Olivia Hernandez’s introduction to high school soccer was an eye-opening experience, both for her and for everyone who saw her play.
The Metea Valley midfielder established herself as one of the top freshmen in the state while helping the Mustangs win their first state championship.
“At the beginning of the year, I wasn’t so sure about doing high school,” Hernandez said. “But once I started practice and I got to know everybody, I saw that we have some really great players.
“Being able to start was really a privilege. It was a fun season.”
Metea Valley coach Chris Whaley was aware of Hernandez’s talent but was less sure about how she would handle playing against older girls.
“Olivia is obviously a talent, and she deserves all the recognition that she gets,” Whaley said. “Just in fairness to everybody in the program, I did not assume that she was going to be a starter or make varsity.
“There’s no doubt about it — she earned that starting spot, and she proved her worth to the team in a bunch of different ways.”
Indeed, Hernandez fit in seamlessly with a lineup that already included star players like forwards Tyra King and Lucy Burk, midfielders Jordan Lange and Jocelyn Grabow, defenders Addison Wargo and Justyce King, and goalkeeper Julia Straub. She was a bridge between the offense and the defense.
“She’s very effective in the midfield for us,” Whaley said. “She’s so confident on the ball. She can manipulate that ball like it’s stuck to her foot. She’s so deceptive. I think people have a really hard time defending her because of it.”
Hernandez tallied two goals and seven assists for the Mustangs, including a goal in a 3-2 win over Plainfield North in a Class 3A regional final. She thrived in pressure situations, especially in the playoffs.
“It was a lot of pressure at the end of the year when we got closer to state, but once we settled down and played our game, we got it together,” Hernandez said. “I like taking people on when I have the chance, but I love playing through balls and finding people on the outside.”
A rookie like Hernandez is a rare find, especially for a championship-caliber team. Whaley was impressed with how quickly she acclimated to varsity soccer.
“Not only did she hold her own, but at times she looked like a junior out there, just one of the kids,” Whaley said.
Whaley isn’t the only one who noticed. Hernandez was one of 30 girls from the Midwest invited to the U.S. youth national team U15 identification camp at Northwestern in May. The one-day event included instruction followed by a long scrimmage.
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Hernandez’s long-term trajectory could follow that of her sister, Nicki, a former Michigan star who is playing professionally in Mexico City.
Nicki Hernandez, a forward, played her freshman and senior years for Metea Valley, which reached sectional finals in those seasons. She attended Olivia Hernandez’s games during the playoffs, including the 1-0 shootout win over Barrington in the 3A state championship game on June 4.
“She’s definitely a role model,” Olivia Hernandez said. “I would go to all of her games, including club and when she went to Michigan.
“I’ve been to a couple of her games in Mexico. It was a really cool experience because she’s such an amazing player.”
Despite being eight years apart, the Hernandez sisters have strikingly similar builds, gaits and soccer IQs.
“She’s as skilled as her sister was at this stage, but they’re definitely different players,” Whaley said. “Nicki was that slashing, left-footed player that just had a cannon of a left foot, just created so many opportunities for herself and her teammates.
“Liv is just a workhorse, defends well, wins the ball, shields it really strong on the ball. She is so creative with the ball at her feet that she was able to help us control the game in a way that not many players can do.”
While graduation is still three years away, Olivia Hernandez already is dreaming about following in her sister’s footsteps.
“I would love to play at a big college, possibly a Big Ten school,” Hernandez said. “I’ve been to some of those campuses. They are super cool.”
Matt Le Cren is a freelance reporter for the Naperville Sun.