Senior Caroline Mortonson, one of most prolific scorers in Lyons Township High School girls soccer history, finished with quite a hat trick of honors. For the third straight year, Mortonson was named all-state by the Illinois High School Soccer Coaches Association. The four-year varsity starter will play at Miami University (Oxford, Ohio).
“[All-state] makes me so happy. I love playing on this team and they’ve supported me so much, so I’m really going to miss it,” said Mortonson during Senior Day, May 10. “[I hope to be remembered as] a good team player, someone who works hard on the field and also off the field to include everyone. A good soccer player.”
Mortonson had her best overall offensive totals this past season for the Lions, scoring a single-season best and team-high 15 goals along with a team-high 12 assists. The Lions captured their 12th consecutive regional championship. She finishes with four-year totals of 45 goals and 44 assists. That included 11 goals as a junior and freshman and 15 assists as a sophomore.
All-sectional honors went to Riverside Brookfield High School senior Ella Caputo (team-high 7 goals, co-team-high 7 assists), Lyons Township junior Carolina Capizzi (9 goals, 8 assists) and Nazareth Academy senior defender Izzy Strnic (3 goals, assist) and sophomore Molly Moore (team highs of 16 goals, 11 assists).
Caputo will play at Drury University (Springfield, Missouri). Strnic was honorable mention all-sectional in 2024. Receiving honorable mention all-sectional were RBHS junior Michelle Panduro (4 goals, 3 assists) and Nazareth junior Olivia O’Neill (8 goals, 2 assists).
All-sectional academic recipients were RBHS senior Raleigh Jesswein, LTHS senior Sofia D’Antonio and Nazareth senior Isabel Cervantes. All-sectional sportsmanship recipients were RBHS senior Lucy Drenth, LTHS senior Grace Lanspeary and Nazareth senior Annie Trayser.
Caputo and defensive midfielder Jesswein were named to the All- Upstate Eight Conference East Division Team. Caputo was All-Metro Suburban Conference in 2024 and All-MSC Blue as a sophomore.
Mortonson, Capizzi and juniors Anna Bigenwald (133 saves as goalie) and Avery Lusk (3 goals, 3 assists) were named to the All-West Suburban Conference Silver Division Team. Mortonson also was all-conference last season.
Strnic, Moore, O’Neill (8 goals, 2 assists), defender Trayser (goal, 4 assists) and junior Esme Bleskin (assist) were named to the All-East Suburban Catholic Conference Team for the first time.
Boys tennis
Nazareth seniors Jack Nisivaco and Martin Passino were named to the All-East Suburban Catholic Conference Team.