Bobby Narang’s top 10 girls soccer teams and 25 players to watch in Lake County for the 2024 season

Libertyville returns plenty of talent to make another run in Class 3A, and Deerfield will try to do the same in 2A.

TOP 10 TEAMS

1. Libertyville (18-3-2): The Wildcats bring back numerous standouts after winning the North Suburban Conference title and finishing third in Class 3A last season. Senior goalkeeper Kate Hopma (Drake), junior Shannon Phillips, senior Erin Kelly and senior Maddy Kopala (Purdue Fort Wayne) return on defense. Sophomore midfielder Shea Krakowski, who scored 16 goals, and senior midfielder Molly Koch, who had 12 goals and 10 assists, lead the offense.

2. Lake Zurich (18-4-2): The Bears have a good mix of returning players and newcomers to make some noise in the NSC. Among the veterans are senior forward Lauren Bailey, who had 32 goals and 19 assists last season, as well as junior forward Cammy Niepomnik, senior midfielder Mallory Collins and senior defender Ella Knight.

3. Deerfield (16-6-2): The Warriors will try to make a run to the Class 2A state semifinals for the second time in three years behind senior forward Emily Fox (Saint Louis), who had 29 goals and nine assists last season. Senior goalkeeper Lauren Gottlieb, senior midfielder Jessie Fisher, junior forward Ryane Emory and senior midfielder Ruby Levy also are back. Senior defender Addison Soroka (Washington University) and sophomore defender Samantha Block are talented additions.

4. Warren (10-6-3): Junior forward Addison Stanciak (Saint Louis), who had 23 goals and five assists last season, junior defender Maya Martinek and junior midfielder Sofia Ogren headline a talented class that could make the Blue Devils dangerous.

Stevenson’s Anabella Egeland (16) moves the ball ahead of Lake Forest’s Elizabeth Flynn (5) during a North Suburban Conference game in Lincolnshire on Thursday, April 27, 2023. (Mark Ukena / News-Sun)

5. Stevenson (14-6-1): Led by senior forward Ellie Egeland (Maryland), who had 18 goals and five assists last season, the Patriots expect to be competitive despite heavy graduation losses. Their solid core includes senior midfielder Ashley Liang (Case Western Reserve), senior defender Chloe Robinson (UIC), junior forward Sami An and sophomore defender Anabelle Egeland.

6. Carmel (12-7-1): Senior forward Anna Hartman, healthy again after suffering serious knee injuries in 2022 and 2023, is joined by seven other returning starters. Among them are senior defender Jillian Miller, senior defender Mila Schachelmayer, senior defender Bella D’Amore (Loras), senior forward Peyton Carney and junior forward Norah Belmonte.

7. Lakes (11-8-1): The Eagles can lean on the senior leadership of midfielder Mia Silber (Winthrop) and defender Tessa Smith and on talented sophomore forward Raina Schmitt to try to repeat as Northern Lake County Conference champions.

8. Grayslake Central (8-11-1): Senior midfielder Sara Armstrong, the NLCC player of the year last season, headlines a talented group that includes senior forward Ava Ramsey, senior midfielder Avalyn Woods, junior midfielder Dahlia Rodriguez and junior defender Madison Hoffmann.

9. Grayslake North (11-6-2): Junior midfielder Izzy Ceaser (West Virginia) returns for the Knights along with senior defender Olivia Tabbert, junior forward Ashley Hernandez, sophomore midfielder Rylee Jaramillo and sophomore defender Elliana Sopiarz.

10. Lake Forest (11-8-1): Senior goalkeeper Sarah Constantine, who had 10 shutouts last season, senior defender Hannah Sands and junior defender Ava Walsh form the nucleus of a strong back line for the Scouts.

Antioch goal keeper, Maddie Barrett (green), grabbing a ball as Lakes' Emily Mylniec (12) and Jodie Bristol (9), pressure, during the Class 2A Lakes Regional semifinal, on Wednesday, May 17, 2023, in Lake Villa. (Mark Ukena for Lake County News-Sun)
Antioch goalkeeper Maddie Barrett, center, grabs the ball under pressure from Lakes’ Emily Mlyniec, left, and Jodie Bristol during a game in the Class 2A Lakes Regional semifinals in Lake Villa on Wednesday, May 17, 2023. (Mark Ukena / News-Sun)

25 PLAYERS TO WATCH

Sara Armstrong, Grayslake Central, senior, midfielder

Lauren Bailey, Lake Zurich, senior, forward

Maddie Barrett, Antioch, senior, goalkeeper

Mia Carias, Zion-Benton, senior, forward

Izzy Ceaser, Grayslake North, junior, midfielder

Mallory Collins, Lake Zurich, senior, midfielder

Sarah Constantine, Lake Forest, senior, goalkeeper

Ellie Egeland, Stevenson, senior, forward

Emily Fox, Deerfield, senior, forward

Ari Gonzalez, Round Lake, senior, forward

Anna Hartman, Carmel, senior, forward

Kate Hopma, Libertyville, senior, goalkeeper

Haley Kirchwehm, Wauconda, junior, defender

Molly Koch, Libertyville, senior, midfielder

Maddy Kopala, Libertyville, senior, defender

Shea Krakowski, Libertyville, sophomore, midfielder

Ava Lukyan, Vernon Hills, senior, forward

Jillian Miller, Carmel, senior, defender

Cammy Niepomnik, Lake Zurich, junior, forward

Bella Perry, Round Lake, senior, midfielder

Dahlia Rodriguez, Grayslake Central, junior, midfielder

Carly Sides, Vernon Hills, senior, goalkeeper

Mia Silber, Lakes, senior, midfielder

Addison Soroka, Deerfield, senior, defender

Addison Stanciak, Warren, junior, forward

Bobby Narang is a freelance reporter.

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