KNIGHT MOVES
Milwaukee recruit Andjelic speaks out as senior leader for surging Lincoln-Way Central
Senior midfielder Jenni Andjelic was not quite sure what kind of team Lincoln-Way Central would have this season after graduating some key seniors in 2021, including leading scorer Megan Hutchinson.
It’s safe to say the Knights have blown away expectations.
“I was concerned with Megan Hutchinson leaving, being our leading goal scorer,” Andjelic said of the Purdue forward. “These girls took away those concerns quickly. The whole team works so well together.
“The freshmen who have come in have been really nice to work with. I’ve tried to help them, but I haven’t had to do much, honestly, because they’re all so good. They just came in and stepped up right away.”
Andjelic, a four-year varsity player and a Milwaukee recruit, has been a steady leader this season for Lincoln-Way Central (17-1).
From her defensive midfield position, she has helped her team shut down opponents, with the Knights allowing just three goals all season.
She also has scored several big goals, including the lone strike April 5 in a 1-0 win over Lockport.
Andjelic, who has embraced the captain’s role, is directing her teammates more, even though she would typically prefer to stay quiet.
“I feel out of my zone, but I’ve gotten better with being more vocal,” she said. “I know it’s definitely something I need to do as a leader and someone who has played so many games here.
“With all that experience, I’ve gotten more comfortable and composed.”
Lincoln-Way Central coach Sean Fahey knows he can always rely on Andjelic.
“This is a girl who has worked very hard to get to where she is and has never missed a single game playing for her high school,” Fahey said. “Jenni is the epitome of a student-athlete that any coach
would want representing their program.”
Andjelic grew up playing soccer with her sister, Megan — who also played soccer at Lincoln-Way Central — and her brother, Jake, who is headed to Indiana State as a kicker in football.
“My brother joined rec soccer at a young age, and me and my sister were like, ‘Oh, that seems fun,’ ” Andjelic said. “So we joined the next year when I was in the first or second grade.
“We’d always play in the backyard, always go to the field together. It’s nice.”
The Knights clinched at least a share of the SouthWest Suburban Red title Tuesday with a 6-0 win over Bradley-Bourbonnais on Andjelic’s senior night. They can win it outright Thursday with a victory over Stagg.
Lincoln-Way Central is the top seed in the Class 3A Sandburg Sectional.
“I’m so fired up,” Andjelic said. “I truly believe we can go far. We can win regionals, sectionals, hopefully supersectionals and even possibly win state.”
Playoff preview? Some changes in games for the finals of the BodyArmor Series, which were delayed a week due to weather, resulted in Sunday’s matchup between De La Salle and Marist.
The Meteors (15-2) are the top seed in the Class 2A Kankakee Sectional, with the RedHawks seeded second.
De La Salle won 2-0 behind goals from Mia Ortega and Isabella Brogan.
“It was nice chance for us to see a team we could see in our sectional,” De La Salle coach Carlos Nunez said. “The girls had the opportunity to come out in a big game and show they were ready for it.”
De La Salle has never won a regional in girls soccer.
“I’m always a skeptical South Sider, so I don’t take anything for granted until the job is done,” Nunez said. “As the season has gone on, we can kind of look around and feel confident that perhaps we have a chance to make a pretty good run at this.”
Seeds planted: Despite a less than stellar record, Sandburg (9-8) earned the second seed in the Class 3A sectional the Eagles are hosting, boosted by wins over thirdseeded Lincoln-Way East and fifth-seeded Andrew.
Lincoln-Way Central is the top seed, with Lincoln-Way West seeded fourth.