Amanda Dietz is changing her plans for Friday.
The Lakes senior midfielder was going to attend the Wisconsin-Whitewater softball team’s NCAA Division III regional game on its home field. Dietz’s older sister, Ally, is a sophomore first baseman for the Warhawks.
“I don’t get to go to a lot of my sister’s games because my schedule is really busy, but usually me and my family watch her games online,” Dietz said. “We were going to watch her play.”
Instead, Dietz and the Eagles will be playing in the Class 2A Lakes Regional championship game, and she has a lot to do with that. Dietz scored a goal and assisted on another in fifth-seeded Lakes’ 7-1 win against 10th-seeded Antioch in a regional semifinal in Lake Villa on Wednesday.
Dietz, a Wisconsin-Platteville recruit, said she’s not bothered about missing her sister’s playoff game because she’s not ready for her high school career to end. The Eagles (11-7-1) will play third-seeded St. Viator at 4 p.m. Friday.
But Dietz, who also plays basketball, said her sister has helped her tremendously.
“She’s been a really big support throughout my recruiting process, and growing up she has been one of my best friends and always is there for me and really pushes me to be my best,” Dietz said.
Lakes coach Kevin Kullby said Dietz pushes her teammates to be their best.
“Amanda is a very dedicated player who plays soccer year-round and also plays on the basketball team, so she’s multidimensional,” Kullby said. “She’s a team leader. When we play well, it’s because she sets the tone for playing well. To her credit, when she’s on, everybody’s on. She’s a steady force in the midfield and a wonderful personality.”
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Playing in front of a large crowd Wednesday, Dietz scored off a header in the goal parade against Antioch (5-11-3), Northern Lake County Conference co-champion Lakes’ District 117 rival. She increased her season totals to seven goals and seven assists.
Dietz, a captain and four-year varsity player, said the Eagles’ win was a team effort. Raina Schmitt and Sienna Steinke each scored two goals, and Mia Silber and Emily Mylniec each scored one. Schmitt, a freshman, leads the team with 11 goals.
Cameron Pluciennik scored Antioch’s only goal.
“We knew it was going to be a tough game,” Antioch coach Maddie Lyon said. “They are a solid team. Lakes has a lot of talented and quick players and has got a lot of speed.”
Silber, a junior midfielder who has committed to play at Winthrop, was the beneficiary of Dietz’s assist on her eighth goal of the season. She said Dietz helped smooth her transition to the varsity team.
“Amanda makes everyone feel welcome,” Silber said. “She made me feel really welcome in my freshman year. She has energy that she brings to the team that makes everyone want to play good. She’s always there to support you and is an amazing player.”
Dietz said she’s happy to be a key contributor in her senior season, especially after suffering several injuries early in her career.
“I broke my foot in my freshman year, but once I came back, I ended up spraining the other foot,” she said. “Usually you will see me on the field with double ankle bracelets. I’ve learned to work though my injuries and to take care of my body.
“One of my big goals this season was to win conference, and we did. Now I really want to win regionals.”
Bobby Narang is a freelance reporter for the News-Sun.