Third-year Oak Park and River Forest High School girls soccer head coach Lauren Zallis is eager to build on last year’s successful campaign, which ended with a 14-7-1 record and a Class 3A regional championship. She’s confident, even though the Huskies return just seven players.
Zallis said, “Often I’ve found that it’s not about having the absolute best players, but about how well you can get your players working together and on the same page. One thing I can be sure of is that we will be our own unique version of OPRF soccer.”
OPRF’s top returnees are senior midfielder Ana Sofia Mrotzek, a Loyola University commit who had 12 goals and four assists in 2025, and junior midfielder Daphne Mason, who scored six goals and had two assists.
“Ana is so creative on the ball, it always seems she has two or three options available to her at all times,” Zallis said. “Daphne has a high work rate and strong presence.”
The Huskies also return senior defenders Maisie Champaneri (Macalester College commit) and Lola Zarate (Northern Illinois University). Zallis says they’re excellent ball winners who defend well one-on-one. A key newcomer is junior Lila Sposeep, who had nine goals and five assists on the junior varsity last year.
“Our culture and style of play at OPRF has been building for the last three years, so between the newcomers and the returners, we all want to speak the same language of soccer,” Zallis said. “Second to that, I want every player to leave this season feeling like they had moments of growth, whether that is in their physical game or in their character.”
OPRF earned a 1-1 draw with St. Viator in the season opener, March 19, but fell 6-0 at Waubonsie Valley, March 21.
Fenwick
With 12 returnees, the Friars are hoping improve on last year’s 11-9-1 record.
“The chemistry within the team is strong and we are looking to show growth and improve from last season,” said Fenwick head coach Craig Blazer.
Fenwick brings back four players who made last year’s Girls Catholic Athletic Conference All-Star team: junior goalkeeper Mimi Carvalho, sophomore forward Keira Magee, senior defender Lola Martinez, and sophomore midfielder Quinn Sansone. Carvalho posted nine shutouts and sported a 1.1 goals against average. Sansone had 10 goals and 11 assists, and Magee seven goals and five assists.
Carvalho and Martinez, along with senior midfielder Mary Brunick, are captains for the Friars, who also return junior midfielder Coco Braithwaite and junior defender Lucy Gruber. Newcomers include freshman Addie Wrobel and senior Madison Zorovich.
“The girls are focused on being good teammates, good Friars, and working hard for one another,” Blazer said. “Success would be turning some of last season’s one-goal losses into ties or victories. That would be outstanding.”
Fenwick lost its season opener, March 19, at Deerfield 4-1. Zorovich had the Friars’ lone goal with Magee assisting.
Trinity
After having co-head coaches last year, the Blazers have a new leader as Robert Fowler comes in from Leyden to take the reins. Chris Rutili, who was a co-head coach alongside Fabio Duque, remains on board as an assistant.
Fowler’s task is to put Trinity soccer on a path to success. Last season, the Blazers were 6-9-1 (1-5 in GCAC White).
“Some injuries kept us from reaching our full potential during the season, but with added depth this year we are looking to put together a better regular-season record to get a better draw in the state tournament,” Fowler said. “We are young, with nine freshmen on the roster, but we have a good returning core from last season.”
One of those returnees is senior forward Grace Ramel, an All-GCAC White player who is on pace to surpass 100 career goals this spring. Fowler expects her to once again be the offense’s main facilitator.
He also likes what two of Ramel’s classmates, midfielder Natalie Linares and goalkeeper Maggie Stumbris, bring to the table.
“When healthy and confident, Natalie might have the best foot skills of anyone on the team,” Fowler said. “Maggie has been the staple on our defense since her freshman season. She’s a solid, athletic keeper.”
Sophomore forward Charlotte O’Brien and sophomore defenders Nieve Clements and Millie Keith are other key returnees. Freshman midfielders Adilene Chaheine and Victoria Creighton are newcomers to watch.
Trinity has started the season off impressively. Ramel scored four goals and O’Brien two in the Blazers’ 6-4 victory over Ridgewood, March 19. Then against Maine East, Ramel had seven goals and Stumbris posted a clean sheet in an 8-0 victory, March 21.