The presence of Mackenzie Loomis was frequently felt before she was seen or heard.

Such is the nature of being a 5-foot-10 athletic marvel. The senior centerback was a force of nature for powerhouse St. Charles East, always looming, whether it was disrupting the opposition, creating opportunities for her teammates or scoring.

The elite two-way talent combined her size, range and superb anticipation with a formidable skill-set to stand outside the normal lines.

“I like to think my playing style is confident and comfortable, as well as direct. Having such reliable teammates makes my job easier,” Loomis said. 

“With my role, it is important to support the midfield and anticipate the next moves of our opponent. It is a necessity to always be scanning the field for opportunities to take the initiative that could lead to positive outcomes.”

Her remarkable and consequential four-year career ended with a heartbreaking 1-0 loss against rival St. Charles North in a South Elgin Sectional semifinal May 21.

She put on a show in her final game on the home pitch May 17.

In the Saints’ regional championship victory, Loomis scored a hat-trick in a 4-3 victory over South Elgin. 

“That was a real thrill to win that regional,” she said. “It was definitely a personal highlight to score a hat-trick.”

The startling performance was punctuated by a remarkable two-goals-in-two-minutes sequence that helped neutralize a hat-trick by the Storm’s Avianna Hernandez.

“It was one of the best individual performances from a centerback we’ve ever seen,” coach Vince DiNuzzio said. “It really demonstrated 
the impact she could have on a game. 

“She was responsible for defending the space behind to prevent two fast forwards (Nevaeh Gyurko and Christine Slovik) from South Elgin, who had double-figure goals this season, from scoring. 

“Mackenzie became who the team could rely on.”

Fittingly midfielder Alli Saviano set up her final goal, serving a ball into the box that Loomis finished with her trademark – an explosive and powerful header.

“I’ll never forget that game,” Saviano said. 

“She has always been the backbone of our team, and I know everyone is going to miss her contagious light and her ability to always get the job done on the field.”

Loomis bridged different styles of play and changes in personnel in her St. Charles East career. Being an elite defender who is a target on set pieces is the best of both worlds. Loomis found great satisfaction in her roles.

“Being a centerback who has had the opportunity to score is very unexpected,” she said.  

“A single corner or free kick where we get the chance to change the game is a feeling of trust which I have for my teammates. It causes me to appreciate these chances we earn.”

Loomis has been the bulwark who set the tone and the culture of a team as a disciplined, creative and dynamic force. She almost never came off the field.

She was a crucial contributor for teams that won back-to-back sectional championships her freshman and sophomore years.

As a junior last year, Loomis played a team-high 1,792 minutes for a 20-4-0 team that lost against St. Charles North in a penalty shootout of a sectional championship game.

She earned the Chicagoland Soccer All-State distinction last spring, finishing with nine goals and contributing three assists. The two-way standout contributed to 12 shutouts.

This season has been more of a transition year after the 2023 graduations of top-offensive talents like forwards Grace Williams and Mia Raschke and midfielder Kara Machala.

The season began with Loomis and Saviano as foundation pieces amongst myriad question marks. The team eventually found its groove when its talented and precocious roster of gifted, though inexperienced, players became accustomed to play at the varsity level.

Loomis helped make the pieces all fit together through the rough and tumble early stages.

“Going from a senior-dominated team to a very young and inexperienced team definitely caused some struggles and adjustments,” Loomis said. 

“I think this year the seniors did a great job making sure the underclassmen felt comfortable and confident in the way they played. Being a senior it was important for them to be able to look up to someone they can trust and admire.”

St. Charles East surpassed its shutout total of a year ago with a total of 16. Loomis and junior keeper Sidney Lazenby solidified an athletic and physically commanding defense.

The total shutouts nearly matched the 17 goals the team conceded.

“Satisfied is an understatement,” Loomis said. “Once again, having 14 underclassmen is something that teams could take advantage of, but I think the team this year did an incredible job of proving our potential.

“We didn’t let our age affect how we played on the field. I am proud of every single one of the girls who worked as hard as they could every practice and game. This season was one to remember.”

St. Charles East (16-5-6) had much to celebrate this season. The top moments included the regional championship and a statement-making 1-0 win (on a game-winning goal by Loomis) over Naperville North on April 25 to reach the semifinals of the 24-team Naperville Invitational, the state’s top in-season tournament.

During her first couple of years at the school, Loomis ran cross country to develop her speed and endurance. Her growth from year to year was consistent and telling.

“Every year Mackenzie became more comfortable and more confident,” DiNuzzio said. “She is a great 1-v-1 defender; she’s a physical presence. She is great out of the air, dangerous on dead balls; and she is very technical.”

By her own admission, Loomis grew up in an athletic and competitive family. She always sought out challenges, and pressed upon herself to live up to the moment.

The next stage of her life is making the transition to college soccer at Eastern Michigan.

“My game hopefully will translate well at EMU, but I’m sure there’s going to be a big learning curve to adapt to that level of play and competition,” she said. 

“I’m really looking forward to learning more about the game and to keep improving. It is also nice knowing I have my former teammate Sofi Iori (Class of 2022) by my side to help mentor me.”

In the past four seasons, St. Charles East went 78-14-9, with two supersectional appearances and four regional championships. Loomis will go down as one of the best players to play there.

“Being a part of the East team has made me not only a better person but also a better soccer player, starting from freshman year to senior year,’ Loomis said.

“I have learned an incredible amount about the game. As a team I am so proud of what we accomplished with such a young team. I will cherish all these moments, and take what I have learned to my next chapter in college.”