BRAINERD — When the soccer ball finds the foot of junior Lilly DeRosier during a game she has a simple approach — score.
The forward for the Brainerd Warriors has been doing a lot of that lately. In a 4-3 victory
Thursday, Sept. 12, DeRosier scored two first-half goals and assisted on a third to hand Brainerd a 3-1 halftime lead.
She tallied three goals in Brainerd’s
Sept. 19.
“Beat the defender and score,” DeRosier said. “Or if I can’t score, find a teammate who is open and can score.”
Brainerd Warriors head coach Grant Gmeinder said the success of his girls’ soccer team would depend on its ability to score. He wasn’t worried about his veteran defense or his savvy goalie. He was concerned about offensive production. He’s not worried anymore.
“She’s been really consistent is the word I would use for her, too,” Gmeinder said. “I think she has scored in every single one of our wins this season, which is a pretty impressive stat. She’s scoring in the games where we’re scoring a bunch of goals and she’s finding ways to score in close games. None were bigger than her goal against Sartell to start that game off.”
Steve Kohls / Brainerd Dispatch
DeRosier took Gmiender’s words to heart. She put it upon herself to score more. A move from midfield to forward helped and she worked hard during the offseason to become a better finisher.
“I feel like it’s all coming together for me,” DeRosier said. “It’s just the position move is the big thing. Last year when I got Athlete that was the thing. I was playing forward then. You just have so many more opportunities to score at forward. I don’t have to get back as much on the defensive end and that’s a big part of it.”
In Brainerd’s 2-0 Central Lakes Conference and Section 8-3A
on Sept. 17, DeRosier scored the game’s first goal.
My goal has always been, wherever the coach puts me, I want to play good there and give the best of my ability to help the team be the most successful it can be.
Lilly DeRosier
“We’re 8-2 and we’ve played some really good teams,” DeRosier said. “We had a big win against Sartell, which is huge, especially losing to that team twice last year going into the playoffs. We beat Alex, which historically has been a big challenge for us. Even losing to St. Michael-Albertville 3-0 I think all of that showed us that we’re ready. I think this could be a really big season for us. It’s super good that we’re having the success we’re having already so early in the season.”
DeRosier tallied a goal and two assists in the Warriors’
Sept. 10. Prior to that 3-0 loss to St. Michael-Albertville, Brainerd rattled off four straight wins. DeRosier scored in a
.
She scored the game’s first goal in a
. She added a second goal to start the second half.
Steve Kohls / Brainerd Dispatch
“100% yes,” DeRosier said about the game slowing down for her. “That was a big thing for me too this year. I’m able to see the whole field and see everything that is happening. When I get the ball, I’m not super rushed. I’m not in a hurry to get rid of it. I know I can keep the ball and hold the ball. That’s a big thing this year. If I don’t have anywhere to go, or no one to pass to, I can just hold the ball. Wait for my teammates to get up the field or play it back.”
Brainerd blanked
with DeRosier scoring one goal and she tallied three times in a
.
“Every year she’s come back to us, she’s come back better,” Gmeinder said. “She comes back and has added to her game and has improved. She’s reached that point as a soccer player where she can do a lot of things by herself. She can dribble past three people or make something happen by herself. That’s great and she has that ability, but we’re at our best when she doesn’t have to. She’s embraced that. She’s letting the game come to her and making plays for her teammates. Taking the pressure off of herself has allowed her to erupt. Teams can’t key on her. If they try she’ll just move the ball and make the right play.”
DeRosier said another key to her offensive explosion is her trust in her teammates. As a forward, she can help at critical times defensively. But she doesn’t have to do that very often.
“It’s about finding a balance and knowing when to go back to help,” DeRosier said. “I’m also able to stay up and not go back and trust my teammates when I know they can handle it.
“It’s great to have those opportunities to play up knowing my teammates have my back on defense. I think everything works from the back. Having Chloe (Patrick) be able to make all of the saves, but not only that being able to get me the ball, whether that’s punting it up to me or passing it to a defender who can get the ball to me is important. That has been super helpful this year.”
Steve Kohls / Brainerd Dispatch
DeRosier leads the Warriors with 14 goals to go with three assists. That’s helped Brainerd to a 6-0 conference record, which has them sitting second by one point behind Sartell, who it’s beaten. The Sabres are 6-1 in the conference.
The Warriors are also 2-1 against section opponents and own a Quality Results Formula ranking of seven in Class 3A, which is tops in the section.
“My big goal was to score a lot and help the team offensively,” DeRosier said. “I think my other big goal always is to help the team in whatever role they need me. Going into the season, I didn’t know if I was going to play forward or mid. My goal has always been, wherever the coach puts me, I want to play good there and give the best of my ability to help the team be the most successful it can be.”
Steve Kohls / Brainerd Dispatch
Gmeinder couldn’t stress how relieving it is to have an unselfish athlete, but also one he never has to question her work ethic.
“It’s rare,” he said. “I’ve seen kids who have reached her level, but none that have exceeded when it comes to work ethic. It’s contagious. I just look at our team, with the way our whole team has embraced that mentality. A lot of that comes from Lilly and other girls too. Lilly just personifies that so well.”
JEREMY MILLSOP may be reached at 855-5856 or jeremy.millsop@brainerddispatch.com. Follow on Twitter at www.twitter.com/jeremymillsop.
Steve Kohls / Brainerd Dispatch
Sport: Girls soccer
Position: Forward
Year: Junior
Age: 17
Height: 5-foot-4
Career highlight: Getting a yellow card this year for delaying the play against Sartell. “It was a funny moment,” she said.
Other sports: Hockey, track and field
Grade-point average: 4.0
Favorite class: AP seminar and yearbook
Favorite teacher: Mr. Rick Jensen
Favorite food: Sushi
Favorite movie: “McFarland USA”
Favorite athlete: Sophia Smith, forward on the U.S. Women’s team
What other activities are you involved in: Sources of strength, key club and student council
What sport do you wish you would have played: Gymnastics
Who inspires you: Older brother Riley DeRosier
Future plans: Play collegiate soccer and study physical therapy
Parents: Landy and Paul DeRosier
Other notable performances
Preston Bernander, boys’ soccer, scored two goals against Sartell, one against Sauk Rapids and added a goal and an assist against Bemidji.
Gracie Jackovich, girls’ soccer, finished with two assists against Sartell.
Chloe Patrick, girls’ soccer, finished with seven saves in a 2-0 shutout of Sartell.
Aralyn Marcelo, girls’ swimming and diving, won two individual events and was on a winning relay against St. Cloud Tech.
Mya Tautges, girls’ swimming and diving, won two individual events and was on two winning relays against St. Cloud Tech.
Levi LeMieur, girls’ soccer, finished with a goal and two assists against Sauk Rapids.
Ethan Kosloski, boys’ soccer, finished with two goals against Sauk Rapids.
