Nazareth junior Kelly Renehan remembers her unassuming season on varsity two years ago, but now she’s a team leader and big-time goal scorer this spring.
“As a freshman I was always looking to pass,” Renehan said. “I didn’t know how to play with everyone that was older than me. I didn’t have confidence and I just had to get used to [varsity].
“Now I’ve gotten much more confident with the ball and I know when to shoot and when to pass.”
Renehan has put that confidence to work at the end of the season, scoring eight goals in a span of three games. She found the back of the net twice in Nazareth’s 9-0 win over Little Village in the regional semifinals on Tuesday, May 19 and had a hat trick in a 7-0 victory over Taft on Senior Night on Friday, May 15.
She now has 21 goals on the season after registering three in the Roadrunners’ 8-0 victory over Kennedy in the 2A Nazareth Regional championship on Friday, May 22.
“Coming in as a freshman she was a little hesitant,” said former teammate Jen Salata, who played with Renehan at Nazareth for two years before graduating last spring. “But she’s grown and taken on more of a leadership role. A lot of the younger girls really look up to her. Her footwork has gotten better too.”
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Playing club soccer has been a big help in building that confidence that Renehan was lacking.
Growing up in La Grange, it was only natural for Renehan to play for the Lyons Township Soccer Club. While most of her club teammates headed to Lyons, Renehan still feels comfortable at Nazareth since she’s known many of the girls for 10 years or more.
“It’s a very competitive soccer league and that lets me get ready for this season,” Renehan said. “[Nazareth coach John] Nikchevich has also really helped me in practice. He lets me know what I’m doing wrong.”
Renehan’s scoring has been a big boost for Nazareth (16-4-1). Teams already have a headache trying to contain sophomore Claire Ramsey (30 goals), so having such a dangerous second threat like Renehan makes it tough to defend the Roadrunners.
“I really saw her confidence level go up at the end of this season,” Nikchevich said. “I think she came to realize she had to use her skill more, go to goal and take players on. She does a great job of breaking down defenses and her total game has improved tremendously.”
Notes
* Ramsey also had a hat trick in the Roadrunners’ win over Kennedy. Her production equals the team’s season scoring record set by Erin Voss in 2008. “To score 30 goals as a sophomore is a great accomplishment,” Nikchevich said. “That doesn’t happen very often and she’s so humble about it.”
* Vivienne Ruiz and Lily Franko also scored for Nazareth while goalkeeper Peggy Masterson shut out Kennedy.
* The Roadrunners took a 10-game win streak into their scheduled showdown with St. Francis in the St. Francis Sectional semifinals on Tuesday, May 26. The Spartans defeated De La Salle 6-1 to win the De La Salle Regional championship on Friday, May 22. Nazareth heads into the sectional averaging 3.86 goals per game, while allowing just .67.
Valentin is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.