By Angel Dominguez
The Dominican Stars softball team’s 2025 season looms, but so does the uncertainty surrounding a potential new home in Keystone Field, for the team.
Over the past year, Dominican officials have been negotiating a potential lease of the Keystone Field to serve as the new home for the team in the coming years.
However, hesitation from community members has led to a delayed vote on the agreement’s approval. The delay includes a strong reaction from River Forest residents as well as an online petition against leasing the Keystone Park’s field to Dominican garnering just short of 1,000 signatures.
As reported by The Wednesday Journal, numerous community members voiced their concerns about the potential deal at a board meeting on Dec. 9th, 2024. Athletic director Dr. John Planek and head coach Cristina Lukas were both in attendance.
Planek spoke with the Dominican Star about the potential future for the softball team at Keystone Park. He stated that negotiations are still underway, and Dominican’s reputation had been negatively affected by word spreading on social media, acknowledging that it created a miscommunication and disconnect between the university and the River Forest community.
Lukas emphasized that a potential new home could be crucial to increasing student attendance at games, noting that its close proximity to the River Forest campus could benefit fans and players alike.
Despite the uncertainty, Lukas is optimistic about the team’s upcoming season and spoke on the team’s preparations for what could be a historical season for the program.
The Stars ended last season with a 39-8 record, breaking the program’s single season wins record.
They fell just one win shy of breaking the conference record that stands at 40 wins. The program has seen huge success across the last three years and boasted a historical feat last year, capturing the NACC regular season and tournament championships for the first time as well as clinching its first birth in the NCAA tournament.
Coach Lukas has high expectations for the upcoming season, sharing that they have put together the toughest schedule the team has seen in its history.
The 2025 season begins with trips to Florida and Kentucky, where the team will play 14 games, with eight of the opposing teams all being ranked within the Top 25 at some point last season. Among them is Trine University, the 2023 NCAA Division III national champions.
The team also welcomed new assistant coach Shawn Jarmuz. Both Planek and Lukas praised his arrival, noting that his experience in the NACC as well as his background in psychology and counseling will be a huge addition to the team.
Returning senior players, pitcher Emma Woodhouse and shortstop Liliana Santoyo, are enthusiastic about the upcoming season. They acknowledged the pressure of following up a successful season, but said the team feels confident and ready.
With this being their final season, both players have acknowledged that this one will be it is bittersweet, but also a chance to leave it all on the field.
The softball team’s season will begin on Sunday, March 2nd while their home opener against Lake Forest College is set for Sunday March 23rd.
Follow Dominican Athletics for full season schedule.
SEASON PREVIEW
Returning Starters
- All-Region DP/P, Emma Woodhouse
- All-Conference SS, Liliana Santoyo
- 1B, Gillian Czubernat
- LF, Hanna Voegtle
- RF. Paytin Salfi
- C, Kailee Diaz Randall
- 3B, Ryley Davis
Key Additions
- Rhiannon Rubio, P
- Raegyn Davis, C
- Kayla Amormino, OF
- Sara Cornell, OF
- Bella Olmos, 2B
Key Departures
- All-Region, Kayla Faber-Courmane, P
- All-Region, Donatela Sommesi, 2B
- All-Conference, Geneva Pollman, CF