By Bobby Narang
The Hinsdale Central High School girls soccer team is looking to make a run at the Class 4A State playoffs.
The Hinsdale Central Red Devils (9-2-1, 2-0-0) have a balanced attack, relying on eight players with five points or more this season to sit in first place in the West Suburban Silver Division.
“We have had the best start to our season yet without having our full roster active at any of our games to date this season,” Hinsdale Central coach Tony Madonia said. “It’s a great feeling that sitting at 9-2-1 we know this team still has yet to reach the peak of their performance — the best is yet to come. We have great players, great leaders and exceptional young ladies.”
The Red Devils go in search of Victory No. 10 in Tuesday’s 6:15 p.m. road game against Oak Park and River Forest. Hinsdale Central enters the game with a two-game winning streak.
“Our mentality and competitiveness has been a difference maker,” Madonia said. “The ladies feed off of each other’s energy and work so hard day in and day out. Whether it is a practice, game, film session or recovery day, they are focused and enjoying their time together. Oak Park and River Forest has lost three straight games by a combined total of 9-2 to Neuqua Valley (4-1), St. Charles East (3-1) and York (2-0). Zallis said she’s seen several bright spots in the last few weeks.
“I’m most pleased with our team’s resilience,” OPRF coach Lauren Zallis said. “We’ve had moments where things didn’t go our way, but the team has really taken to learning from those moments rather than getting down on them. I think that says a lot about their character. It has also been really rewarding to watch our younger players become more composed on the ball at the varsity level.”
Madonia said several players are playing at a high level for his team.
“Sloane Kumskis has been a serious contributor in the locker room, and on the field in her second year on the varsity,” he said. “Caroline Gantar, our goalie, has stepped up in her first varsity season with our returning varsity starter Gabby Gjeldum being out at the U.S. Youth National Team. She has been wonderful — confident, communicative, and most importantly. Our three freshmen have really stepped up as well – combining for 10 goals and 10 assists – many of which decided games in Amelia Bingham, Chloe Fisher and Grace Hudson. Emily DiTomasso, our leader in points, has been pivotal to our midfield defensively, while still taking over games offensively with two goals and an assist in our recent 4-1 win over Geneva.”