Naperville North senior Abby Penn comes from a soccer-mad family known for producing goal scorers.
Her brother Josh Penn has played five seasons of professional soccer, most recently as a forward for the Portland Timbers 2 of MLS Next Pro in 2024.
“In our family, we definitely like to attack,” Abby Penn said. “I used to play forward my whole life.”
That changed when Abby Penn was elevated to the varsity team as a sophomore. Naperville North coach Steve Goletz turned to Penn to fill a hole on defense.
“Goletz asked me if I could play outside back, and of course I said ‘yes’ because part of this team is people being able to play different spots,” Abby Penn said. “That was definitely a learning year for me, and the next year was kind of like a building year.”
Now in her third varsity season, Abby Penn is a co-captain with senior defender Emily Buescher, a Minnesota commit with older siblings who have played soccer too, and is a rock at right back. The Huskies (2-1-1) have allowed just three goals in four games.
“This year, it’s time to show my strengths and just work hard for the team,” Abby Penn said. “Goletz has taught me so much, like how to play defense, and I’ve also worked on it outside of high school. It’s been great.”
Among the people with whom Abby Penn has worked is her brother. Josh Penn, 24, who played one season of high school soccer at Naperville North, is without a contract and helping train Penn, Buescher and some other Huskies.
“It’s been great to have him home,” Abby Penn said. “He’s a great brother, obviously super talented, and there’s a lot to learn from him.
“He really works on the small things with me. After every game, he will usually say, ‘Hey, can I give a little critique?’ I’ll always take it from him. It’s great advice, and it’s going to help me become a better defender for my last year of soccer.”
Abby Penn, an honors student who plans to study bioengineering, will not play college soccer. Her final season will be a family affair. Her father Brian Penn, who is the assistant boys soccer coach at Benet, and her older sister Madison Emamjomeh, a middle school coach, are among her biggest supporters.
“We are definitely close,” Abby Penn said. “We’re all such a big soccer family, so we’re always talking about soccer. With Josh home, it’s been a lot of soccer talk.”
Goletz loves talking about the Penn family.
“Abby is a kid who will do anything that a coach asks and comes from an amazing family, not only soccer-wise,” Goletz said. “They’re soccer junkies, but they’re great people who believe in hard work and doing what you can to be a part of something bigger than you.
“Abby is the epitome of that. Asking her to play outside back sophomore year, we were short a spot, and she’s an athletic kid. I knew that she would be coachable. Abby took it and ran with it and did a great job.”
Abby Penn is doing the same thing this season with additional responsibilities, such as taking corner kicks. She has two assists while mentoring younger players.
“Abby really helps me by always bringing 100% effort and always making sure that we get lifted up,” Naperville North junior defender Addison Sitzman said. “She always makes sure I’m in the right spot as well as organizing us.”
While her offensive exploits are mostly a thing of the past, Abby Penn is committed to helping others support the offense. Sitzman likes to join the attack and already has three goals.
“When I go up, I have complete trust in my other backs,” Sitzman said. “If I lose it, they have my back, and I of course will get back and do it for them.”
Sitzman said Abby Penn and Buescher have been good about being inclusive.
“That has really helped us bond,” Sitzman said. “We all are more comfortable with each other on and off the field, so it helps us play better together.”
That bond is what Abby Penn enjoys most about playing for the Huskies.
“It’s always been my dream to play for North,” she said. “What’s awesome about our team is we are all so close. We’re all best friends. You don’t get that with every high school team.”
Nor does every team have a leader like Abby Penn.
“She’s just somebody who I can’t say enough good things about,” Goletz said. “As a high school coach, you wish you could coach every kid like that because it’s what makes high school athletics special.”
Matt Le Cren is a freelance reporter.
