By Matt Le Cren
For the Bugle
@BugleNewspapers
sweditor@buglenewspapers.com
Faster, higher, stronger.
The motto of the modern Olympic Games is an apt description of the performance Benet soccer star Abby Casmere and her teammates gave this season.
Casmere, a four-year starter, added muscle in the off-season and was stronger than ever.
The senior forward’s versatile skill set, chiefly her ability to post-up defenders like a center does in basketball and her accurate passing, allowed speedier teammates like Jamie Cibulka and Mia Tommasone to wreak havoc.
As a result, the Redwings soared higher than ever. Casmere tallied a team-high 20 goals to go with seven assists, including one on Cibulka’s game-winning goal in the Class 2A state championship game, to lift Benet to its first state championship in girls soccer.
For her efforts, Casmere is the Voyager Media 2019 Girls Soccer Player of the Year.
“It’s crazy,” Casmere said after Benet’s 2-1 double-overtime win over Wauconda in the state title game. “I just wanted to do whatever I can to help the team because this is what we wanted from the beginning and look where we are.”
Casmere, a Miami of Ohio recruit, never envisioned the success she would have, let alone leading the Redwings to the top, when she was a freshman. Benet struggled to finish above .500 that season and Casmere was a mere role player in the midfield.
But she improved every year while playing a variety of positions. Benet coach Gerard Oconer switched her to center forward this season and Casmere exploded for six goals in the first five games of the season.
Opponents began double-teaming Casmere, who responded by regularly finding her open teammates. The Redwings went 24-3-1, setting a program record for most wins in a season along with a school-record 107 goals.
“I think working together and, for the second straight year, most wins in a season.
“I think working together, that’s what you’ve got to do,” Casmere said. “Up top, you can’t just try to take it yourself because you’re not going to make 100 percent of the shots you take and you’ve got to have trust in your outside forwards.
“I have to trust my outside forwards, my center midfielders and the outside backs and center backs if they go forward.”
That unselfish attitude led to many good times for the Redwings and nightmares for opponents.
“That was the key,” Oconer said. “Because obviously with her talent, (opponents) are going to collapse on her and so that’s going to free up everybody else.”
That made Benet’s attack all the more potent, as defenders didn’t know whether Casmere would shoot or pass.
“Her shooting ability is crazy,” Benet goalkeeper Eva Frantzen said. “She knows exactly where to place it and she makes it go where she wants to every single time.
“And she’s really good at reading defenders and moving off of defenders. She’s gotten way better at that this season.”
Though she was determined to improve her game, Casmere didn’t foresee herself scoring 20 goals.
“Personally, no,” Casmere said. “I set the goal for myself that I wanted to top last year’s goal (total).
“I think I had 11 last year and I told myself at the beginning of the season I wanted to top that, but I didn’t think that I’d have the success that I’ve had.”
Casmere scored plenty of big goals this season, including the game-winner against Fenwick in the supersectional, but she will be remembered more for her two assists in the state finals.
The first one set up Tommasone to open the scoring in a 3-1 semifinal win over Troy Triad. Casmere also drew the penalty kick on which Kate Flynn scored the go-ahead goal in the second half.
The second came with 6:33 left in the second overtime of the championship game. After receiving the ball just inside the top of the box, Casmere turned a defender and could have taken a shot, but dumped the ball off to
Cibulka, who was charging in from the left side.
Cibulka, a sophomore, buried a 15-yard shot to put Benet ahead to stay.
“It was a great play by Abby to be able to stay strong,” Cibulka said. “She made the right call, knowing I had a better angle.”
Casmere has always trusted her ability, but it was her trust in her teammates that allowed the Redwings to reach the top of the mountain.
“I was just trying to turn it and Jaimee was right there,” Casmere said of the decisive play. “I gave a little toe poke to her and I’m very glad she finished it.
“I had all my faith and trust in her. I knew she was fully capable of doing it and she did the job.”
The rest of the All-Area team is:
Bella Alessio, Minooka, senior, goalkeeper
All-conference and all-sectional pick recorded 13 shutouts to lead Indians to first sectional championship. Committed to South Dakota.
Brooke Brodzinski, Minooka,
senior, forward
All-conference and all-sectional pick scored team-high 25 goals and eight assists.
Jaimee Cibulka, Benet, sophomore forward
She was East Suburban Catholic Conference Offensive Player of the Year. Scored 14 goals and 14 assists, including the game-winning overtime goal in the state championship game.
Abigail Dellamorte, Bolingbrook, junior, midfielder
Third-year starter tallied 12 goals and five assists. Committed to Illinois-Springfield.
Emily DeVivo, Plainfield South, senior, midfielder
Southwest Prairie Conference MVP and all-sectional honoree led the Cougars with 17 goals and 17 assists.
Alexa Fasone, Lisle, senior, forward
Four-year starter racked up 37 goals and 13 assists to lead the Lions to fourth place at the Class 1A state finals.
Kate Flynn, Benet,
junior, defender
Was named all-state and East Suburban Catholic Player of the Year. Scored three goals, including the game-winner in Class 2A state semifinal win over Troy Triad, and 11 assists. Committed to Washington (Mo.)
Alyssa Grigg, Plainfield South, sophomore, midfielder
All-conference pick had 12 goals and eight assists..
Mary Kate Hansen, Benet, senior, defender
Was a four-year starter who tallied four goals and five assists. Scored the game-tying goal with 1:46 left in regulation in 2-1 double-overtime win over Wauconda in state championship game. Committed to Chicago.
Tara Kane, Lisle, sophomore, midfielder
Tallied 23 goals and eight assists to help the Lions win a school-record 18 games and reach the Class 1A state semifinals.
Makenzie Kaput, Joliet Catholic, junior, midfielder
Scored a team-high 16 goals to go with seven assists to lead the Angels to fourth place in Class 2A.
Maddy Lant, Minooka, senior, midfielder
Scored 10 goals and five assists to earn all-conference and honorable mention all-sectional honors for best team in program history.
Natalie Miller, Lockport, senior, defender
Four-year varsity player earned all-conference and all-sectional selections. Also had four goals and four assists.
Abby Pasternak,
Joliet Catholic, freshman, goalkeeper
Backstopped the Angels to best season in program history with a 0.55 goals-against average. Allowed only 11 goals and stopped six penalty kicks
Maddie Raftery,
Downers Grove South, junior, midfielder
Bagged 16 goals and 11 assists in first high school campaign to earn all-conference and all-sectional honors. Committed to Ohio.
Jordan Rose,
Downers Grove South, junior, midfielder
Earned all-state honors by scoring 19 goals and eight assists for regional champion Mustangs. Committed to Indiana State.
Taryn Sandei, Minooka, junior, defender
Scored two goals and five assists and anchored a defense that surrendered only four goals over the last 15 games.
Mia Tommasone, Benet, junior, midfielder
All-conference pick recorded 11 goals and 10 assists for Class 2A state champions. Scored twice in state semifinal win over Troy Triad.
McKenzie Weaver, Lisle, senior, forward
She registered 23 goals and 15 assists to help Lions set school record for wins (18) and goals (130).