St. Charles East girls soccer has the challenge of making some history or simply being part of it.
The 1-0 loss to New Trier in the 2014 Class 3A championship produced a gleaming second-place trophy and targets on the backs of the 2015 Saints. Beating East this year will be a feather in any team’s cap.
If the Saints can march back into the Final Four this year, they’d become only the third school to achieve consecutive appearances (Naperville North 2011-12-13 and Sandburg 2009-10).
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St. Charles East, New Trier and Lincoln-Way North were first-time finalists last year while Waubonsie Valley had not been that far in four years. Since 2009 and the start of three classes, the 24 Final Four slots have now been filled by 15 schools.
It’s no wonder coach Paul Jennison and his players take a very pragmatic approach to such a daunting task — they ignore it.
“We’re focused only one day at a time, whether that day is practice or a game,” senior Darcy Cunningham said. “Having a target on your back simply means recognition, it doesn’t even guarantee a single victory. This is my fourth year on varsity and talent-wise, we’ve had some very good squads, but a downfall was getting ahead of ourselves.
“Two seasons before we were the No. 2 seed in a (17-school) sectional and we lost by a goal in the regional final,” Cunningham said. “That’s the only reason needed to focus on one day at a time.”
“Having a target on our back simply makes us work harder,” senior Sara Buetow said. “Our only worry right now is (season-opening opponent) Fremd. If you’re focused on the past you lose sight of what’s in front of you.”
Jennison emphasizes that approach because the Saints need development for any type of encore. All four East players earning All-UEC River Division accolades are gone, and IHSSCA All-Sectional the graduation of standout Amanda Hilton (17 goals/13 assists) leaves a huge void.
“Our core is still good enough for the challenge,” Jennison said. “But the strength for this team will have to come as a group. We intend to remain a high-energy team and that in itself requires everyone to contribute.”
Few opponents will shoulder a violin for the Saints whose lineup includes six players committed to play in college. At the top of that list is Cunningham, second in 2014 for goals (15) and tops for assists (15) with an eye on adding to career totals of 33 goals and 32 assists. She will play for Washington University of St. Louis, a Division III school.
The other signees include Mallory Mollenhauer (Wisconsin-Milwaukee), Sophie Jendreczyk (Wingate, N.C.), Maggie Smith (Wisconsin-Oshkosh), Kelli Santo Paulo (St. Cloud State, Minn.), and Melanie Domann (Wisconsin-Whitewater). The latter is one of a trio hoping to fill the shoes of All-UEC goalie Kendra Sheehan with the other candidates being last year’s back-up Alison Chesterfield and six-foot freshman basketball standout Sara Rosenfeldt.
Top Five Teams
1. St. Charles East: The Saints lost some major talent to graduation but did not go 19-5-4 and finish second in Class 3A without other standouts like Darcy Cunningham and Claire Rasmussen.
2. St. Charles North: Four of five losses for the North Stars (16-5-2) were by a single goal and four of five All-UEC players graduated. Coach Ruth Vostal always has replacements plus All-UEC goalie Shelby Stitz (28 career shutouts).
3. South Elgin: What it lacks in individual lightning and thunder, the Storm still delivers like last year’s 13-6-2 sectional unit. Delaney Kelleher and Missy Greco will fuel the 2015 attack.
4. Huntley: With nine regulars in college after a supersectional loss to runner-up Saints, what chance is there for a fourth sectional showing? Ask a now healthy 2013 IHSSCA All-Sectional pick in Deanna Hecht or 2014 honoree Taryn Jakubowski.
5. St. Edward: Speaking of programs never to count out, Green Wave’s Fearsome Four gone after finishing third in Class 1A, but attacker Chelsea Gnan and goalie Paige Dykstra aim for more record-setting.
Top 20 individuals (in alphabetical order)
Ashley Ahrens, Burlington Central, Sr. D-M; Shannon Brohan, Bartlett, Sr. D; Tawny Carroll, Streamwood, Sr. F; Darcy Cunningham, St. Charles East, Sr. F; Payton De Luga, Dundee-Crown, Sr. D; Hannah Durocher, St. Charles North, Sr. F; Paige Dykstra, St. Edward, Sr. GK; Hannah Erickson, Elgin, Jr. D; Chelsea Gnan, St. Edward, Sr. F; Ashley Grimm, Genoa-Kingston, Sr. M; Nicole Hebel, Genoa-Kingston, Sr. F; Deanna Hecht, Huntley, Sr. F; Taryn Jakubowski, Huntley, Jr. M; Delaney Kelleher, South Elgin, Sr. M; Morgan Lockwood, Harvest Christian, Sr. F-GK; Jess Marchetti, Burlington Central, Sr. D-M; Samantha Moreno, Larkin, Jr. M; Claire Rasmussen, St. Charles East, So. F; Shelby Stitz, St. Charles North, Sr. GK; Talia Surges, Jacobs, Jr. M.