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St. Charles, IL —
ST. CHARLES NORTH NORTH STARS
Conference Upstate Eight River
Home field 255 Red Gate Road, St. Charles
2010 results 16-64 overall, 3-3 in UER, 4th place
Coach Eric Willson
Top returners
Alex Behm sr. M
Garrett Creasor sr. GK
Connor Lefelstein jr. M
Mike Winhoffer sr. F
Drew Smith sr. D
Promising newcomers
Tyler Davis jr. M
Adam Hoffman so. D
Billy Larsen so. GK
Phillip LeGare so. M
Matt Picinich so. M
Tom Wittman so. M
GAMES TO WATCH
Sept. 27 vs. St. Charles East Crosstown clash always produces physical battle, always has conference title effects
Sept. 29 at Batavia If North hopes to take UER crown, it will have to stop Batavia, which is built for title run
Oct. 12 at Leyden Playoff tuneup comes against Eagles squad that played for sectional title last fall
OUTLOOK
Hit hard by graduation (nine of 11 starters), the North Stars will certainly miss midfielders Jared Casey and Noah Anthony. The loss of Anthony will especially sting.
Named to all-state team, Pepsi Showdown all-tournament team and all-conference squad, Anthony controlled the pace of play in the midfield, at once slowing down the opponents’ attack and igniting the North Stars’ offense. He finished with 16 goals and 19 assists for the season.
However, the cupboard isn’t totally bare and the North Stars and coach Eric Willson reload more than rebuild. The early-season results suggest North is in the mix for conference, regional and perhaps sectional titles. Yet, head coach Eric Willson expects some growing pains along the way, but he doesn’t know how long those will last.
“They’re certainly trying to find out the identity of the team. It takes a little bit of time to come together when you have so many new guys on the team,” Willson said. “I wish I knew exactly how long it would take. The key for us is approaching it one game at a time.”
In the season-opening Upstate Eight Conference crossover game against a very talented East Aurora squad, junior midfielder Tyler Davis, who is back playing for North after a season at the club level, scored back-to-back goals less than two minutes apart as the Stars went on a 3-2 win. Sophomore midfielder and varsity newcomer Matt Picinich added the game-winning goal.
In Monday’s match against Marmion at the Barrington tourney, some of the leadership and experience came through as Davis, speedy senior forward Mike Winhoffer and senior midfielder Alex Behm tallied goals.
Navigating the deep and balanced Upstate Eight River won’t be easy, but just as in years past the North Stars certainly have the talent and firepower to compete for the title.
ST. CHARLES NORTH NORTH STARS
Conference Upstate Eight River
Home field 255 Red Gate Road, St. Charles
2010 results 16-64 overall, 3-3 in UER, 4th place
Coach Eric Willson
Top returners
Alex Behm sr. M
Garrett Creasor sr. GK
Connor Lefelstein jr. M
Mike Winhoffer sr. F
Drew Smith sr. D
Promising newcomers
Tyler Davis jr. M
Adam Hoffman so. D
Billy Larsen so. GK
Phillip LeGare so. M
Matt Picinich so. M
Tom Wittman so. M
GAMES TO WATCH
Sept. 27 vs. St. Charles East Crosstown clash always produces physical battle, always has conference title effects
Sept. 29 at Batavia If North hopes to take UER crown, it will have to stop Batavia, which is built for title run
Oct. 12 at Leyden Playoff tuneup comes against Eagles squad that played for sectional title last fall
OUTLOOK
Hit hard by graduation (nine of 11 starters), the North Stars will certainly miss midfielders Jared Casey and Noah Anthony. The loss of Anthony will especially sting.
Named to all-state team, Pepsi Showdown all-tournament team and all-conference squad, Anthony controlled the pace of play in the midfield, at once slowing down the opponents’ attack and igniting the North Stars’ offense. He finished with 16 goals and 19 assists for the season.
However, the cupboard isn’t totally bare and the North Stars and coach Eric Willson reload more than rebuild. The early-season results suggest North is in the mix for conference, regional and perhaps sectional titles. Yet, head coach Eric Willson expects some growing pains along the way, but he doesn’t know how long those will last.
“They’re certainly trying to find out the identity of the team. It takes a little bit of time to come together when you have so many new guys on the team,” Willson said. “I wish I knew exactly how long it would take. The key for us is approaching it one game at a time.”
In the season-opening Upstate Eight Conference crossover game against a very talented East Aurora squad, junior midfielder Tyler Davis, who is back playing for North after a season at the club level, scored back-to-back goals less than two minutes apart as the Stars went on a 3-2 win. Sophomore midfielder and varsity newcomer Matt Picinich added the game-winning goal.
In Monday’s match against Marmion at the Barrington tourney, some of the leadership and experience came through as Davis, speedy senior forward Mike Winhoffer and senior midfielder Alex Behm tallied goals.
Navigating the deep and balanced Upstate Eight River won’t be easy, but just as in years past the North Stars certainly have the talent and firepower to compete for the title.
