Ella Riordan is confident her team has what it takes to make this July very memorable.
Riordan, 16, of Orland Park, is a center back for the Chicagoland United Soccer Club team for girls age 17 and younger.
That team on Friday will begin play in the 2024 US Youth Soccer National Presidents Cup in Wichita, Kansas. If they advance from pool play, they could play for a national title on July 16.
“From the grit and determination of my teammates and our coach, I think we have a shot,” Riordan said. “These girls have worked so hard and we play so well together. Our chemistry is like no other.”
This travel team is a sort of all-star team, with players hailing from near Midway Airport, Kankakee, Bourbonnais and other Illinois towns. Three girls are from northwest Indiana.
Local members include defender Natalie Orbon of Orland Park and forward Keegan Hullinger of New Lenox.
“I have nothing but the best to say about every single girl on this team,” Riordan said.
How can she not? The team allowed just one goal in five games at the regional played in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
“Defense wins championships,” she said.
That’s true. But this defender also loves scoring goals.
It was her goal in penalty kicks that proved the game winner June 18 against a St. Louis team that sent Chicagoland United to Kansas.
“It was an experience like no other,” she said.
“It’s funny because I didn’t know we won the game when I scored that goal. I thought the girl on the other team still had to take her penalty kick. When I saw my teammates running at me, I finally realized we won,” Riordan said.
She practices taking penalty kicks playing on the varsity team at Sandburg High School in Orland Park, “but you don’t focus on it because games rarely go to PKs.”
She now has a new appreciation for those who play offense.
“As a defender who scored the winning PK, I understand why forwards love being forwards so much. When you hit a ball into the back of the net, it’s indescribable,” Riordan said. “I went mid left. It replays in my head every day. The goalie guessed left, but (the ball) went a little too far (for her to block).”
Head coach Jose Smith is brimming with confidence, especially after the team beat defending national champ Wichita Rush 1-0 in the regional semifinal.
“We should do well,” he said.
Like every coach, he hopes the team avoids injuries.
The team lost one player to a torn ACL in February. Nagging ankle injuries meant only one sub was available for some games, he said.
“You need a deep roster to win,” Smith said.
Smith, 37, of Bourbonnais, has coached several years with Chicagoland United SC. He formerly was head soccer coach at Kankakee Community College.
“I’ve coached boys and girls. On the female side, I feel they want to learn more. Boys try to mimic the stuff on TV, the flashy moves,” Smith said.
He’s looking forward to spending time with his extended soccer family in Kansas, noting he’s coached some of the girls since they were 9 and 10 years old.
One of those girls is Riordan.
“I’m so excited,” she said. “I’ve never done anything like nationals before. The opportunity to go makes me so proud of our coach and our team.”
Riordan hopes Thursday’s opening ceremony matches the warmth and love the team received from locals at the June regional in Sioux Falls.
Another defender, left back Liv Connelly, 16, lives in St. John, Indiana, where she will be a junior at Lake Central High School this fall.
Like Riordan, she thinks defense will make the difference.
“I love my team and I know we’re good enough to do it,” she said.
“My love is playing defense. I’d rather be stopping a ball than being one to score because I know my teammates can do it,” Connelly said.
Connelly has such a passion for soccer, she formerly played for two travel teams at the same time, one in Indiana and one in Illinois.
Now, Chicagoland United is her soccer family.
“I don’t mind driving 45 minutes (to practice in Orland Park) for a team that’s amazing and a coach that is even better,” Connelly said.
“Even though I can’t have a sleepover with my teammates because they live in New Lenox or Orland Park, they are still family.”
“Soccer has always been an outlet for me. Playing soccer has always been love. It’s all I want to do,” Connelly said.
Connelley, who has played “since I could walk,” has coached a 6-year-old girls team.
Her advice to young players: “It’s okay to not get it right the first time because nobody’s perfect. You’ve just got to keep trying.”
Chicagoland United will heed her advice starting July 12.
Steve Metsch is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
