Motivated perhaps by their 11-6-1 record in 2009, the best season in the Riverside-Brookfield girls soccer program’s seven-year history, the Bulldogs apparently are very focused on improving what they started. The team is off to a fast start again this spring, notching a pair of victories last week, a 2-1 decision over Illiana Christian and 1-0 win over Westmont, to establish early momentum.
Sophomores Alleigh VandeMerkt and Idalia Rodriguez scored goals against Illiana, while senior sweeper Kristy Frampton scored on a corner kick against Westmont.
“Illiana Christian is a new team in our [Metro Suburban] conference and we played them at their place on grass,” said RB coach Marisa Dobbertin. “Against Westmont, we outshot them and we’re happy with the win.”
The Bulldogs have an intriguing mix of 11 returning varsity players coupled with 10 promising newcomers, which allows Dobbertin options off the bench. Still, the strength of RB this season clearly emanates from its solid senior class, including goalkeeper Anita Balciunas, midfielders Anna Tess, Kaitlyn Vranek, Emily Chapman, and defenders Andrea Leibrandt and Frampton.
“We have a really strong senior class,” Dobbertin said. “They work well with all the other girls. I think our biggest strength is the work ethic of all the girls who are committed to getting better together each year.”
Balciunas, who has committed to play soccer at St. Xavier, had seven shutouts last season. A returning all-conference and all-sectional honorable mention player, the athletic keeper has set a personal goal of at least 10 shutouts this year. Last spring, Balciunas allowed 26 goals in 18 games.
Offensively, Frampton is the Bulldogs’ returning leading scorer with six goals and two assists in 2009. Five of her goals came from at least 40 yards out. VandeMerkt tallied three goals and an assist as a freshman. Dobbertin also likes the potential of Rodriguez, a starting midfielder with scoring ability.
Balciunas, Chapman and Leibrandt are the RB captains.
“Emily is a fiery player and Andrea is very fast,” Dobbertin said. “Anita is a four-year varsity starter and a very good goalkeeper.”
Riverside-Brookfield, which won the conference championship in 2008, hopes to reclaim the Metro Suburban title this year from defending champion Elmwood Park. The Bulldogs finished 4-2 in league play last season, splitting a pair of meetings with the Tigers.
With the addition of conference newcomers Illiana Christian and Timothy Christian, the race now appears wide open for top conference honors.
“In this conference anything goes,” Dobbertin said. “The fact that any team can win it is kind of cool because games are very competitive.”
The Bulldogs take on host Oak Park on Thursday (5 p.m.) in a tough nonconference match-up.