Speed is what wins 50-50 balls.

Speed makes up for lapses on defense.

Speed creates opportunities to score.

And Evanston’s girls soccer team will rely on speed and smarts to forge a path to success this season after losing seven seniors to graduation from last year’s 12-5-4 team that lost to Lane Tech in the sectional semifinals.

The Wildkits open the 2026 campaign Wednesday at 6 p.m. at Lazier Field against Plainfield North with a new-look roster that features eight sophomores. It’s the youngest squad to take to the turf in Stacy Salgado’s tenure as head coach — and it might be the fastest.

“This is one of the strongest, and speediest teams we’ve ever had,” said Salgado, a former soccer standout herself at ETHS. “All over the field we have speed and we have soccer smarts. We’re going to try to use that to our advantage this year.

“It’s a strong, athletic group that truly loves to play soccer. They always want more and we don’t have to push them in practice. That’s the kind of culture we want in the program. And I’m excited to see the sophomores coming up step in. A lot of them have played up (a level) at some point in their careers, against older and stronger players, so it’s really not something new for them.

“Everyone is ready at different stages in their careers. I think these sophomores are ready.”

All-conference forward Bridget Durkin (18 goals), a Northeastern University commit, is back to lead the attack as one of just four seniors on the roster. Defenders Samantha Caldwell and Dami Adeniyi and goalie Kanako Wagner are returning starters in the Class of 2026 along with Durkin.

Juniors to watch include Maya Klein, who missed almost all of last season due to injury, along with Sophia Hunwick (midfield), Taylor Felten (midfield), Sophia Schriner (defense), Tessa Harvey (defense), Luna Marinaro (forward), and Brinna Fasoranti (forward). The missing piece in the class? It’s Alexandra Merriam, an all-Central Suburban League South selection who opted not to play high school soccer this spring while rising through the ranks in the Honduran national team program.

Merriam will be missed. But the sophomores are poised to steal the spotlight within the program. And while Salgado chose not to promote any freshmen to the varsity this spring — “It’s a strong class that we wanted to keep together on the freshmen level rather than have them sit on the varsity bench” — having talented classes back-to-back is what helps keep the ETHS program at an elite level year after year.

Maizlyn Kelly, a rangy defender who was playing at an All-State level at the end of the 2025 season, is the headliner in the Class of 2028 along with Olivia Jean-Pierre and Ella Dunlap. Forwards Leah George and Janelle Leigh, the younger sister of former ETHS standout Jocelyn Leigh, figure to be impact players at some point along with midfielder Lyla Katz, forward Kylie Pressoir, and defender Harper Wesenberg.

“We’re still trying to figure out our rotations, to see who works well together,” Salgado said. “We’re toying with different formations. We have versatile girls like Dami and Maizlyn who we can push up on offense in mid-game. We can make switches to give other teams another look because this is such a versatile group.

“The leadership from our seniors and juniors has been really great so far. Things are clicking. But it’s a grueling season ahead of them, and we just hope to stay healthy and make a big run in the (state) playoffs.”

Evanston will play at least 10 home games this spring and is scheduled to host the Illinois High School Association sectional tournament as well.     

Related Stories