The girls soccer season starts this week. Here are previews of teams from around the Kane County Chronicle coverage area.
BATAVIA BULLDOGS
Coach: Mark Gianfrancesco
2019 record: 17-5-2
Top returners: Kyla MacKenzie, sr., D; Ashley Whelpley, sr., M;
Key newcomer: Riley Dibiase, so., M.
Worth noting: The Bulldogs won a Class 3A regional title in 2019 before losing in the sectional semifinal. Gianfrancesco says his team has a “tremendous” mix between all four grade levels. Whelpley and MacKenzie figure to be team leaders as seniors, while Dibiase and sophomore forward Lilly Figueras could see the pitch as underclassmen. Brooke Carlson, who had an excellent freshman season on the basketball court, will be in the midfield.
“As the season progresses those relationships and the understanding of what it takes to perform at the varsity level should provide a springboard to building towards the state series,” Gianfrancesco said.
BURLINGTON CENTRAL ROCKETS
Coach: Jessica Arneson
2019 record: 14-5-1
Top returners: Reagan Oller, sr., M; Isa Hartmann, sr., F;
Key newcomer: Eva Samuelian, fr., M
Worth noting: The Rockets lost in the Class 2A regional final in 2019. They do return six seniors on the roster, led by Oller, Hartmann and goalkeeper Kyla Butler. Samuelian is a freshman who figures to earn minutes early and often. Arneson points out the collective group is “one of the most cohesive groups of players I have ever seen coaching.”
“With the amount of seniors I have, and their desire to play this year, I can see us being extremely successful this year,” Arneson said.
GENEVA VIKINGS:
Coach: Megan Owens
2019 record: 11-6-2
Top returners: Kelly Anderson, sr., M.
Key newcomer: Evyn Schokora, fr., F; Rilee Hasegowa, so., F.
Worth noting: Geneva doesn’t have a ton of senior experience from the lack of a 2020 season, as they graduated 12 seniors. How quickly the Vikings jell will be a test for them throughout the season, but they do return Anderson, who is a four-year varsity player. Alana Rawls, a junior forward, has three years of experience and Genevieve Moncrieff, a junior defender, also has three years. Schokora is a talented freshman with potential to play early.
“While we will face the challenges any young team faces, we are thrilled we get the opportunity to compete this season and hope to prove ourselves on the pitch,” Owens said. “We have a lot of offensive fire power this year and hope to make our mark in the tough DuKane Conference.”
KANELAND KNIGHTS
Coach: Scott Parillo
2019 record: 10-10-2
Top returners: Taylor Carlson, sr., M; Emma Hedlund, sr., D.
Key newcomer: Emily Kunzer, fr., M/D
Worth noting: The Knights lost in the Class 2A regional final in 2019. Kaneland will have a challenging non-conference schedule this season that includes several top Fox Valley teams including Geneva, St. Charles North, and Burlington Central, as well as Benet. Carlson is a standout to keep an eye on for the Knights.
“We have a very tough non conference schedule that should challenge us and make us better,” Parillo said.
ST. CHARLES EAST SAINTS
Coach: Vince DiNuzzo
2019 record: 22-6-0
Top returners: Hannah Miller, sr., F; Jessica Stepien, sr., D
Key newcomer: Ashley Stellon, jr., M
Worth noting: The Saints are primed for a solid season as they return 14 girls from what would have been the 2020 team, nine of them who were on the 2019 club. They have 11 seniors, led by Miller. Stellon is an intriguing add for this squad, as she’s played two years of club and is joining varsity for her first season. Stellon is already committed to the University of Illinois-Champaign. Team strengths figure to feature their overall depth and defensive talent.
“Our weaknesses, just like everyone else’s, will be the shortened preseason with the limited time to build team chemistry,” DiNuzzo said.
ST. CHARLES NORTH NORTH STARS
Coach: Brian Harks
2019 record: 19-2-2
Top returners: Makenna Collins, sr., D; Grace Barresi, sr., D
Key newcomer: Bella Najera, so., F
Worth noting: The North Stars back line projects to be a top strength, as it returns Collins, Barresi and Bridget Wolf – all with at least three years of starting experience. Talia Pellegrini is a three-year starter at midfielder. Najera is a sophomore forward who is already getting Division I looks. The North Stars program has reached the supersectional round each of the past four consecutive years, so reaching the state tournament is the clear and obvious goal.
“This year we will have a good blend of experienced seniors and eager newcomers,” Harks said. “Like most teams, we are excited to be back on the field after last season was canceled. However, there is still a feeling of unfinished business with this group.”
ST. FRANCIS SPARTANS
Coach: Jim Winslow
2019 record: 8-7-2
Top returners: Kate Chaparro, sr.; Katherine Lemke, sr.
Key newcomer: Paige Chrustowski, fr.
Worth noting: The Spartans lost to St. Charles North in the Class 3A regional finals in 2019. They bring back a solid group of experienced and new players this season. Chaparro and Lemke both earned all-conference honors in 2019 and expect to lead the team. Winslow says a team strength and weakness alike will be the team’s youth.
“We are on the young end of the cycle again: a good senior class, and a junior class that will finally get to play varsity soccer; plus some good sophomores and [freshmen],” Winslow said...”We aren’t playing our typical schedule because of the compressed spring but hopefully by state playoff time we should be rolling along.”