Plainfield North appear to enter the Naperville Central Sectional with real momentum, but not with much room for error. The Tigers are listed as the No. 4 seed and are expected to open against No. 13 Aurora East on Wednesday, 20 May, with tougher tests likely waiting beyond that.
Monterosso’s message is clear. “Different people have been able to play a variety of different positions for us this season,” she said. “Different people have stepped up and that's been a good piece for us.”
That flexibility may be vital in a bracket that reportedly also includes strong contenders like Naperville Central, Oswego and Benet. For North, this is not just about form; it is about whether the squad can stay intact long enough to use the depth that has carried it through the spring.
Plainfield Central seem to be walking a similar line. The Wildcats are reportedly the No. 2 seed in the Orion Sectional and are set to open against No. 7 Romeoville on Monday at Burlington Central.
Coach Ken Schoen struck much the same note: “Maintaining health is going to be key,” he said. “I think the girls who have filled in for injured players have filled in well.”
That sounds like a team still searching for its cleanest version at the right time. If Central can steady itself defensively, the path looks manageable. If not, even a favourable seed can disappear quickly in knockout football.
Elsewhere, Lincoln-Way Central are reportedly the top seed in the Andrew Sectional and receive a first-round bye, while Providence have emerged as a side worth watching after earning the No. 1 seed in their own sectional.
The next few days should reveal plenty. Seedings have drawn the map, but health, depth and nerve are likely to decide who is still standing when the sectional story really begins.