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Senior defender Maggie Miller expects her Lake Zurich soccer career to end much better than it started.
Miller, who suffered a broken left ankle during tryouts in her freshman year, anchors a defense that has allowed just seven goals in nine games.
“I’m so excited for the rest of the season, to keep hitting the goals we’ve set together,” Miller said. “It’s an honor to help lead this team.”
The Bears (8-1), who have the best overall record among North Suburban Conference teams as that schedule gets underway, rely on Miller to make the defense work, according to coach Mike Castronova.
“Maggie has great composure back there,” Castronova said. “She just cleans up everything. She’s able to support our other defenders if they need it or to help double somebody. She’s usually one we keep free to clean it up. She has good speed and skills.”
Miller, a team captain in her third varsity season, also provides support for Lake Zurich’s younger players. The Bears brought back five starters but have two freshmen and seven sophomores.
“Maggie is great with the younger players and makes everybody feel comfortable on the team,” Castronova said. “She’s a good kid who works hard and doesn’t look for accolades.”
Miller is involved in several clubs and has participated in FAME, a program that helps Lake Zurich freshmen adjust to high school. Miller said she has used her experience in that program to help her teammates.
“Our team culture is something that has shifted over the past year,” Miller said. “The majority of our team is underclassmen, but all of them are key players on our team and help in every aspect on the field.
“Everybody has a role on the team, which is important for younger players to gain confidence. It’s important to instill confidence in young players. They are on the team for a reason and have been a huge part of our success.”
Miller remembers her freshman year was much different.
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“In tryouts, I was a scared freshman and was so nervous,” she recalled. “Then the injury came on the last day of tryouts.”
A few days later, the season was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic.
“The injury took three or four months to recover,” Miller said. “I was never really into working out before then, but I was stressed out and needed to catch up to all the other people playing soccer. The injury just kind of forced me to catch up.”
Miller said she set up a home gym in her basement for workouts and even did pushups using just one healthy foot.
“I did anything I could,” she said. “I learned how to juggle. I think I could do 400 with both feet after a while.
“Coming off the injury, I gained so much determination. There was no easy route out of it. I feel it was a blessing in disguise. It motivated me to work so much harder and not to take anything for granted.”
Bobby Narang is a freelance reporter for the News-Sun.
