Six super soccer breakouts ahead of the Illinois girls high school playoffs
High school girls soccer postseason is set to kickoff.
The Illinois High School Association state tournament begins Tuesday with Class 1A regional quarterfinals with the Class 2A and 3A postseason starting on Friday. Regional titles in 1A are May 14-15, while 2A and 3A play their championship matches on May 17-18.
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Here are six Peoria-area breakout players to watch heading into the postseason.
Tori Aberle, Washington
The sophomore defensive midfielder has been a key cog for the Panthers. "She has done a great job clogging up the midfield," Washington coach Noel Zerbonia, "challenging balls, and supporting our attack." Don't count Aberle's ability to get the ball into the net. "Tori has scored a handful of goals in a variety of ways," Zerbonia said, "to help make our attack more potent." Class 2A regional host Washington opens play against Metamora in a 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 14 semifinal.
Marissa Campbell, Richwoods
The senior, who plays both midfield and forward, is one of four Knights players with at least 20 points this season. Campbell has nine goals — second most on the team for coach Nate Eisfelder — including a trio of two-goal matches (East Peoria, Illinois Valley Central and Peoria High). She has also added three assists in her final prep season. The Knights open Class 2A Dunlap Regional play, facing East Peoria/Peoria Quest at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 14.
Cady Covert, Pekin
The sophomore goalkeeper has joined the Dragons full-time this season, following a freshman campaign where she played both softball and soccer. Covert has posted a 0.76 goals-against average while recording eight shutouts. She has posted 130 saves on the season, making 7.6 a game for coach Edgar Sandoval. Pekin plays host Normal West at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 14 in the Class 3A regional semifinals.
Emmie Graf, Metamora
The junior has been a dynamic for the Redbirds, playing both forward and midfield for coach Elizabeth Gualandri. Graf has scored 12 goals and assisted on five more in 17 matches for the Redbirds. She posted Metamora's lone goals in tight matches with Rochester (4-1) and Moline (2-1). Metamora heads to rival Washington for a 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 14 meeting in a Class 2A regional semifinal.
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Isabella Sims, Limestone
Sims has been a scoring machine for the Rockets during her senior season. She is already one of the program's all-time leading scorers, having tallied 43 career goals and 17 career assists. Those numbers put her as the No. 3 scorer for Limestone. Sims has 13 goals and eight assists this season. Limestone heads to the Class 2A Dunlap Regional for a 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 14 semifinal meeting against the hosts.
Alli Stickelmaier, Peoria Notre Dame
Stickelmaier is a huge piece of the Irish defensive for coach Ben Ralph. The junior defender has been instrumental in Peoria Notre Dame allowing just seven goals this season highlighted by 12 shutouts. She has also helped out on the Irish offense, which is averaging nearly four goals a game and has 64 tallies on the season. Stickelmaier scored a first-half goal in a key nonconference win over Washington. PND faces the Orion co-op at 5 p.m. Tuesday, May 14 in the Class 2A Geneseo Regional semifinal.
This article originally appeared on Journal Star: IHSA soccer: Breakout girls players from around Peoria for Illinois playoffs
