Chicagoland Soccer Top 25
boys preseason poll
By Patrick Z. McGavin
Editor's note: Chicagoland Soccer is excited to present its first-ever poll for boys soccer. Mr. McGavin previously created a shorter version of this poll for the Chicago Sun-Times, which discontinued its use.
With the boys 2015 season about to launch, here is an opening salvo of predictions for what promises to be another great year with plenty of storylines connecting individuals and teams.
Defending Class 2A state champion Wheaton Academy opens the year in the top spot. The Warriors showcase the state's best player, Northwestern-recruit Ty Seager, whose 39 goals and 15 assists provided one of the most electrifying individual seasons in state history.
The talent pool is deep again in the western suburbs, with the West Suburban Conference powers in the Silver Division (defending Class 3A state champion Hinsdale Central, Lyons) and Gold Division (Morton), the Upstate Eight Conference River Division (St. Charles East, Batavia) and the reconfigured DuPage Valley Conference (Naperville North, Naperville Central, Lake Park) further bolstered by the arrival of Waubonsie Valley, Neuqua Valley and Metea Valley.
Central Suburban League South Division rivals Evanston and New Trier are likely to battle to be the best of the North Shore.
This poll is not just a conversation starter, but attempts to assess strengths. The poll is all inclusive in the Chicago area and is not limited to teams in the Chicagoland Soccer network.
Team records are from the 2014 season.
Preseason poll
boys preseason poll
By Patrick Z. McGavin
Editor's note: Chicagoland Soccer is excited to present its first-ever poll for boys soccer. Mr. McGavin previously created a shorter version of this poll for the Chicago Sun-Times, which discontinued its use.
With the boys 2015 season about to launch, here is an opening salvo of predictions for what promises to be another great year with plenty of storylines connecting individuals and teams.
Defending Class 2A state champion Wheaton Academy opens the year in the top spot. The Warriors showcase the state's best player, Northwestern-recruit Ty Seager, whose 39 goals and 15 assists provided one of the most electrifying individual seasons in state history.
The talent pool is deep again in the western suburbs, with the West Suburban Conference powers in the Silver Division (defending Class 3A state champion Hinsdale Central, Lyons) and Gold Division (Morton), the Upstate Eight Conference River Division (St. Charles East, Batavia) and the reconfigured DuPage Valley Conference (Naperville North, Naperville Central, Lake Park) further bolstered by the arrival of Waubonsie Valley, Neuqua Valley and Metea Valley.
Central Suburban League South Division rivals Evanston and New Trier are likely to battle to be the best of the North Shore.
This poll is not just a conversation starter, but attempts to assess strengths. The poll is all inclusive in the Chicago area and is not limited to teams in the Chicagoland Soccer network.
Team records are from the 2014 season.
Preseason poll
Rk | Team | W | L | T | Comment | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Wheaton A. | 25 | 1 | 1 | Seager and Warrior teammates have plans for an encore. | |
2 | Morton | 24 | 2 | 2 | Perennial powerhouse handed Wheaton A. only 2014 loss. | |
3 | Hinsdale C. | 19 | 4 | 4 | Red Devils put on IHSA tourney run for ages last fall. | |
4 | Naperville N. | 16 | 5 | 3 | Huskies are the class of the loaded DuPage Valley Conference. | |
5 | Lyons | 21 | 6 | 0 | Lions return 5 starters from sectional semifinalist squad. | 6 | St. Charles E. | 15 | 3 | 2 | Saints plan to demolish memory of 2014's stunning fade. |
7 | Evanston | 16 | 3 | 4 | Wildkits return 5 starters, look to become elite defensive side. | |
8 | Fremd | 20 | 6 | 1 | Returns key members from 2014 third place Class 3A team. | |
9 | St. Joseph | 23 | 1 | 1 | Offensive weapons from Class 2A state runner-up team return. | |
10 | New Trier | 21 | 4 | 2 | Multiple returnees from supersectional qualifier. | |
11 | Naperville C. | 13 | 2 | 6 | Redhawks need to find offense, dangerous, skilled group. | |
12 | Benet | 15 | 5 | 2 | Morefield (all sectional) and keeper Bayer will lead Redwings. | |
13 | Batavia | 19 | 3 | 3 | Bulldogs have 6 returners from talented sectional finalist. | |
14 | Saint Viator | 22 | 6 | 1 | Returns key personnel from 2014 Class 2A fourth place finisher. | |
15 | Warren | 15 | 3 | 4 | Coach Ahonen touts Alex Fratila as one of state's top players. | |
16 | Lake Park | 20 | 2 | 4 | Lancers return 6 in quest for third-straight 20-win season. | |
17 | Barrington | 15 | 8 | 0 | Broncos have brutal schedule. If offense improves, watch out! | |
18 | CL South | 17 | 6 | 1 | Junior F Andrew Grabowski tops list of returning starters. | |
19 | Lane | 19 | 6 | 1 | Defending CPS champs have been city's gold standard of late. | |
20 | DG South | 14 | 3 | 4 | Elite competition should help Mustangs seperate from the pack. | |
21 | Neuqua V. | 14 | 8 | 0 | New coach, but formidable talent should jell by second half. | 22 | Streamwood | 17 | 7 | 2 | Sabres look to build on first state trophy with 6 returnees. | 23 | Kelly | 17 | 6 | 1 | City runner-up has talent, skill and depth. | 24 | Highland P. | 13 | 7 | 4 | Has momentum from furious finish in state tournament. | 25 | Hersey | 13 | 5 | 3 | Young squad should demonstrate gradual improvement. |
Look out for: Metea Valley, Wheaton Warrenville South, Wheeling, Conant, Oak Park and River Forest, Leyden, Sandburg, Timothy Christian, Latin, Maine South, Wheaton North, Rolling Meadows, West Chicago, St. Francis, St. Ignatius.