdez was all-sectional honorable mention as part of a talented midfield.
Froylan (goal, 2 assists in 2019), Valdez (6 goals, 7 assists), junior Andy Flores (2 goals) and sophomore Jasmin Pascual (2 goals, 4 assists) were all-conference.
Garcia (5 assists) and juniors Diana Gonzalez and Isabel Guzman also are returning starters. This is Guzman’s third varsity season but she was sidelined for 2019 recovering from an ACL knee injury.
Seniors Natalia Longoria (goal, 3 assists), Karolina Gewont (goal, 2 assists) and Lesley Zavala (assist) also saw considerable varsity action in 2019. Other team members ready to compete are seniors Simone Confederat, Sky Maldonado, Maggie Mrugala and Natalia Supan, juniors Pam Hernandez, Paulina Ledworuch, Justyna Gut-Misiaga, Giselle Ruiz and Shelly Singh and sophomores Nicole Grochola and Naomi Rangel, who played primarily on the sophomore level.
“They are dedicated, work super hard, very coachable, very smart group of girls, disciplined as well, just a good vibe all around this team,” responded Reavis second-year head coach Jeff Grider.
“It is one thing to have talent, but team chemistry is very important to achieve success. This group has a wonderful team chemistry.”
Grider and the Rams are hoping that a stronger mindset can help them in close games. They lost their last four one-goal games in 2019 after winning four of the first five.
“Our Achilles heel last year was more of the mental side of things. When adversity hit, we’d either show up or we wouldn’t. I think that’s why we lost a lot of those one-goal games,” Grider said.
“In the offseason in the fall, the first two weeks we were in practice talking about the mental side of things. I think we have a solid team. 'The only reason we’ll lose is because of ourselves' was a point of emphasis.”
The captains have been doing their best to continue that stronger mindset. Valdez said she personally has improved in that area since freshman year to not become frustrated or dejected during difficult games.
“I can say from last season to this season we learned a lot from losing and tying tough games. We know our weaknesses and are working on them to get better. We have a more positive mindset physically and mentally,” Valdez said.
“When someone else is down, we pick them right back up because everyone is essential and a valuable player. We try to have a strong group rather than just a few individuals.”
The Rams will be experienced at midfield with Froylan in the center, Valdez on the outside and Guzman in the center or outside. Froylan and Valdez have been soccer teammates since seventh grade.
Guzman is slated for forward or attacking midfielder and Pascual at center midfield or on the defensive line to join central defender Flores and goalie Gonzalez. The Rams had had all four of their 2019 shutouts over their first 14 games with one a scoreless tie.
Collectively, the Rams continued making progress during the offseason, including more touches and game time together on the same indoor soccer team.
“We wanted to be a better team this year and focused how to be a better team at practice and at home,” Valdez said.
“This year we knew what we were going up against. We have high expectations. We want to win conference. We have to be as good mentally and physically tough. Most of the girls are in two or more sports so they’re in shape. Some of us have been playing club. That experience brought us into the season.”
Usually depended upon last season to initiate the offense, Froylan has been asked by Grider to generate more herself. Valdez was the Rams’ no. 2 scorer in 2019 but among the seniors lost was Chicagoland Soccer All-Stater Litzy Corona, who scored 33 of their 52 goals.
“I don’t feel it’s going to be much of a change for me,” Froylan said. “The goal is to score more goals and assists and help more on the offensive side and getting more wins this year
“Given that I play midfield in the center, a lot of the times I put balls over the top, and Cami just make runs and hopefully can make or score goals.”
Click here to see Rams team page!
By Bill Stone
Alyssa Froylan and Cami Valdez recall the excitement as underclassmen of playing for some of the stronger Reavis girls soccer teams ever.
The senior captains and fourth-year varsity veterans believe this season’s Rams could be better.
“My first year on varsity as a freshman I thought we had a really great year. We had a lot of experienced players that technically-wise were good,” Froylan said. “The chemistry was really great. We were able to communicate. Now the level to senior year has pretty much matched up to the team I had my freshman year.”
The Rams should be optimistic. They have eight returning starters and four All-South Suburban Conference Red Division players from their 2019 season (11-11-2, 4-5-2 in SSC Red), which included three three-game winning streaks and a six-game unbeaten streak before the season ended with six losses, two of them by one goal. Reavis lost to Lincoln-Way West 7-0 in the Class 3A Bloom Regional semifinals.
Froylan, Valdez and junior Sandy Garcia are tri-captains. The combination of returnees and a talented junior class has the Rams especially anxious for school and the season to get going.
“Personally I’ve been getting my touches in, watching soccer game reruns on TV and focusing on shape and form and ball movement,” Valdez said.
“We (captains) tell each other and we tell (teammates) not to get their hopes down even though we’re not where we want it to be (not playing). We get them to at least run outside and do drills and always keep a ball with them. Even though times like this are rough -- we don’t know if we’ll have a season or not -- we still have hopes of that. If we do, we’ll be in shape to take on any opponent.”
The first order of business? Winning the conference title after finishing third last season behind Eisenhower (10-1-0) and Argo (8-2-1).
Reavis finished second to Eisenhower in 2018 (13-10-1, 7-3-1) but then beat Eisenhower in the regional semifinals. The 2017 Rams also had double-digit victories (10-13-0, 5-6-0) with a fourth place league finish.
Reavis' only conference title came in 2011.
“We’ve been pretty aware of that. I think that’s something as a team that’s a big goal this year,” Froylan said.
“Despite all this that’s going on, it’s kind of disappointing, having our season on hold right now. We’re just hoping for the best. It’s very exciting because my freshman year we had a lot of hope of winning conference. This year I really think we have what it takes to accomplish.”
In 2019, Froylan earned all-sectional honors and Valdez was all-sectional honorable mention as part of a talented midfield.
Froylan (goal, 2 assists in 2019), Valdez (6 goals, 7 assists), junior Andy Flores (2 goals) and sophomore Jasmin Pascual (2 goals, 4 assists) were all-conference.
Garcia (5 assists) and juniors Diana Gonzalez and Isabel Guzman also are returning starters. This is Guzman’s third varsity season but she was sidelined for 2019 recovering from an ACL knee injury.
Seniors Natalia Longoria (goal, 3 assists), Karolina Gewont (goal, 2 assists) and Lesley Zavala (assist) also saw considerable varsity action in 2019. Other team members ready to compete are seniors Simone Confederat, Sky Maldonado, Maggie Mrugala and Natalia Supan, juniors Pam Hernandez, Paulina Ledworuch, Justyna Gut-Misiaga, Giselle Ruiz and Shelly Singh and sophomores Nicole Grochola and Naomi Rangel, who played primarily on the sophomore level.
“They are dedicated, work super hard, very coachable, very smart group of girls, disciplined as well, just a good vibe all around this team,” responded Reavis second-year head coach Jeff Grider.
“It is one thing to have talent, but team chemistry is very important to achieve success. This group has a wonderful team chemistry.”
Grider and the Rams are hoping that a stronger mindset can help them in close games. They lost their last four one-goal games in 2019 after winning four of the first five.
“Our Achilles heel last year was more of the mental side of things. When adversity hit, we’d either show up or we wouldn’t. I think that’s why we lost a lot of those one-goal games,” Grider said.
“In the offseason in the fall, the first two weeks we were in practice talking about the mental side of things. I think we have a solid team. 'The only reason we’ll lose is because of ourselves' was a point of emphasis.”
The captains have been doing their best to continue that stronger mindset. Valdez said she personally has improved in that area since freshman year to not become frustrated or dejected during difficult games.
“I can say from last season to this season we learned a lot from losing and tying tough games. We know our weaknesses and are working on them to get better. We have a more positive mindset physically and mentally,” Valdez said.
“When someone else is down, we pick them right back up because everyone is essential and a valuable player. We try to have a strong group rather than just a few individuals.”
The Rams will be experienced at midfield with Froylan in the center, Valdez on the outside and Guzman in the center or outside. Froylan and Valdez have been soccer teammates since seventh grade.
Guzman is slated for forward or attacking midfielder and Pascual at center midfield or on the defensive line to join central defender Flores and goalie Gonzalez. The Rams had had all four of their 2019 shutouts over their first 14 games with one a scoreless tie.
Collectively, the Rams continued making progress during the offseason, including more touches and game time together on the same indoor soccer team.
“We wanted to be a better team this year and focused how to be a better team at practice and at home,” Valdez said.
“This year we knew what we were going up against. We have high expectations. We want to win conference. We have to be as good mentally and physically tough. Most of the girls are in two or more sports so they’re in shape. Some of us have been playing club. That experience brought us into the season.”
Usually depended upon last season to initiate the offense, Froylan has been asked by Grider to generate more herself. Valdez was the Rams’ no. 2 scorer in 2019 but among the seniors lost was Chicagoland Soccer All-Stater Litzy Corona, who scored 33 of their 52 goals.
“I don’t feel it’s going to be much of a change for me,” Froylan said. “The goal is to score more goals and assists and help more on the offensive side and getting more wins this year
“Given that I play midfield in the center, a lot of the times I put balls over the top, and Cami just make runs and hopefully can make or score goals.”
Click here to see Rams team page!