Paige Filipek lets her feet do the talking.
Waubonsie Valley’s senior midfielder/forward watches other soccer players unleash their emotions after they score.
She prefers to keep them in check.
“People think I’m so emotionless,” said Filipek, an Illinois State recruit. “Inside I am so happy, but I don’t scream and yell. I just know you got to go and do it again.”
Filipek does, again and again.
Filipek, The Beacon-News 2015 Girls Soccer Player of the Year, scored 32 goals last season. In Julie Bergstrom’s 17 years coaching at Waubonsie, Filipek became the first in her powerhouse program to top 30 goals. Debbie Keller, who played in the 1995 World Cup, still holds the single-season school record with 47.
Filipek has 48 career goals, within another big season of the 73 posted by former All-American Vanessa DiBernardo.
That’s heady company.
“Vanessa DiBernardo, all my childhood I grew up hearing about her,” Filipek said. “Coming to Waubonsie, you know its reputation for soccer, it’s weird being the one. I didn’t expect to score as many goals as I did.”
To Bergstrom, it’s Filipek’s understanding of the game that separates her.
“She’s just a very smart player,” Bergstrom said. “She’s able to find space, and she has the ability to finish. Having a coach like her on the field really helps.”
It will be of particular use this year.
The Warriors (14-4-3), who saw last season end in an upset loss to Metea Valley in a regional final, are very young.
Three freshmen and two sophomores started Waubonsie’s first game, a 1-0 loss to Lyons.
It’s an unusual position for Filipek.
The youngest of four siblings, Filipek said she has always been the youngest player on her soccer teams.
“I’ve always been led by others. It’s a good experience for me to step up and have to lead,” Filipek said. “I’m not one to yell. I definitely have to lead by example. The younger girls know how to play soccer, they just need to be comfortable. There’s time to mess around, but there’s also a time that you have to be serious.”
Don’t be confused, though. Filipek carries a naturally sunny disposition.
“Her demeanor is a positive one,” Bergstrom said. “She’s always able to help others.”
Filipek, whose older sister also played at Waubonsie, burst onto the scene as a freshman with 16 goals. She scored the game-winner against Metea in a regional final.
She tore her ACL in a goalkeeper collision during club season, though, which cost Filipek her entire sophomore year.
Filipek might have caught opponents by surprise after the year away, but it didn’t last. Now, she’s noticing teams sending one defender to specifically shadow her.
“Obviously I want to score as many goals as I did last year, but I know that is maybe not realistic,” Filipek said. “Other teams are wanting to bring all the pressure on me. But that will leave so many other people open.”
Joshua Welge is a freelance writer for The Beacon-News.
