Illinois women’s soccer coach Tricia Taliaferro understands why few girls aspire to be goalkeepers.
“You have to have a lot of courage,” she said. “You get knocked around, and there’s a lot of pressure.”
It’s the kind of pressure someone like Lexi Stormo of St. Charles East will be facing, not only a single game but throughout the season. That’s because the Saints, with a new school name but the same old dominant girls soccer program, are going for a sixth consecutive state championship.
And Stormo isn’t the only goalkeeper who will be under pressure during the 2001 season, likely the last for girls soccer as a single-class sport as the number of teams in the state swells.
The Chicago area seems to be stuffed with girls who excel in stuffing their opponents. Many of them find themselves on teams that can contend for a state title.
In addition to Stormo, Wheaton Warrenville South’s Maureen Carey, Sandburg’s Kandice Golar, Fremd’s Katie Straka, Downers Grove South’s Sarah West and St. Viator’s Amanda Wrzos play for top 10 teams.
How important are they? Taliaferro, daughter of former Illini quarterback Mike Taliaferro, says there are two special players on the field: goal scorers and goalkeepers.
“They’re the last line of defense and the first line of offense,” said Taliaferro of the goalkeepers. “Not many people want to play it. But the ones who do are special in soccer.”
Sandburg coach Brian Boll knows a little bit about being a goalkeeper. He played that position for Sandburg and Illinois-Chicago and passed on his knowledge to sister Katy–currently playing for Northern Illinois.
Boll can’t say enough about Golar, who will be playing in goal for Weber State in the 2001 women’s college season. She had 16 shutouts last season and carried a 0.59 goals-against average.
“I think she really sets the tone for us,” Boll said. “She kept us in a lot of games with her ability. She’s a player who leads by example.”
Goalkeepers stand out on the soccer field for reasons other than ability. They are the only players allowed to touch the ball with their hands, as long as they’re within the confines of the 18-yard box in front of the net.
Their jerseys must be a noticeably different color than their teammates or opponents. That helps officials determine who, for instance, is punching a ball away when things get crowded in front of the net.
Taliaferro looks for three qualities when recruiting a keeper.
“The first thing is, can they catch–how soft their hands are,” she said. “Then we look for how athletic they are and how much courage they have.”
They also have to read the field in much the same fashion as does a catcher in baseball. Their punting is a critical aspect in gaining field position and starting an offensive thrust.
Fremd’s Straka, who will be playing for Duke in the tough Atlantic Coast Conference this fall, is one of the state’s most talented keepers and the reason the Vikings have a shot in any game.
“She’s very sure-handed and doesn’t bobble many balls,” Fremd coach Steve Keller said. “She has good reactions. I think playing basketball probably helped her in that.”
Straka isn’t just a goalkeeper. Keller said he’d be comfortable having her put on a regular jersey and play the midfield or forward–just as he did with former Fremd boys goalkeeper Doug Warren.
“She’s one of our best field players,” Keller said. “She’s good with her feet. It allows us to use her as another option.”
Still goalkeepers basically are required to do one thing: keep the ball out of the net. St. Viator’s Wrzos did it often enough and long enough in the 2000 supersectional battle with eventual state champion St. Charles to give the Saints fits. St. Charles took more than 30 shots and didn’t score until the final two minutes to tie the game 1-1. The Saints eventually won in an overtime shootout.
One of the reasons Wheaton Warrenville South coach J. Guy Callipari likes his team’s chances is the return in goal of Carey, whose next assignment will be playing for Purdue. With a heavily-bandaged right wrist last season, she was able to come up with nine shutouts and a 0.95 goals-against average.
Downers Grove South coach Barry Jacobson knew he was set in goal for a few years when West, who excelled in club soccer, came in as a freshman last season and made the state coaches’ list of All-State honorable mention players.
DeKalb’s Julie Ryder and Warren’s Vicky Montano are two other keepers in the area who could change the fortunes of their teams. And there may be another Akiko Iwabuchi out there. Barrington coach Jeff Muhr turned to the unheralded foreign-exchange student from Japan last year, and all she did was have a solid enough season in the nets to help the Fillies take third in the state.
“I think being a goalkeeper is such a mental game,” said Straka, who has been playing the position since 7th grade. “You have to be so mentally prepared, more so than the other players on the field. And you can be called on for just one shot.
“And that one shot can determine the whole outcome of a game.”
Or a season.
Top players
Forwards: Adelaide Anderson, sr., Young; Nell Compernolle, jr., New Trier; Kim Grodek, sr., Barrington; Therese Heaton, jr., Wheaton Warrenville South; Jen Jeffers, so., Lake Zurich; Kristen Jedlo, jr., Lincoln-Way; Jenna Johnson, sr., Lyons Township; Katie Lindenmuth, jr., Geneva; Lisa Martin, sr., Lake Zurich; Kacey McDonald, sr., Andrew; Kristin Radcliffe, sr., Wheaton Warrenville South; Julie Thompson, jr., Naperville C.; Krissy Vonesh, sr., Maine S.; Jamie Wasielewski, jr., Joliet;
Midfielders: Erica Baker, sr., Naperville N.; Amy Bedford, jr., St. Ignatius; Deb Benakis, jr., St. Charles East; Tiffany Boshers, sr., Jacobs; Marisa Brown, jr., Evanston; Jen Buczkowski, so., Elk Grove; Deidre Conner, sr., Glenbard W.; Katie Dyke, sr., Mother Guerin; Carolyn Hack, sr., Downers Grove N.; Loryn King, jr., St. Viator; Harley Koch, sr., Barrington; Julie Lipinski, jr., Marian Catholic; Lindsay Moore, sr., Libertyville; Rachel Radcliffe, sr., Wheaton Warrenville South; Mandy Rost, sr., Palatine; Julianne Sitch, jr., Oswego; Alana Stephansen, sr., Hoffman Estates; Lanisa Tricoci, sr., Lake Park; Lauren Weber, so., St. Viator; Kristen Zmijewski, so., Waubonsie Valley.
Defenders: Erin Jamieson, jr., Loyola; Shannon McBride, sr., St. Charles E.; Ashleigh Nussbaum, jr., Lincoln-Way; Kelly Prince, sr., Cary-Grove; Brenda Skoczelas, jr., Downers Grove S.; Grace Traynor, jr., Neuqua Valley; Amy Witt, jr., Wheaton Warrenville S.; Arin Yarc, sr., Libertyville.
Goalkeepers: Maureen Carey, sr., Wheaton Warrenville S.; Kandice Golar, sr., Sandburg; Vicky Montano, sr., Warren; Julie Ryder, so., DeKalb; Katie Straka, sr., Fremd; Lexi Stormo, sr., St. Charles E.; Sarah West, so., Downers Grove S.; Amanda Wrzos, sr., St. Viator.
Alan Sutton.
Top soccer teams
1. St. Charles East: Coach Joe Moreau, who not only has five consecutive state titles but a record of 160-7-9 (27-2-2 last season) in six years, is looking for Deb Benakis and Andrea Ridgeway to step into the void left by graduated All-Americans Patrice Feulner and Anne Poulin. Goaltending is in the safe hands of Lexi Stormo and, in case of injury, freshman Kirstie Linkimer. Shannon McBride, like Stormo a Southwest Missouri State signee, leads the defense.
2. Wheaton Warrenville South: The Tigers (15-3-3 in 2000) have as good a chance as any to end St. Charles’ run. Coach J. Guy Callipari is loaded on offense with Therese Heaton and the Radcliffe sisters–senior Rachel and freshman Kristin. Purdue recruit Maureen Carey plays goal, and the defense will be led by Carolyn Kircher and Amy Witt. “On paper, this is the most talented team we’ve ever had,” said Callipari.
3. St. Viator: One could argue that the young Lions gave St. Charles its toughest test last season. St. Viator (21-3-1 in 2000) led the Saints 1-0 with less than two minutes left in the supersectional before allowing the tying goal and losing in a shootout. Coach Rory Dames welcomes back tireless Loryn King (who tied the state single-season assist mark against St. Charles), Lauren Weber, Emily Galasi, Natalie Ramello and goalkeeper Amanda Wrzos.
4. Lincoln-Way: Kim Jedlo is gone–in fact, she’s already transferred from Cincinnati to Kentucky–but sister Kristen returns for the state runner-up (26-1-2). The junior has been a sweeper and striker for coach Brian Papa, who says, “Who knows what we’re going to do with her this year?” Papa has decided to move sophomore Elyse Nikonchuk, whose sister Emily plays goalkeeper, into the front lines to help the offense.
5. Barrington: Kim Grodek dominated the list of Fillies team awards in 2000, and once she comes back from a knee injury–which coach Jeff Muhr says may be soon–she should dominate again. The Indiana-bound senior had 43 goals and 17 assists last year to help the Fillies (22-4-1) take third in the state. Senior Harley Koch had 10 goals and 22 assists last season. Twins Caitlin and Kelsey McKeown key the defense.
6. Downers Grove South: The Mustangs lost only one starter (Kentucky recruit Jen Wilkinson) from a 21-5 team, so it’s no wonder coach Barry Jacobson is optimistic. He’s “trying some new things” by switching positions for two of his key players. Lyndsay Rufa moves to sweeper and Brenda Skoczelas to the midfield. The defense should be strong with Lisa Alban and sophomore goalkeeper Sarah West. And there’s still a Wilkinson: freshman Jess.
7. Libertyville: Off an Elite Eight appearance, coach Scott Schinto is taking nothing for granted. “Do we have expectations? I think the kids established those,” Schinto said. “But if we don’t play as a team, we won’t go anywhere.” The “kids” include returning All-Stater Lindsay Moore, Arin Yarc, Joyce Kleinheinz, Kim Pawlowski and goalkeeper Sarah Yakapovich. Freshman Kassie Satala can play in the midfield or goal.
8. Sandburg: The Eagles’ 18-6-4 record last season is somewhat deceptive. Coach Brian Boll’s team lost three times to state runner-up Lincoln-Way. Sandburg will be seeking to end the Knights’ dominance behind senior goalkeeper Kandice Golar and a solid defense that features sophomore sweeper Shannon McDonnell and defensive midfielder Amanda Cleland. Katie Riemersma (15 goals as a freshman) leads the offense.
9. Fremd: Senior midfielder Laura Heine, called by coach Steve Keller his best tactical player, leads the Vikings’ offense along with Jenna Gilski and Lynn Goehler. A group of juniors, many of whom played on the same club team, will provide the defense to protect goalkeeper Katie Straka. They include Leanne Langsfeld, Mallory Snyder, Kari Prisching and Dana Almdale (hurt most of last season, when Fremd was 16-5-4).
10. Naperville Central: The Redhawks play one of the area’s toughest schedules, but coach Ed Watson thinks his team can rebound from a disappointing (14-7-4) season. The return of junior forward Julie Thompson along with senior midfielders Ashley Caselli and Jeanna Falduto is one reason for the optimism. Hilary Simanek returns from a knee injury.
Best of the rest: Jacobs, Lake Zurich, Naperville North, New Trier, Waubonsie Valley.
