Multiple teams, including 2025 Class 3A state runner-up Naperville North, will look for scoring from new sources but familiar faces — like players changing positions and players returning from club commitments.
Benet
The Redwings (14-7-1) welcome back nine players, including fourth-year starting forward Ivana Vukas (Dickinson), after winning East Suburban Catholic Conference and Class 3A regional titles last season. Senior Annie Fitzgerald (Loyola) and junior Megan Bergman (Bowling Green) return from club soccer to bolster a midfield that already includes sophomore Ashley Polanco, who scored 10 goals last season.
Senior goalkeeper Giada McGlynn backstops a defense led by juniors Payton Cable, Sophia Duncan and Kasey Glynn and sophomore Sahana Raju.
Metea Valley
The Mustangs (13-6) are retooling after their top four scorers graduated. Only six players return, and star junior defender Jessie Terada (DePaul) will miss the season with an ankle injury. Senior midfielders Mckenna Wigfield (SIU-Edwardsville) and Emma Strcic (DePaul) will be relied upon heavily for leadership.
Junior defender Kylie Paulding and sophomore defender Reagan Bellagamba are the only other returning starters.
Naperville Central
Graduation took the top four attacking players from the most prolific offense in team history, but the Redhawks (20-2-1) will reload as junior Emerson Burke (Michigan) and senior Malia Shen return to forward after playing defense last year.
Junior Nicole Sacek (Wyoming) leads the midfield, while junior Nicole Smith and sophomore Sophia Cochran anchor a young defense in front of fourth-year goalkeeper Erin Hackett.
Naperville North
The Huskies (17-6-3) reached the Class 3A state championship game last season, but the best offensive and defensive players from that team graduated. They should still be solid with fourth-year starting goalkeeper Olivia Ochsner (UIC), senior Addison Sitzman and junior Lily Radek (Purdue) anchoring the defense.
Junior midfielder Kennedy Bertsch (Loyola) and senior forwards Cameryn Lynde (Drury) and Brooke Welch also are back.
Neuqua Valley
The Wildcats (16-4) bring back six starters, but Marquette-bound senior forward Allessandra Russo will not play at the request of her college coaches. That puts more pressure on senior Alexis May to lead the offense.
The defense is experienced with four returning starters: senior Haley Linden (Carthage), senior Sydney Michalak, junior Addison Guskey and sophomore Asha Kikama.
Waubonsie Valley
The Warriors (6-10-5) have a solid foundation with 17 returning players. Senior Elli Morris (Lewis) returns after playing club last year to boost a midfield that already includes seniors Macy Evans (Wisconsin-La Crosse) and Bella Woolard and junior Ava Kus (Troy).
Seniors McKinley Ladd and Isabella Ahlert, both Wisconsin-Platteville commits, lead the defense alongside senior Chloe Shaffer. Senior Emerson Hallihan is the top returning forward.
Matt Le Cren is a freelance reporter.
