Before this season started, Naperville Central junior Emerson Burke had a conversation with former teammate Callie Tumilty
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, who is a freshman at Ohio State.Burke had played forward as a freshman but switched to defense last season, and Naperville Central coach Troy Adams decided to move Burke back up front to replace Tumilty.
“She definitely gave me a lot of advice,” Burke said. “She just said be confident in my abilities.
“Callie is a really good model for me. She believes in me, and my teammates believe in me. Having that support is really important for me to be the best player I can be on the field.”
Burke has been arguably the best player in the state this season, leading the Redhawks’ quest for their first state championship. She broke two of Tumilty’s single-season team records this week.
On Thursday, Burke scored two goals and assisted on the other as the host Redhawks defeated crosstown rival Naperville North 3-0 in a DuPage Valley Conference game at Memorial Stadium. With 27 goals and 11 assists this season, she has 65 points, which breaks the record of 61 set by Lisa McCammack in 1997 and tied by Jessica Levitt in 2005 and Tumilty in 2025.
Burke had recorded a hat trick during Naperville Central’s 9-0 win over Metea Valley on Tuesday to surpass Tumilty’s single-season goal record of 23.
Burke’s first goal against Naperville North came on a rebound with 37:28 left in the first half. It turned out to be the game-winner in a victory that gave the Redhawks (15-0-1, 4-0) at least a share of the DuPage Valley Conference title.
“If I’m going to be completely honest, I had no idea about the point record, but it’s super cool,” Burke said. “I was obviously just focused on the game. Beating North is a super fun thing, but I couldn’t have done it without the team.”
Burke, a Michigan commit who will graduate early, scored again at the 15:19 mark on a 15-yard rocket into the upper-right corner of the net.
“It wasn’t just me who scored,” she said. “Sure, I get the credit for it, but it’s other players that are making space for me.”
Adams said the beauty of Burke’s production is that it has come within the team concept.
“All of the forwards recognize that they’re on a talented team and if they play with each other, if they work together, they collectively can score more goals than if they try to do it individually,” Adams said. “Yes, Emerson is going to get her goals, but you can even see Emerson look to play people through, to play to people’s feet.”
That’s what Burke did to set up the third goal against the Huskies (10-4-1, 3-1). She sent a cross to sophomore forward Natalie Liesch, who one-timed a shot inside the right post with 5:57 left in the second half.
“I love working with her,” Liesch said. “She does that signature ‘hand up’ thing, and I feel like that’s just a cue for me to know when and where to run to. It’s a great combination.”
Burke’s combination of talent and desire are unmatched.
“She just very much has a drive to beat the school record of Callie because she was such a big part of our team last year,” Liesch said. “That gives her a fire inside.”
The Huskies were the latest team burned by Burke, who probably would have had several more goals if not for the spectacular play of Huskies’ senior goalkeeper Olivia Ochsner, a UIC commit who had 12 saves.
“She’s an incredible player, right?” Naperville North coach Steve Goletz said of Burke. “She’s been an incredible player for her entire time here. She just was stuck in the back and wasn’t up top, thankfully for us.
“The thing that impresses me the most is how she plays the game. Obviously, she’s dynamic and can score goals in a bunch of ways, but the kid plays her butt off. She gets in on challenges, fights for 50-50 balls, is constantly looking for the ball, serves great restarts.”
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Few teams have a player like that.
“She’s just an amazing asset to have,” Goletz said. “They’re lucky to have her, and I guess on this side of the town, I can’t wait for her to head off to Michigan and do great things over there.”
Burke has 40 goals and 36 assists in her career. Those totals rank eighth and sixth, respectively, in program history.
“It’s super fun, but the goal for the season is winning state,” Burke said. “That’s the most important part.”
Matt Le Cren is a freelance reporter.