Emily Crotty, whose sister plays for Coastal Carolina, takes on leadership role for Andrew. ‘Look up to her.'
As she embarks on her third varsity season, junior midfielder Emily Crotty knows what Andrew soccer is all about.
Well, actually, Crotty had that knowledge before she ever stepped on the field in high school. She grew up watching her older sister, Leah, star for the Thunderbolts.
'Watching my sister for four years was great,' she said. 'I really look up to her. Coming to Andrew soccer games and knowing how they were as a team and a school, it was awesome because I know they all wanted the best for each other.
'It's definitely awesome to be a part of it now and see the positivity throughout the team.'
And now, Crotty is one of the standard-bearers for the program. It's a role she's ready for.
Crotty continued her hot start to the season Tuesday night, scoring her fourth goal of the year to lift Andrew to a 2-0 win over Oak Park-River Forest in a Windy City Ram Classic semifinal at Reavis in Burbank.
North Central College recruit Paige Swaw added the other goal for the Thunderbolts (4-0), while Ella Karnezis tallied an assist and Annabel Walsh made three saves to record the shutout.
Wisconsin-Stevens Point commit Sophia Ryan, Kaitlyn Gudyka, Abigeal Gallagher and Annie Lloyd led a dominant defensive effort in front of Walsh.
Andrew advanced to take on Lincoln-Way Central (4-0) at 6 p.m. Thursday in the championship game of the 32-team tournament. The Knights earned a 6-1 win over De La Salle (3-1) in the second semifinal.
Crotty, meanwhile, put the Huskies (3-1) in an early hole Tuesday night. She took a pass from Karnezis, raced down the middle of the field and buried a goal just over nine minutes into the game.
'We were all kind of talking on the bus about coming out strong and getting a goal kind of quickly to boost the energy,' Crotty said. 'I saw an opportunity. Ella played a very good through ball. I knew I had to put it away.'
Andrew coach Loren Zolk has long known how talented Crotty is. But even though she scored 15 goals and dished out 18 assists last season as a sophomore, the Thunderbolts didn't need to lean on Crotty.
Things are a bit different this spring.
'Last year as a sophomore, she was kind of more of a role player in the middle with Grace Wood and Taylor London in there with her,' Zolk said. 'Emily balanced them really well. But now as a junior who's been with us for a while, she's kind of taken over the middle.
'I've seen her take her game to a different level in terms of what she's allowing herself to do in the middle that she wasn't doing as much last year because she was kind of deferring to the two seniors a bit.'
Lloyd, a Beloit recruit, has watched Crotty grow into a star. As one of the nine seniors on the team, Lloyd has no problem letting Crotty be one of the leaders as a junior.
'Emily's amazing,' Lloyd said. 'She always works so hard. She motivates the team, for sure. She always keeps everyone on track, and when we're goofing around, she makes sure we get focused.'
When it comes to leadership, Crotty has always had a good role model in her older sister. Leah is heading into her senior season as a Division I soccer player at Coastal Carolina.
'She's always driving me to be the best player and the best teammate on and off the field,' Emily said. 'She's a leader, and I've always looked up to her for that. She's always communicating and looking out for her teammates, so I learned about that from her.
'I always look forward to talking to her before and after games because she always has something positive and some things that I can work on.'
Originally Published: March 25, 2025 at 9:26 PM CDT
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Yahoo
Paddles Up: Toronto's Water Vipers Gear Up to Make Waves at the Prestigious 'Sun Life Hong Kong International Dragon Boat Races'
This championship-winning team is set to represent Canada on the international stage from June 7-8 TORONTO, June 06, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Toronto's championship-winning dragon boat team, the Water Vipers, is set to compete at the prestigious 'Sun Life Hong Kong International Dragon Boat Races' (HKIDBR) from June 7-8, 2025. The event is jointly organized by the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) and the Hong Kong China Dragon Boat Association. Set against the stunning backdrop of Hong Kong's Victoria Harbour, this globally renowned event will bring together over 190 teams from 12 countries and regions, transforming the Tsim Sha Tsui East Promenade into a thrilling festival of speed, tradition, and celebration. This marks a proud moment for Canadian paddlers as they join elite teams from around the world in one of the most iconic dragon boat festivals. Representing Canada on the international stage, the Water Vipers is a vibrant, multicultural team brought together by a shared passion for paddling. Established in 2008, the Toronto-based team includes members ranging in age from 20 to 40, hailing from diverse cultural backgrounds, including Chinese, Filipino, Japanese, Italian, British, African, Indian, and more. Led by longtime coach and captain Andrew Liew, the Water Vipers have earned a reputation as one of Canada's top dragon boat teams. 'We're incredibly excited and honoured to represent Canada at such a prestigious international event,' says Andrew Liew, Team Captain and Coach, the Water Vipers. 'Our team has trained hard, and we can't wait to race alongside some of the best paddlers in the world in Hong Kong.' Andrew, who has nearly 20 years of experience as a paddler and coach, is also the owner of Afterburn Fitness Club and General Manager at Sunnyside Paddling Club. He leads paddling specific strength and conditioning classes and technical coaching classes. The Water Vipers have previously earned the Grand Champion title of the GWN Dragon Boat Challenge and the Pharmasave Woodstock Dragon Boat Festival in 2024. Their qualification to compete in Hong Kong is a testament to their dedication and hard work. About Water VipersFounded in 2008, the Water Vipers Dragon Boat Club is Toronto's premier 'twice-per-week' competitive dragon boat team, dedicated to achieving excellence without compromising members' other commitments. The team focuses on efficient, high-quality training designed to deliver consistent, top-tier performance on water. Guided by core values of fitness, inclusiveness, growth, development, and passion, the Water Vipers foster a diverse and supportive community that embraces paddlers of all ages and backgrounds. For more information on the team, click here. About 'Sun Life Hong Kong International Dragon Boat Races' (HKIDBR) The Dragon Boat Festival was inscribed by UNESCO on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) of Humanity. Hong Kong's Dragon Boat Festival is a thrilling, high-adrenaline event that attracts elite paddlers from across the globe to compete in one of the city's most celebrated summer traditions. The 2025 Sun Life Hong Kong International Dragon Boat Races, jointly organized by the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) and the Hong Kong China Dragon Boat Association, returns to Victoria Harbour from June 7-8. This year, over 190 teams from 12 countries and regions will race against the backdrop of Hong Kong's iconic skyline, drawing enthusiastic crowds of locals and visitors alike. Click here to view the race programme. To learn more about HKIDBR, visit here. A Media Snippet accompanying this announcement is available by clicking on this link. Media can download photos at the following link: For media inquiries, please contact: Jorge Lee Tel: (416) 366-2389 ext 206 Carol Lam Tel: (416) 366-2389 ext 201
New York Times
5 days ago
- New York Times
How should Chelsea's 2024–25 season be graded?
Chelsea's 2024–25 campaign undoubtedly ended on a high. They clinched their first major honour since the Todd Boehly-Clearlake Capital takeover after defeating Real Betis 4-1 in the Europa Conference League final, and secured Champions League qualification for the first time under their ownership with a 1-0 win away at Nottingham Forest on the final day to finish fourth in the Premier League. Advertisement However, the season also had its lows. They were uncharacteristically knocked out of both the FA and Carabao Cups in the fourth round by Brighton and Newcastle, and won just two of 10 Premier League games between December 22 and February 22 — a stretch that included their heaviest loss of the season, a 3-0 defeat away at Brighton. So, how should their season be viewed overall? On the latest episode of Straight Outta Cobham, with help from listeners, Matt Davies-Adams and Liam Twomey discussed how Chelsea's 2024–25 season should be graded. A partial transcript has been edited for this article. The full episode is available on the Straight Outta Cobham feed on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Matt: We asked listeners to grade Chelsea's 2024-25 campaign, and lots of them got in touch with us. We had a couple of A grades from Yahoo and Andrew. Yahoo said, 'We achieved the Champions League and won a trophy, what more could we want in season one with Enzo Maresca?' Andrew said, 'We hit all the objectives, and unlike the last two seasons, have shown some sign of improvement.' Alan graded it a B and said, 'It would be higher if the football hadn't been such a struggle to watch at times and if we hadn't dropped five points against Ipswich. I can't argue with the end result, though, and stability will hopefully bring progress.' There were also a couple of slightly lower grades which came in. Four Aces said, 'I'd give it a C+, it was decent but it came down to the last game in the league and the second half in the Conference League final. It could have gone very differently.' GCP graded it a C- and said, 'Bare minimum given the level of investment and the relative standard of the league. I think the squad was good enough to get another 15 points. I want to see evidence of Maresca getting the best out of players other than Cucurella.' Advertisement B or B+ feels about right to me, Liam. Obviously, it could have been very different had things not gone the way they did right at the end of the campaign, but you can't say that Chelsea haven't achieved what they set out to at the start of the season. Albeit I like that caveat from Alan that the football was difficult to watch at times, and we'd be lying if we said it wasn't, wouldn't we? Liam: Yeah, but I think you also have to view it in the context of, 'Remember what the football was like under Graham Potter in that wasteland of a season two years ago?' That's still the personal low point for me in a decade of covering Chelsea. And then last year, I know people remember some of the thrilling, more goal-happy games under Pochettino, but there were also some pretty sterile possession games against low blocks. Admittedly, that wasn't a completely new thing this season, and yes they scored 13 more goals under Poch in 2023-24, but they also conceded 20 more goals. So when I look at the step forward this season, it's primarily defensive and primarily in terms of structure. And yes, that isn't going to get Maresca any brownie points with fans for entertainment, but I think it's an essential step for Chelsea to actually become a better team. Overall, I'd grade it a B. To me, a B is a solid pass, like job done… at least it was for me at GCSE. But certainly a B in the Conference League because that was par for the course, they had to win that. Even Real Betis, the best team that they faced, were significantly less talented and that showed in the final, but they still took care of business. And it looked for a while like they might not in the Premier League, even though the first half of the season lined up brilliantly for them. Until the turn of the year, there was no one making a play for second, never mind fourth. And I know Aston Villa and Newcastle finished strongly, and Man City finally got their act together to some degree and made it competitive. But Chelsea had this big advantage that they then blew away essentially in the space of two or three miserable months. But they pulled themselves together when they needed to, they found that grit, and they finished really strongly. So they deserve credit for that. But when you're looking at the season in totality with the way the campaign panned out, and looking at the other teams, I didn't think there was much of an excuse for Chelsea not to make the top five. So to finish fourth meant job done. Chelsea can move on now and look to strengthen this summer, look to have a good showing in the Club World Cup, and we'll see where it goes from there. But it was a solid and encouraging first season for Enzo Maresca. You can listen to full episodes of 'Straight Outta Cobham' for free on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. (Top Photo: Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images)
Chicago Tribune
5 days ago
- Chicago Tribune
Wilmette's one-mile Open Water Swim June 14 welcomes Olympians, novices
Nearly 200 people, including an Olympic qualifier and English Channel swimmers, are expected to compete in the seventh annual mile-long Wilmette Open Water Swim at Gillson Beach on June 14, according to a local parks support group. 'Our vision was for it to be one of the great swims and make it entry level, so folks both from within the community and far and wide can easily participate,' said Phil Andrew, swim director of the event. The race, hosted by the Ouilmette Foundation, is the brainchild of Andrew and Foundation President Holly Gillson, no relation to the namesake of the popular Wilmette beach and park, Andrew said. 'Holly is a neighbor and an avid open water swimmer,' he said. 'When we joined the Ouilmette Foundation, we thought it would be a great way to highlight what the foundation is doing and build community around a great resource.' The Ouilmette Foundation was created in 1983 to raise funds for the restoration of the historic Wallace Bowl, Andrew said. That project was completed, but today the outdoor lakefront amphitheater is again in need of repair, he said. The Wallace Bowl complex is built with flagstone, a sedimentary rock usually made of sandstone, and the seats are wooden, Andrew said. The facility, which needs tuckpointing and drainage repairs, undergoes extensive wear from sitting outside with wind and sand blowing year round, he said. The Open Water Swim raises about $14,000 to $15,000 each year, Andrew said. The funds go toward projects like the Wilmette scholarship fund for Park District programs, Wallace Bowl and ALS, he said. 'We're helping preserve and protect the waterfront,' Andrew said. 'We work in partnership with the Park District for safety, but we design the course.' The Park District provides lifeguards and marketing, but the foundation handles the administration and operation of the event, he said. Park Districy spokesman JP McNamara said the district mostly provides marketing and advertising. 'Our role is really to just help them promote it,' McNamara said. 'They are more of an affiliate of the park district than anything. The event itself is their own.' The foundation, which operated for about 20 years before becoming inactive in the early 2000s, was revived in 2014 to help the park district raise money, Andrew said. 'We have assisted in applying for grants and raising funds for projects the park district is not able to implement due to funds or grant writing,' he said. 'The foundation works very closely with the elected board and staff of the park district to identify participant needs we can fill.' The Ouilmette Foundation provides everything swimmers need for the race, except swimsuits and goggles, Andrew said. The event is renowned for giving each participant a large fluffy towel affectionately dubbed the 'WOW-el,' or Wilmette Open Water towel, he said. 'What's most important to folks might be that we give them the best towel in open water swimming,' Andrew said. 'Every year it's a new color. It's vibrant and you usually see it on the beach during the summer.' It costs $70 to enter the race and $30 for an additional towel, according to the registration website. Check-in begins at 6:15 a.m. June 14, and spectators are welcome to attend the event. The actual race start time is 7 a.m. The 2025 race will feature Glenn Mills, an American who was expected to win a medal in the 1980 Olympic Games until the U.S. boycotted the games, held in Moscow, Andrew said. Four or five people who have swum the English Channel are also expected to compete, he said. 'It's kind of cool we have amazing, highly accomplished swimmers and then moms and dads and high school swimmers coming from Milwaukee and Wisconsin,' Andrew said. Some Wilmette Open Water Swim volunteers are so inspired that they choose to compete in the race the following year, he said. 'I've had a lot of conversations with folks,' Andrew said. 'It's such an amazing place: the water, the beach. People connect with that in their own way. It connects with people's physical and personal well-being.'
