Team Information

Cut/No-Cut Sport? Cut sport
Levels: Varsity / Junior Varsity / Junior Varsity 2 / Freshman A / Freshman B
Start Date: February 27, 2023
Head Coach: Jay Bulev
Varsity Assistant Coaches: Jennifer Merlitti, Heather Ortiz
JV Coach: Alden Zimlich
Freshman Coach: Manolo Rider-Sanchez
Freshman Assistant Coach: Caitlyn Raquet
Goalkeepers Coach: Jim Dzialo

Varsity Schedule
JV Schedule
Frosh A Schedule

Schedule

Tryout Information

*For the most up-to-date tryout information, click here.

Tryout Date

The following are tentative dates and times and may slightly change after a new head coach is hired. More information to follow.

Players may be asked to tryout at different times at coaches discretion. Roster placements will be made on 3/1 or 3/2

• Monday, Feb. 27
  • Sophomores, Juniors & Seniors - 3:45-5:45 pm Stevenson High School Game Field 13 - see map (wear cleats)
    • If we cannot get outside due to weather, we will go 6-7:30 am (wear cleats) - Highland Park Fieldhouse, 2205 Skokie Valley Rd, Highland Park 60035
    • Transportation is on your own to the Fieldhouse, but will be provided from Highland Park Fieldhouse to Stevenson after tryouts.
  • Freshmen - 3:45-5:45 pm Stevenson High School Game Field 13 - see map (wear cleats)
    • If we cannot get outside due to weather, we will go 6-8 pm - Stevenson Fieldhouse 3-4 (wear indoor shoes)
• Tuesday, Feb. 28
  • Sophomores, Juniors & Seniors - 3:45-5:45 pm Stevenson High School Game Field 13 - see map (wear cleats)
    • If we cannot get outside due to weather, we will go 6-7:30 am (wear cleats) - Highland Park Fieldhouse, 2205 Skokie Valley Rd, Highland Park 60035
    • Transportation is on your own to the Fieldhouse, but will be provided from Highland Park Fieldhouse to Stevenson after tryouts.
  • Freshmen - 3:45-5:45 pm Stevenson High School Game Field 13 - see map (wear cleats)
    • If we cannot get outside due to weather, we will go 6-8 pm - Stevenson Fieldhouse 3-4 (wear indoor shoes)
• Wednesday, Mar. 1
  • Sophomores, Juniors & Seniors - 3:45-5:45 pm Stevenson High School Game Field 13 - see map (wear cleats)
    • If we cannot get outside due to weather, we will go 6-7:30 am (wear cleats) - Highland Park Fieldhouse, 2205 Skokie Valley Rd, Highland Park 60035
    • Transportation is on your own to the Fieldhouse, but will be provided from Highland Park Fieldhouse to Stevenson after tryouts.
  • Freshmen - 3:45-5:45 pm Stevenson High School Game Field 13 - see map (wear cleats)
    • If we cannot get outside due to weather, we will go 6-8 pm - Stevenson Fieldhouse 3-4 (wear indoor shoes)
• Thursday, Mar. 2
  • Sophomores, Juniors & Seniors - 3:45-5:45 pm Stevenson High School Game Field 13 - see map (wear cleats)
    • If we cannot get outside due to weather, we will varsity at 6-7 am on the PWC Turf and JV at 6-7 am in the Sportscenter
  • Freshmen - 3:45-5:45 pm Stevenson High School Game Field 13 - see map (wear cleats)
    • If we cannot get outside due to weather, we will go 6-8 pm - Stevenson Fieldhouse 3-4 (wear indoor shoes)

Practices will begin on Friday

• Friday, Mar. 3
  • Varsity - 3:45-5:45 pm on Game Field 13 or 6-8 pm on Fieldhouse 3-4
  • JV - 3:45-5:45 pm on Game Field 13 or 4:45-6 pm PWC Turf
  • Freshmen - 3:45-5:45 pm on Game Field 13 or 3:30-4:45 pm PWC Turf
• Saturday, Mar. 4
  • 9 am - Freshman Green/Gold Scrimmage on Game Field 13
  • 9 am - JV Green/Gold Scrimmage on Stadium
  • 10:30 am - Varsity Green/Gold Scrimmage on Stadium
  • Parent Meeting - 10:30 am (Location TBD, more information to follow)

Informational Meetings

• Thursday, Jan. 31 | 3:45-4:15 p.m. | Room 1204 (Room 2004)

Registation

• Every athlete is required to complete several forms in order to participate:
• View Athletics Participation Forms

Records and History

Team Championships

IHSA Sectional
2019

IHSA Regional
2019, 2018, 2014, 2012, 2008, 2007, 2005, 2004

North Suburban Conference
2019, 2016

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SHS Girls Soccer Season Summaries

Season	Won	Lost	Tied	Coach	Accomplishments
1982-83	6	8	1	Tom Habley
1983-84	1	11	1	Tom Habley
1984-85	4	8	2	Tom Habley
1985-86	11	3	5	Tom Habley
1986-87	9	11		Tom Habley
1987-88	10	8	3	Tom Habley
1988-89	15	2	2	Randy Anderson
1989-90	12	9		Randy Anderson
1990-91	14	6	1	Randy Anderson
1991-92	12	8	2	Randy Anderson
1992-93	10	11	3	Randy Anderson
1993-94	9	14	2	Randy Anderson
1994-95	14	4	5	Mark Schartner
1995-96	15	8		Mark Schartner
1996-97	11	6	5	Mark Schartner
1997-98	10	6	4	Mark Schartner
1998-99	10	5	6	Mark Schartner
1999-00	11	7	4	Mark Schartner
2000-01	12	6	3	Mark Schartner
2001-02	9	8	1	Mark Schartner
2002-03	10	5	4	Mark Schartner
2003-04	14	4	2	Mark Schartner	IHSA AA regional champion
2004-05	12	4	3	Mark Schartner	IHSA AA regional champion
2005-06	10	8		Mark Schartner
2006-07	17	2		Mark Schartner	IHSA AA regional champion
2007-08	11	7	1	Mark Schartner	IHSA AA regional champion
2008-09	11	4	4	Mark Schartner
2009-10	14	5	2	Mark Schartner
2010-11	9	7	5	Mark Schartner
2011-12	16	6	1	Mark Schartner	IHSA 3A regional champion
2012-13	9	6	4	Mark Schartner
2013-14	7	11	4	Kevin Heffernan	IHSA 3A regional champion
2014-15	10	7	2	Kevin Heffernan
2015-16	9	8	1	Kevin Heffernan	NSC champion
2016-17	5	10	2	Kevin Heffernan
2017-18	11	7	3	PepeJon Chavez	IHSA 3A regional champion
2018-19	22	2	2	PepeJon Chavez	IHSA 3A regional and sectional champion; NSC champion
2019-20					No season
2020-21	15	4	1	PepeJon Chavez	IHSA 3A regional champion
2021-22	16	3	1	PepeJon Chavez	IHSA 3A regional champion
All Time	433	259	92

​
Coaching Records

Name	Seasons	Record
Tom Habley	6 (1983-88)	41-49-12
Randy Anderson	6 (1989-94)	72-50-10
Mark Schartner	19 (1995-2013)	225-108-54
Kevin Heffernan	4 (2014-17)	31-36-9
PepeJon Chavez	2 (2018-2022)	64-16-7

Program Overview

Coaching Staff

• Varsity Head Coach: PepeJon Chavez (pchavez@d125.org / 612-987-5607)
• Assistant Coach: Jennifer Merlitti
• Assistant Coach: Heather Ortiz
• GK Coach: Scott Rose
• JV Coach: Alden Zimlich, and assistant coach Manolo Rider-Sanchez
• JV2 Coach: Jim Dzialo
• Freshman Coach: Jay Bulev, and assistant coach Caitlyn Raquet

Program Vision & Action Plan

The health of a successful program begins with a student athlete’s desire to represent their school and become a living example of Stevenson Girls Soccer. To display Composure, Confidence and Commitment to the Community both on and off the field, in order to attract community support and have future Patriots dream of representing Stevenson Girls Soccer when they grow up.

Program Values

• Enhance and support the broader educational vision and values of the school.
• Promote and develop the emotional, mental, physical, social growth, and personal responsibility of students within the context of a competitive environment.

• Support and represent ourselves as individuals as a part of a team serving Stevenson, our families and community through toughness and sacrifice. Community is the foundation of our program and our ability to stay connected with community programs and clubs will allow us to sustain a competitive program.

  Confidence that we are a program that focuses on competitive development at all levels of play will attract players from Academy and Select clubs that disallow High School participation.

  Composure and balance in both the mental & physical sides of development are crucial in order to shift the mindset about who we are as a competitive program in IHSA and our community.

  Commitment from all players/families, including local clubs at all levels to the competitive developmental vision of the program to establish itself as an exemplary High School Girls Soccer Program.

Competitive Developmental Process

• Systems of play will be uniform for each level with tactical modifications based on opponents & personnel

• Attacking style of play with emphasis on organized possession & effective build up play

• Fast paced with a balance of technical & physical play

• Defensively organized lines working together as a unit with their keeper

Coaching Curriculum & Lesson Plans

Stevenson will follow the structure of the US Youth Soccer Program using the Player Positioning Number System for Roles & Responsibilities. A year round approach focused on periodization to have our player’s peaking in the proper time during the season. Training curriculums will be developed to paint a picture of the game with balanced work to rest ratio in training & matches.

Player Identification Process & Tryouts

Team Eligibility -- MUST HAVE PHYSICAL INTO ATHLETIC OFFICE TO PARTICIPATE

Freshman Teams: 9th grade
J.V. Teams: 9th-12th grades
Varsity Team: 9th-12 grades

Player Identification Criteria

Technical: Application of skill & skill development, ball control, receiving, first & second touch, passing and 1v1 creativity attacking/defending, shooting, heading and shielding

Tactical: Systems of play, positional roles and responsibilities, decision making, 4 phases and identification of opponents tactics.

Physical: Speed, endurance, strength, agility, flexibility, tackling, body shape & mobility.

Psychosocial: Who, What, When, Where, Why, interrelation of the individual within the team. How & What we do in Action and Behavior to influence the team and program environment.

Tryout Schedule & Program Commitment

*WEATHER UPDATE WILL BE POSTED ON GSO WEBSITE 24 hours prior to Day 1
Shuttle Details Including Early Start Transportation will be distributed prior to Day 1

Off Season Training

• Club Tournaments & Winter Training

• Conditioning & SAQ

• Touches & Coerver Exercises

• Winter Open Play & Weightroom Mid January weather dependent

• Injury prevention & recovery

• Summer camp

 

2022 Tryout Activities Overview:

Technical

• 50 Juggles Feet Only (5 minutes) *40 Yards w/ Ball
• Cuts Test
• Turns Test
• Passing w & w/out pressure

Tactical

• Shooter-Keeper
• 1v1’s
• 2v2v2 / 3v3v3 / 4/4/4 Modified Possession Activities 4v4 games
• 5v3 games
• 7v7 games
• 9v9 games

Physical

• 25 Yard Shuttle Runs *T-Agility
• 120’s x 5
• Push ups
• Sit ups

Psychosocial

• Individual, partner and small group activities
• Why we play Stevenson Soccer
• Will vs. Skill
• Competency vs Enthusiasm
• Toughness & Sacrifice

12 Month Stevenson Girls Soccer Program Vision

• Early pre-season / Club
  • Endurance
  • Strength & Power
  • Speed / Agility / Quickness / Balance
  • Technical & Tactical
     
• Late pre-season / Club tournaments & summer play
  • Endurance
  • Technical & Tactical
  • Speed / Agility / Quickness / Balance
  • Recovery & Flexibility sessions
     
• In-season
  • Team training sessions
  • Pre game walk-throughs
  • Set Pieces
  • Recovery & Flexibility sessions
  • Film sessions
  • Position Specific Training
  • Small Group Training
  • Combined Program Training
  • Observation practice
     
• Off-season
  • Stevenson Summer league

Varsity Commitment

• Daily practices including some Saturday’s Feb 28 to Late May
• 2-4 Matches per week
• Video analysis
• Winter Season (1-2 days / Strength & Conditioning)
• Summer (1-2 days League / Strength & Conditioning)
   

Junior Varsity 1 & 2 / Sophomore / Freshman Commitment

• Daily practices including some Saturday’s Feb 28 to Late May

• 2-3 Matches per week

• Winter Season (1-2 days / Strength & Conditioning)

• Summer (1-2 days League / Strength & Conditioning)

Season Announcements

*Save the Date

Pictures: DATE TBD
Varsity- 4:15 / JV 1&2- 4:25 / Fresh A&B- 4:35 (Forum)

Spring Break Schedule
Varsity: Home Game Friday March 18th. Vs Vernon Hills 4:45pm / JV @ Vernon Hills 5:30pm / Practice Sat March 27th late PM
Freshman: Program Workouts

Important Dates: Senior Night / Team Banquet / Prom / AP, SAT, Finals

Head Coach Bio

Jay Bulev

1^st Season

Jay began his coaching career when he was in high school as a volunteer after he was sidelined by an ACL injury. Coaching was a way for him to stay involved with soccer while recovering from his surgery. He loved the experience and went on to get his USSF coaching license and began coaching travel soccer in Wilmette. His passion for teaching soccer in a fun and different way was heavily influenced by Italian coaches during an exchange program in the summer of 2004.

Bulev was originally hired at Stevenson in 2020 to serve as the head girls' freshman coach and will now be the Head Coach leading the girls soccer program. A New Trier graduate and soccer veteran coach, Bulev has experience in the high school realm and with several clubs in northern Illinois. Jay's passion for the game of soccer started on the streets, parks, schoolyards, and beaches of Bulgaria where he grew up. "I vividly remember that between the ages of 6 and 12 all that mattered to me and my friends was playing soccer all day every day.  The competition was always fierce, but it was also more fun than anything else."Jay has been coaching youth soccer for over 15 years with various travel clubs, most recently with Green White Soccer Club where he served as Director of Coaching and led their U18 girls team to the President’s Cup National Championship.