Junior forward Laney Stark understood it wasn’t going to be easy at St. Charles North.
But Stark, who transferred in the offseason from Bartlett, proved herself by being a dynamic talent for the North Stars — an attacking player who revealed a decisive flair.
And in the end, she knows who she is.
“I think I brought a missing piece,” said Stark, who plays a heady, intense, physical style. “I allowed us to go even farther and make an even deeper run than teams from the past.”
Stark maintained her superb play Tuesday night, scoring the first goal for St. Charles North during a 5-3 loss to the host Fillies in the Class 3A Barrington Supersectional.
Michigan State-bound senior midfielder Bella Najera and junior midfielder Juliana Park also scored for the North Stars (17-4-2), who had a seven-game unbeaten streak snapped.
For Stark, it was her 16th goal of the season, but that’s not all. Just reaching the supersectional round was something of a miracle for St. Charles North.
Stark scored with 7.6 seconds left and followed up with a goal in the shootout that catapulted the North Stars to a 3-2 victory over St. Charles East in the sectional final.
“Laney stepped in with these new girls and jelled almost immediately,” St. Charles North coach Brian Harks said. “Her style of play is fantastic.
“She is a very physical and very smart player who is also very calm and composed when she needs to be.”
Feeding off the energy of her heroics late in Saturday’s game against rival St. Charles East, Stark showed she’s not a flash in the pan when the lights shine brightest.
“There was a lot of momentum from that game,” Stark said. “I just took it and pushed it forward.”
Junior forward Rian Spaulding said a special bond and cohesion created an open style that allowed the different individuals to flourish for the North Stars.
“We just had a special creativity and connection out there,” Spaulding said. “That was just different from the other teams I have played with at North.
“Laney came in and was just a huge addition — brought an edge as another scorer and creator.”
Spaulding, who is lithe, quick and explosive, is the perfect temperament to that flow. Her game meshed with the more physical Stark.
“Rian is the ultimate workhorse who never stops trying,” Harks said. “Even when she is totally exhausted, she never knows when to slow down. She always finds a way to outwork the opponents.”
Najera said each player brought a special intensity and creativity to their role.
“Laney and Rian cause such trouble for defenders because they are both super fast and provide great pressure up top,” Najera said. “They are very determined, scrappy players that give everything they have all of the time.”
Stark also played guard on the basketball team. That experience developed the template, easing her assimilation to the soccer program.
“A lot of the soccer players came to the basketball games,” Stark said. “They made me feel super welcome.”
Stark elevated her game, joining a group with seven returning starters from a team last spring that won the DuKane Conference title and reached the sectional final.
“Playing with somebody like Bella, who is so great, it just bought out the best parts of my game,” Stark said. “I love to play that ball in the middle and make the runs.
“She is so fast, creative and easy to play off.”
With Stark, Spaulding and Park returning, the future remains bright for the North Stars.
“I want to make a statement and make it easier for players coming up to be part of this great program,” Stark said. “I am very proud to be here.”
Patrick Z. McGavin is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.