Scouting Local Girls Soccer Teams
BEECHER
Players to watch: Stephanie Hall, Sr., MF;
Sydney Strick, Jr., D; Lyndsay Wachowski, Jr., F; Gianna Myers,
Sr., MF; Kailey Rucker, Jr., F.
Outlook: The Ladycats have gotten out to a
strong start in 2012, winning the Bremen tournament for the first
time in Beecher's 11-year history of girls soccer. What do the
Ladycats get as a reward? Two weeks off until their next game on
Thursday. If the Ladycats can rely on their strong defense and keep
the momentum from the season's early successes going even after a
two week layoff, look for a strong season out of the Ladycats.
Competition will be tough for Beecher in the always competitive
Interstate Eight Conference, but look for the Ladycats to move to
the upper tier of the conference contenders.
Quote: "We've always been strong defensively.
My whole defensive unit has been playing together for three years.
We have struggled to finish our goals, and I think this year
already we've been doing a better job but there's still room for
improvement." ~! coach Dawn Compton.
BLOOM TOWNSHIP
Players to watch: Jazmin Aldapa, So., MF;
Katelin Wallek, Sr., K; Yesenia Garcia, Jr., D; Andreina Hernandez,
Fr., MF; Erika Garcia, Fr., MF.
Outlook: Bloom Township will have a lot of
young and new faces on the pitch in 2012. On the defensive side of
the ball, the Blazing Trojans are battling some nagging injuries
but when the defense returns to full strength, look for the
experience in the back to fuel the Bloom Township team. If the
Blazing Trojans can find the right combination of experience and
youth, Bloom will be able to remain among the top teams in the
Southland Athletic Conference.
Quote: "I think we have a shot at the
conference title again. Seeing how the girls are working and the
strengths that they have now, I think they can do OK." ~! coach
Kelly Gutierrez.
CRETE-MONEE
Players to watch: Rachel Stellfox, Sr., D;
Amanda Earon, Jr., MF; Lea Skaagfard, Fr., MF; Lydia Cogan, Fr.,
D.
Outlook: The Warriors are just one more of the
programs that will be turning to their younger players in 2012. The
Warriors graduated plenty of talent in 2011, but Stellfox remains
as the heart and soul of the Crete-Monee defense. The Warriors will
look to Earon for plenty of offensive production, and Crete-Monee
should be able to contend for a conference title in the Southland
Athletic. There's plenty of potential for the Warriors in 2012 and
beyond with a freshman class that are no strangers to the soccer
field.
Quote: "They're very hardworking, the group we
have. They're young. Hopefully they can win another conference
championship. Those are our goals: to win conference and to win
regionals." ~! coach Julian Lagunas.
HOMEWOOD-FLOSSMOOR
Players to watch: Chrissy Coderre, Jr., D;
Kelly Coderre, Jr., D; Hope Hruska, Sr., MF; Haley Hruska, Sr., F;
Kate Vendrely, Sr., MF; Ali Farkos, Sr., MF.
Outlook: The Vikings have a strong core of
returning players with plenty of varsity experience. The sisters
Coderre and the sisters Hruska will be at the heart of that
experience and leadership. Farkos is a returning all-state
selection, committed to Illinois State, and plays almost like a
point guard on the pitch for Homewood-Flossmoor. The Vikings always
put a strong team on the field and don't expect 2012 to be any
different. As usual, when the dust of Regionals settles, the
Vikings expect to be hanging around.
Quote: "We anticipate having a strong team.
We'll have new faces and new positions but our program is strong.
Hopefully we won't skip a beat." ~! coach Charlie Ward.
ILLIANA CHRISTIAN
Players to watch: Caroline Toren, Sr., D; Emma
Pawlowski, So., F; Megan Knapper, Sr., D/MF; Kristen Corral, Fr.,
MF; Anneke Knot, Sr., MF.
Outlook: In 2011, the Vikings finished 13-6 and
won a regional title. Illiana Christian has already won their own
Paarlberg Park Invitational on March 24. The tourney win improved
the Vikings to 5-0-1 in 2012, and all signs are pointing to a
productive season moving forward. Freshman Corral is already making
a name for herself at the varsity level with her natural ability
for the ball. If something good is happening for the Vikings,
Corral will be found in the middle of it. If the Vikings' defense
can step up when they are needed, Illiana Christian should have a
good go around this spring.
Quote: "We hope to do well and we hope to
improve on 2011. I have twelve returning varsity players so the
girls know my system and we're rolling pretty well already as the
year is getting started." ~! coach AJ Turkstra.
MARIAN CATHOLIC
Players to watch: Christine Franzese, Jr., D;
MaryAnn Crosetto, Jr., MF; Mollie Lindeman, Sr., D; Hailey
Losselyong, So., F; Cecily Strezo, Sr., MF.
Outlook: The Spartans will have a mix of new
and old faces out on the field in 2012. The team is a work in
progress but could come together for a strong season. Lindeman is
the center of the Spartan defense and look for that to be the
strength of Marian Catholic this year. The Spartans will be
searching for chemistry and some players will even be trying out
new positions. The record of the team will rest on how soon the
team can find stability within their new surroundings.
Quote: "You can label it as a work in progress.
That's the best way I can describe it. We have some new players and
we need to find the right chemistry for us." ~! coach Nasser
Shahtaji.
ST FRANCIS DE SALES
Players to watch: Celeste Martinez, Sr., F;
Lourds Gamimo, Fr., D; Jashive Quintas, Sr., D; Alma Solis, So.,
MF; Renee Romero, So., K.
Outlook: The Pioneers graduated five seniors
from last year, but will still look to compete in the Girls
Catholic Athletic Conference. There will be plenty of fresh faces
seeing playing time for St. Francis de Sales in 2012, and though
they may not have the experience, these Pioneers are ready to work
and show they belong at the varsity level. There may be some rough
roads in the near future, but like plenty of the other local girls
teams, the future is bright and the underclassmen will only get
better with time and age.
Quote: "They're willing to learn and they're
willing to work. They're out there everyday. We're trying to mix
our young players with our experienced players and work as a team."
~! coach Jorge Sanchez.
THORNTON TOWNSHIP
Players to watch: Lupe Ambrosio, Jr., D;
Jasmine Zambrano, Jr., F; Maria Millan, Jr., K; Estafani Ambrosio,
Fr., F; Nancy Quinones, Sr., MF.
Outlook: Thornton Township will be ready to
compete in a tough SouthWest Suburban Conference in 2012. The team
is still relatively young, but there is plenty of varsity
experience left over from 2011. It will be interesting to see if
the team can develop and raise its game to a higher level. Also
keep an eye on Thornton Township beyond 2012 to see if they can
remain consistent as a program and develop some of their younger
talent.
Quote: "The expectations are high of course.
I'm expecting a lot more wins then last year. It's a tough
conference and anything can happen." ~! coach Maria Gonzales.
THORNTON FRACTIONAL
Players to watch: Jamie Kats, Sr., MF;
Elizabeth Munoz, Sr., D; Andrea Munoz, Jr., MF; Lisa Urbina, Sr.,
D; Biance Ruiz, Jr., K.
Outlook: Thornton Fractional brings a strong
team to the field in 2012 with plenty of leg and plenty of speed.
The team likes to send it in and let their forwards finish the
rest. Freshman Monica Munoz is already having an impact on the team
and is a nice compliment to her older sister Andrea. Ruiz gives
Thornton Fractional stability and experience at the keeper
position. Thornton Fractional almost won the Paalberg Park
Invitational away from Illiana Christian earlier this year, and it
took overtime to finally quiet Thornton Fractional. Don't expect to
see many more team quieting this team though, and with Kats in the
middle, expect big things from this team in 2012.
Quote: "We really didn't lose any players. And
we're adding a couple of freshman that I hope will contribute
greatly. We think we can compete with just about any team we play."
~! coach Alejandro Lagunas.
WASHINGTON
Players to watch: Miriam Moreno, Sr., F;
Virginia Mendoza, Sr., MF; Roxana Jasso, Sr., D; Betty Torrez, Jr.,
F; Renata Veljacic, Fr., K.
Oulook: Washington will rely heavily on seniors
Moreno, Mendoza, and Jasso, to lead at their respective positions
in the front, middle, and back. The girls team has been taking
notice of the school's positive reaction and support of the boys
soccer team and their successes, and the girls have decided they
would like to see some of that recognition also. Coach Al Perez is
already speaking highly of his freshman goalie Veljacic and
believes the sky is the limit with her. The team will have the
primary goal of staying in the first division of the Chicago Public
League.
Quote: "It's looks promising. We anticipate
staying in the first division. We don't want to be demoted back to
the second division. Goal number one is stay in the first
division." ~! coach Al Perez.
~! Compiled by Dwight Haislet
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