Chicagoland High School Girls Teams to Watch in 2023

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The season for high school girls soccer in Illinois is here. Here's my top five teams in Chicagoland to keep and eye out for this season, plus a list of others to keep track of. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Metea Valley</strong>: Where else to start. The defending 3A champs return the nucleus of their squad and didn't lose a game In Illinois last season. Jordan Lange was as electric as it gets on offense. The senior excels in the open field and makes everyone better when she's out there. [player_tooltip player_id='22221' first='Tyra' last='King'] was one of the top goal-scorers in Illinois with a powerful strike. Look out for Lucy Burk. The junior winger plays with great pace when she's out there.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Barrington: </strong>Right next to Metea Valley is the squad that took them to nine rounds of penalty kicks in the state championship last June. [player_tooltip player_id='33353' first='Piper' last='Lucier'] is arguably the best sophomore in Illinois and is electric as it gets. She plays great with her feet and is dangerous for opposing defenders with the ball. Senior defender [player_tooltip player_id='40971' first='Ellie' last='Sanchez'] is an outstanding outside back who I watched really shine bright in the state series. Cornell signee [player_tooltip player_id='22081' first='Brooke' last='Brown'] will lead a talented midfield.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Lincoln-Way Central: </strong>I didn't know much about the Lady Knights until the state championships last season. But they sure have some players. Bowling Green signee [player_tooltip player_id='22094' first='Christine' last='Erdman'] plays sensational as an outside back and creates problems on both sides of the field. Sophomore Madi Watt shined as a freshman last season and scored 17 goals. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Oswego East: </strong>A pair of Big Ten commits will lead the way. Wisconsin commit Anya Gulbrandsen scored 17 goals and dished out 10 assists last season. Iowa commit Erika Smiley scored 13 goals for the Wolfpack. Sam McPhee is one of the better goalkeepers in Illinois. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Naperville Central: </strong>A new era has begun for the Redhawks. Out goes longtime coach Ed Watson and in comes Troy Adams, who just led their boys program to a state championship in the fall. Despite the coaching change, lots of experience returns. Northwestern commit [player_tooltip player_id='22050' first='Megan' last='Norkett'] scored 19 goals last season, while Cincinnati commit Ella Burke will anchor the defense. Look out for sophomore midfielder Becca Ruggiero to potentially make noise this season too. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Other Programs to Watch</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>New Trier</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Loyola</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Evanston</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Benet</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>St. Charles East</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>St. Charles North</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Plainfield North</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Deerfield</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Stevenson</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->