When she decided to play water polo for the first time as a sophomore last season, Mother McAuley’s Geena Peyton never imagined where she’d be a year later: entering the season as the centerpiece of the area’s top team.
“I didn’t really know what to expect when they brought me up (to varsity),” Peyton said. “It was tough at first, but my teammates really helped me out. I’m having a lot of fun playing goalie now.”
When McAuley was struggling to keep opponents off the scoreboard early last season, coach Vanessa Carroll decided to promote Peyton, a novice at the sport, and put her in goal. It’s a move that paid off in a big way as the Mighty Macs finished fourth in the state.
“Geena picked up on the game so fast,” teammate Julie Olivares said. “She’s really improving and having her back there in net is definitely a big strength for us.”
Peyton made 165 saves in 22 games last season and allowed just six goals per game.
“We brought her up in March and she just helped us out tremendously,” Carroll said. “She did a great job. Ever since we brought her up, she’s been playing nonstop. She’s playing year-round and playing club ball and she just continues to learn the game and improve.”
Peyton hopes to top those numbers this year now that she has some experience under her belt.
“I’m more comfortable this season and I’m really excited to see how the season goes,” she said. “I don’t feel as much pressure this year as I did last year. Knowing all my teammates more, I think we’ll just work really well together this year.”
Peyton admits she didn’t know a lot about water polo when she began playing last season, relying more on natural instincts and quick reflexes to block shots.
Now, she feels she can anticipate what opponents are going to do, making it even easier for her to frustrate opponents.
“I got to know the sport a lot better,” she said. “I’ve gotten to know all our plays, which even though I’m in the net, helps a lot. Knowing what types of plays the other team might run helps a ton, too.”
Peyton will try to help continue McAuley’s tradition of stingy defenses.
“Our defense is what everyone talks about,” Carroll said. “We’re proud of our defense. We’re known for it. We work on offense all the time, too, but our defense is what we really want to rely on. Having a strong goalie like Geena is huge for us.”
McAuley has just one senior on this year’s team. So the onus will be on a strong junior class — which also includes the team’s top three returning scorers in Maggie Hennigan, Olivares and Claire Mueller — to lead the way.
“The juniors, we know we have to be leaders,” Peyton said. “We work really well together. We’re a really tight-knit unit. We’re like a family. We all go to class together, then we come get in the pool. It’s nice to spend all day with those girls.”
The Mighty Macs have made it to state the last four seasons and Peyton sees no reason the streak won’t extend.
“I think we can definitely get back to state,” she said. “We can be just as strong as last year. I’m really confident in my teammates and I believe in all of them.”
Steve Millar is a freelance writer.
Top 5 Teams
1. Mother McAuley: With Geena Peyton, Maggie Hennigan, Julie Olivares and Claire Mueller anchoring a strong junior class, Mighty Macs have shot at fifth straight state appearance.
2. Sandburg: Eagles return the core of last season’s SouthWest Suburban Blue champions, led by Sarah Dolitsky and Steffy Pappas. The Eagles will play in honor of longtime coach Jane Caliendo, who died in October after a battle with cancer. Greg Svevo takes over coach.
3. Lincoln-Way Central: After finishing second in the state in 2013, the Knights went through a rebuilding year, finishing 16-14. Knights should be back on the upswing this year with seniors Delaney Shepherd and Alli Ramirez, junior Kim Bernhard and sophomore Nikki Howe leading the way.
4. Lincoln-Way East: Griffins will be hard-pressed to match last season, when they finished 24-6 and advanced to state. Eight key seniors graduated, but Zoe Spada (28 goals) and Teresa DiGiovonani (10) return.
5. Bremen co-op: After a heartbreaking loss to McAuley in last year’s sectional final, the Red Jaguars begin life without 2014 SouthtownStar Player of the Year Hannah Schultz. A strong group of juniors, led by Elizabeth Minnich and Leah Wood, will be counted on.
Top 10 Players
Amber Barney, Homewood-Flossmoor, Sr.; Cassidy DeGraff, Lincoln-Way North, Jr.; Sarah Dolitsky, Sandburg, Sr.; Caily Friel, Andrew, Jr.; Maggie Hennigan, Mother McAuley, Jr.; Elizabeth Minnich, Bremen co-op, Jr.; Steffy Pappas, Sandburg, Sr.; Geena Peyton, Mother McAuley, Jr.; Mallory Schaub, Stagg, Sr.; Delaney Shepherd, Lincoln-Way Central, Sr.
