As one of just two seniors on Lemont’s roster, midfielder Carli Bermele provides vital leadership.
“I try to motivate everybody,” she said. “I pump the girls up before games and at practice, but I try to make sure everyone has fun, too. We’re always laughing with each other at practice and having fun.
“I love this group of girls because we all play for each other.”
Lemont coach Rick Prangen said this year’s Indians are one of the most close-knit teams he’s coached, and he credits Bermele for much of that.
“A lot of it is because of her,” he said. “She brings everyone together. That’s huge. A lot of times when you’re in a close game, it’s your closeness as a team that’ll help you get through it.
“Carli will go down as one of the best leaders we’ve had here.”
Junior forward Mairead Ruane backed up her coach’s thoughts.
“Carli is a big reason why I’m the player I am,” Ruane said. “She’s helped me so much. I really want to do everything I can to help make this a great senior season for her.”
Bermele has scored five goals to help the Indians to a 9-1-2 record, including their first win over Sandburg since 2008.
Her biggest impact, though, is her ability to control possession in the middle of the field. Often, she’s tasked with shutting down the opponent’s best player.
“I love playing center midfielder,” she said. “Before high school, I had never played it. I always played forward. I love the challenge of playing the position, though.
“In the middle of the field, you can see everything. You can see plays develop and try to make good things happen for your team.”
Bermele is the youngest of four siblings to play soccer for Lemont, following in the footsteps of sisters Katlyn and Maddie and brother John.
“It’s been a lot of fun,” she said. “It’s bittersweet now because I’m the last Bermele kid and this is my last season. I just want to help take this team as far as we can go.”
In the hunt: With consecutive 1-0 victories over Oak Forest and Reavis last week, Argo established itself as a contender in a crowded South Suburban Red race.
That’s no surprise to coach John Gaytan.
“Every year, I coach to win and expect us to contend in the conference,” Gaytan said. “We don’t expect to have rebuilding years. We’re young, but we’re hungry to compete to win conference.”
The Argonauts are 6-8 overall, 5-2 in league play and tied for first with defending champion Eisenhower.
“We had a bad game against Eisenhower (a 5-1 loss),” Gaytan said. “We still have a chance, though. If a team can get through with three losses, they’ll have a shot to at least share the conference title.”
Midfielders Michelle Benitez and Xochiquetzal Torres are having big years for the Argonauts.
Giving back: Andrew was awarded the PepsiCo Showdown Lynn and Scott Magnesen Community Service Award, and received a $1,000 prize Sunday.
The team was honored for its work raising money for Julia’s Legacy of Hope, a childhood cancer research foundation.
Stagg, meanwhile, will host its fifth annual Red Card Cancer game when it hosts Mother McAuley at 6:15 p.m. Friday.
The game is in honor of Cheryl Kaim, who died in 2011 after a battle with cancer. Her daughter, Allison Kaim, is in her first season as Stagg head coach.
Steve Millar is a freelance writer for the Daily Southtown.
TOP 10
With records through Tuesday and last week’s ranking in parentheses.
1. Lincoln-Way East 10-3-1 (1)
2. Lemont 9-1-2 (2)
3. Sandburg 7-4-1 (3)
4. Lincoln-Way West 9-6-1 (9)
5. Andrew 10-5-1 (4)
6. Lockport 8-4-2 (5)
7. Lincoln-Way Central 9-6 (6)
8. Tinley Park 11-5-1 (7)
9. Stagg 9-5 (8)
10. Mother McAuley 7-6 (10)
Player of the Week: Sophomore forward Lauren Smith recorded a hat trick in Crete-Monee’s win over Kankakee and provided a goal and an assist in a victory over Beecher.
