Lemont’s Gabriela Kuruc grew up learning the game of soccer through some tough, competitive family games with her older cousins.
One of them was Ella Dwyer.
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A former Joliet Catholic standout who’s now playing at Eastern Illinois, Dwyer served as a natural role model for Kuruc. The rest of the family presented a different kind of test.“I started playing when I was 7 years old, playing with my cousins in the backyard,” Kuruc said. “I had a lot of boys in the family so playing with them was definitely a challenge.
“When I got to playing with girls, it was obviously way different. And when I started playing up against older kids, I was used to that.”
Kuruc, who recently committed to Illinois-Chicago, starred as a young player the last two years on the varsity. Now, the junior midfielder is taking her game to another level.
She scored her 10th goal of the season, providing the game-winner Tuesday night for Lemont, which clinched the championship of the Porter Cup by topping host Lockport 2-1.
Alexandra Chrisman also scored for Lemont (9-1), which won its ninth straight game and finished 3-0 in the round-robin tournament. Allison Tilly and Natalie Robbins each had an assist, while Kaelyn Shaughnessy made five saves.
“This is a huge win for us,” Kuruc said. “Now we’ve set a standard on where we are as a team. I’m overall very proud of the girls. Personally, I think we can go far in the postseason.
“I’m very confident in my team. I know what we can do now.”
Makenna Klacko scored the goal for Lockport (5-3-1). Wisconsin-Parkside recruit Hayden Spodarek had the assist and Olivia Luecke made nine saves, including one on a penalty kick.
The Porters led 1-0 before Chrisman tied it with 24:38 to go. Kuruc then put Lemont ahead for good with 17:40 left.
“I just got subbed back in and I was full of energy,” Kuruc said. ‘I saw a perfect opportunity. Natalie had two players on her. She passed it right to me.
“I had to be cool, just relax for a second and put it in the corner.”
Kuruc earned all-state honors last season as a sophomore, scoring 24 goals and setting a program record with 26 assists.
Lemont coach Rick Prangen sees her being even more ready to hold her own now against tough competition.
“She’s a junior now and you saw a bit more of that toughness in this game,” Prangen said. “Instead of getting pushed off the ball, she can fend players off and drive past them.
“She’s got technical quality, she’s two-footed, she’s unbelievably coachable and she’s honestly a better person than she is a player. She’s a joy to coach.”
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Chrisman also knows she can always count on Kuruc to give the team a lift.
“She’s just Gabby K,” Chrisman said. “I don’t know what else I can say. She’s amazing as a teammate, as a friend, as a soccer player. She puts in a lot of hard work over the offseason, during the season, during club season.
“She’s just a phenomenal soccer player.”
Kuruc committed last month to UIC, solidifying her future plans and fulfilling a longtime goal to follow in Dwyer’s shoes and play Division I soccer.
“Seeing Ella play on a big stage, I always wanted to do it,” Kuruc said. “It’s always been a big thing for me and I worked hard for it. I’m super excited. I definitely still have a lot ahead of me.
“I’m trying to play faster so I can be ready for the next level. But I’m just thankful for everyone who has supported me and I’m very proud of myself.”