When she was 6 years old, Lemont’s Madison Hruby had a decision to make. Her two biggest interests at the time were soccer and dancing.
“I was on a soccer team and a dance team and I told my parents I wanted to go on a travel team and go around the country,” Hruby said. “They told me if I wanted to do that, I’d have to pick one or the other. So I was either going to be a soccer player or a dancer.
“My parents told me they thought I’d be more of a physical player on a soccer team than a dancer on a stage. I said, ‘OK,’ and I decided to go for soccer. And I’m very glad I did.”
So is her high school team. Hruby, a senior midfielder, has been a catalyst all season. She scored two goals Thursday night to lead host Lemont to a 4-0 South Suburban Blue win over Tinley Park.
Caroline Szczepaniak tallied a goal and assist for for Lemont (14-5, 9-0), while Gabriela Kuruc scored a goal and Ava Bergeson added an assist. The defense of Bergeson, Allison Tilly, Ava DeMaio and Isabella Bradac didn’t allow a shot on goal, making an easy shutout for Lauren Tracy.
Maggie Stachowicz chalked up seven saves for Tinley Park (9-7, 7-4).
As for Hruby, these days the only dancing she’s doing is around defenders on the soccer field.
“I definitely made the right decision,” she said. “I’m a very emotional person and I take my emotions out on the field. But I think any time I’m on the field, everything else goes away, and I think my parents noticed that when I was really young.
“When I was out there, all the problems went away, and it was just me and the ball and my team. I gave it everything I had. My passion for soccer just showed.”
Hruby’s goal with just over a minute left in the first half made it 2-0, giving Lemont a bit of a cushion after several missed chances following Kuruc’s opening goal in the ninth minute.
Hruby added a goal in the second half on a penalty kick.
Szczepaniak said Lemont can always count on Hruby to be a playmaker.
“I feel like her speed is definitely one thing a lot of players don’t have,” Szczepaniak said. “She can easily take a touch and get around you or I’ll play a ball down the line and she’ll somehow get it.
“She’s also very physical and aggressive and goes after every ball.”
Hruby is up to 16 goals this season, which is even more impressive when you consider she had been a defender her whole life before this spring.
“This is my first season ever playing a midfield position,” Hruby said. “I’m giving myself more confidence and proving to myself that I can do it.
“I want to prove that I can play this position so I work 10 times harder to be able to achieve not just for myself, but for my team as well, to be successful.”
Lemont coach Rick Prangen appreciates the chemistry that all of Thursday’s goal scorers have with each other.
“I think in the second half, Madi, Gabby and Caroline really started linking up and creating some more chances,” Prangen said. “(Hruby)’s got a lot of pace and she’s just a competitive kid.”
And one who likes to take on a new challenge. The position switch has been smoother than she expected.
“I didn’t know how it would go and the toughest thing is the movement is a lot different,” Hruby said. “I was a center back, so I never really made runs, and now I’m making runs constantly.
“I feel like I’m running 10 times more, but I love it.”