New coach + new team=lofty goals for Moraine Valley women's soccer

The 2015 Moraine Valley Community College women’s soccer team is headed in a new direction. And it’s only upward.

Following a successful 2014 season with a 10-8 record and top four finish in the NJCAA Region IV playoffs, things were shaken up with a change in coaching staff. Al Palar, who was an assistant coach for the Cyclone men’s soccer team for three years, took over the women’s program.

“It’s my first year with the women’s team so I’m not sure what their competition looks like yet, but we’re going for it. It’s definitely a change from men’s to women’s, but it’s the same concepts. The guys are more tactical while the women use pressure and force more errors,” said Palar, who has played professional soccer in Poland and coached boys and girls teams for Inter FC out of Palos Hills. He still plays for the Amateur Schwaben AC out of Buffalo Grove.

He brings not only his coaching style, but a confident air that his team can go far. “I’ve been excited to get started. We have good returners, and with every recruit each one will have an impact. They’ve been good at practice and have come together,” Palar said. “Everyone is 100 percent at it. There’s no slacking off. We want to get to nationals. We’re geared toward that. They all want to do something big, and we have the group to do it.”

Facing that challenge are several strong returning players including Maggie Hacker (Sandburg), second leading scorer last season and an All-Conference player. All-Illinois Skyway Collegiate Conference and All-NJCAA Region IV player Kortnie Hanold (Shepard) and All-Region player Alexis Delgado (Reavis) return along with Liliana Cabrera (Hubbard), Kristina Cypser (Shepard), Cecia Esquivel (Eisenhower), Alejandra Hernandez (Reavis), and Xitlaly Mandujano (Hubbard). The Cyclones bid farewell to Alyssa Braun (Shepard), their leading scorer and All-Region and All-Conference player, who signed to play at Roosevelt University, as well as Diana Lozano (Richards), an All-Conference player who stepped up both seasons to fill the critical goalkeeper role.

A crop of newcomers include Marbella Rodriguez (Kelly), who played for Palar in club soccer. She’s joined by Alex Abed (Stagg), Dalila Alcala (Eisenhower), Francis Corona (Curie), Kaylyn Egyarto (Sandburg), Ewelina Kmin (Reavis), Diana Lang (Marist), Karina Lopez (Reavis), Victoria Paczkowska (Reavis), Lauren Regan (Mother McAuley), Sintia Salas (Curie), Jazmin Sanchez (Hubbard), and Paulina Stafira (Stagg).

With this crew, every player is a potential starter. From defense to midfield to forward, the roster is strong all around, Palar explained. “The expectations are high, and with practice it’s looking realistic. I think we’re in position to compete. I’m confident we’re stronger than last year,” he said.

Visit www.morainevalley.edu/athletics or follow the Cyclones on Facebook at morainevalleycyclones and Twitter @MVCyclones.