Injuries are a part of girls soccer, and no team understands that better than Buffalo Grove.
Three-time all-Mid-Suburban League player Jessica Kovach, a senior, is out of the lineup with a sore Achilles tendon. Two other starters — junior defender Sabrina Guercio and sophomore forward Hannah Cole — are out with various ailments. Senior forward Sara Busse missed Friday’s 8-0 win over Wheeling with a knee injury.
“We are missing a lot of players,” senior defender Maria Hamilton said. “We have to look deeper into our roster.”
Forced to use more players, the Bison are starting to realize their roster is deeper than first thought.
Kovach’s ability to possess the ball and pass up top to waiting strikers makes her the ideal center midfielder.
“She plays balls to our feet and makes our midfield go,” Busse said. “Having her out is a big dent for our team.”
Her complete skill set can’t be replaced, but sophomores Georgette Topalis and Courtney Lee are filling in and earning admirable reviews.
“They are winning balls in the middle and distributing well,” Busse said. “They are giving their all.”
“We’ve been having better possession through them,” coach Pat Dudle added. “Our defenders are working hard on communicating.”
One of those defenders is Hamilton. A forward for her club team, Elite FC, Hamilton was an outside back defender for the Bison in 2014. This spring, she is playing center back.
More Top Picks Best Eye Massagers For Puffy Eyes
Earlier this season, Dudle moved the speedy Guercio to defense from midfielder. When paired with Hamilton, she helps give the Bison a formidable back line.
“[Hamilton] has been our rock back there,” Busse said. “She’s playing really good in big games. She knows what to do with the ball and how to clear it and has the speed to keep up with good forwards. Having her back there really solidifies that spot.”
With injuries forcing lineup shuffling, Hamilton said she’s speaking more often and louder.
“I have to be the one who can control who is watching the runners, who’s overseeing the whole game,” Hamilton said. “I’ve been working a lot on communicating.”
In spite of all the injuries, Buffalo Grove won seven of its 11 games to start the year, with three losses and one tie. One loss was a 4-2 defeat to MSL rival Barrington on April 15. It revealed the gap between the Fillies, a sectional favorite, and the Bison.
But success the past two seasons, with a 2013 state tournament berth and a sectional final appearance last year, has raised program expectations. Players and coaches said that injuries are not an excuse for poor performance.
“We are a young team and we’re still learning,” Dudle said. “Hopefully we will grow and compete with the caliber [of Barrington] in the future.”
“The pressure we have is something we thrive on and builds our momentum,” Busse added. “We know we can push through anything. Even with injuries and adversity, we adapt and fight through it.”
Kerr is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
Twitter: @prepspioneer