Girls soccer preview capsules

Big Northern Conference

Richmond-Burton

Coach: Chris Wagner (fourth season)

Last year's record: 15-1-1 overall, 11-0-1 East

Top returning players: Miki Winkler, MF, sr.; Lauren Otto, D, jr.; Hailey Havlicek, MF, so.; Jessica Guenther, MF, jr.; Cassie Owen, D, sr.; Hannah Koenig, GK, sr.; Corie Sembach, MF, sr.

Top new players: Chloe Becker, MF, fr.; Taylor Enders, D, so.; Bailey Harmon, D, so.; Meghan Vasseur, F, so.

Worth noting: "We lost a lot of valuable experience last year," Wagner said. "We will be looking for players to step into new roles as we move forward as a team."

Marengo

Coach: Jim McKinnon (fifth season)

Last year's record: 6-9-1 overall, 4-6-1 East

Top returning players: Makayla Broling, MF, sr.; Natasha Van Linden, MF, sr.; Megan Hanelt, D, jr.; Logan Brettschnieder, F, sr.; Kassidy Girmscheid, MF, sr.; Liz Iverson, D, sr.; Kate Kasch, MF, sr.; Makayla Pfeiffer, GK, sr.

Top new players: Gretel Hoffmeyer, MF, so.; Maddie Hoey, D, so.; Amanda Jager, MF, fr.; Kaitlin Shepard, D, fr.; Keara Heuser, D, fr.

Worth noting: "This is a very good team willing to work hard and willing to do what it takes," McKinnon said.

Harvard

Coach: David Abel (13th season)

Last season's record: 3-13 overall, 2-8 East

Top returning player: Julissa Muralles, GK, sr.;

Top new players: Ana Calixto, F, fr.; Lizbeth Sanchez, MF, fr.

Fox Valley Conference

Fox Division

Crystal Lake Central

Coach: Jay Schwarzrock (fourth season)

Last year's record: 7-5-1 overall, 5-1 Fox

Top returning players: Caitlyn Dayton, GK, sr.; Sarah Benhart, MF, sr.; Riley Hudak, MF, jr.; Katie Beck, F, jr.; Stacie Wolfgram, F, jr.

Top new players: Bailee Kramer, D, fr.; Tatyana Gysakow, F, fr.; Shannon Widowson, F, fr.

Worth noting: This will be the third year that many of the girls have been playing together," Schwarzrock said. "We are excited to see what the season will bring."

Johnsburg

Coach: Rob Eastland (second season)

Last year's record: 14-8 overall, 3-3 Fox

Top returning players: Delaney Pruitt, MF, jr.; Kortnee Hass, MF, jr.

Top new players: Madelyn Peterson, MF, fr.; Amanda Cherwin, GK, sr.; Amy Majercik, GK, sr.

Worth noting: The Skyhawks finished fourth at state last season and return several impact players including Northwest Herald Girls Soccer Player of the Year, Delaney Pruitt.

Hampshire

Coach: Sara O'Toole (first season)

Last year's record: 7-12 overall, 3-3 Fox

Top returning players: Lexi Maze, MF, sr.; Claudia Lazar, MF, jr.

Top new players: Kilia Higa, MF, fr.; Megan McIntyer, MF, fr.

Worth noting: "Young team," O'Toole said, "but ready to compete this season."

Woodstock

Coach: Mike Golda (third season)

Last year's record: 6-14 overall, 2-4 Fox

Top returning players: Mallory Bellairs, MF/D, sr.; Allie Beherens, F/MF, jr.; Emma Thill, MF, jr.

Worth noting: The Blue Streaks went to the regional final match last season but fell to eventual state runner-up Prairie Ridge.

Woodstock North

Coach: Lauren Farley (third season)

Last year's record: 4-13 overall, 0-6 Fox

Top returning players: Monica Czerwiec, D, so.; Shanen Laabs, GK, sr.

Top new player: Daniela Miranda, MF, fr.

Worth noting: The Thunder finished seventh in the FVC Fox last season but will have a stronger defense this season.

Valley Division

Cary-Grove

Coach: Ray Krystal (eighth season)

Last year's record: 10-6-1 overall, 3-3 Valley

Top returning players: Abby Glaysher, sr; Ellie Baily, sr.; JJ Baily, sr.

Top new players: Katie Conner, fr.; Alex Airhart, fr.; Sofie Immens, fr.; Morgan Olsen, fr.

Worth noting: "This year, there are returning players looking to step up into larger roles," Krystal said. "And the new players are hungry for experience at the varsity level."

Dundee-Crown

Coach: Sebastian Falinski (seventh season)

Last year's record: 5-18 overall, 1-5 Valley

Top returning players: Payton De Luga, D, jr.; Shannon Feld, MF, sr.; Frankie Scarpelli, F, sr.; Ashley Raby, F, so.; Carson Bloch, D, so.

Top new players: Anahi Medina, GK, so; Sara Kuczynski, D, fr.; Paige Gieseke, D, fr.; Maggie Griffin, MF, fr.; Taylor Coffman, MF, fr.; Heily Ramirez, MF, so.

Worth noting: "We have the potential to compete with every team," Falinski said. "We just need to be doing the things we have discussed in our team meetings on a consistent basis and at a high level."

Jacobs

Coach: Stephanie Schuck (first season)

Last year's record: 6-11-1 overall, 2-4 Valley

Top returning players: Talia Surges, MF, so; Liz Foster, GK, so; Amanda Pasetes, MF, jr.

Worth noting: The Golden Eagles finished tied for fifth with McHenry in the FVC Valley last season.

Crystal Lake South

Coach: Jay Mueller (first season)

Last year's record: 12-8-2 overall, 3-3 Valley

Top returning players: Audrey Collard, D, sr.; Liz Massat, D, sr.; Bianca Miceli, F, sr.; Alex Romano, MF, sr,; Alex Siavelis, MF, sr.; Morgan Szmutko, D, sr.; Erin Woeste, MF, sr.

Top new players: Jenny Luken, MF, so.; Rebecca Mayber, D/MF, jr.; Brandie Minogue, F, so.; Katherine Siavelis, MF, so.

Worth noting: The Gators have 12 returning players this season. "We’re well balanced and have a lot of depth," Mueller said, "which should allow us to be strong late in games and late in the season."

Prairie Ridge

Coach: JC Brown (third season)

Last year's record: 19-3-1 overall, 6-0 Valley

Top returning players: Erin Ginsberg, F, sr.; Ali Fanning, D, sr.; Brooke Laibly, GK, sr.; Larissa Dooley, F, jr.; Cassie Warton, MF, jr.

Top new players: Megan Walsh, F, so.; Gabbi Fanning, D, fr.; Lexi Petersen, MF, fr.

Worth noting: The Wolves are coming off a second-place finish at state last season and with bring back a core group of returning players. "For as much success as they had, they are playing with a chip on their shoulder and looking for revenge," Brown said."

Huntley

Coach: Kris Grabner (11th season)

Last year's record: 17-5-1 overall, 5-1 Valley

Top returning players: Delaney Loprieno, F, sr.; Jessica Galason, GK, sr.; Abigail Nordeen, MF, sr.