Athlete of the week: Batavia girls soccer's Megan McEachern

Megan McEachern

Batavia

Girls soccer

Senior

Why she was selected: McEachern helped Batavia to a 3-0 record in last week's Lake Park Invitational, which culminated with a tournament title.

Batavia senior forward Megan McEachern contributed a hat trick during the Bulldogs' 5-0 victory against host Lake Park during a March 29 game at the Lake Park Invitational. Her play maintained a sound level for the rest of the three-game tournament, helping the Bulldogs to a championship. McEachern, the Kane County Chronicle-St. Charles Bank & Trust Athlete of the Week, caught up with Chronicle sports editor Kevin Druley about the week. An edited transcript follows:

What do you credit to the team's solid start?

I thought pulling through to win that Lake Park tournament was a really good confidence booster for us. I think we've just been working really good as a team ... through the back line, through the midfield and up to the forwards. It's just been really good, and we've been working as a team really well.

I know Lake Park was a conference opponent back in the day, but how much do you guys enjoy playing different competition?

It's pretty fun because you're not really used to playing them all the time. You usually just meet in the spring break tournament. So it's just kind of going into it not knowing much about them, and its kind of fun.

Has the team style been about the same throughout your Batavia career?

I would say so. [Coach Mark Gianfrancesco] kind of stresses possession and looking to play up, just kind of looking levels up and being more on an attacking mode to get behind the back lines and stuff. So I think it's worked for us, and I think it will continue to do that."