:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/shawmedia/C3NS2JJBSVC4JNVUXZ3TNRBCAI.JPG)
The girls soccer season started this week. Here are previews of teams in the Kane County Chronicle coverage area.
Batavia
Coach: Mark Gianfrancesco
2021 record: 7-13
Top returning players: Aubrey Hahn, senior, goalie; Mia Anzalone, senior, defender; Johanna Shubert, senior, forward
Worth noting: The Bulldogs bring back an experienced group. Gianfrancesco noted they don’t have any true newcomers this season because all were up on varsity. Hahn (Iowa), Schubert (Winona State) and Anzalone (Carleton College) are the headliners for Batavia.
“We are looking to build relationships on the pitch throughout the season. We have some nice talent that we will work to bring out as the season progresses,” Gianfrancesco said.
[ Kane County Chronicle soccer preview: 5 Players to Watch in 2022 ]
Burlington Central
Coach: Jess Arneson
2021 record: 15-7-1 overall, 6-2-1 FVC, Class 2A sectional champions
Top returning players: Ava Elders, junior, midfielder; Eva Boer, junior, midfielder
Top new players: Eva Samuelian, sophomore, midfielder; Rylee Butler, sophomore, forward
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 nonconference matches this season, playing Class 3A schools in both the St. Charles Tournament and the Naperville Invitational.
– Michal Dwojak
Geneva
Coach: Megan Owens
2021 record: 11-7
Top returning players: Rilee Hasegawa, junior, forward; Bella Walls, junior, defender; Morgan Rudowicz, junior, forward
Top new players: Cami Bishop, sophomore, defender; Kendall Forbes, senior, midfielder; Mia Mosciano, sophomore, defender
Worth noting: The Vikings appear primed for a solid run in the DuKane Conference. They return 18 players and nine potential starters. Hasegawa saw a lot of playing time last season and should be involved in plenty of the scoring. Lilly Coats, a sophomore defender, is injured but it’s possible she could be back in the near future.
“We hope to set the tone early and only build throughout the season as new players gain more experience and injured players return to the mix,” Owens said.
Kaneland
Coach: Scott Parillo
2021 record: 14-5
Top returning players: Audrey Salamon, senior, forward; Katie Kurz, senior, defender/midfielder; Brigid Gannon, junior, forward; Emily Kunzer, sophomore, defender/midfielder; Brianna Herrera, junior, defender
Top new players: Madi Schrader, sophomore, defender; Jade Schrader, sophomore, defender; Casey O’Brien, sophomore, defender; Alex Warrington, sophomore, defender
Worth noting: Parillo said the Knights have beefed up their schedule, which includes a trip to Springfield for the Sacred Heart-Griffin tournament. Kaneland, which lost to Dixon, 4-1, in the second round of the Class 3A playoffs last season, also will head east for early season games against Batavia and Geneva. “We can’t play on our field yet,” Parillo said, “so let’s find some people who have turf.”
– Eddie Carifio
St. Charles East
Coach: Vince DiNuzzo
2021 record: 22-1-1
Top returning players: Sofia Iori, senior, goalie; McKenna Gahagan, senior, middle; Anna Champine, senior, defender
Top new players: Kara Machala, junior, defender; Grace Williams, junior, forward; Tia Bernstein, junior, forward
Worth noting: The Saints had a magical run to the Class 4A supersectional last season that included beating rival St. Charles North in penalty kicks in the sectional final. 2021 Kane County Chronicle Player of the Year Hannah Miller is one of 11 girls who graduated off that team and will have to be replaced. Iori, Yazmin Martinez and Gahagan are excellent building blocks. Grace Williams, a junior transfer from Neuqua Valley, is an intriguing add to a high-caliber roster.
“We have a lot of good competition at every position,” DiNuzzo said. “The girls are looking forward to a challenging schedule to prepare us to reach our full potential before the postseason tournament.”
St. Charles North
Coach: Brian Harks
2021 record: 14-5-2
Top returning players: Kara Claussner, junior, goalie; Bella Najera, junior, midfielder/forward; Martina Nava, senior, midfielder
Top new players: Juliana Park, sophomore, center/midfielder; Kayla Floyd, sophomore, center midfielder
Worth noting: The North Stars graduated six off last year’s team that reached a sectional final, including mainstays Grace Barresi and Makenna Collins. Claussner had nine shutouts last year. Najera is coming off a season in which she had 19 goals and nine assists. The North Stars also bring back two center backs in Abigail Vichich and Nava.
“Some other juniors are stepping up like Sophie Kirsten, so there’s a lot of talent there this year,” Harks said. “Practices are pretty fun nightly. … Sydney Timms is a player last year that came on really strong; she’s a senior. She’s been a really nice addition in the back line so far.”
St. Francis
Coach: Jim Winslow
2021 record: 13-1
Top returning players: Shannon Brown, sophomore, defender; Sarah Dzengel, senior, midfielder; Claire Reinke, senior, midfielder; Sophia Rozkowksi, sophomore, midfielder; Lauren Bruce, senior, forward; Paige Chrustowski, sophomore, forward
Worth noting: Six starters return from a squad that went undefeated until losing in a Class 2A sectional final. Junior Adrian Saviano and freshman Ella Wainscott are two newcomers who will solidify the defense.
“We have good team speed, good technical ability and speed of play,” Winslow said. “Getting our two new goalkeepers up to speed will be huge.”
— Shaw Media correspondent Matt LeCren