Naperville North junior Jacey Sturek spent last season waiting in the wings.
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The Huskies had a trio of senior three-year starters holding down the fort in the midfield with Cam Dinkla, Madison Korosec and Ellie Gerner, so Sturek got her seasoning playing for the junior varsity team.
Making the transition from understudy isn’t always easy, but Sturek has pulled it off.
“I was really nervous,” Sturek said. “I had to fill those amazing shoes. I guess I just put in the good work rate and started getting better. It was my chance to step up and take the lead in the midfield.”
Sturek has done just that. She has four goals and three assists while providing steady leadership.
“Jacey was a kid I had high hopes for this year,” Naperville North coach Steve Goletz said. “I told her during tryouts that we could be really good if she could take it up another notch.
“She’s done that. She battles, she scratches, she claws and she’s so good on the ball. She’s so calm. Her service on restarts has been fantastic.”
That was evident Thursday, when Sturek bent in a corner kick for what turned out to be the game-winning goal as the host Huskies beat crosstown rival Naperville Central 3-1 in DuPage Valley Conference action.
Sturek’s serve from the left side went untouched into the net, giving the Huskies (10-5-1, 3-1) a 2-1 lead with 18:07 remaining.
“It’s just a really good side to kick from,” Sturek said. “I kind of put the ball on the end line down there, so I guess my foot just gave it a little spin.
“We were having a little trouble on restarts before. Obviously, now we’re starting to bounce back.”
Indeed, Naperville North made an impressive recovery from a 1-0 overtime loss Tuesday to defending Class 3A state champion Metea Valley, which scored on a buzzer-beater. It was indicative of the Huskies’ quiet resilience, which Sturek’s play has epitomized.
“Jacey has been so consistent,” Goletz said. “We got a little bit of luck on the corner going in, but I told the girls that’s the luck we didn’t get on Tuesday night.
“I can’t give enough credit to Jacey and the jump that she’s made from JV to a varsity player.”
Sturek isn’t the only player to make that leap for the Huskies. Two other juniors — defender Reagan O’Malley and forward Annie Chang — also are thriving.
Chang tallied two more goals against the Redhawks (7-4-1, 3-1), giving her 11 for the season. She scored the first on a 27-yard rocket at the 7:39 mark of the first half and capped the win with a rebound goal with 24 seconds remaining in the second half.
Northwestern-bound star Megan Norkett answered Chang’s first goal 2:53 later with a brilliant 22-yard strike to tie the game at 1-1 and barely missed converting a pair of free kicks in the second half.
When Sturek scored, her teammates rejoiced.
“Jacey’s play was extremely important,” Chang said. “Jacey’s goal just helped us get that motivation back. It got us the lead again, and she helped us hold it.”
Sturek was modest in postgame interviews. She prefers to let her play do the talking.
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“I play on a club team with her, and she’s always really comfortable with the ball,” Chang said. “Even if she doesn’t talk much outside, once you get to know her, she’s really funny, and she’s always there for the team.”
While Sturek got the attention for scoring the game-winner, she was just as thrilled for her older teammates after completing a 7-0 home season.
“It was really emotional to be playing here for the last time with these really good seniors,” Sturek said. “It was a really special moment.”
Matt Le Cren is a freelance reporter for the Naperville Sun.