Chicagoland Soccer Final 50
By Patrick Z. McGavin
“I think it was the state championship game that was deserved,” Naperville Central coach Troy Adams said at the press conference after the Redhawks’ 1-0 victory over Romeoville in the Class 3A title match Saturday night at Hoffman Estates High School.
Naperville Central made a statement on opening day (Aug. 22), when freshman forward Chase Adams, the coach’s youngest son on the team, scored three goals in a stunning 3-1 victory over state powerhouse Morton.
The debut foreshadowed Chase Adams impact and a powerful season for the team.
“We took down teams like (Naperville) North and Morton that we haven’t been able to beat recently," Chase Adams said after the championship game. "It showed what could happen.”
The zenith happened and gave the Redhawks the distinction of earning the top placing in the Final 50, the Chicagoland Soccer state-wide poll that ranks the top teams.
The ranking is the corollary to the First 50, published the day before the Redhawks’ season-opening victory over the Mustangs.
Naperville Central (26-3-1) had a bit of a rough start, losing a shootout against a very good Sandburg team and suffered a decisive loss against First 50 top-ranked Plainfield North less than two days later in the Best of the West tournament they co-sponsor.
The Redhawks regrouped, and found their stride and their identity. The team set numerous program records for offensive benchmarks this season.
As the campaign continued, it became readily apparent that no other Illinois program could match up physically or athletically with their overall strength, which included three electric and imposing forwards: Joey LoDuca; Nathan Kwon; and Adams.
The Redhawks finished with an 18-match unbeaten streak (17-0-1) and the state title.
The Final 50 places greater emphasis on games in late October and early November than those earlier in the season.
One fact binding the top five teams was their regular-season play.
Romeoville’s only two losses came against Naperville Central.
Defending state champion York and Stevenson were undefeated heading into the state semifinals.
York outlasted Elgin in a penalty shootout in the Streawood Supersectional on Nov. 1. Those teams ended the regular-season atop the poll: Elgin, no. 1; and York, no. 2.
Elgin was also undefeated going into the supersectional.
Romeoville, Stevenson, York and Elgin each went deep into October, or early November, before suffering their first loss. Their regular-season games proved highly predictive of strong tournament play.
The circular structure of the opening and closing chapters of the season was also reflected in the shared status and championship runs of the Notre Dames, the school from Quincy in Class A and the school from Peoria in Class AA.
In the small-school division, Notre Dame (Quincy) stunned heavily-favored Althoff 4-1 for its third state championship.
In the AA state championship game, Notre Dame (Peoria) defeated Glenwood 3-1 for the fifth state championship in program history.
The Final 50 poll links the Chicagoland Soccer regular-season polls: the Top 25, which ranks the best teams in the city and suburbs; the Illinois 10, which covers the rest of the state; and the Super 7 poll which highlight teams from the smaller classes.
To understand the coding, the 50 teams are ranked in order. The information listed are includes the final regular-season rank (FRSR) and the First 50 preseason rank (PR).
NR means the team was not ranked in a poll. HM applies to Chicago-area schools listed in the honorable mention section of the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25.
For the teams that were ranked in the Illinois 10 poll, the letter I precedes the final regular-season and preseason ranks. A or AA refers to a team's final rank in the Class A or Class AA Super 7 polls.
Key: FRSR-final regular season ranking; PR-Preseason First 50 ranking; NR-not ranked; HM-honorable mention: I-Illinois 10 final ranking; A-Super Seven Class A poll final ranking; AA-Super Seven Class AA poll ranking.
By Patrick Z. McGavin
“I think it was the state championship game that was deserved,” Naperville Central coach Troy Adams said at the press conference after the Redhawks’ 1-0 victory over Romeoville in the Class 3A title match Saturday night at Hoffman Estates High School.
Naperville Central made a statement on opening day (Aug. 22), when freshman forward Chase Adams, the coach’s youngest son on the team, scored three goals in a stunning 3-1 victory over state powerhouse Morton.
The debut foreshadowed Chase Adams impact and a powerful season for the team.
“We took down teams like (Naperville) North and Morton that we haven’t been able to beat recently," Chase Adams said after the championship game. "It showed what could happen.”
The zenith happened and gave the Redhawks the distinction of earning the top placing in the Final 50, the Chicagoland Soccer state-wide poll that ranks the top teams.
The ranking is the corollary to the First 50, published the day before the Redhawks’ season-opening victory over the Mustangs.
Naperville Central (26-3-1) had a bit of a rough start, losing a shootout against a very good Sandburg team and suffered a decisive loss against First 50 top-ranked Plainfield North less than two days later in the Best of the West tournament they co-sponsor.
The Redhawks regrouped, and found their stride and their identity. The team set numerous program records for offensive benchmarks this season.
As the campaign continued, it became readily apparent that no other Illinois program could match up physically or athletically with their overall strength, which included three electric and imposing forwards: Joey LoDuca; Nathan Kwon; and Adams.
The Redhawks finished with an 18-match unbeaten streak (17-0-1) and the state title.
The Final 50 places greater emphasis on games in late October and early November than those earlier in the season.
One fact binding the top five teams was their regular-season play.
Romeoville’s only two losses came against Naperville Central.
Defending state champion York and Stevenson were undefeated heading into the state semifinals.
York outlasted Elgin in a penalty shootout in the Streawood Supersectional on Nov. 1. Those teams ended the regular-season atop the poll: Elgin, no. 1; and York, no. 2.
Elgin was also undefeated going into the supersectional.
Romeoville, Stevenson, York and Elgin each went deep into October, or early November, before suffering their first loss. Their regular-season games proved highly predictive of strong tournament play.
The circular structure of the opening and closing chapters of the season was also reflected in the shared status and championship runs of the Notre Dames, the school from Quincy in Class A and the school from Peoria in Class AA.
In the small-school division, Notre Dame (Quincy) stunned heavily-favored Althoff 4-1 for its third state championship.
In the AA state championship game, Notre Dame (Peoria) defeated Glenwood 3-1 for the fifth state championship in program history.
The Final 50 poll links the Chicagoland Soccer regular-season polls: the Top 25, which ranks the best teams in the city and suburbs; the Illinois 10, which covers the rest of the state; and the Super 7 poll which highlight teams from the smaller classes.
To understand the coding, the 50 teams are ranked in order. The information listed are includes the final regular-season rank (FRSR) and the First 50 preseason rank (PR).
NR means the team was not ranked in a poll. HM applies to Chicago-area schools listed in the honorable mention section of the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25.
For the teams that were ranked in the Illinois 10 poll, the letter I precedes the final regular-season and preseason ranks. A or AA refers to a team's final rank in the Class A or Class AA Super 7 polls.
Key: FRSR-final regular season ranking; PR-Preseason First 50 ranking; NR-not ranked; HM-honorable mention: I-Illinois 10 final ranking; A-Super Seven Class A poll final ranking; AA-Super Seven Class AA poll ranking.
Rank | FRSR | PR | Team | W | L | T | Comment |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 3 | 10 | Naperville C | 26 | 3 | 1 | Redhawks soar to 1st state title |
2 | 8 | NR | Romeoville | 28 | 2 | 1 | 3A runnerup rewrote school record book |
3 | 5 | 19 | Stevenson | 22 | 1 | 3 | Patriots earn 2nd state trophy |
4 | 2 | 6 | York | 20 | 2 | 3 | Back-to-back state trophies for Dukes |
5 | 1 | 38 | Elgin | 20 | 1 | 3 | Maroons advance to 1st supersectional |
6 | 7 | 5 | Naperville N | 17 | 4 | 4 | Another fantastic season for Huskies |
7 | 6 | 2 | New Trier | 19 | 2 | 4 | Lost supersectional heartbreaker |
8 | 4 | 4 | Morton | 20 | 3 | 0 | Ho hum, Mustangs win 20 again |
9 | 19 | NR | Hinsdale C | 16 | 5 | 1 | Great success in program's 50th season |
10 | 10 | 3 | OPRF | 15 | 4 | 0 | Huskies showed talent and versatility |
11 | 15 | 8 | Lyons | 15 | 6 | 3 | Beat New Trier, Naperville N, Morton |
12 | 14 | NR | Conant | 20 | 5 | 1 | Gave Naperville C. its last loss |
13 | I6 | 45 | ND (Peoria) | 23 | 3 | 1 | Irish capture state championship no. 5 |
14 | 17 | 16 | Benet | 15 | 5 | 1 | Stunned Morton in sectional semifinal |
15 | I8 | NR | Glenwood | 20 | 4 | 2 | Titans earn third career state trophy |
16 | 13 | 17 | Grayslake C | 19 | 2 | 3 | Rams regrouped for 2nd state trophy |
17 | 9 | NR | Sandburg | 17 | 2 | 3 | Gave state champ shootout loss |
18 | 11 | 1 | Plainfield N | 18 | 5 | 2 | Great start, disappointing finish |
19 | 21 | NR | Bloom | 21 | 6 | 2 | Sectional finalist battled Romeoville |
20 | 16 | NR | Stagg | 20 | 3 | 2 | Took Romeoville to the brink |
21 | 12 | 14 | SC East | 18 | 4 | 3 | Saints upset in regional final |
22 | 23 | NR | Solorio | 22 | 5 | 0 | Collects school's 2nd state trophy |
23 | HM | NR | Lane | 15 | 5 | 1 | Did city proud with run to sectional final |
24 | AA2 | NR | St Laurence | 19 | 3 | 1 | Lost sectional final to Solorio |
25 | I9 | 9 | Triad | 21 | 4 | 0 | Another great finish for state power |
26 | 18 | 7 | Fremd | 15 | 6 | 2 | Vikings got hot at the right moment |
27 | NR | NR | ND (Quincy) | 19 | 6 | 2 | Raiders dominate finals for third A title |
28 | I1 | 12 | Althoff | 27 | 2 | 0 | Back-to-back A title game appearances |
29 | NR | 35 | Edwardsville | 17 | 6 | 2 | Tigers best of the deep south |
30 | I4 | 13 | Collinsville | 17 | 4 | 3 | Great regional clash with Edwardsville |
31 | HM | NR | Joliet W | 17 | 6 | 3 | Tigers had a great tournament run |
32 | HM | 40 | W Aurora | 15 | 4 | 5 | Captured another regional crown |
33 | NR | 37 | Marmion | 10 | 9 | 5 | Cadets played ND (Peoria) tough |
34 | HM | NR | Niles N | 20 | 3 | 3 | A program on the rise |
35 | HM | NR | Taft | 15 | 6 | 3 | Eagles were city finalists |
36 | NR | NR | Larkin | 16 | 9 | 0 | Took rival Elgin to sectional shootout |
37 | I10 | NR | Morton (Ill) | 18 | 4 | 5 | Sectional final loss to AA champ |
38 | A2 | NR | Sacred H-G | 25 | 3 | 1 | Played supersectional thriller with Althoff |
39 | NR | NR | Mt Carmel | 14 | 4 | 5 | Fell to Solorio in supersectional |
40 | HM | NR | Young | 11 | 5 | 3 | 4 of losses to teams above them |
41 | HM | 41 | Lake Zurich | 12 | 5 | 3 | Bears again show competitive intensity |
42 | 20 | 18 | Warren | 15 | 5 | 2 | Blue Devils model of consistency, talent |
43 | I3 | NR | Champgn C | 20 | 3 | 2 | One of the best in central Illinois |
44 | I2 | 34 | Normal W | 18 | 5 | 2 | Beat ND (Peoria) during season |
45 | I7 | 24 | Moline | 16 | 4 | 1 | Sectional final run in 3A |
46 | 24 | 47 | Round Lake | 11 | 4 | 3 | Dominated Grayslake C in league game |
47 | 22 | NR | St Patrick | 12 | 8 | 2 | Shamrocks came of age |
48 | NR | NR | Lemont | 14 | 4 | 7 | Reached AA sectional final game |
49 | 25 | 25 | Wheaton A | 15 | 6 | 3 | Another glittering state finals run |
50 | NR | 29 | Timothy | 17 | 10 | 0 | Took third in finals return |