Three Things We Know
1. Streamwood is one of the surprise teams at 8-3-2, and the key to its success has been the prolific scoring of senior striker Kim Jimenez. The four-year starter has 19 goals and three assists to power the Sabres.
“What makes Kim so dangerous is she is one of those deceptive speedsters,” Streamwood coach Matt Polovin said. “She’ll kind of put you to sleep and then when the ball is played through she’s gone. She finds that final gear and takes it straight to the goal.”
2. It has been a topsy-turvy campaign for No. 14 Barrington. The Fillies stormed out to a 3-0 start, which included a shutout over No. 7 Neuqua Valley. Then their attack withered and they scored just four goals during a 1-3-1 stretch that ended with a disappointing 2-1 loss over No. 2 Buffalo Grove. Now star sophomore forward Jenna Szczesny has scored five goals in Barrington’s victories over Evanston and St. Charles East in pool play of the Naperville Invite. The Fillies host No. 5 Loyola tonight in quarterfinal play.
3. With Plainfield North’s loss in the Pepsi Showdown finals, No. 15 and defending Class 2A state champion No. 15 St. Francis (9-0) and No. 10 Carmel (8-0) are two of the last of the unbeaten and untied teams. Meeghan Johnston has been spectacular for the Corsairs with 13 goals through the team’s first seven games. Senior keeper Jenna Bauer has allowed just four goals, one on a penalty kick, as Carmel has outscored its opponents 40-4.
