Lyons Township's Carolina Capizzi (8) tries to get past Oak Park and River Forest's Ana Sofia Mrotzek (10) during the Class 3A Downers Grove South Sectional semifinal Tuesday, May 26, 2026 in Downers Grove, IL. (Steve Johnston/Wednesday Journal)

Overview:

Bulldogs’ Raymond all-sectional, UEC East Defensive Player of Year

One aspect about Lyons Township High School girls soccer that senior Carolina Capizzi will treasure are the bonds among her teammates over four varsity seasons. That camaraderie was proven soon after the Illinois High School Girls Soccer Association’s 2026 awards were posted online. Capizzi discovered that she was named all-state for the first time from former teammate Avery Wengerd, a 2024 LTHS graduate now attending Ohio State.

“Avery texted me and was like, ‘Congrats on getting all-state.’ I was like, ‘Where did you see that?’” Capizzi said. “That was really nice of her to reach out and say something. I was really proud. It’s an honor really great players have gotten in the past from LT. To be one of those players is really special.” 

A center midfielder and DePaul University recruit, Capizzi had a team-best 13 assists and shared second on the Lions with 11 goals after earning all-sectional honors as a junior as the No. 2 scorer (8 goals, 9 assists) behind 2025 graduate and three-time all-stater Caroline Mortonson.

Capizzi’s senior year was special as the Lions finished 17-3-3 and captured their 13th consecutive regional title and first West Suburban Conference Silver Division title since she was a freshman with the key victory over rival Hinsdale Central 1-0. The Red Devils came back to beat LTHS in the sectional final on penalty kicks to settle a scoreless tie.  

“To have that (Silver title) again was special,” Capizzi said. “I feel like we had a lot of really good games and beat a lot of good teams. Obviously we didn’t get as far as we wanted to in the playoffs, but I’d say we had a really successful season.”

After a strong freshman season (11 goals, 2 assists), Capizzi achieved perhaps her greatest personal victory by overcoming missing her entire sophomore season with a broken foot. As a junior, Capizzi was sidelined by a mid-season injury but returned to help the team reach the sectional semifinals. Last July, Capizzi and her Galaxy club soccer team won the Under-17 Girls Academy Champions Cup.

“The summer going into junior year was kind of prime recruiting time. It was definitely a little bit difficult to get back and catch up for those big summer showcases and (club) tournaments,” Capizzi said. “It definitely took a little bit of time to get to where I was before my injury.”

The other highlight of senior year was, of course, her teammates. At DePaul, Capizzi will major in health sciences on a pre-med track. 

“I’d say I’ve made some of my best friends thanks to LT soccer,” Capizzi said. “The friendships off the field feel like such a great community. It’s such a big school and so good a way to meet people in your grade and other grades, too.

“On the field, (our program’s strong) soccer helps with confidence. It’s nice to be able to play a lot and being a younger player getting used to playing with older girls (as a freshman), I feel like that helps when you head off to college.”  

Riverside-Brookfield’s Audrey Raymond (5) works the ball up field against Hinsdale South during a nonconference game April 11, 2026. (Steve Johnston)

All-sectional honors went to Riverside Brookfield senior Audrey Raymond, LTHS seniors Zibby Michaelson (team-high 18 goals, 6 assists) and Avery Lusk (goal, 2 assists) and Nazareth Academy senior Olivia O’Neill (4 goals) and junior Molly Moore (team-high 13 goals, 5 assists).

Honorable mention all-sectional players were RBHS senior Michelle Panduro, LTHS senior goalie Anna Bigenwald (130 saves), who contributed to 14 shutouts, and Nazareth senior Ava Berner (2 goals). 

All-sectional Academic Awards were given to RBHS senior Sofia Sanchez, LTHS senior Allie Hennessy and Nazareth senior Sophia Anderson.

All-sectional Sportsmanship Awards were given to RBHS senior Abby Ford, LTHS senior Charlie Wichman and Nazareth senior Esme Bleskin.

Raymond, who will play at Millikin, also was named the Upstate Eight Conference East Division Defensive Player of the Year. The Bulldogs’ other all-conference players were Panduro and junior Jocelyn Jaimes.

The Lions’ All-WSC Silver selections were Capizzi, Michaelson, Lusk, Bigenwald and junior Claire Mortonson.

Nazareth’s All-East Suburban Catholic Conference players were O’Neill, Moore, Berner and Bleskin.

The season also included LTHS coach Bill Lanspeary and RBHS coach Ivek Halic recording their respective 300th and 100th career head coaching victories.