Next season should be good

Cary-Grove's Korey Kronforst (right) tries to dribble past Huntley's Alyse Williams during an April game. Kronforst should be one of the Trojans' top returners next season. Williams will anchor a talent-rich Red Raiders defense. (Lauren M. Anderson - landerson@nwherald.com)

E-mail this story

Print this story

Share

Cary-Grove girls soccer coach Ray Krystal emphasized the importance of building the Trojans program, one win at a time, and C-G took another huge leap toward that with its success this year.

The Trojans, with just five seniors on its roster, hovered around .500 early in the year and were 4-6 near the season’s midpoint. Determined to continue its tradition of success, C-G went 11-2 to close out the year and pulled a few upsets, including a win against Huntley during Fox Valley Conference Valley Division play, and a victory against Crystal Lake South in the IHSA Class 3A Jacobs Regional final. The Trojans beat Boylan in the 3A Boylan Sectional semifinal before losing to juggernaut Barrington in the sectional final.

Making the Sweet 16 was a statement the Trojans intended to make all season. The year was a work in progress and it didn’t matter how they began – only how they ended.

“I don’t have any regrets,” Krystal said after the loss to Barrington on Saturday.

Having most of his team back next year means that not only should the Trojans be a top contender for the FVC Valley Division title, but Krystal and his players could aspire to a berth in the state finals without anyone questioning whether it is a lofty goal.

The Trojans will return sophomore goalkeeper Paige Lincicum, who played solid through this season’s playoffs, junior forward Mary Schneider, defender Jae Jay Usab and sophomore forward Korey Kronforst, who established herself as one of the area’s most dominant strikers.

HUNTLEY
Huntley, too, will return plenty of talent.

Junior midfielder Bre Burry, who missed time this season because of a broken nose, will return, as well as Illinois State-bound juniors Aimee Wronski (forward) and Alyse Williams (defender). Williams also missed time this season because of a knee injury. The Red Raiders won the FVC Valley Division and bowed out of the playoffs in the 3A Boylan Sectional semifinal to Barrington.

CRYSTAL LAKE SOUTH
Crystal Lake South had 10 seniors on its roster this season, but will return plenty of young talent. Junior goalkeeper Elizabeth Quinn, freshman midfielder Mackenzie Taldone, sophomore forward Christina Szocka, junior midfielder Kali Loescher, junior midfielder Emma Dalzell, junior forward Vivian Qian, junior forward Karli Schumaker, junior defender Erinn Hilt, sophomore midfielder Lauren Perrine, junior midfielder Ellen Brunner and sophomore defender Emily Hamrick all should lead the Gators next season.

PRAIRIE RIDGE
Prairie Ridge, which went undefeated to win the FVC Fox Division and carried an 18-game winning streak into the Class 2A playoffs this year, also lost key senior players but return 11 from this year’s team. Junior midfielder Ashley Fenton, junior forward Rebecca Reitz, sophomore defender Kirsten Schuler, junior defender Emily Bruksch and junior midfielder Rachel Didier should lead the Wolves.

CRYSTAL LAKE CENTRAL
Crystal Lake Central should enjoy a good year again next spring, led by junior midfielder Nelle Youel.

RICHMOND-BURTON
Junior forward Brittany Bogart should lead Richmond-Burton, junior midfielder Karla Vietinghoff had a solid season for Hampshire, sophomore defender Jess Tennant stood out for Jacobs and McHenry sophomore forward Molly Machometa led the Warriors.