The Lyons Township High School girls soccer team earned its second consecutive postseason trophy in 2021 by finishing second in the IHSA Class 3A state tournament.
“It’s put high expectations on us, but we tell them that every year is a new team and a new year,” coach Bill Lanspeary said.
The Lions have four strong returning starters and nine seniors after their powerhouse 20-1 season and perfect 13-0 in winning the West Suburban Conference. The Lions lost to O’Fallon 1-0 for the state championship.
Senior goalie Izzy Lee and senior midfielder Eleanor Musgrove earned all-sectional and All-WSC honors last season. Lee, who made 103 saves in 20 games in 2021, will play at Illinois. Musgrove, who was second with 13 goals and had a team-best eight assists, is headed for the Air Force Academy.
Seniors Kate Fulscher (goal, 4 assists) and Ava Pike (2 assists) return as starters for a defense that allowed just four goals and recorded 17 shutouts along with senior backup goalie Brigid Dunne (31 saves in 8 games).
Other returning letter winners are seniors Sarah Schierl (2 goals, assist), Bella Schierl (2 goals, assist) and Rielly Chesna (3 goals, 5 assists), junior Katie O’Malley (6 goals, 5 assists) and sophomores Josie Pochocki (3 goals, 2 assists) and Izzi Wirtz (goal). Caroline Mortonson is the lone freshman on the roster.
The Lions are 2-0 to start the spring after beating Young 3-2 and Jones 6-0.
RBHS soccer off to 1-2 start
With a roster of four seniors, six juniors, six sophomores and four freshmen, the Riverside-Brookfield High School girls soccer team still has a solid base for success.
“We are young once again but have a great group of players that have shown outstanding focus and work ethic,” coach Ivek Halic said. “We have an outstanding number of returning players and leaders on this particular team.”
There are six returning starters in senior goalie Reagan Peschke, senior Carmen Guerrero and juniors Jessica Sharenow and Lena Lembcke on defense and senior Amanda DiForti and junior Nina Bretz in the midfield.
Other returning letter winners are sophomore midfielders Niamh Larson, Hazel Hall and Maddie Bisiules.
“We have players that are dangerous in the attacking zone and a veteran keeper to keep the defense organized,” Halic said. “Team chemistry and trusting each other is essential. The leadership on the team is outstanding and will be our success factor.”
RBHS is 1-2 so far this season, beating Leyden 3-0 and losing to Glenbard East 3-1 and De La Salle 2-0.
Lembcke, Hall and Larson scored against Leyden with assists from Guerrero and sophomore Katie Newberry. Bisiules scored against Glenbard East with Hall assisting. Peschke has made a 23 combined saves, five against Leyden.
