Top 10 Teams
1. Lincoln-Way Central (25-2): Knights return two of their top three goal scorers from a Class 3A third-place state finisher. Senior defender Christine Erdman (Bowling Green) scored 19 goals and sophomore forward Madi Watt had 17. Senior midfielder Madisyn Kenworthy (Wisconsin-Platteville), junior midfielder Emma Vogler and senior defender Chloe Grundhofer are key returnees for team with state aspirations again.
2. Lemont (19-5): Senior midfielder Paige Bingen (Augustana) and senior forward Suzie Knutte are returning all-state players. Knutte scored 27 goals last season and sophomore midfielder Ella Simpson had 22. Junior Casey Kittridge anchors the defense.
3. Lockport (16-7-1): Porters added a trio of Division I recruits who previously played club in senior forward Bella Diorio (TCU) and junior midfielders Kaylin Klutcharch (Indiana State) and Natalie Zodrow (Milwaukee). Junior forward Brinlee McNabb (Milwaukee) is back from a torn ACL. Sophomore midfielder Raven Rogers had six goals and 14 assists last season.
4. Lincoln-Way East (15-6-1): Griffins return eight starters from a regional champion. Junior midfielders Bre Herlihy (16 goals, nine assists) and Cami Butler (10 goals, 11 assists) are coming off big seasons. Sophomores Kara Waishwell and Ellie Feigl add to a strong midfield, while senior Olivia Desjardins (Carroll) anchors the defense.
5. Sandburg (14-9): Eagles will try to reload after graduating decorated senior class that led program to sectional final. Midfielder Gabby Dittmer, who scored 13 goals as a freshman, leads talented sophomore group that also includes forward Maeve Durkin and defender Kayla Siefert. Senior forward Morgan Gallagher (Purdue Fort Wayne) is key addition from club.
6. De La Salle (21-4): Meteors return bulk of team that won program’s first sectional championship. Junior forward Mia Ortega scored 21 goals last season and sophomore forward Kennedi Carpenter had 18. Defenders Mia Loza and Joanna Mullen are senior leaders.
7. Andrew (13-7-1): Midfielder Emily Tobin (IUPUI) and defender Jessica Morawski (Wisconsin-Platteville) lead a strong group of senior returnees, also including defender Natalia Truesdale and midfielder Erin O’Neill. Junior Kadence Jones and sophomore Annabel Walsh are a dynamic duo of goalkeepers.
8. Marist (15-9): Senior forward Gina Czochara is back after scoring a program-record 28 goals. RedHawks surround her with a lot of new faces, but midfielders Alexis Shackelford (Illinois Wesleyan) and Maddie Meehan and defender Roisin Murnin are senior leaders.
9. Bloom (22-4): Senior forward Charlene Mendoza, who is coming off a 55-goal season, is 26 away from the program career record of 118. Senior midfielders Karla Ruiz and Tanya Martinez provide steady leadership.
10. Tinley Park (11-8): Titans return junior midfielders Kit Gormley and Addison Weed, who combined for 30 goals and 24 assists last season. Gormley and junior defender Taylor Perkins hope to return with a vengeance after missing playoffs due to knee injuries.
25 Players to Watch
Serenity Berrios, Oak Forest, senior, goalkeeper; Paige Bingen, Lemont, senior, midfielder; Caitlyn Burgess, Lincoln-Way West, senior, defender; Jenna Cooper, Oak Forest, senior, midfielder; Gina Czochara, Marist, senior, forward; Olivia Desjardins, Lincoln-Way East, senior, defender; Alyssa Dillinger, Beecher, senior, defender; Bella Diorio, Lockport, senior, forward; Gabby Dittmer, Sandburg, sophomore, midfielder; Christine Erdman, Lincoln-Way Central, senior, defender; Emily Garcia, St. Laurence, senior, forward; Kit Gormley, Tinley Park, junior, midfielder; Bre Herlihy, Lincoln-Way East, junior, midfielder; Madisyn Kenworthy, Lincoln-Way Central, senior, midfielder; Casey Kittridge, Lemont, junior, defender; Suzie Knutte, Lemont, senior forward; Mia Loza, De La Salle, senior, defender; Tanya Martinez, Bloom, senior, midfielder; Charlene Mendoza, Bloom, senior, forward; Jaclyn Rizzo, Stagg, junior, defender; Raven Rogers, Lockport, sophomore, midfielder; Emily Tobin, Andrew, senior, midfielder; Carmen Valadez, Thornwood co-op, senior, forward; Madi Watt, Lincoln-Way Central, sophomore, forward; Addison Weed, Tinley Park, junior, midfielder.
Steve Millar is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
