The key phrase in business these days is to “think outside the box.” That’s exactly how the 2008 Tribune All-State Girls Soccer Team was determined.
Soccer fans know that only one goalkeeper per team can be on the field at one time. But that doesn’t stop us from naming two to our first team this spring.
Soccer purists may not like it, but Waubonsie Valley’s Claire Hanold and Homewood-Flossmoor’s Emily Oliver simply deserve a spot among the 11 best high school players in Illinois.
Hanold, a junior who repeats as a first-team selection, had a remarkable season considering the Warriors’ defense was virtually all new. She has 19 shutouts, including 15 in a row during the season.
That gives Hanold 61 for her career — nine short of the state record of 70 held by Champaign Centennial’s Brooke Wikgren and fifth on the IHSA’s all-time state list.
“As a goalkeeper, you have to be fearless — you definitely have to love it,” said Hanold, who has not lost a game since her freshman year. “You have to risk yourself to save a goal.”
Saves don’t always define a keeper. More than a few times, Hanold throttled St. Charles North’s offense in the Class AA supersectional at Benedictine University by coming off her line to the edge of the box and pouncing on a potentially dangerous ball. The Warriors won 1-0 in overtime.
As for Oliver, instead of sitting her out when Hanold is in goal, she could get out of the 6-yard box and on the field for this team. The sophomore saw limited action on the field in 2008 and even managed a goal and two assists.
But the Vikings needed her in the nets in their supersectional victory over Lemont that went to a shootout, which Homewood-Flossmoor won 3-0. Oliver did her part by making two saves in the shootout.
“That’s kind of a funny story,” said Oliver, who had 20 shutouts this season. “I ended up scouting the Lemont-Sandburg sectional game and saw which way the shooters went. When they were stepping up for their shots, I knew which way they were going.”
Oliver also told her teammates before the shootout, “You guys need to make one — because I’m going to save all five of them.”
This Tribune All-State soccer team may be one of the best. It includes a Parade All-American (Naperville Central’s Casey Short) and the Illinois’ Gatorade Player of the Year (Waubonsie Valley’s Bri Rodriguez).
Waubonsie Valley and Normal West have a combined 49-0-1 record and five first-team selections: Hanold, Rodriguez and Vanessa DiBernardo for Waubonsie and Kayla Braffet and Rachel Wright for Normal West. Carmel’s Sara Petermann, who will play in the state quarterfinals as well, also made the first team.
Others are Hinsdale South’s Jessica Carlson, Marion’s Jessie Crabtree and Wheaton Academy’s Leah Fortune.
DiBernardo, Rodriguez and Hanold are repeat selections.
SECOND TEAM
%% PLAYER SCHOOL P CL
Natalee Brown Normal West F Sr.
Megan Jaskowiak Belleville Althoff F Jr.
Michelle Lind Rockford Boylan F Sr.
Jaime Orewiler Wheaton North F Sr.
Jenna Shemky Maine South F So.
Rachel Bostick Waubonsie Valley M Jr.
Nicole Denenberg St. Ignatius M Jr.
Ali Hall Stevenson M Jr.
Stephanie Horvath Normal West M Sr.
Ellen Bartindale St. Charles East D Sr.
Vicki Traven St. Charles North G Sr. %%
SPECIAL MENTION
%% FORWARDS SCHOOL CL
Melanie Coderre Homewood-Flossmoor So.
Janelle Flaws Glenbrook South So.
Danielle Janowiak Downers Grove South Sr.
Leah Johnson Wheaton Warrenville South Sr.
Mary Kubiuk Barrington Jr.
Kaylee Neutzling Edwardsville Sr.
Ashley Williams Huntley Sr.
Kate Young Rockton Hononegah Sr.
MIDFIELDERS SCHOOL CL
Rachel Blakesley Peoria Notre Dame Sr.
Allison Doyle Lincoln-Way Central Sr.
Alex Ehr Fremd Sr.
Jasmine Espino Young Jr.
Julie Kaim Stagg Sr.
Alison Kopelman Rockford Lutheran Sr.
Emily Kuo University Jr.
Rachel McMahon Lake Park Sr.
Megan Oyster Neuqua Valley Fr.
Jessie Wall New Trier Sr.
Caitlin Winkelman St. Charles North Sr.
Megan York St. Ignatius Fr.
DEFENDERS SCHOOL CL
Jessica Arabia Naperville North Jr.
Annie Evans Lake Forest Jr.
Erika Prazma Granite City Sr.
Rosie White Hersey Sr.
Lauren Zallis Lincoln-Way East Sr.
GOALKEEPERS SCHOOL CL
Sarah Luecking Belleville West Sr.
Stefanie Matsas York Jr.
Caitlyn Moody Chatham Glenwood Sr. %%
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asutton@tribune.com
