:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/shawmedia/XGKLPD5YEYNRK3ZUKG65TGPMGY.jpg)
DeKalb Barbs
Coach: Sara Kooistra (second season, 0-0)
2019 season: Lost to Elgin, 2-1, in a Class 3A DeKalb Regional semifinal
Keep an eye on: Junior Kendra Sullivan will make the move from goalie to up top to try to provide a scoring spark for the Barbs.
Also: Bella de la Cruz, sr., D/F; Natalie Rosenow, jr., D; Ashley Diedrich, soph., MF: Claire Bettner, soph., MF;
Kooistra’s comments: “I’m trying not to have any,” Kooistra said of expectations for the season. “It’s technically my second year but actually my first. I don’t really know what to expect. I don’t even know much about the competition yet to know we’re going to stand. I think we can compete well. Conference is going to be tough this year but outside of conference I think we’ll be able to compete well.”
The lowdown: In her second year as a coach, Kooistra is getting ready to lead the Barbs on the field for the first time since the 2020 campaign was wiped out due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Kooistra said numbers are low this year but the Barbs are just grateful to be playing. She also said due to the low numbers, there are going to be a lot of multi-positional players for the Barbs.
Sycamore Spartans
Coach: Kevin Bickley (20-1-1, third year)
2019 season: 20-1-1, lost 2-1 to Prairie Ridge in a Class 2A Hampshire Sectional semifinal
Keep an eye on: Senior goalie Lily Horne played for the Spartans as a freshman before not joining the team as a sophomore. She had plans to play last season had there been one.
Also: Katie Haub, sr., D; Grace Leonarts, sr., MF; Ella Shipley, jr., MF/F; Karli Kuzinga, jr., MF; Sophie Binder, jr., D/GK
Bickley’s comments: “It’s been a busy eight days. There are some new faces and it’s very challenging. We’re lucky we got to get outside before our first game.”
The lowdown: Bickley said it’s a sophomore-laden team, and the week or so leading up to the team’s first game has been figuring out where the pieces fit. Bickley said it’s a busy first week with games scheduled at home Tuesday against Burlington Central, at South Elgin Thursday and at home Saturday against Dundee-Crown. Bickley said he liked his back row, with Horne and Haub anchoring things.
Genoa-Kingston Cogs
Coach: Randy Tate (130-143-13, 15th year)
2019 season: The Cogs lost, 2-0, to Byron in a Class 1A Genoa-Kingston regional semifinal.
Keep an eye on: Whether she ends up at sweeper or forward, Tate said he expects big things out of senior Crystal Beltran this year.
Also: Cassie Winters, sr., MF; Hayley Stevenson, sr., MF; Sara Swineheart, sr., D
Tate’s comments: “I don’t think we have as many as we normally do but I think the whole conference is going to see a downturn in numbers. We had two boys teams this year that couldn’t field enough to have any teas at all. I have a feeling the girls are going to struggle even more than the boys’ numbers.”
The lowdown: Tate said the Cogs will be able to field at least a variety a team, and the positions are up for grabs since it;’s been two years since they played before. He’s also adjusting to new faces on the squad. He also said he’s trying to find a goalie, as well as figuring out scoring options for the team.
Indian Creek Timberwolves
Coach: Scott McClure
2019 season: Lost to Stillman Valley, 9-0, in a Class 1A Stillman Valley Regional semifinal
Keep an eye on: Natalie Fox was hurt in the middle of a strong sophomore season, and is back out at forward for her final campaign.
Also: Kylee Bauer, sr., MF; Natalie Fox, sr., F; Emily Astling, sr., F; Maddy Standard, sr., MF; Kayleigh Quinn, sr., D/MF
McClure’s comments: “I’m definitely expecting a rebound from the last time we played. Last year I was excited to have a healthy team before everything happened. We went through one of our toughest years in terms of health and low numbers. This year the numbers are good for us, 18 will be on the team. It’s a real good mix between upper classes and lower.”
The lowdown: The Timberwolves didn’t officially start practices until Monday, with their first game not until April 26. Still, McClure said he’s got a good sense of the team from their middle school days - McClure and his staff were and still are coaching the middle school program. He said a lot of the freshman and sophomores have played club soccer so expects them to come in and compliment the seniors right off the bat.
Hinckley-Big Rock Royals
Coach: Melissa Jennings
2019 season: Lost to Stillman Valley, 4-0, in the Class 1A Stillman Valley Regional final
Keep an eye on: Ashleigh Wackerlin had a strong freshman campaign for the Royals and is back at midfield and striker for her junior season.
Also: Avery Zabel, sr., GK; Cara Davis, sr., D; Abby Neidigh, sr., MF
Jennings’ comments: “I just hope with all these seasons being put back to back and overlapping, we don’t see more and more injuries,” Jennings said. “I know my boys’ players have suffered more injuries [because] of it, I’m hoping my girls won’t as well.”
The lowdown: A lot of the Royals, including Zabel and Wackerlin, are coming off basketball seasons. Jennings said she expects between only 15 and 18 players on the roster, and that’s with a co-op with Somonauk that has brought in players such as Neidigh and Davis.