Sports

Lemont's Fritz, Jerantowski Sign Women's Soccer National Letters of Intent

Fritz has committed to playing at University of Illinois-Chicago, and Jerantowski to Northwestern University.

Lemont High School seniors Kelly Fritz and Kim Jerantowski each have signed National Letters of Intent to play women’s soccer at the collegiate level beginning in Fall 2014. Fritz will play at the University of Illinois-Chicago, and Jerantowski will attend Northwestern University.

Not only do Fritz and Jerantowski rate among the top players in the program’s history, but they also have keyed one
of the most successful stretches in the history of Lemont’s girls’ soccer program, helping head coach Rick Prangen’s squad to a combined 61-14-4 record over their first three varsity seasons. During that timeframe, the Indians have captured three South Suburban Conference championships - winning 33 straight conference matches - as well as two IHSA Regional titles, two IHSA Sectional crowns and two IHSA Super-Sectional championships. Lemont has advanced to the IHSA Class 2A State Finals twice in three years, finishing third in 2011 and fourth in 2013.

Jerantowski has excelled at both forward and midfield during her career, increasing her point total each year. She enters her final season with 149 career points on 63 goals and 23 assists. Fritz, meanwhile, consistently has been stingy in goal, allowing just 0.68 goals per game in 73 career matches. She has increased her shutout total each season, and has a career record of 54-14-4 (.778).

Find out what's happening in Lemontwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

As juniors in 2013, both players were tabbed as all-state selections by the Illinois High School Soccer Coaches Association (IHSSCA), and each also earned All-SSC honors for the third straight year. Jerantowski posted a career-high 60 points on 21 goals and a career-best 18 assists, and was tabbed as the SouthtownStar “Player of the Year.” Fritz played every minute in net for the Indians and posted a 21-5-2 record. She posted a career-high 16 shutouts - including three in the postseason - and allowed one goal or fewer in 25 of 28 contests. Lemont finished with a 21-5-2 record and won its seventh straight SSC title after finishing with a perfect 11-0 conference record. The Indians also won IHSA Regional, IHSA Sectional and IHSA Super-Sectional titles, and were fourth at the IHSA Class 2A State Finals.

The Indians posted a 17-4-2 record in 2012, and both Fritz and Jerantowski were cited as All-SSC performers and named to the IHSSCA All-Sectional squad. Fritz posted a 15-4-2 record, which included 14 shutouts, and allowed just 10 goals in 21 matches. Jerantowski racked up a career-high 23 goals from her forward position. The Indians went 11-0 in league play and won the SSC title.

Find out what's happening in Lemontwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Both Fritz and Jerantowski served as starters as freshmen in 2011, and the Indians tied a school record for wins by finishing 23-5. Lemont not only won the SSC title with a perfect conference record, but also earned IHSA Regional, IHSA Sectional and IHSA Super-Sectional crowns. The Indians finished third at the 2011 IHSA Class 2A State Finals. Jerantowski totaled 43 points on 19 goals and five assists, while Fritz allowed just 22 goals in 24 matches, posted 10 shutouts and finished with an 18-5 record. Each player earned all-conference accolades as a freshman,

Fritz and Jerantowski both play club soccer for the Windy City Pride, which won the U18 title at last fall’s Illinois Youth Soccer State Cup. Jerantowski also is a four-year varsity letterwinner in head coach Bill Bozue’s girls’ basketball program, while Fritz was among head coach Tim Plotke’s top runners in her first season of cross country last fall.

A high honor roll student and member of the National Honor Society, Jerantowski will play for head coach Michael Moynihan at Northwestern, an NCAA Division I institution located in Evanston, Ill., and a member of the Big Ten Conference. Moynihan has led the Wildcats to a 10-24-4 record over two seasons. Northwestern has made two NCAA Tournament appearances in the program’s 20-year history.

Also a high honor roll student, Fritz will play for head coach Brian Rigby at Illinois-Chicago, an NCAA Division I institution located in Chicago and a member of the Horizon League. Fritz will have a unique opportunity at UIC, as the Flames will begin intercollegiate competition in women’s soccer next fall. Rigby is a former men’s soccer standout at UIC, and has served as an assistant coach at both DePaul University and Loyola University. 


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here