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Top 10 Teams
1. Lake Central: The Indians graduated 10 players, but shouldn’t skip a beat with the return of senior Stephanie Dijak and junior Mackenzie Rainwater in the midfield and an all-conference selection in senior defender Anika Berg. The additions of seniors Daena Schuh and Michelle Testa from club ball, plus a talented freshman class, makes Lake Central even more dangerous.
2. Crown Point: Midfielders Olivia Small (second team all-state) and Emmie McConnell (10 goals) are fourth-year starters. With junior Bridget Rayonec, the Bulldogs possess the tools to compete against a schedule that features some of the state’s top teams. Senior defenders Leah Surufka, Sela Ozdemir and Libby Rockovits have started almost every game since they were freshmen.
3. Chesterton: Ben Forgey takes over a DAC and sectional championship team that will be strong up front with midfielder Olivia Hansen (13 goals, 10 assists), sophomore forward Addy Joiner (26 goals) and a returning club player in junior forward Ashlee Bakaitis.
4. Wheeler: Senior forward Lyric Green (44 goals, 13 assists) was the Post-Tribune player of the year for the Class A state runner-up. Senior Claudia Philips (18 goals, 20 assists) and junior Riley Garcia (23 goals, 14 assists) in the midfield give Wheeler the firepower to make another run.
5. Valparaiso: Senior midfielders Janci Courtaney (15 goals, nine assists), Olivia Shaw (15 goals, 13 assists) and Carli Milroy give the Vikings a chance to compete in the top-heavy DAC.
6. Munster: The regional runner-up Mustangs graduated several key contributors. But senior midfielder Adeline Andello (18 goals) returns as the program’s leading goal scorer.
7. Highland: Senior Morgan Rinkema is regarded as the area’s best goalkeeper. With the graduation of Jen Sheehan, the Trojans will have to find scorers if they are to win a third straight sectional.
8. Boone Grove: The sectional champion is favored to repeat in the Porter County Conference behind sophomore forward Lexi Darnell (35 goals, 19 assists) and junior midfielder Brook Burbridge (11 goals, 27 assists).
9. Andrean: Senior forward Alyssa Schichner (20 goals) paces a 59ers team that hopes to end Highland’s sectional run.
10. Portage: The Indians look to rebound, led by a pair of all-DAC selections in senior goalkeeper Chloe Davis and junior defender Karli Liebig.
Top 20 Players
Adeline Andello, Munster, senior, midfielder; Anika Berg, Lake Central, senior, defender; Brook Burbridge, Boone Grove, junior, midfielder; Katlyn Cherry, Hebron, senior, forward; Janci Courtaney, Valparaiso, senior, midfielder; Lexi Darnell, Boone Grove, sophomore, forward; Stephanie Dijak, Lake Central, senior, midfielder; Riley Garcia, Wheeler, junior, midfielder; Lyric Green, Wheeler, senior, forward; Olivia Hansen, Chesterton, senior, midfielder; Addy Joiner, Chesterton, sophomore, forward; Emmie McConnell, Crown Point, senior, midfielder; Claudia Philips, Wheeler, senior, midfielder; Alex Pomeroy, Michigan City, senior, midfielder; Morgan Rinkema, Highland, senior, goalkeeper; Alyssa Schichner, Andrean, senior, forward; Olivia Shaw, Valparaiso, senior, midfielder; Olivia Small, Crown Point, senior, midfielder; Leah Surufka, Crown Point, senior, defender; Olivia Vesling, Chesterton, senior, defender.
CJ Peters is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.