Freshman Lily Radek made a great first impression on Naperville North coach Steve Goletz last summer.
“I saw her in camp, and I’m like, ‘Man, there’s something to this kid,” Goletz said.
Goletz instantly foresaw potential in Radek, who earned a starting spot at outside back, where she has excelled at shutting down even the toughest opponents.
“The biggest thing for me is she plays 100 miles an hour all the time, and she does such a great job,” Goletz said. “She’s played on both sides of the field this year.
“We rotated her over when other teams have put their best winger out there. Lily’s drawn that matchup, and she’s done an amazing job.”
Indeed, Radek has fit in seamlessly with senior Reagan O’Malley, juniors Emily Buescher and Abby Penn, and sophomore Addison Sitzman to form a deep and dependable defense in front of sophomore goalkeeper Olivia Ochsner.
That group allowed just one shot in the second half of Naperville North’s 2-1 DuPage Valley Conference victory against visiting Neuqua Valley in Naperville on Monday night.
Radek and the Huskies (9-2-3, 2-0) have allowed just nine goals in 14 games.
“She’s so composed under pressure,” Goletz said. “Look at the amount of 50-50 balls that she won again tonight. She’s not the biggest kid, but she’ll throw her body in there to win a head ball.”
Naperville North’s Lily Radek, right, keeps the ball away from Neuqua Valley’s Alaina Chandola during a DuPage Valley Conference game in Naperville on Monday, April 22, 2024. (Jon Langham / Naperville Sun)
O’Malley is impressed that a rookie has been able to make an immediate impact.
“Our program always has a great reputation, so I know that coming into this program is almost scary,” O’Malley said. “There’s a lot on your shoulders that you have to live up to, but I think we’ve supported her so much. We’re so happy she’s here.”
Radek plays with effort and elan.
“She’s is giving 100% effort every time,” O’Malley said. “She will fight for every ball, and she never stops. She has the best attitude, and she’s someone we can count on. That makes us better.”
Radek credits her teammates with helping make her better.
“They’ve kind of taken me under their wing,” she said. “Emily Buescher is such a great center back, and Reagan O’Malley and Addie Sitzman and Abby Penn have all helped me.
“They’re very good at communicating, and they always make sure I know what I’m doing. If I’m struggling, I always know that I can turn to them.”
All players go through struggles, and there are no easy games on the Huskies’ schedule. But Radek has a mental approach that helps her deal with failures.
“The thing that helps me the most is just pretending I’m a goldfish because they’ve got really short-term memories,” she said. “So if I make a mistake, I always know that I’ll get back for the next play.”
Naperville North’s Lily Radek, left, kicks the ball away from Neuqua Valley’s Allessandra Russo during a DuPage Valley Conference game in Naperville on Monday, April 22, 2024. (Jon Langham / Naperville Sun)
Radek, who plays more like a piranha than a goldfish, is always eager for the next play.
“I’ve been playing since I was 6 or 7, and honestly, the love for the sport that I’ve developed is just insane,” she said. “It’s always an outlet. If I’m having a bad day, I’ll always go outside and play soccer, shoot around. It always makes me better, and it’s just so fun.”
The fun is just beginning for Radek and the Huskies.
“If she continues to develop like we’re hoping for, she could go down as one of the best outside backs we’ve ever had here,” Goletz said. “That’s saying a lot as a freshman to come in and have the impact that she’s had. She’s blown the doors off, and she did it the right way.
“She’s an awesome kid, she works hard, she’s super respectful, she’s funny. When you get kids like this, it’s a blessing.”
Matt Le Cren is a freelance reporter.
