When Lidia Breen isn’t making saves for Lyons’ girls soccer team, the senior is usually spending her extracurricular time as a member of the school newspaper staff.
Breen’s interest in graphic design led her to apply for a position as an editor for The Lion, Lyons’ award-winning newspaper. Positions on the staff are given to juniors and seniors through a journalism class and are highly competitive.
Breen began as a junior covering sports and writing reviews for restaurants in the La Grange and Hinsdale areas. For this school year, she was named co-editor of Pulse, the newspaper’s arts and entertainment section, with senior Claire Quinlan.
“Last year when I was a reporter, it definitely taught me a different type of teamwork,” Breen said. “You have to show people your position and how to get your opinion heard.”
Breen, a La Grange resident, is one of four returning starters for Lyons (19-4), which lost 2-1 in penalty kicks in the Class 3A supersectional to eventual fourth-place Lincoln-Way North. She is one of three captains for coach Bill Lanspeary, along with senior midfielder Kristen Janicki and senior forward Margaret Lynch.
Janicki remembered a game two years ago when Breen helped preserve a penalty-kick victory over Hinsdale Central.
“Lidia is an amazing goalkeeper,” Janicki said. “She saves so many goals for us, especially on penalty kicks.”
In the offseason, Breen and Lyons graduate Erin Fitzgerald competed for the Naperville Jaguars club. Breen said she worked on her fitness and technique and tried to improve punching high balls.
“I practiced my drop steps to get it over (the net) without getting it in the goal,” she said.
Breen earned a shutout in the season opener on March 17 with a 0-0 tie against Waubonsie Valley. Lyons beat Oswego East 3-0 March 19 with junior goalkeeper Emily Johnson protecting the nets.
“Lidia looks a bit quicker (this season),” Lanspeary said. “Her confidence is higher. She has made some big saves hanging onto the ball and not giving up rebounds. Her reactions are faster with more lateral quickness.”
One of Breen’s assistant editors at the paper is her soccer teammate, junior defender Izy Scott, another top returnee from last year’s West Suburban Silver championship team.
Scott is the lone returning starting defender for Breen, who saw C.C. Holbert, Sarah Drew, Catherine King and Grace Nasenbenny all graduate.
“Izy is a great defender,” Breen said. “She really knows how to adjust (to the offense). We need her to do that in games.”
Lanspeary is counting on newcomers as he enters his ninth season. The varsity roster will include three freshmen and a sophomore. One of Lyons’ reserves last season, junior Sheila Murphy, is expected to move into a starting defender role.
“We’ve lost a ton of players who have been with us three to four years,” Lanspeary said. “We have a lot of new faces this year. It will be interesting to see how this goes early on.”
While there are questions because of the team’s youth, Lanspeary knows he can count on Breen.
“Lidia has been very, very good. She is one of the best in the west suburbs and has the potential to be an all-state keeper.”
OTHERS TO WATCH
Sydney Jensen, Fenwick
Jensen is one of the top returnees from the Friars’ 2013 Class 2A third-place team. Jensen, junior Colette Jaslowski and freshman Lauren Stibich hope to build on Fenwick’s .500 record in 2014. “Sydney is one of the area’s top defenders,” coach Rob Watson said. Fenwick opened the season by going 1-2 at the Windy City Invitational.
Bianca Medina, Leyden
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The four-year varsity player is the top returnee for the Eagles, who will try to find a way to keep Downers Grove South from extending its streak of 14 consecutive West Suburban Gold championships. “(Medina’s) defensive prowess and her ability to distribute from the midfield will be a huge positive in 2015,” coach Robert Fowler said.
Erin Smith, Hinsdale Central
The Red Devils have nine returning starters and are the favorites in the West Suburban Silver after finishing second a year ago. Smith, a defender, is a co-captain this season. “She has great awareness and presence on the field, while also possessing the requisite technical skills to dominate in all areas of the game,” coach Michael Smith said.
Tess Sobol, Hinsdale South
With top returning scorer Cali Vanderplow (stress fracture) out for the season and goalkeeper Jean Cote (ACL) returning later in the season, Sobol leads a rebuilding effort for the Hornets, who placed fourth in Class 2A last season. The sophomore midfielder leads a young group for new coach Jen Belmonte, the team’s former assistant.
Julia Weiss, Oak Park-River Forest
The senior midfielder won a gold medal with her club team during a tournament in Israel over the summer. The three-year varsity player will work with senior midfielder Katie McGrath to fill some scoring duties that were lost to graduation. “I am looking at Julia as a leader on the team to contribute with her experience,” coach Ignacio Ponce said. “I expect her to perform well and earn her recognition in our conference as a top competitive player.”
Twitter: @geomwilcox