Senior midfielder Erin Hadley is playing high school soccer for the first time for Lincoln-Way Central after previously competing exclusively with her club team.
Hadley wanted new experiences — and she got a big one Monday. She scored her first goal as a Knight. That came with a feeling different from all the times she has scored in the past.
“It’s just so cool,” Hadley said. “Playing for my school and having all the support of everyone around me, it’s awesome. That was definitely a special goal for me.”
Hadley also added an assist as host Lincoln-Way Central continued its strong start to the season, rolling to a 5-0 SouthWest Suburban Conference win over Homewood-Flossmoor in New Lenox.
Millikin recruit Taylor Watt, Emilee Stevens, Maddie Krynski and Julia Fansler also scored for the Knights (7-0, 1-0), while Jules Rafacz dished out two assists.
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and Mia Avgeris combined for the shutout in net without having to make a save behind a defense led by Watt, Fansler, Aly Sudkamp and Ella Forystek.“I feel very confident in the four of us who are back there,” Sudkamp said of the back line for the Knights, who have allowed just one goal on the season. “I think we can keep it going.”
Juliana Cordoba ended up making seven saves for H-F (2-4, 0-1).
Hadley, meanwhile, isn’t just playing high school soccer for the first time. She’s playing soccer of any kind for the first time since last March.
That’s when she suffered a torn ACL in her right knee during a club game.
“In the beginning, when I couldn’t move much, that was definitely the toughest part of the process,” Hadley said. “It was pushing myself to do the little things. It was mentally tough.
“Then it was six months of physical therapy, getting to the gym, making sure I could be ready to play as soon as possible.”
Hadley was determined not to entirely miss out on high school soccer. Especially after she watched her older sister, Alexa, star for the Knights as a goalkeeper. Alexa now plays at Georgetown.
Erin Hadley is one of several players on the team who had older sisters play at Lincoln-Way Central.
“We all grew up watching them and now we get to play together, so it’s so much fun,” she said. “Definitely the girls made me want to play for the school. Everybody on the team is so nice.
“The culture of the team is amazing.”
Sudkamp’s older sister, Abby, also thrived for the Knights before graduating last year and moving on to play at Loyola.
Aly Sudkamp is certainly happy that she and Hadley — the younger siblings — can now team up together.
“Erin is doing great,” Sudkamp said. “She’s really stepping into the position and being where we need her to be. It’s great to have her on the team.”
Hadley’s goal came on a shot from just outside the box in the 27th minute, stretching the Knights’ lead to 3-0.
“I kind of blocked it out and I don’t even know what happened,” Hadley said. “I just figured I was at the top of the box, so I might as well just shoot it. It went in and it was awesome.”
Lincoln-Way Central coach Breanna Bembenek is happy to have another leader in Hadley.
“Our seniors have been huge for us,” Bembenek said. “They’re all great.”
And Hadley is certainly having a great time.
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“I always wanted to play for the school and I just love the atmosphere here,” Hadley said. “I definitely wanted my last year of high school to be my best year, and I think this team can go far and push me to be the best I can be.”