2008 PCHS Girls Soccer Preview

PEKIN - This year's edition of the Pekin Community High School girls' soccer team is one that is searching for an identity, according to fifth-year head coach Edgar Sandoval.

Defensively, the team took a big hit when the school's first all-sectional player - defender Jeleighsa Hamilton - graduated after being a four-year starter. Also gone are two other physical defenders - Karis Parkin and Amanda Miller, who joined Hamilton playing for Illinois Central College this past fall.

The team is also missing two of its stronger offensive players. Junior Shelly Morris transferred to Peoria Richwoods, while sophomore Emily LaBanca, the team's leading scorer (six goals), had knee surgery in November and is questionable for this season.

"Emily is going to be an especially tough loss," Sandoval said. "She hopes to get back on the field later this season. But, she scored more goals than any other freshman and had a real shot of moving closer to Aimee St. Andre's career mark of 35 goals."

The team's other key player this season is sophomore Marissa McGurr, who was named second team all-Mid-Illini Conference and honorable mention all-sectional last year as a freshman. She will split time between defense and midfield.

The offense will lean heavily on sophomore forward Shawna Swisher, junior midfielder Jakki Johnson and junior center Allie Zuercher. Defensively, junior Jessica Allen returns with some experience, along with junior Kayla Milam, who is moving over from offense but had some success in the fall club season.

The goalie position will be filled by two-year varsity starter Lindsay Coffey and freshman Morgan Lynn.

"Having two strong goalies is a luxury few coaches have," Sandoval said. "Lindsay has done some really good things for us during her two years, including a 1-0 loss to Washington on a last-minute penalty kick. And last spring, I saw Morgan hold the eventual state club champions (Chicago Magic) to one goal before they scored an incredible game-winner in the last minute of a tournament game. I think the competition will help both of them develop."

Pekin returns five starters from last year's opening day roster. The Dragons were 6-11-2 overall, highlighted by a 1-0 win over Lincoln in the championship match of the Pekin Girls' Soccer Invitational, and 2-8-2 in the league.

Also, Sandoval said seven of his varsity players (including LaBanca) played in the fall club season. Zuercher, Coffey, Milam, McGurr, LaBanca and freshman Danica Mason teamed with some eighth graders on the Pekin Pride '94 team that took first place in the Central Illinois Youth Soccer League's High School Gold Division and second at the Morton Pumpkin Festival tournament.

"For the first time since my first year, I won't have three or four varsity seniors," Sandoval said. "I'm asking some of the younger girls to step up and take that leadership role a year or two early. It will be a challenge, but I'm looking forward to it."