The St. Francis girls soccer program had to bid farewell to its glamour girl during the offseason, but the Spartans have found their way to the limelight, anyway.
The best season in program history continues in an IHSA Class 2A state semifinal today against St. Viator. The Spartans' success story is all the more striking considering the program's all-time leading scorer, Andi Matichak, would have been a senior stalwart this season if she hadn't opted to graduate early to pursue modeling and acting opportunities in New York City.
Matichak, who also gave up a college soccer scholarship at South Florida, figures to have divided attention this weekend as she tracks her former teammates' championship pursuit from afar.
"I miss them more so than anything, the girls and just being there with them and experiencing it with them," Matichak said in a phone interview from New York. "I wish I was there at times, but at the same time then I'll take a step back and think about it in retrospect, and I'm really happy where I am. ... It was a hard decision to make. I've been playing since I was in preschool. It was extremely hard for me to decide to leave that, but I know I made the right decision, and I'm happy here."
Matichak scored 82 goals in three varsity seasons with the Spartans. In her absence, St. Francis (22-3) has become a more balanced offensive squad. The return of George Washington-bound Amanda Gaggioli, a senior midfielder, and Alyssa Mastroianni, a junior defender – both of whom skipped last year to focus on club soccer – have helped the Spartans compensate for Matichak's loss, along with the arrival of talented freshmen Taylor Von Thournout and Courtenay Hart.
"If she had stuck around, I don't know if she'd have the same type of numbers this year because we're so much better all-around as a team, and that's not a knock on Andi or anything else," said St. Francis coach Jim Winslow, who led the Spartans to an 18-7-2 record in his first season last year. "They've had a year more of me and a lot of these kids have worked hard in the offseason and become better players, so it all pays dividends."
One of those more seasoned Spartans is senior forward Sydney Fox, who grew up playing soccer with Matichak, one of her best friends. Fox said the Spartans "still look up to her and take her advice to heart."
"Seeing all these pictures and articles and everything and Facebook posts about our season and 'State 2012, here we come,' I'm sure she wishes she was here and could have been here with us," Fox said. "She misses it tremendously, but sometimes you've just got to go with what's best for you in the long run. It stinks she can't be here with us, but she is in our hearts."
Matichak transferred to Glenbard West for the fall semester because it provided a smoother path to early graduation. Matichak said she had too much on her plate between modeling and club soccer, so it made sense to free up her spring schedule.
And that was before the New York opportunity arose, which she said materialized rapidly and unexpectedly.
Matichak lives with her older sister in Manhattan and is working through two modeling agencies. Her hair has been dyed from light brown to blond, and she's enthused about several ongoing projects, including an expected appearance in the August edition of "Seventeen" magazine.
"It is really, definitely, is a big change for me," Matichak said. "I love it, though, here, and I fell into the groove quickly. I learned really fast. I started modeling right away and also acting and doing classes out here every day. I basically am really busy – it's kind of just a day-to-day basis, depending on what I'm going to do or what I get booked for."
Matichak receives regular text messages from Spartans soccer matches, and became emotional when considering the possibility that one of those messages Saturday could inform her that her former teammates are state champions.
She still fights the urge to put her stowed-away soccer equipment to use, "especially since it's warmer now," she said.
"Everyone out here would underestimate the tall, gangly model," she said.
IHSA Class 2A girls soccer state semifinals
Today, North Central College
St. Francis (22-3) vs. St. Viator (15-8-4), 11 a.m.
Normal University (19-5-1) vs. Chatham Glenwood (19-4-2), 1 p.m.
Of note: Seventeen of St. Francis' 22 wins this season came via shutout. ... The Spartans are making their first state semifinal appearance after being eliminated in a supersectional last year by rival Wheaton Academy, a team St. Francis ousted this season in a sectional final. ... St. Francis coach Jim Winslow hopes the recent cool snap helps the Spartans regain their legs after a grueling supersectional win Tuesday against Benet went all the way to penalty kicks. ... The state championship match will be 1 p.m. Saturday; the third-place match will be 11 a.m. Saturday.