Libertyville girls soccer player Julia Neiweem always seems to be in the right place at the right time.
“She’s a great player,” Wildcats coach Andy Bitta said. “She can play anywhere, our best all-around player. She could play goalie if she wanted to.”
Neiweem is a senior midfielder who was an all-North Suburban Conference sweeper in 2014. Bitta has Neiweem playing the middle of the field this spring to better use her instincts and aggressiveness.
An example of how this has improved Libertyville’s attack happened Saturday, April 25, in a 2-1 home loss to Lake Forest. Playing in rainy conditions, the Wildcats trailed the Scouts 2-0 late in the game.
Libertyville controlled possession on the Scouts’ side of the field. A player fired a ball into the air. Lake Forest freshman goalkeeper Cassidy Shaul leaped to snatch it, but was unable to hold the wet ball. It fell to the turf inside the Scouts’ goal box.
Lurking in front of the goal was Neiweem.
“They [the coaching staff] told us the whole game to get on the goalie as it’s a little slick out,” Neiweem said.
The free ball found its way to Neiweem’s feet. She fired a shot into an open net for a goal. It was Neiweem’s first goal of the season. Libertyville lost the game, but Neiweem’s relentless intensity is a plus for a struggling offense. On April 21, Libertyville was shut out by Lake Zurich, 1-0.
“It’s a soccer player reading the game,” Bitta said of Neiweem’s goal against Lake Forest. “She’s phenomenal.”
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Although Neiweem is seeing more time in the middle and up top, she said much of her value still is in the back third of the field.
“On our defense, I’m there to give us cover,” Neiweem said. “I’m the quicker one and can beat [an opposing player] down the line.”
Bitta’s decision to move Neiweem up top is part of a tactical switch for Libertyville. In the second half, the Wildcats went with a 4-4-2 scheme, as opposed to a 3-4-3. It provided an extra attacker in an attempt to generate more offense.
Against Lake Forest, Libertyville made the move with 25 minutes left in the game. Bitta said he may consider making the switch sooner, adding that the skills of sophomore forward Maddie Olson and junior forward Annie Thompson are better utilized when the scheme is attack-oriented rather than defensive-minded.
“We’ve had trouble scoring against the better teams,” Bitta said. “Maybe it’s something we’ll have to start early in the game or stick with the whole game. We’ll have to look at that. We played a lot better the last 25 minutes [against Lake Forest]. We put a lot more pressure on them.”
Whatever strategic moves Libertyville makes the rest of the season, Neiweem’s considerable all-field talents will be a catalyst.
“Right now we are just trying to fill in our gaps,” Neiweem said. “We’re doing pretty good.”
Kerr is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
Twitter: @prepspioneer