Girls Soccer: Courier-News All-Area team

Updated: July 14, 2012 6:35AM

Whether the 2012 Courier-News All-Area Girls Soccer squad is viewed from an offensive or defensive perspective, its members are impressive.

Here is a look at the squad:

LAUREN KOEHL

Serving as the headliner for the group is Player of the Year Lauren Koehl from the St. Charles North program that was perhaps 42 seconds shy of a shootout that might have given the North Stars a state crown rather than a second-place trophy in Class 3A.

Koehl was at the heart of the North attack as evidenced by her team-highs for points (57), goals (23), match-winners (seven), and assists (11). In the North Stars’ seven-game win streak leading to the state final, the senior contributed to the scoring in all but one match. Being the MVP for a talented 19-6-2 squad helped make the Illinois State recruit one of three players from the North Stars to earn Illinois High School Soccer Coaches Association All-Sectional distinction.

CARLY DIETRICH

St. Charles North also provides the goalkeeper for the All-Area unit as Carly Dietrich proved to be no less than amazing in throughout the postseason and especially in the marathon (119 minutes, 12 seconds) championship showdown with Naperville North. Of the North Stars’ 13 shutout triumphs, nine were complete solo efforts by the senior.

MARGARET RIVERA

Yet another school boasting All-Area talent at opposite ends of the field is a Jacobs team that claimed another regional title thanks to the defense of junior Margaret Rivera. Rivera’s tenacity in marking opposition players earned her All-Fox Valley and IHSSCA All-Sectional status.

CASSIDY SHERMAN

The Jacobs senior midfielder had 12 of her 13 goals in the opening 11 matches before a sprained MCL limited the two-time captain’s playing time. She is bound for Southern Illinois-Edwardsville.

ASHLEY BARNES

The area’s top goal scorer with 43 strikes was Ashley Barnes (Roanoke College) from Elgin Academy. The senior center midfielder’s tally represented a single-season school record and gained her All-Independent School League and team MVP accolades.

CAMILLE DELA CRUZ

Only a junior, Burlington Central’s Camille Dela Cruz gained All-Area and All-Sectional honors for a second consecutive year and became an even more powerful attacker as evidenced by 45 points from 16 goals and 13 assists.

RACHEL POTTLE

Every St. Charles East foe’s scouting report mentioned the consistency of Rachel Pottle’s play on defense for the Saints. The senior standout boasts multiple selections to the All-UEC River Division unit, All-Area and IHSSCA All-Sectional units.

KELLY MANSKI

Another pick who could testify to Pottle’s ability and would have Pottle serve as a reference for her would be Kelly Manski, from rival St. Charles North. Also an IHSSCA All-Sectional choice, Manski was next in line behind Koehl as an offensive threat with 26 points from eight goals and 10 assists.

SAVANAH UVEGES

Continuing her status within the area’s top-10 point producers for a third consecutive year is South Elgin’s Savanah Uveges. As a junior, the repeat All-UEC Valley and All-Sectional player boosted her points to 48 from 42 and for goals to 22 from 19 — which was the Storm’s previous single-season goal record.

STEPHANIE BROWN

Sparking Streamwood’s improvement this season was three-time captain and senior midfielder Stephanie Brown (Bemidji State). The IHSSCA All-Sectional and All-UEC River honoree was atop the Sabres for points (44), goals (16), and assists (12).

ALLISON KRUK

Although only a sophomore, Allison Kruk was instrumental in St. Edward’s 19-8-2 campaign that ended one win shy of a second straight Class 1A state finals appearance. Her single-season school record 19 goals (plus seven assists for 45 points) are a prime reason the Green Wave is aiming to reach the state finals again next spring.

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