When York manager Stevan Dobric brought on the freshmen trio of Reilly Costello, Ava Hansmann and Michaela Quinn in the spring of 2021, the Dukes were found near the bottom of the West Suburban Conference Silver Division table when the season came to a merciful end. 

The Dukes overall record was 3-11-1 and 2-10-x in league play, just ahead of Proviso West.

"We brought those three freshmen and eight sophomores with us that season - with only four seniors on the roster - two of which had played with the varsity in 2019," recounted Dobric.

"(It) was pretty much the same group the next season, but now they all had a year of varsity experience. Plus, Mia Barton and Hannah Meyers joined us as sophomores."

Since 2022, the Dukes achievements have been remarkable.

"We had a strong core of seniors and juniors last year who have helped rebuild the culture and style of York girls soccer, which led to a strong season but a disappointing end when we lost to Hinsdale Central in sectionals," said Dobric.

"This year's team has a group of hardened veterans who understand the amount of hard work, commitment and passion you need to put in each day to be successful at this level."

The Dukes (12-1-1, 3-0-0), who are ranked ninth in the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25, will renew their rivalry with host and 12th-ranked Hinsdale Central in a key contest that will go a long way toward deciding who will lift the Silver Division trophy early next week. The match kicks off at 6:30 Tuesday evening Dickinson Field.

"We had a little easier of a time during the early part of our season, but the back half of our schedule is so much more difficult," said Quinn, who proudly wears the captain’s armband along with Hansmann. “I really feel like the good habits we've developed and kept throughout the season have been the reason for our success.

"Our team always gives its best 80-minute effort each time out. There's a lot of heart and drive in our play. With the depth we have this year, I believe we are all mentally prepared and excited about this game with Hinsdale Central.”

Quinn, who typically plays the nine in the Dukes 4-3-3 formation will attend Indiana University in the fall where she will compete with the Hoosiers cross country team after four sensational years running at York that culminated in celebrating a 3A state title one year after finishing second.

"Everything about Indiana was terrific and to be able to continue to run is fantastic," said Quinn, who foresees a future in nursing.

York’s blistering attack features the dynamic front-line trio of DePaul-bound Sophia Musial, Hannah Meyers and Quinn who have accounted for 33 of the 52 goals the team has scored thus far.

Hansmann and Barton lead a stingy backline in front of keeper Ava Lewandowski. The group has conceded just four with 12 clean-sheets listed in the scorebook.

"Michaela and Ava are tremendous leaders and captains for us,' says Dobric. "Their leadership, competitiveness and passion for the game is a driving force on this team along with the other 10 seniors.

"(They) are the constant and at the center of the growth and success we've seen since they arrived."

Hinsdale Central (12-4-0, 2-1-x) has proven its staying power this season, especially of late when the club
came back from a heart-breaking away loss to league rival Lyons (2-1) to stun previously undefeated and top-ranked Barrington in pens to advance into the quarterfinals of the Naperville Invitational.

In that shootout victory, Claire Snodgrass and Avery Edgewarter converted their spot kicks to set the stage for the heroics of sophomore keeper Katherine Skinner and teammate Piper Bingham, who delivered a sublime sudden-death game-winning finish.

"(Barrington) had a team that was filled with girls who were bigger, stronger and even faster than most of us, yet we were able to not only hold them off, but also make it challenging for them," said quad-captain Snodgrass. "It was a signature game for us.

"We may not have been able to score in regulation, but we certainly had several chances.

"We had excellent retention of the ball in the midfield, some of the best I've seen all season. On the other end our pressure allowed us to compete against a very good opponent.

"(That) game and result showed we have what it takes to make it far into the playoffs."

"Claire is a senior captain who has impacted the program in so many ways over her four years on the varsity," said Madonia.

"On the field she was an all-conference forward a year ago with six points during our playoff run alone.

“This year she has transformed into an impeccable centerback and has been a part of the eight clean-sheets we have thus far.

"Claire is an amazing student-athlete. She has overcome two separate injuries over her four years with us, defines perseverance and determination and is a class act who will be extremely successful in life."

Snodgrass has become a crucial last line of defense in the Red Devils backline which includes returning stars Adriana Giannini, Addisyn Krogstie and Julia Marinaccio. They have formed an impressive defensive partnership along with junior newcomer Audrey McLaughlin, whom Snodgrass gave a glowing report on.

"Audrey plays at the right back, and it's her speed, strength and sure passes that have been so important in preventing the opposition from scoring on us,” Snodgrass said.

"Whether she starts or comes in from the bench, there is no drop in talent or energy from Audrey. She is always able to meet the challenge and even raises it whenever she steps onto the field."

Around this time last season, Hinsdale Central had already dropped a pair of fixtures to both Lyons and York to end its division hopes.

That edition of the Red Devils showed terrific staying power and went on to impress in the postseason.

They avenged a 4-1 loss to York by sending the Dukes home after a 3-0 defeat in a sectional semifinal contest. Next came a revenge for a 2-1 defeat to Lyons with a 2-1 victory over their rivals in the sectional final a few days later.

The sectional crown was the first for the program since 2015.

This match’s importance in the league race is pretty easy to understand. Hinsdale Central needs to deliver York its first league loss to stay in a three-way conference race with no. 8 Lyons (12-2-0, 3-0-x).

This promises to be a fascinating 80-minute contest between two of the best teams in the area.

"Our biggest strength is the connection we have within this team," said Snodgrass. "We have all become so close to each other, and that is something that other teams may lack.

"When you have strong communication, which isn't divided by cliques or toxicity, you'll have a stronger team because of it."

"Without Quinn and Hansmann, we may be talking about a different story this season," said Stevan Dobric. “And along with the core group we have, including the two players committed to play in college in Sophia (Musial) and Stella Kohl (Loyola), this team is doing a great job of challenging themselves each time they go out."