C.P.'s Rivich is Times Girls Soccer Player of the Year

CROWN POINT | Coach Chris Mikrut calls Crown Point junior Sarah Rivich the best all-around player in the area, hands down.

It would be hard to find many who disagree with his assessment.

In addition to being named Time Player of the Year, Rivich has been named first team All-District I and first team All-State following a season in which she scored 18 goals and tallied 16 assists.

"It feels nice to be noticed," Rivich said. "I've worked my butt off, and it's paid off."

Rivich led Crown Point to a semistate berth and a share of the Duneland Athletic Conference title all while playing at less than 100 percent. She's been dealing with severe knee tendonitis that kept her off the Bulldogs' basketball roster this winter.

In fact, had C.P. advanced to the second round of the semistate, Mikrut said Rivich may not have been able to play.

"I didn't know when we showed up (to the semistate opening game) if she would be able to play, but she went 94 minutes and still played like a stud," Mikrut said. "The kid is tough."

Rivich underwent surgery Monday in Indianapolis and will endure six months of rehabilitation. She expects to be back on the pitch by early summer.

"The rest will be good for her," Mikrut said. "Her body needs it."

Rivich wanted to test her knee on the hardwood, but it was clear that her knee wasn't ready.

"I didn't know how I was going to make it through basketball season," she said.

Mikrut says Rivich's multi-sport abilities help set her apart from the pack on the soccer field. When many of her opponents are playing indoor soccer, Rivich has been playing a different sport all together.

"She's not just a soccer player. She's an athlete," Mikrut said. "She has that switch that she can turn on, and she's so competitive. I've never had a kid with that kind of athleticism."

Rivich is versatile, as well. She can play every position on the pitch. When Mikrut saw that she was having issues with her knee in the semistate game against South Bend St. Joseph's, he just dropped her back to defense, and Rivich made a significant impact on the game from there.

That's what has Mikrut so excited about another season with his star.

"We lose a lot (to graduation), but Sarah gives us a lot to build around," he said. "I've coached a lot of good kids, but Sarah is on another level."

As for the awards, though, Rivich can't concern herself with them. She's got a few more victories to pile up before she leaves Crown Point.

"I just want to do the best I can," Rivich said. "It's nice getting awards, but I don't want to worry about that. If we work hard as a team and win, the awards will come after that."