A Mid-Suburban League manager recently commented on how the line of players recognized at Prospect's Senior Night last spring seemed to stretch from endline to endline.

Although a slight exaggeration of the image seen on that special night, it does illustrate how many graduated from a 2023 Knights side that finished 13-3-1. That group fell just short of repeating as East Division champions.

Without a large majority of its previous first 11 returning, it will be a retooled team of Knights (3-7-2, 2-4-1) to make the short drive to Arlington Heights to take on division-leading Hersey (9-7-1, 6-2-1) at 6:30 p.m. Friday at Roland Goins Stadium.

"We've taken some really big graduation losses the last two years," said senior Abby Davis, who along with teammate Julia Valentini were key figures in the Knights 2022 run to its first trip to the MSL Soccer Cup since 2003. "With a couple of injuries this year also, it has meant we've had to ask a lot of the younger players we have on our roster.

"(This) is a tough conference to have such a young team, but I really feel since our 3-0 loss at Buffalo Grove we're moving the ball better, creating chances and starting to figure things out." 

Davis will switch between playing the six and 10 for manager Mike Andrews.

"We've been plagued with some season-ending injuries, and we lost a ton of impactful seniors from a year ago," began Andrews. "Besides our two captains, Abby and Julia Valentini, there are not a lot of players who had any significant varsity playing time under their belts.

"Valentini has been a fixture along the back for us since she was a sophomore, but we've asked her to play all over the place. And Abby has been great wherever she has played for us.

"Elena (Katsogianos) has always been a forward, but this year we needed her to step into an outside back role, and she's jumped right into that position, never complaining, and just being a true team player for us."

The junior's teammates’ recognize her contributions.

"It is very difficult to change on the fly from the backline after playing up-top, but Elena has adapted so well to her new position and has shown to be a great teammate and leader," Davis said.

Katsogianos will usually be part of a backline partnership which features freshman Addison Coval and sophomore Sienna Murray.

"Many times this season we've started two freshmen and a sophomore along the back,” said Andrews. “It's a tough role for young players, but they have put forth their best effort. When we make mistakes, we learn from them.

"Our record is not the best, but I feel like we've continued to improve, and there are plenty of young, talented players at the JV1 level. So the future of Prospect girls soccer is very exciting.

"Above all, it needs to be said we have a group of amazing young women, who love being with each other, are unselfish, fun, respectful and hard-working. I am obviously very proud of all of them."

Hersey follows the adage “It’s now how you start, but how you finish.” After opening the season on its back foot, which included a dreadful 5-1 loss to Fremd in its league opener on March 20, the team is back on track.

"We had a rough patch at the start where we were not trusting one another and not connecting at all levels of the game," said Huskies manager Mike Rusniak.

The reigning East Division champions dropped a pair of one-goal affairs against St. Charles East (2-1) and Lake Zurich (1-0) before winning the next seven of eight games -- including a hard-fought 3-2 overtime victory over Elk Grove.

"(That) game was a true team win where everyone built off of each other's strengths," said Rusniak. "We moved the ball well, and found success in scoring, plus defending.

"Right now I feel we are playing at our best, and you can easily sense how close they have come as a team."

In the Elk Grove thriller, senior Abi Beck bagged all three goals; the game-winner came in the 94th minute.

Beck and teammate Gracie Lisota are Hersey’s top offensive threats. Lisota tops the team with 12 goals and eight assists; Beck stands at seven and five respectively.

Junior Gretchen Chianelli has scored at opportune times for her club. She stands at five goals and a pair of helpers.

Sam Fetzer has done quite well between the sticks taking over for the Huskies graduated three-year veteran keeper Alli Paulsen. The sophomore has turned away 87 saves and produced six clean-sheets thus far.

Wednesday night the Huskies drew level at state and league power Barrington before conceding the game-winner in the 68th minute in a 2-1 loss.

Despite the defeat the Huskies are four points clear of Elk Grove (19-15) in the division with Schaumburg and Rolling Meadows left on the docket. Elk Grove has Buffalo Grove, Conant and Prospect still to play.