As the oldest of five sisters, Oswego’s Anna Johnson has seniority at her house.
Her younger sisters even began calling her by the same affectionate nickname — “Queen Anna” — that some of her close friends have bestowed upon the senior forward.
“We argue and we knock heads sometimes, but my family has been a big part of my success,” Johnson said. “They have very high expectations.
“Because of the way they pushed me so far, I feel like I owe it to myself to be very competitive and put whatever I have out there.”
Johnson has been royalty on the soccer field for the Panthers, holding court with her superlative blend of size, speed, quickness and shot creativity.
She put all of those traits together Monday, scoring a career-high six goals for Oswego in an 8-0 Southwest Prairie Conference victory over Joliet West.
Johnson is a gifted scorer who plays with a reckless ferocity. The Lindenwood recruit scored 39 goals and contributed eight assists last season.
“My athleticism and explosiveness really paid off (Monday),” said Johnson, who scored three goals in each half. “Just being able to benefit from the game worked in my favor.”
So far this season, Johnson has nine goals and an assist for the Panthers (1-2-1, 1-0).
“Her vision, decision making and execution have made her one of the best players in the state,” Oswego coach Gaspar Arias said. “She is very explosive and fast, difficult to defend, and players rarely win a one-on-one battle. She has become more dangerous and effective with her finishing abilities.”
Johnson rocketed onto the scene as a sophomore, scoring 32 goals.
In soccer, scoring is psychological — as much a state of mind as the ability to physically create and finish through contact. And it takes work.
“Scoring is a skill that I have definitely gained over time,” she said. “I feel like my explosiveness helps a lot — the movements I can make and the ability to be in the right place at the right time.
Her four younger sisters range from a third grader to a sophomore at Oswego.
Johnson’s bond and connection with her sisters proved important during the bleak moments of coping with the loss of her freshman season due to the pandemic.
“It definitely lit a fire under me because we were all stuck at home and we’d play games every night,” she said. “We’d have these baking competitions, and my mom would not be happy sometimes with the yelling that took place.
“It definitely raised the competitiveness in all of us.”
Her second youngest sister, Peyton, is a freshman who starts at central defender.
“I think she was just born a natural leader,” Peyton said of Anna. “The older sisters are closer because of all the time we spent together.
“Anna is the same type of leader on the field as at home and puts just enough intensity and fun into everything. She also still knows how to relax and have a good time.”
In the age of specialization, Anna is also a hybrid multisport athlete.
She was a manager for the boys soccer team in the fall, started at point guard the last two years in basketball and also juggled her high-end club soccer schedule.
A decorated high school career is nearing the end point.
“It’s the last ride, especially with soccer,” she said. “Because you realize once it’s over, it’s truly all over because graduation is around the same time.
“We have this really young roster and the program is just young. I want to leave my mark on everything, so when these young girls like my sister are seniors, they’re going to try and do the same.”
Patrick Z. McGavin is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.