Sophomore midfielder Bre Herlihy is coming off a big first season of high school soccer. She scored a team-high 11 goals last spring for Lincoln-Way East.
That can be a double-edged sword. She’s more confident now, but there are also higher expectations.
“I’m a lot more comfortable now that I’ve played a full season,” Herlihy said. “I’m still nervous, though, because I feel like I have to play up to my standards.”
While Herlihy has set a high bar for herself, she has continued to raise her play.
She has scored six goals so far this season, becoming a better passer and all-around player for the Griffins (8-3-1).
“It does put a little pressure on me knowing what I did last year,” Herlihy said. “But I know even if I don’t score a lot of goals, I’m still here making plays for my teammates.
“It’s really important to be able to make good passes and assist my teammates too.”
Lincoln-Way East coach Mike Murphy said Herlihy sneaks up on some opponents. While she may not look like a star, she’s the epitome of a steady performer.
“She’s just so consistent,” Murphy said. “People are like, ‘Really? Bre Herlihy’s your leading scorer?’ She’s not a flashy player. I tell her all the time, ‘Bre, I wouldn’t see you on the field and be like, Oh my God, who’s that?’
“But she always puts herself in the right places. She’s smart. She’s accurate with her shots. She’s always putting pressure on the opposition and putting dangerous shots on goal.”
Herlihy agrees her awareness and soccer instincts are her biggest strengths.
“I feel like I always put myself in the right spot and I’m connected on the play all the time,” Herlihy said.
Last season, Herlihy learned how challenging it was to be a freshman playing against older girls. Then she rose above that to put together a highly successful year.
“Coming in last year and experiencing high school soccer for the first time and being on varsity right away, the play of the game was a lot faster and stronger so I had to adjust to that,” she said. “I did adjust.
“It showed me that I could be up here and hold my own and play well. I proved myself, I think, last year.”
Murphy believes Herlihy has a lot more potential to unlock over the rest of her Lincoln-Way East career.
“She brought that youthful energy last year,” Murphy said. “She’s more confident now. She keeps getting better. She still has two years after this, and I’ll love to see where she goes from here.”
Titan time: Tinley Park (6-3) has won five straight and is off to a 4-0 start in South Suburban Blue play.
First-year coach Kelsey Neylon said the Titans are enjoying the success but also looking ahead.
“The girls have embraced our ‘Celebrate and get back to work’ motto,” Neylon said. “We’re really stressing the importance of recognizing and celebrating all victories, big and small, but never settling.
“We get right back to working even harder the next day.”
Tinley Park has been led by a trio of sophomores. Addie Weed has eight goals and six assists, while Kit Gormley has eight goals and five assists and Gianna Butler has seven goals and four assists.
Tough road: Joliet Catholic, the 2021 Class 2A state runner-up, has a challenging path back to state.
When sectional assignments were released this week, the Angels and Lemont were shipped north to the Wheaton Academy Sectional.
The loaded field includes Joliet Catholic’s conference rival Benet as well as Kaneland and the host Warriors.
Elsewhere in Class 2A, De La Salle, Tinley Park, Marist and St. Laurence figure to be among the favorites in the Kankakee Sectional.
Steve Millar is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.