Chicagoland Soccer Players to Watch
By Patrick Z. McGavin
Resuming a practice that started two years ago, Chicagoland Soccer presents the top prospects among its subscribing teams.
The Players to Watch roster spotlights the top players within the 55-member network that makes Chicagoland Soccer possible. The list, along with the Chicagoland Soccer All-State Team which is open to all Illinois prep soccer players, shares similar modes of evaluation. Like the selection criteria for the all-state team, the dominant measures here include individual skill, contribution to team success, performance relative to quality of competition and high-profile game performance.
This list is composed of players with the projected greatest impact for their teams, the game and the give-and-take nature of the season. With one month of the season complete, it has become possible to better identify the top prospects. With so many teams, this list helps the fan and observer identify the players to give extra attention to on the field.
The list encompasses elite college prospects among the top prep players who are likely to shape the season through the first week of November and the state championship games.
With the current campaign at a crucial juncture, the time is now to cast a light on the players who have provided either a proven track record or demonstrated the early promise that makes them one to watch.
The list is alphabetically arranged, with each player listed by school, position and class year. Every team in the network is represented. The list is more curatorial than inclusive. Other players are likely to make their names and build their reputations as the season pushes forward. The players listed here have already warranted a further look.
Fernando Alvarado, Lane, forward, junior
Josh Amaro, St. Charles North, midfielder, senior
Shareef Amor, Metea Valley, forward, senior
Dilan Anweiler, Plainfield North, forward, sophomore
David Arroyo, Lane, midfielder, junior
Nikita Bankevich, Deerfield, forward, senior
Fernando Barragan, Reavis, midfielder, senior
Adrian Barrera, Morton, forward, senior
Truitt Battin, St. Charles East, midfielder, senior
Matt Beaulieu, St. Charles North, forward, senior
Jack Beausoleil, Wheaton North, forward, senior
Russell Beaupre, Fremd, forward, senior
Langston Bedgood, St. Rita, forward, junior
Jack Belloli, Geneva, midfielder, senior
Matt Berry, Metea Valley, midfielder, senior
Keith Bevans, St. Ignatius, forward, senior
Rohan Bhargava, Naperville Central, midfielder, junior
Gray Biddle, St. Charles East, defender, senior
Kyle Blasingame, Oswego East, midfielder, junior
Tom Bludgen, Neuqua Valley, midfielder, senior
Joey Boduch, Prospect, midfielder, senior
Dominic de Boer, New Trier, midfielder, senior
Jaylen Brooks, Metea Valley, forward, senior
Samuel Bull, Downers Grove North, forward, sophomore
Alex Canfield, Crystal Lake South, forward, junior
Isaac Carnalla, Morton, midfielder, senior
Israel Carranza, Morton, defender, senior
Omar Carreno, Oswego, forward, senior
Connor Chapa, Downers Grove North, midfielder, senior
Alex Chavez, Streamwood, midfielder, senior
Nick Clarizio, Hersey, keeper, senior
Sean Conley, St. Francis, midfielder, senior
Matteo Costa, Lake Park, forward, senior
Ryan Coughlin, Crystal Lake South, midfielder, senior
Jake Crawford, Naperville Central, midfielder, senior
Ghandi Cruz, Metea Valley, keeper, junior
Justin D’Alessandro, Plainfield South, defender, sophomore
Gabriel D’Amico, St. Charles North, midfielder, senior
Ryan Dufty, Wheaton Warrenville South, midfielder, junior
David Duwal, Leyden, keeper, senior
Nolan Ehlers, Warren, midfielder, junior
Kevin Eloiza, Buffalo Grove, senior
Patrick Elster, Plainfield North, midfielder, senior
Declan Ermer, Wheaton Warrenville South, forward, senior
Alex Espino, Young, defender, junior
Matt Espinoza, Leyden, midfielder, senior
Joel Estrada, Solorio, keeper, sophomore
Paolo Favuzzi, York, midfielder, junior
Logan Finnegan, Wheaton Academy, midfielder, junior
Declan Flanagan, Prospect, midfielder, sophomore
Alexander Flores, DGS, midfielder, senior
Ford Frazer, Oswego East, forward, senior
Colin Fromm, Geneva, forward, senior
Braeden Gagliano, Downers Grove North, forward, senior
Joe Gaither, Wheaton North, forward, senior
Danny Gaytan, Oswego, midfielder, senior
Tyler Getzinger, Crystal Lake South, midfielder, sophomore
Miguel Garcia, Batavia, defender, senior
Jake Gerenraich, Young, midfielder, senior
Mario Giase, Willowbrook, keeper, senior
Noah Glorioso, Waubonsie Valley, midfielder, senior
Sean Gooze, New Trier, forward, senior
Christian Gonzalez, Plainfield South, midfielder, senior
Ben Gordon, Glenbrook North, defender, senior
Christopher Gory, DGS, keeper, sophomore
Brad Grabowski, Crystal Lake South, forward, senior
Ryan Grady, Deerfield, keeper, senior
Jonny Gray, Lyons, senior, forward
Joe Grendzinski, Batavia, defender, senior
Matt Griffin, St. Ignatius, forward, senior
David Gripman, Loyola, midfielder, senior
Jaime Guillen, Oak Park and River Forest, midfielder
Nick Gulli, St. Francis, midfielder, senior
Daniel Gunther, New Trier, defender, junior
Elias Guzman, Young, forward, junior
Jai Hsieh-Bailey, Oak Park and River Forest, defender, junior
Jack Hammontree, Deerfield, defender, junior
Michael Handel, Carmel, defender, senior
Brian Hanus, Buffalo Grove, defender, senior
Max Hardin, Batavia, midfielder, senior
Jack Hartle, St. Francis, midfielder, sophomore
Peder Harvey, Grayslake Central, forward, senior
Luke Herard, St. Francis, midfielder, senior
Anthony Hernandez, Addison Trail, forward, sophomore
Eduardo Hernandez, Leyden, senior, forward
Elias Hernandez, South Elgin, midfielder
Rohan Hindia, Waubonsie Valley, keeper, senior
Eduardo Huerta, Addison Trail, midfielder, senior
Nathan Huerter, Oswego East, keeper, senior
Sumani Husseini, Wheaton Warrenville South, forward, senior
Jose Ibarra, Streamwood, defender, sophomore
Yousef Ismail, Plainfield North, midfielder, senior
Colin Iverson, Naperville North, defender, senior
Kamil Jarzabek, Bartlett, junior, forward
Owen Jarrell, Naperville Central, midfielder, senior
Christian Jimenez, Loyola, midfielder, senior
Josue Jimenez, Plainfield South, defender, junior
Jesus Juarez, Lake Park, forward, senior
Mark Judka, Reavis, forward, junior
Christian Kozaczka, Buffalo Grove, defender, senior
Jack Kilgallon, Wheaton Academy, forward, senior
Seamus Kilgallon, Wheaton Academy, midfielder, senior
Ryan Kim, Buffalo Grove, midfielder, junior
Anthony Klos, Benet, midfielder, sophomore
Patrick Koenig, Naperville North, forward, junior
Parker Kolb, St. Charles North, defender, senior
Ty Konrad, Naperville North, forward, junior
Johnny Kramer, Oswego, defender, senior
Andrew Kuhn, New Trier, defender, senior
David Kuhn, Neuqua Valley, midfielder, senior
John Kulis, Grayslake Central, forward, senior
Nolan Laczynski, Oswego East, midfielder, senior
Evan Lang, Metea Valley, midfielder, senior
Nick Langdon, Crystal Lake South, defender, senior
Eli Larson, Carmel, defender, senior
Tyler Laurich, Marmion, midfielder, junior
Christian Lekki, Lake Park, keeper, senior
Collin Leider, Loyola, midfielder, senior
Dorian Lesiuk, Fremd, forward, senior
Patrick Limanowka, Prospect, forward, senior
Jesus Limon, Streamwood, forward
Skip Locke, Lyons, midfielder, senior
Sergio Lucero Herrera, Rolling Meadows, midfielder, senior
Vincent Luglio, North Shore Country Day, forward, sophomore
James Lynch, Metea Valley, forward, senior
James Maguire, Oak Park and River Forest, midfielder, senior
George Maridis, St. Charles East, forward, senior
Esme McCarthy, Young, defender, junior
Joe Meade, York, forward, junior
Cris Medina, Warren, midfielder, junior
Tim Milner, Carmel, forward, junior
Daniel Montaquila, Loyola, defender, senior
Sunday Moo, Wheaton North, defender, senior
Bryan Mora, Streamwood, midfielder, senior
Melvin Mora, Addison Trail, midfielder, senior
Chris Morales, Geneva, keeper, senior
Aaron Moreno-Lopez, St. Patrick, midfielder, junior
Dan Morgan, Waubonsie Valley, midfielder, junior
Jack Morrissey, Wheaton North, forward, senior
Jack Musial, York, midfielder, junior
Peyton Myers, Prospect, forward, senior
Jose Navarro, Neuqua Valley, forward, senior
J.C. Noyola, Yorkville, midfielder
Cathal O’Connor, Lane, midfielder, senior
Sammy Olague, Rolling Meadows, forward, senior
Nolan O’Malley, Lyons, forward, senior
Dani Orozco, Grayslake Central, midfielder, senior
Sean Osoba, Neuqua Valley, midfielder, senior
Tyler Padilla, St. Rita, defender, junior
Brandon Palid, Bartlett, forward, senior
Adler Palos, Batavia, midfielder, senior
Victor Pawlik, Lake Park, defender, senior
Christian Perez, Morton, midfielder, sophomore
Jesus Perez, Morton, forward sophomore
Joel Peruba, Geneva, forward, senior
Franco Presta, Lake Park, midfielder, senior
Adan Ramirez, Rolling Meadows, midfielder, junior
Cesar Recendez, Naperville North, defender, junior
Gabriel Regalado, Young, midfielder, senior
Nick Renfro, Benet, midfielder, junior
Rudy Reyes, Bartlett, senior, forward
Christopher Reynoso, Taft, forward, senior
Jose Rico Ramirez, Reavis, midfielder, junior
David Rizzo, Willowbrook, midfielder, senior
Mason-Roberts Jones, North Shore Country Day, midfielder, freshman
Jake Rodgers, Yorkville, midfielder, senior
Jonathan Rodriguez, St. Patrick, midfielder, junior
Sebastian Rodriguez, Warren, forward, sophomore
Uriel Rojo, Addison Trail, forward, junior
Franklin Rutkowski, Benet, junior, forward
Carlos Sagols, Plainfield South, forward, junior
Omar Salgado, Solorio, defender, senior
Alex Sanchez, Solorio, forward, junior
Carlos Sanchez, St. Rita, forward, junior
Sam Sandoval, Addison Trail, keeper, senior
Luis Saucedo, St. Patrick, forward, junior
Trey Schmidt, Hersey, midfielder, senior
Luke Schnitker, St. Charles East, midfielder, senior
Jake Schoffstall, Fremd, defender, junior
Josh Segura, Warren, forward, junior
Julio Segura, Yorkville, forward, senior
James Serrano, Marmion, forward, senior
Owen Setran, Wheaton Academy, forward, senior
R.J. Simmons, Wheaton Academy, keeper, senior
Anthony Sisler, South Elgin, forward, senior
Zach Smith, Naperville North, midfielder, junior
Joey Sommer, St. Charles North, defender, senior
Blake Soto, Oak Park and River Forest, defender,
Christopher Sowers, Marmion, midfielder
Cameron Strang, Naperville Central, defender/midfielder, senior
Ronan Sullivan, St. Ignatius, midfielder, junior
Josh Taboda, Streamwood, defender, junior
Anthony Tambellini, Fremd, midfielder, senior
Joshua Torres, St. Patrick, forward, sophomore
Brandon Tovar, Taft, midfielder, sophomore
Steven Udy, Oswego, midfielder, junior
Ko Vandeneijkhoff, Deerfield, defender, sophomore
Jonathan Vasquez, Solorio, midfielder, senior
Carlos Villa, Solorio, forward, senior
Ari Wainer, Deerfield, forward, sophomore
Logan Weaver, New Trier, midfielder, senior
Ronan Wilcox, Hersey, midfielder, sophomore
Ty Williams, Lyons, midfielder, senior
Jeff Wolski, Willowbrook, defender, senior
Aidan Zavala, North Shore Country Day, midfielder, senior
By Patrick Z. McGavin
Resuming a practice that started two years ago, Chicagoland Soccer presents the top prospects among its subscribing teams.
The Players to Watch roster spotlights the top players within the 55-member network that makes Chicagoland Soccer possible. The list, along with the Chicagoland Soccer All-State Team which is open to all Illinois prep soccer players, shares similar modes of evaluation. Like the selection criteria for the all-state team, the dominant measures here include individual skill, contribution to team success, performance relative to quality of competition and high-profile game performance.
This list is composed of players with the projected greatest impact for their teams, the game and the give-and-take nature of the season. With one month of the season complete, it has become possible to better identify the top prospects. With so many teams, this list helps the fan and observer identify the players to give extra attention to on the field.
The list encompasses elite college prospects among the top prep players who are likely to shape the season through the first week of November and the state championship games.
With the current campaign at a crucial juncture, the time is now to cast a light on the players who have provided either a proven track record or demonstrated the early promise that makes them one to watch.
The list is alphabetically arranged, with each player listed by school, position and class year. Every team in the network is represented. The list is more curatorial than inclusive. Other players are likely to make their names and build their reputations as the season pushes forward. The players listed here have already warranted a further look.
Fernando Alvarado, Lane, forward, junior
Josh Amaro, St. Charles North, midfielder, senior
Shareef Amor, Metea Valley, forward, senior
Dilan Anweiler, Plainfield North, forward, sophomore
David Arroyo, Lane, midfielder, junior
Nikita Bankevich, Deerfield, forward, senior
Fernando Barragan, Reavis, midfielder, senior
Adrian Barrera, Morton, forward, senior
Truitt Battin, St. Charles East, midfielder, senior
Matt Beaulieu, St. Charles North, forward, senior
Jack Beausoleil, Wheaton North, forward, senior
Russell Beaupre, Fremd, forward, senior
Langston Bedgood, St. Rita, forward, junior
Jack Belloli, Geneva, midfielder, senior
Matt Berry, Metea Valley, midfielder, senior
Keith Bevans, St. Ignatius, forward, senior
Rohan Bhargava, Naperville Central, midfielder, junior
Gray Biddle, St. Charles East, defender, senior
Kyle Blasingame, Oswego East, midfielder, junior
Tom Bludgen, Neuqua Valley, midfielder, senior
Joey Boduch, Prospect, midfielder, senior
Dominic de Boer, New Trier, midfielder, senior
Jaylen Brooks, Metea Valley, forward, senior
Samuel Bull, Downers Grove North, forward, sophomore
Alex Canfield, Crystal Lake South, forward, junior
Isaac Carnalla, Morton, midfielder, senior
Israel Carranza, Morton, defender, senior
Omar Carreno, Oswego, forward, senior
Connor Chapa, Downers Grove North, midfielder, senior
Alex Chavez, Streamwood, midfielder, senior
Nick Clarizio, Hersey, keeper, senior
Sean Conley, St. Francis, midfielder, senior
Matteo Costa, Lake Park, forward, senior
Ryan Coughlin, Crystal Lake South, midfielder, senior
Jake Crawford, Naperville Central, midfielder, senior
Ghandi Cruz, Metea Valley, keeper, junior
Justin D’Alessandro, Plainfield South, defender, sophomore
Gabriel D’Amico, St. Charles North, midfielder, senior
Ryan Dufty, Wheaton Warrenville South, midfielder, junior
David Duwal, Leyden, keeper, senior
Nolan Ehlers, Warren, midfielder, junior
Kevin Eloiza, Buffalo Grove, senior
Patrick Elster, Plainfield North, midfielder, senior
Declan Ermer, Wheaton Warrenville South, forward, senior
Alex Espino, Young, defender, junior
Matt Espinoza, Leyden, midfielder, senior
Joel Estrada, Solorio, keeper, sophomore
Paolo Favuzzi, York, midfielder, junior
Logan Finnegan, Wheaton Academy, midfielder, junior
Declan Flanagan, Prospect, midfielder, sophomore
Alexander Flores, DGS, midfielder, senior
Ford Frazer, Oswego East, forward, senior
Colin Fromm, Geneva, forward, senior
Braeden Gagliano, Downers Grove North, forward, senior
Joe Gaither, Wheaton North, forward, senior
Danny Gaytan, Oswego, midfielder, senior
Tyler Getzinger, Crystal Lake South, midfielder, sophomore
Miguel Garcia, Batavia, defender, senior
Jake Gerenraich, Young, midfielder, senior
Mario Giase, Willowbrook, keeper, senior
Noah Glorioso, Waubonsie Valley, midfielder, senior
Sean Gooze, New Trier, forward, senior
Christian Gonzalez, Plainfield South, midfielder, senior
Ben Gordon, Glenbrook North, defender, senior
Christopher Gory, DGS, keeper, sophomore
Brad Grabowski, Crystal Lake South, forward, senior
Ryan Grady, Deerfield, keeper, senior
Jonny Gray, Lyons, senior, forward
Joe Grendzinski, Batavia, defender, senior
Matt Griffin, St. Ignatius, forward, senior
David Gripman, Loyola, midfielder, senior
Jaime Guillen, Oak Park and River Forest, midfielder
Nick Gulli, St. Francis, midfielder, senior
Daniel Gunther, New Trier, defender, junior
Elias Guzman, Young, forward, junior
Jai Hsieh-Bailey, Oak Park and River Forest, defender, junior
Jack Hammontree, Deerfield, defender, junior
Michael Handel, Carmel, defender, senior
Brian Hanus, Buffalo Grove, defender, senior
Max Hardin, Batavia, midfielder, senior
Jack Hartle, St. Francis, midfielder, sophomore
Peder Harvey, Grayslake Central, forward, senior
Luke Herard, St. Francis, midfielder, senior
Anthony Hernandez, Addison Trail, forward, sophomore
Eduardo Hernandez, Leyden, senior, forward
Elias Hernandez, South Elgin, midfielder
Rohan Hindia, Waubonsie Valley, keeper, senior
Eduardo Huerta, Addison Trail, midfielder, senior
Nathan Huerter, Oswego East, keeper, senior
Sumani Husseini, Wheaton Warrenville South, forward, senior
Jose Ibarra, Streamwood, defender, sophomore
Yousef Ismail, Plainfield North, midfielder, senior
Colin Iverson, Naperville North, defender, senior
Kamil Jarzabek, Bartlett, junior, forward
Owen Jarrell, Naperville Central, midfielder, senior
Christian Jimenez, Loyola, midfielder, senior
Josue Jimenez, Plainfield South, defender, junior
Jesus Juarez, Lake Park, forward, senior
Mark Judka, Reavis, forward, junior
Christian Kozaczka, Buffalo Grove, defender, senior
Jack Kilgallon, Wheaton Academy, forward, senior
Seamus Kilgallon, Wheaton Academy, midfielder, senior
Ryan Kim, Buffalo Grove, midfielder, junior
Anthony Klos, Benet, midfielder, sophomore
Patrick Koenig, Naperville North, forward, junior
Parker Kolb, St. Charles North, defender, senior
Ty Konrad, Naperville North, forward, junior
Johnny Kramer, Oswego, defender, senior
Andrew Kuhn, New Trier, defender, senior
David Kuhn, Neuqua Valley, midfielder, senior
John Kulis, Grayslake Central, forward, senior
Nolan Laczynski, Oswego East, midfielder, senior
Evan Lang, Metea Valley, midfielder, senior
Nick Langdon, Crystal Lake South, defender, senior
Eli Larson, Carmel, defender, senior
Tyler Laurich, Marmion, midfielder, junior
Christian Lekki, Lake Park, keeper, senior
Collin Leider, Loyola, midfielder, senior
Dorian Lesiuk, Fremd, forward, senior
Patrick Limanowka, Prospect, forward, senior
Jesus Limon, Streamwood, forward
Skip Locke, Lyons, midfielder, senior
Sergio Lucero Herrera, Rolling Meadows, midfielder, senior
Vincent Luglio, North Shore Country Day, forward, sophomore
James Lynch, Metea Valley, forward, senior
James Maguire, Oak Park and River Forest, midfielder, senior
George Maridis, St. Charles East, forward, senior
Esme McCarthy, Young, defender, junior
Joe Meade, York, forward, junior
Cris Medina, Warren, midfielder, junior
Tim Milner, Carmel, forward, junior
Daniel Montaquila, Loyola, defender, senior
Sunday Moo, Wheaton North, defender, senior
Bryan Mora, Streamwood, midfielder, senior
Melvin Mora, Addison Trail, midfielder, senior
Chris Morales, Geneva, keeper, senior
Aaron Moreno-Lopez, St. Patrick, midfielder, junior
Dan Morgan, Waubonsie Valley, midfielder, junior
Jack Morrissey, Wheaton North, forward, senior
Jack Musial, York, midfielder, junior
Peyton Myers, Prospect, forward, senior
Jose Navarro, Neuqua Valley, forward, senior
J.C. Noyola, Yorkville, midfielder
Cathal O’Connor, Lane, midfielder, senior
Sammy Olague, Rolling Meadows, forward, senior
Nolan O’Malley, Lyons, forward, senior
Dani Orozco, Grayslake Central, midfielder, senior
Sean Osoba, Neuqua Valley, midfielder, senior
Tyler Padilla, St. Rita, defender, junior
Brandon Palid, Bartlett, forward, senior
Adler Palos, Batavia, midfielder, senior
Victor Pawlik, Lake Park, defender, senior
Christian Perez, Morton, midfielder, sophomore
Jesus Perez, Morton, forward sophomore
Joel Peruba, Geneva, forward, senior
Franco Presta, Lake Park, midfielder, senior
Adan Ramirez, Rolling Meadows, midfielder, junior
Cesar Recendez, Naperville North, defender, junior
Gabriel Regalado, Young, midfielder, senior
Nick Renfro, Benet, midfielder, junior
Rudy Reyes, Bartlett, senior, forward
Christopher Reynoso, Taft, forward, senior
Jose Rico Ramirez, Reavis, midfielder, junior
David Rizzo, Willowbrook, midfielder, senior
Mason-Roberts Jones, North Shore Country Day, midfielder, freshman
Jake Rodgers, Yorkville, midfielder, senior
Jonathan Rodriguez, St. Patrick, midfielder, junior
Sebastian Rodriguez, Warren, forward, sophomore
Uriel Rojo, Addison Trail, forward, junior
Franklin Rutkowski, Benet, junior, forward
Carlos Sagols, Plainfield South, forward, junior
Omar Salgado, Solorio, defender, senior
Alex Sanchez, Solorio, forward, junior
Carlos Sanchez, St. Rita, forward, junior
Sam Sandoval, Addison Trail, keeper, senior
Luis Saucedo, St. Patrick, forward, junior
Trey Schmidt, Hersey, midfielder, senior
Luke Schnitker, St. Charles East, midfielder, senior
Jake Schoffstall, Fremd, defender, junior
Josh Segura, Warren, forward, junior
Julio Segura, Yorkville, forward, senior
James Serrano, Marmion, forward, senior
Owen Setran, Wheaton Academy, forward, senior
R.J. Simmons, Wheaton Academy, keeper, senior
Anthony Sisler, South Elgin, forward, senior
Zach Smith, Naperville North, midfielder, junior
Joey Sommer, St. Charles North, defender, senior
Blake Soto, Oak Park and River Forest, defender,
Christopher Sowers, Marmion, midfielder
Cameron Strang, Naperville Central, defender/midfielder, senior
Ronan Sullivan, St. Ignatius, midfielder, junior
Josh Taboda, Streamwood, defender, junior
Anthony Tambellini, Fremd, midfielder, senior
Joshua Torres, St. Patrick, forward, sophomore
Brandon Tovar, Taft, midfielder, sophomore
Steven Udy, Oswego, midfielder, junior
Ko Vandeneijkhoff, Deerfield, defender, sophomore
Jonathan Vasquez, Solorio, midfielder, senior
Carlos Villa, Solorio, forward, senior
Ari Wainer, Deerfield, forward, sophomore
Logan Weaver, New Trier, midfielder, senior
Ronan Wilcox, Hersey, midfielder, sophomore
Ty Williams, Lyons, midfielder, senior
Jeff Wolski, Willowbrook, defender, senior
Aidan Zavala, North Shore Country Day, midfielder, senior