Athletic, determined group leads Illinois class of 2026

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The state of Illinois has some fantastic athletes and great soccer players. This group of six highly ranked players from the state's class of 2026 show some great traits that are earning them the attention that they deserve.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["153292"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67252467b48ca"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Farrare has the tremendous ability to drop back a bit on the pitch, to receive the ball and create offense from there. She will play a ball out wide and then exploit any space you leave her, often with an excellent underlapping run that takes her to unoccupied space. If she gets the ball in that space, you are in trouble because she can score from range or use her athleticism and creative ability to attack the goal and create chances.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["136914"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67252467b4930"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Oberheim is going to win most 50/50 balls. That's putting it plain and simply. She seems to just want to get to the ball more than other players do and that drive and determination is palpable. She works hard, has wonderful instincts which helps with her timing on challenges. She is good with the ball as she can make accurate passes to the feet of a running forward and she can be a threat to score off a header on set pieces. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["103491"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67252467b4984"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Sitzman is incredibly fast and she flies around the pitch, looking to win the ball, looking to be disruptive and looking for a chance to transition. She will track back and win the ball because of her recovery speed. She plays a nice ball as she connects play very well, she can carry the ball up the pitch and take on defenders. From there she can thread a beautifully textured pass between defenders and set forwards up with opportunities. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["22172"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67252467b49d1"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Rogers is a Michigan State commit and Sparty is getting a tremendous player. When you see her play, one thing that stands out is that she just wants it more than anyone else on the pitch. She seems determined to beat defenders at any cost. She is incredibly well-balanced, making her hard to knock off the ball as she can be physical with strong central defenders. She is so good on the ball that she can keep possession when fighting for space, and she is so athletic that if given any space at all, she will beat a defender. She's also very cool when it comes to finishing, showing she can beat you with power, ball placement or slotting a ball home past a wrong-footed keeper. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["22205"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67252467b4a1c"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Krakowski shows finesse when finesse is needed and shows power when power is needed. She is also incredibly gifted from a technical standpoint. She receives the ball well, and when she attracts a crowd she's very good about delivering a ball with some touch to someone making a run off of her. She can also enforce her midfield, she can score and she shows the ability to possess and control the tempo.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["108589"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67252467b4a74"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Minnaert is an Arkansas State commit and there is a reason she will be playing Division I after the 2026 high school and club season. She can really get up and down the pitch, showing the ability to use speed to beat defenders to the spot, or cleverness to find space and and exploit areas left for her. She's great about getting down the line and playing a ball in, but she can go for goal on her own and is a good finisher. With a knack for ball-winning, she helps the team transition quickly.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->