2022 Northwest Herald girls soccer preview capsules

FOX VALLEY CONFERENCE

Burlington Central

Coach: Jess Arneson (eighth season)

2021 season: 15-7-1 overall, 6-2-1 FVC, Class 2A sectional champions

Top returners: Ava Elders, jr., M; Eva Boer, jr., M

Key newcomers: Eva Samuelian, so., M; Rylee Butler, so., F

Worth noting: The Rockets have won three sectional titles in the past four postseasons – there was no season in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. … “We have a team that has amazing team chemistry. We have a smaller senior class, but they work hard to keep the team together,” Arneson said. … The Rockets will be tested in their nonconference season, playing Class 3A schools in both the St. Charles Tournament and the Naperville Invitational.

Cary-Grove

Coach: Ray Krystal (16th season)

2021 season: 11-3 overall, 8-1-0 conference, Class 3A regional champions

Top returners: Katie Jannusch, sr., M; Kameron Zurzolo, sr., D; Julia Howedeshell, sr., D; Avery Nielsen, sr., F; Natalie Warren, sr., F

Worth noting: The Trojans have won three consecutive Class 3A regional titles. … Cary-Grove graduated nine players from last season’s team. … Krystal is looking forward to watching how his new players come together during the nonconference portion of the season. “We have a tough schedule that will provide challenges and force the team to grow. It will be crucial for the team to work hard and support each other as many players will take on different roles throughout the season,” Krystal said.

Crystal Lake Central

Coach: Sarah Fack (sixth season)

2021 season: 13-4 overall, 7-2 FVC, FVC tournament champions

Top returners: Sam Sander, sr., F; Skyler Wolfgram, sr., F

Key newcomers: Kaitlin Gaunaurd, sr., M; Lizzie Gray, fr., F; Chelsea Iles, so. D

Worth noting: Crystal Lake Central surprised some by winning the Fox Valley Conference tournament last season as a No. 3 seed. The Tigers lost in the Class 2A St. Viator Sectional quarterfinals and Fack hopes that provided some lessons for her young group. “They got a taste of some of that but not so much in the playoffs. They saw both sides of it, they’ll have motivation to do more of it in the regular season and then carry that into the playoffs,” Fack said. … Sander, a 2021 Northwest Herald All-Area second-team member, and Wolfgram are expected to provide strong senior leadership. … Gaunaurd will join the team after not playing high school soccer since her freshman year.

Crystal Lake South

Coach: Kyle McCaughn (third season)

2021 season: 1-11-1 overall, 1-8 FVC

Top returners: Peyton Dacy, sr., D; Megan Langdon, sr., M; Elise Gorman, sr., M; Bella Farrington, sr., F

Key newcomers: Samantha Twenty, sr.

Worth noting: South will only have one new player in its lineup this season as McCaughn looks forward to his seniors leading the way. “Our seniors are going to pave the way for us to have a successful season,” McCaughn said. … The Gators will run a new system this spring. … Twenty will return to high school soccer after not playing the past two seasons. … McCaughn is looking for the team to build chemistry. “If they believe in each other, if they believe in what we’re trying to do together, they know things are going to change from what happened last year,” McCaughn said.

Dundee-Crown

Coach: Rob Moulton (first season)

2021 season: 4-11 overall, 1-7-1 FVC

Top returners: Marisol Gutierrez, sr., M; Kate Raby, sr., D

Key newcomers: Berkley Mensik, sr., M; Araceli Mendez, so., M; Emilia Arias, so., F

Worth noting: Moulton is looking forward to building the culture at Dundee-Crown in his first season. “I just want to keep building up the culture of how we win, not how many wins and losses we have but how we play,” Moulton said. … Mensik will not only be one of the top players for Chargers but one of the best in the conference. The senior had concentrated on club soccer the past two seasons and is committed to play at Notre Dame.

Hampshire

Coach: Kelly Madison (third season)

2021 season: 7-8 overall , 4-5 FVC

Top returners: Genevieve Bangert, jr., F; Francesca Pastorelli, jr., F

Key newcomers: Ilse Marquez, fr., M; Jozie Richert, fr., M

Worth noting: The Whip-Purs return 16 of 18 varsity players from last season, which Madison hopes will help after a strong second half. “Knowing that we started with that base last year, even though last season was a little odd, we really hit our stride in the second half of the season. The hope is that familiarity travels over to this season,” Madison said. … Hampshire will have three levels of girls soccer this spring, something the program hasn’t had in a while.

Huntley

Coach: Matt Lewandowski (fifth season)

2021 season: 5-8-2 overall, 3-5-1 FVC

Top returners: Hanna Helzer, sr., M; Grace Helzer, jr., F; Morgan McCaughn, jr., F; Gabby Rivera, jr., M; Karen Reyes Villanueva, jr., M; Nova Rothlisberger, sr., GK

Key newcomers: Gabi Farraj, so., M; Ellie Knebl, jr., D; Maddie Cummings, fr., F

Worth noting: Lewandowski hopes the Red Raiders get back to competing for regional titles and finishing in the top half of the conference. “We have the tools to do it, it’ll depend on if we have the communication to put all those tools to good use,” Lewandowski said. … Huntley will rely on its senior leadership, including Hanna Helzer and Rothlisberger. “It’s invaluable. To have people who know high-pressure moments, to lead people that possibly haven’t is huge,” Lewandowski said. … Huntley will have four levels of girls soccer for the first time.

Jacobs

Coach: Colin Brice (second season)

2021 season: 4-9-1 overall, 2-6-1 FVC

Top returners: Anita Lewis, sr., M; Ashley Datka, sr., D; Kristin Silenzi, jr., GK; Amber Fink, sr., M; Delaney Lukowski, so., M; Sarah Genger, sr., D; Bella Mickey, jr., M

Key newcomers: Sam Diaz, fr., M; Gabby Wojtarowicz, fr., M

Worth noting: Brice is taking off the interim tag and will be the coach for the boys and girls programs. He hopes his team can finish in the top half of the conference and have a chance of competing for a regional title. “I’m just excited to build off of what we were able to do last year and hopefully improve going into this season,” Brice said. … Silenzi is expected to be one of the top goalkeepers in the area. … Jacobs has a young team, which is why Brice will need his senior leadership to help him along the way. “In order for us to have success, they have to be good leaders, and they have to demand things from the underclassmen,” Brice said.

McHenry

Coach: Andrew Stegenga (sixth season)

2021 season: 8-7-3 overall, 4-4 FVC

Top returners: Ella Ruppenthal, sr., D; Sarah Duginske, jr., D; Emerson Gasmann, jr., GK; Sophia Gasmann, sr., D; Madison Fray, sr.

Key newcomers: Makenna Harvey, fr., GK; Emily Taylor, fr., D; Kylie Parisi, fr., F

Worth noting: Stegenga is looking forward to having one of his best teams at McHenry with the Warriors bringing back a lot of experience from last season. McHenry lost to Cary-Grove, 2-1, in a Class 2A regional final. The Warriors are looking to take the next step after a tough loss. “I think that was a massive step for our program and the girls. All offseason the girls have been coming in, working out because they want to get that regional title this year,” Stegenga said.

Prairie Ridge

Coach: Justin Brown (first season)

2021 season: 9-4 overall, 7-2 FVC

Top returners: Alexis Celentano, jr., F; Ellie King, jr., M/F; Abby Kirk, sr., D; Mackenzie Nelson, jr., M

Key newcomers: Mia Pietramale, fr., GK; Olivia McPherson, so., M/D; Breanna Pollack, sr., F; Katie Gorton, sr., M/F

Worth noting: Brown takes over the Wolves program after serving as an assistant coach. “I think it’ll be a little bit of a blend, but the bones are pretty much the same, some of the delivery might be different,” Brown said. … Prairie Ridge has won eight regional titles and two sectional titles since 2011. … Brown has enjoyed the senior leadership he’s seen thus far to help in the transition. “They’ve been great leaders so far. They’ve been around, so they’ve been playing since they were freshmen. It’s cool to see them grow up, take those next steps as leaders,” Brown said.

KISHWAUKEE RIVER CONFERENCE

Harvard

Coach: Victor Gonzalez (seventh season)

2021 season: 0-12 overall, 0-10 KRC

Top returners: Yesi Escobar, sr., M; Banesa Juarez, sr., M; Lindsay Lehmann, jr., D

Key newcomers: Yiszel Calixto, so., F; Valeria Torres, so., F/M

Worth noting: Harvard will have a young program, with 18 freshmen coming out for the two levels this season. The varsity team will have two returning seniors. “We’re super young. I’m just looking to improve as the season moves on,” said Gonzalez, who is looking forward to having two levels of play this season after being limited to one last year. “It helps us develop the girls longterm, if we can have them stick around for the four years we can develop them to be somewhat competitive once they’re juniors and seniors and know what to expect,” Gonzalez said.

Johnsburg

Coach: Adam Bronars (fifth season)

2021 season: 6-10 overall, 4-6 KRC

Top returners: Molly Wetzel, sr., F; Kaylee Fouke, so., M; Wynne Oeffling, so., M; Mackenzie McQuiston, so., F

Key newcomer: Natalie Oeffling, fr., D

Worth noting: Bronars wants his players to take it one day at a time as the season progresses. “If you keep it more short-term memory, I think that helps,” Bronars said.

Marengo

Coach: Michelle Bartula (first season)

2021 season: 4-11 overall, 2-8 KRC

Top returners: Ruby Escorza, sr., M; Gracie Phillips, sr., M; Samara Rivas, sr., D; Addie Johnson, jr., M

Key newcomers: Allie Casen, sr., M; Julissa Gonzalez, sr., D; Cassidy Winder, so., F/M

Worth noting: Bartula will need to replace 12 seniors from last season’s roster but is excited to start fresh with a large number of juniors and freshmen trying out for the team. Marengo will try to keep its numbers up compared to last season, with 30 girls playing soccer this spring. … Senior leadership will be important for Bartula as she establishes her program. “To have them and give me that leadership and help as well, to help teach the girls, be a leader for the girls to look up to, it’s tremendous help,” Bartula said.

Richmond-Burton

Coach: Casey DeCaluwe (seventh season)

2021 season: 14-3-3 overall, 10-0 KRC, KRC champions, Class 1A sectional champions

Top returners: Reese Frericks, jr., F; Layne Frericks, so., M; Brianna Maldonado, so. M; Lexi Anderson, jr., D; Maddie Havlicek, jr., D; Rachel Mendlik, so., M; Ember Demers, so., D; Jordan Otto, jr., M, Margaret Slove, jr., F

Worth noting: Richmond-Burton defeated Regina to win its Class 1A sectional before falling to Timothy Christian in the supersectional. The Rockets have placed signs that read “State 2022″ as motivation for what they want to accomplish this season. “The girls have taken the loss in a positive way, knowing that they need to work harder to get over that hump and get to the ultimate goal of getting down to state,” DeCaluwe said. … The Rockets return eight all-conference players. … Richmond-Burton caught teams by surprise last season, but players know that won’t happen this year. “Now that we have a target on our back, we have to rise to the occasion and no longer play an underdog role, go out there and prove that we belong,” DeCaluwe said.

Woodstock

Coach: Matt Warmbier (fifth season)

2021 season: 7-7-1 overall, 6-4 KRC

Top returners: Reese Freund, sr., D; Madison Kentgen, sr., F; Becca Janiga, jr., M; Shea Behrens, jr., D; Val Sardelli, so., GK, Natalie Morrow, so., M

Key newcomer: Keira Bogott, fr., M

Worth noting: Woodstock will have a young team. “We’ve got a lot of younger players that are going to have to step into big roles, it’s going to be seeing how they can adapt to the transition,” Warmbier said. … Freund will return as the team’s senior captain. … Woodstock’s program numbers rebounded after a low total last season. “Hopefully we’re turning the corner and heading in the right direction again,” Warmbier said.

Woodstock North

Coach: John Sullivan (first season)

2021 season: 12-6 overall, 8-2 KRC

Top returners: Mackenzie Rogers, sr., M; Kate Ward, sr., F; Addison Rishling, so., F.

Key newcomers: Bella D’Amico, jr., F; Stella Splendoria, fr., D

Worth noting: Sullivan isn’t looking to change Woodstock North’s momentum from last season as he takes over the girls program. “This is a team loaded with talent. We’re deep in every position and when we’re playing our best soccer, we’re a tough team and tough out,” Sullivan said. … Rishling broke the program’s single-season goal record last season with an area-best 34. She’ll look to continue her hot scoring in her second high school season. … Sullivan hopes last year’s experience helps his players reach their goals of winning conference and reaching a regional final. “The tighter the unit is, the more that helps us, especially in conference where there are a lot of players who’ve played together for a long time,” Sullivan said.

EAST SUBURBAN CATHOLIC CONFERENCE

Marian Central

Coach: Brittany Solomon (fourth season)

2021 season: 4-7-1 overall, 0-6 ESCC

Top returners: Angelina Cutrona, jr., M; Sidney Gerstenkorn, jr., M; Lizzie Dwrila, so., D; Greta Fortin, so., M/D; Anna Lingle, so., GK

Key newcomers: Adriana Wrzos, fr.; Kailie Rosato, fr.; Mia Knapp, fr.

Worth noting: Marian Central will have a strong freshman and sophomore class this season, with plenty of opportunities to learn. “We just want to play our best and [play] our game,” Solomon said. … Fortin returns this season after a slight fracture and ligament issues in her ankle kept her from the team. … Solomon is excited to see what he freshmen can bring to the team. “They have a fire in them,” Solomon said.