South Elgin’s Ella Dihel remembers the moment like it was yesterday.
Dihel, now a junior forward for the Storm, went to a birthday party when she was 7 years old. Up to that point, she had never played soccer, not even with her family or her friends.
“There was all of this darkness in the backyard,” she said. “As soon as they brought the balls out and I felt one at my foot, I just immediately fell in love with the sport.
“I knew I wanted to play it for the rest of my life.”
Dihel continued to live the good life Monday, scoring twice for South Elgin in a 2-0 nonconference victory over Streamwood. She boosted her season goal total to 15.
One of Dihel’s strengths for the Storm (9-6-1) is being able to capitalize on the chaos and disruption up top. She gets constantly free and open, knowing the possibilities are endless.
“I like to try to play with as little predictability as possible,” she said. “I try to make creative runs in order to get involved in behind. When I do get those balls, I try to move each time in order to throw the defense off.
“They never know what’s coming, and that makes me even more unpredictable and dangerous.”
The only predictable action is how likely Dihel is to score — underscoring the many ways her composure, balance and sharp play have created her breakout season.
Scoring is a talent, a state of mind, a philosophy.
“As a forward, my mindset is that I need to score and get the ball into the back of the net,” she said. “The ability is important, and so is having the sight to see where the ball needs to go.
“In any game, you are only going to have so many opportunities. I realized I have to take advantage of every chance I get.”
The 5-foot-4 Dihel also stands outside the typical presuppositions about the game. She’s not physically dominant or blessed with an overpowering presence.
“I never let that determine who I am as a player,” she said. “Being smaller is sometimes an advantage if people don’t always look at me as a super threat when I first walk on the field.”
With her speed, quickness and feel for the game, she renders the normal standards as irrelevant.
“Ella is a very special player,” South Elgin coach Jerzy Skowron said. “Talent aside, she’s a sponge for knowledge. She always wants to learn more.
“Since her freshman year, she has played every position on the field except goalkeeper. She has taken on the challenge of being a greater offensive threat and passed with flying colors.”
Dihel also has an outside impact on every player on the team, regardless of age or experience.
Freshman midfielder Ellie Vidic assisted her second goal against Streamwood, illustrating a natural bond and connection on the field.
“As a freshman making varsity, it was nerve wracking for me to join a team where I didn’t know anybody,” Vidic said. “Right off the bat, Ella was there for me. She just started offering me rides without any questions.
“Her leadership skills definitely affected our team and is the key to our success. If someone is off in a game or practice, she is always the first one to lift their spirits.”
Senior goalkeeper Karissa Cruz watched Dihel’s trajectory from a freshman defender to her current state as a dynamic scorer.
“I have known her for six years, and Ella is one of the fiercest and most reliable players I have ever met,” Cruz said. “She gives us the fire and the energy we need in every game.”
Patrick Z. McGavin is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.
