Lake Zurich junior Vanesa Abad is working on making a bigger name for herself in the high school girls soccer world. .
She sped up the process last week when she scored eight goals in four matches, including hat tricks against Glenbrook South and Plainfield East.
“Vanesa has had a very successful high school career so far, but she is really starting to put it all together,” said first-year Lake Zurich coach Mike Castronova, whose team won five of its first eight matches. “Vanesa has great skills and is one of the fastest players I’ve ever coached.
“She also has a great work ethic and goes hard every minute of every game.”
The Ohio State-bound forward, whose sister Catalina is a senior defender for Lake Zurich, is in her third season on varsity. Victories, more than statistics, are important to her.
“Each game I just try to do what I can to help the team win,” she said. “I’m trying to step it up and encourage my team to push the intensity level. This is a team sport, and I’m trying to do my part to help our team all the time.”
She scored 10 goals and had eight assists as a sophomore. She has matched that goal output through eight games this spring.
“Vanesa is a team leader,” Castronova said. “She leads by example and is very encouraging to her teammates.
“On the field she is a difference-maker. She steps up when the team needs a big goal or if the team needs a big play to win a game.”
Abad, who plays club for the Chicago Sockers, is the second of three children. Castronova describes her as quiet at times off the field. Abad fancies herself a troubleshooter.
“Being the middle child is a good thing,” Abad said. “I’ve learned a lot and know how to get out of tricky situations.
“I’m really the peacemaker of the family, making sure my sisters get along. Some people might disagree, but I think I’m the peacemaker.”
Vanesa Abad file
High school: Lake Zurich.
Class: Junior.
Position: Forward.
College: Ohio State.
