Chicagoland Soccer First 50 state ranking
By Patrick Z. McGavin
The beautiful game returns to high school pitches this late summer and fall without asterisks or question marks.
After unprecedented, pandemic-inflected, double-ish seasons a calendar year ago, Illinois boys soccer returns to its customary and vital place.
What better way to welcome back the top teams and players than Chicagoland Soccer’s annual First 50 state-wide, preseason/early-season poll?
For neophytes, this ranking tries to map out which programs to watch, at least at the start of the season, throughout the state.
Any IHSA-approved team in the state was considered; their past accomplishments and returning talent was measured and studied.
Soccer can be a predictive sport. Past performances overwhelmingly tend to carry over.
Having said that, an insurgent program gets its opening day in the sun. Plainfield North has historically been overshadowed and limited in its section of the state by perennial powerhouses Naperville North, Naperville Central and Benet.
There is support for the pick. Three-time state championship coach Jim Konrad of Naperville North has sounded the alarm about the Tigers. He has first-hand knowledge after directing many of the Plainfield North’s best players for the Naperville-based Galaxy club team.
“They have key players in every line and most will be playing college soccer next year,” Konrad said.
Forward Cooper Allen, a four-year starter, earned All-American distinction and was the best player on the 05 Galaxy team, according to Konrad.
The Tigers return 10 starters and four rotation players. They boast high-level skill and depth.
The balance of the First 50 Top 10 are typically programs that shape every season with their tradition of excellence, talent, superb coaching and developmental edge.
The best way to approach the First 50 is as a conversation-starter, a way of opening up and projecting the regular-season.
During that eight-week run (seven for Class A), Chicagoland Soccer will publish a weekly Top 25 poll for teams in the Chicago-area, and the Illinois 10 poll for the best programs outside the city and suburbs.
Plainfield North gets featured status at the moment. When the games start Monday, that theoretical thinking goes out the window.
Everyone has a clean slate right now. The possibilities are infinite, like the beauty and wonder of the game itself.
Enjoy.
(Previous ranking refers to the team’s placement in the Final 50 poll last November. NR means not ranked. The records are the final marks from last year.)
By Patrick Z. McGavin
The beautiful game returns to high school pitches this late summer and fall without asterisks or question marks.
After unprecedented, pandemic-inflected, double-ish seasons a calendar year ago, Illinois boys soccer returns to its customary and vital place.
What better way to welcome back the top teams and players than Chicagoland Soccer’s annual First 50 state-wide, preseason/early-season poll?
For neophytes, this ranking tries to map out which programs to watch, at least at the start of the season, throughout the state.
Any IHSA-approved team in the state was considered; their past accomplishments and returning talent was measured and studied.
Soccer can be a predictive sport. Past performances overwhelmingly tend to carry over.
Having said that, an insurgent program gets its opening day in the sun. Plainfield North has historically been overshadowed and limited in its section of the state by perennial powerhouses Naperville North, Naperville Central and Benet.
There is support for the pick. Three-time state championship coach Jim Konrad of Naperville North has sounded the alarm about the Tigers. He has first-hand knowledge after directing many of the Plainfield North’s best players for the Naperville-based Galaxy club team.
“They have key players in every line and most will be playing college soccer next year,” Konrad said.
Forward Cooper Allen, a four-year starter, earned All-American distinction and was the best player on the 05 Galaxy team, according to Konrad.
The Tigers return 10 starters and four rotation players. They boast high-level skill and depth.
The balance of the First 50 Top 10 are typically programs that shape every season with their tradition of excellence, talent, superb coaching and developmental edge.
The best way to approach the First 50 is as a conversation-starter, a way of opening up and projecting the regular-season.
During that eight-week run (seven for Class A), Chicagoland Soccer will publish a weekly Top 25 poll for teams in the Chicago-area, and the Illinois 10 poll for the best programs outside the city and suburbs.
Plainfield North gets featured status at the moment. When the games start Monday, that theoretical thinking goes out the window.
Everyone has a clean slate right now. The possibilities are infinite, like the beauty and wonder of the game itself.
Enjoy.
(Previous ranking refers to the team’s placement in the Final 50 poll last November. NR means not ranked. The records are the final marks from last year.)
Rk | PR | Team | W | L | T | Comment |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 45 | Plainfield N | 14 | 5 | 4 | 10 returning starters |
2 | 14 | New Trier | 17 | 2 | 1 | 7 starters back from sectional team |
3 | 3 | OPRF | 19 | 4 | 0 | Strong returnees from supersectional qualifier |
4 | 5 | Morton | 21 | 3 | 3 | Mustangs reload with versatility and depth |
5 | 6 | Naperville N | 21 | 6 | 2 | Noah Radeke is elite sophomore |
6 | 1 | York | 23 | 2 | 0 | Dukes bring back skill from title team |
7 | 2 | Fremd | 21 | 3 | 1 | Keeper Robby Remian is elite |
8 | 10 | Lyons | 17 | 6 | 1 | 4 starters and solid rotation back |
9 | 9 | Triad | 25 | 1 | 1 | AA state finalist returns excellent nucleus |
10 | 16 | Naperville C | 15 | 8 | 1 | 8 starters back from sectional finalist |
11 | 13 | Evanston | 16 | 4 | 2 | Will fight New Trier for top of CSL South |
12 | 12 | Althoff | 24 | 4 | 3 | Class A runnerup returns virtually entire team |
13 | 18 | Collinsville | 21 | 4 | 2 | Best in the Deep South? |
14 | 17 | St. Charles E | 18 | 5 | 0 | 6 starters back from sectional finalist |
15 | 4 | Lockport | 20 | 2 | 1 | Porters look for repeat state trip |
16 | 19 | Benet | 15 | 6 | 1 | Nick Roe is state’s best defender |
17 | 23 | Grayslake C | 14 | 8 | 2 | Rams have horses to get back to finals |
18 | NR | Warren | 13 | 5 | 4 | Blue Devils have big offensive potential |
19 | 40 | Stevenson | 15 | 3 | 4 | Patriots are deep and skilled |
20 | 36 | W Chicago | 18 | 6 | 1 | 2019 champs primed for another run |
21 | NR | Libertyville | 10 | 7 | 4 | Brilliant young talent comes of age |
22 | 41 | CL South | 18 | 4 | 2 | 5 starters back from sectional finalist |
23 | 8 | Boylan | 27 | 1 | 0 | AA champs, 27-game win streak |
24 | 26 | Moline | 18 | 4 | 3 | Best in the Quad Cities |
25 | 11 | Wheaton A | 19 | 4 | 1 | Key talent back from class A state title team |
26 | 31 | Loyola | 10 | 3 | 3 | New coach for talented program |
27 | 24 | ND (Niles) | 23 | 2 | 2 | 4 starters back from historic team |
28 | 27 | Glenbrook S | 12 | 3 | 6 | Disciplined, defensive and tough |
29 | 32 | Timothy | 18 | 4 | 3 | Excellent returning group from Class A Final 4 |
30 | NR | Solorio | 14 | 6 | 1 | 7 starters back from AA sectional finalist |
31 | 7 | Huntley | 20 | 3 | 2 | Supersectional qualifier returns key members |
32 | 21 | Washngtn (Chi) | 19 | 5 | 2 | AA state finalist remains dangerous |
33 | NR | St. Charles N | 7 | 4 | 6 | Looks to rebound from disappointing year |
34 | 30 | Normal W | 18 | 4 | 6 | Sectional finalist is best in central Illinois |
35 | NR | Edwardsville | 15 | 4 | 3 | Tigers have potential for greatness |
36 | 15 | Barrington | 16 | 4 | 2 | Young and radiating with talent |
37 | 42 | Marmion | 14 | 8 | 2 | Cadets are dynamite offensively |
38 | 25 | Elgin | 12 | 4 | 5 | Coach Jimmy Romano inherits talented roster |
39 | 20 | Urbana | 19 | 1 | 2 | Emerging central Ill. power |
40 | 46 | W Aurora | 13 | 7 | 1 | 10 starters back |
41 | 33 | Lake Zurich | 11 | 3 | 4 | Surprise team in the loaded North Suburban |
42 | NR | Glenbrook N | 12 | 5 | 5 | New coach, long tradition of excellence |
43 | 28 | LWC | 17 | 2 | 2 | Best of the South Suburbs? |
44 | 39 | Rolling Mdws | 12 | 4 | 3 | Joe Salemi looks for breakout year |
45 | NR | ND (Peoria) | 10 | 10 | 3 | Irish had a great summer |
46 | 47 | E Aurora | 14 | 5 | 4 | Tomcats are loaded with skill, athleticism |
47 | NR | Round Lake | 9 | 6 | 5 | Skilled and athletic offensively |
48 | NR | Hersey | 10 | 8 | 1 | 5 returning starters, intriguing newcomers |
49 | 50 | Metea V | 11 | 8 | 2 | Skill, depth and athleticism at top of attack |
50 | NR | St. Patrick | 11 | 10 | 0 | Shamrocks ready to build off strong finish |