Bella Yarc learns ‘perseverance and dedication' on her farm. Sticking with it, she gives Libertyville an edge.

Chicago Tribune

28-05-2025

Libertyville senior forward Bella Yarc wakes up at 6 a.m. nearly every morning to get some work done.
But soccer isn't her focus at that hour.
'I live on a farm and raise and sell livestock, like deer, pigs and sheep,' she said. 'Every single day, I'm up before practice. I've been doing it since I've been 5 years old.
'It's taught me responsibility, perseverance and dedication. I've definitely used that and soccer to build who I am.'
Yarc has shown perseverance and dedication on the soccer field, too, becoming a key scorer for the Wildcats. After recording five goals in limited action last year, she doubled that total during the regular season and has added four more goals in the postseason.
Yarc opened the floodgates on Tuesday, scoring a goal in the opening minute of top-seeded Libertyville's resounding 9-1 win against sixth-seeded Glenbrook South in the Class 3A Fremd Sectional semifinals in Palatine.
Danica Meller had a hat trick, and Sydney Dulak, Shea Krakowski, Tess McGormley, Natalie Schlitt and Natalie Schmidt each scored a goal for the Wildcats (17-1-3), who have won nine games in a row and will play second-seeded Fremd in the sectional championship game at 6 p.m. Friday.
Players like Yarc could be the difference for the Wildcats, who lost 2-1 to Fremd in the sectional final last season.
'Bella played behind a few girls last year,' Libertyville coach Ian Taylor said. 'She was training hard in practice. This year, she has stepped up and got a chance to start the last few games. She had been a consistent 20 minutes off the bench every half.
'She has a nose for the goal and puts the ball in the right spots and doesn't overreact when she's in front of the goal.'
Libertyville senior defender Shannon Phillips, an IU Indianapolis recruit, said Yarc's drive is the main reason for her breakout season.
'She keeps going and never got frustrated despite not always starting,' Phillips said. 'She's been working so hard and has been starting now and doing so well. She loves taking people on 1v1s, which has benefited her so well.
'That drive is what we need in a forward. It's really impressive to see how she's doing and putting everything into it. I'm really proud of her.'
Yarc calls her work on the farm a full-time job. She has to balance that and soccer during the spring, which she said is 'really crazy.' She also played flag football in the fall and credits that for her success this season.
'Flag football helped me with agility and speed training,' Yarc said. 'Running back is a lot of the same movement as soccer, but just with a different type of ball. It made me more aggressive.'
Yarc, who won't play college soccer, is also a good teammate, according to Taylor.
'She's always positive, and that shows in how she plays, bringing energy and juice,' Taylor said. 'She's been an asset this year.'
Krakowski, who leads the Wildcats with 24 goals and also has 10 assists, said Yarc has proved to be a good fit.
'She earned her spot on the field,' Krakowski said. 'In practice, she works so hard, and she jells amazing with the girls.'