Three Warriors named to all-conference team.
By Mike Miazga
Correspondent
Numerous Willowbrook girls soccer players were honored for their accomplishments on the field this spring.
Valentina Poggi was named to the all-sectional team. Poggi, along with Lesly Montoya and Jessica Ragucci earned all-West Suburban Conference Gold Division honors.
Willowbrook finished the season with a 7-10-1 overall mark and a 3-3 record in WSC Gold play. The Warriors season concluded with a 3-1 loss to Fenwick in Class 3A regional play.
“The team finished the season very strong,” said Willowbrook coach Julio Del Real. “We played very well the last game (against Fenwick) and I feel if a couple calls had gone our way that we could be talking about a different result. I am very proud of the way the team improved from the beginning of the season. As young as we are, I look forward to the future that will bring a lot better results for us and our program.”
Lizzy Florey led the team in scoring with five goals, while Montoya was the team leader in assists with five.
Del Real saw his group take the next step on defense as the season progressed. “Our team improved overall in the way we played defensively,” he said. “Our passing got better as we went on. Our middle defenders Lesly (Montoya), Jessica (Ragucci), Zoe (Ericson, Willowbrook goalie) and Valentina (Poggi) did an outstanding job keeping the team together. Their hard work and effort enabled us to play as a team and to keep games close.”
Willowbrook graduated a key defensive player in Poggi. “Our defense will be losing our leader and replacing Valentina will be the key to making sure that we continue with our overall defensive success,” said Del Real.
Ericson made strides in the net as the season went on. “We are looking for Zoe to get better for next year and this is only going to solidify our defense,” said Del Real.
The Warriors also improved on the offensive front, the coach noted. “We became better as the year went on with creating scoring opportunities,” said Del Real. “We struggle at times with our offense and will look to improve that next year. Hopefully, the off-season work will pay off next season.”
Del Real saw his squad mesh as a unit and overcome numerous obstacles over the course of the spring. “I am very proud of the way they came together and played,” he said. “They played through injuries and some adversities that proved this group belonged together no matter what. I am very proud of the way the team played as one.”
The coach sees even more positives on the horizon. “I am very proud of what we did during my first year as a varsity coach at Willowbrook,” said Del Real. “As young as we were, we did an outstanding job at adapting to the varsity game and did better as the games went on. With our season work, we hope to be better next year.”
