From the time she started playing soccer as the only girl on a boys team at age 5, Julianne Sitch had an enormous passion for the sport.
A quarter-century later, Sitch still loves the game but a new passion led to her announcing her retirement as a player, ending an eight-year professional career that included three separate stints with the Chicago Red Stars, who released her last July.
“I feel I’ve found a new passion for working with kids,” Sitch said. “I’ve been doing a lot in terms of coaching kids and working with individuals on agility, strength and conditioning and injury prevention. With that part of my life growing, I just felt it was the right time to stop playing competitively.”
Sitch, 31, starred at Oswego High School and went on to be a standout at DePaul University, where she remains the school’s all-time scoring leader with 32 goals and 26 assists. She played two seasons in Sweden and one in Australia in addition to stops with four domestic teams.
A former member of the U.S. U-19 and U-21 national teams, Sitch played for the Red Stars in 2010 and again from 2012-14. The Red Stars play their home games at Benedictine in Lisle.
“It was a huge honor to be able to play locally,” Sitch said. “I was fortunate that Chicago had a team. To be at home and have that base of support from my family, friends and the community was really special.”
Sitch’s biggest supporter was her father Richard, who could be seen at every Red Stars home game wearing a replica of his daughter’s No. 38 jersey.
“My dad is my biggest fan,” Sitch said. “He was always there for me. He was the one in the middle of the street timing my fitness runs. After all he’s done for me it was fun to be able to give back to him and have him be able to see me play.”
After being released by the Red Stars, Sitch turned down short-term offers from Washington, Kansas City and Portland.
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“I already knew that I probably wasn’t going to play,” Sitch said. “I was looking for a different challenge.”
Red Stars general manager Alyse LaHue was full of praise for Sitch.
“Julianne dedicated many years of her pro career to the Red Stars and we are forever grateful for the professionalism and hard work she brought to the club,” LaHue said in a statement. “It has always meant a lot to us to have players who grew up in the area or played their college ball nearby, so she was the perfect example and model for girls aspiring to a career in soccer.
“Julianne will continue to be a great advocate for the game as she advances into her coaching career and we wish her the best of luck.”
Sitch currently is the U-16 girls coach for the Chicago City club, where she also heads the strength and injury prevention programs. She also just got hired as an assistant women’s coach at the University of Chicago and is a certified professional trainer.
“I’m going to miss competing, being part of a team and seeing my Red Stars teammates every day during the season,” Sitch said. “I’m really close friends with many of them. But being local, I will still get to see them and I’m really excited to watch them play and support them this season.”
Sitch is the second Red Stars player with local ties to retire recently. Former Geneva star Jackie Santacaterina, 26, retired in November due to injury concerns.
Despite that, Sitch is optimistic about the growth of women’s soccer at the amateur and professional level.
“I do think more and more kids are playing soccer throughout the country,” Sitch said. “I do hope that the professional league lasts, not only for the benefit of the current players but just so the younger girls have something to aspire to.”
Le Cren is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.