Round Lake’s Ariadne Gonzalez laid the groundwork for her high school career in sixth grade.
“My middle school coach told me about the high school camp,” she said. “I was a bit nervous going to it. There were a lot of bigger girls. I was very, very nervous. But they brought me in and accepted me. I loved it.”
Gonzalez’s experience back then made her want to fully immerse herself in Round Lake’s program.
“I try to be involved in school as much as I can,” she said. “I live five minutes away walking.”
First-year Round Lake coach Victor Rico has noticed.
“In the past year, she was at every event, from summer camp, concessions, parades and conditioning and weightlifting,” he said. “She did not miss one day.”
Gonzalez, a sophomore midfielder in her second season on Round Lake’s varsity team, also is becoming one of the top players in Lake County. She had six goals and two assists in the Panthers’ first six games before racking up points in the BodyArmor Sports Series at Olympic Park in Schaumburg over the weekend.
With standout sophomore Bella Perry sidelined with an injury on Saturday, Gonzalez put on a show in front of a large crowd. She had five goals and an assist in Round Lake’s 7-0 win against Pritzker.
On Sunday, Gonzalez had another goal and two assists in a 4-1 victory against Willows Academy as the Panthers (4-3-1) advanced to the championship round at Lyons on April 24.
Gonzalez leads the Panthers with 12 goals and five assists after finishing with a team-high 16 goals last season.
Perry, who was back on the field Sunday and recorded a goal and an assist, said she has watched Gonzalez mature into a good player.
“I’ve known her since sixth grade, and she’s just a great leader, a team captain, and knows how to play,” Perry said. “She’s very committed.”
Gonzalez said she played basketball and volleyball in middle school, too, before committing to soccer in high school. After her breakout freshman season, she started thinking about playing in college.
“I loved freshman year because the team was amazing,” she said. “It was just a great experience to start off my high school career.”
Standing a few feet away from the music pumping from the speakers at the DJ booth on Saturday, Rico smiled while talking about the future of the program.
“We’re a very young team with only one senior who has played all four years,” he said. “Ari’s a great kid. Her soccer skills are amazing, a great one-v-one player. She’s a left-footer who can touch with both. … She’s really good.
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“Overall, she’s a great leader and is young. The sky is the limit. She has Bella on her side. Those two are going to push each other to get better and make an amazing duo, and they have a great future.”
Bobby Narang is a freelance reporter for the News-Sun.