Chicagoland Soccer Top 25
By Patrick Z. McGavin
Rejuvenation is the central metaphor of the moment. So it is the same with the girls soccer season suddenly, beautifully upon us.
Soccer is the ultimate in show me. Until proven otherwise, defending Class 3A state champion Barrington deserves to start the year where the Fillies ended last spring, atop the list of the state’s best programs.
Barrington outlasted New Trier on penalty kicks to win the first state title in program history. The Fillies also ended the Trevians’ remarkable run of three-consecutive state titles.
Chicagoland Soccer inaugurates the the start by publishing a poll of the top teams. It is meant to start a dialogue, a kick off to what figures to be another brilliant season.
Barrington ended the year ranked N=no. 1 in the country by USA Today/NSCAA and Top Drawer soccer. Now the team is ready to sustain that momentum. They open the year on a 20-game winning streak.
Sure, the Fillies graduated a great deal of talent. Coach Ryan Stengren still has great players with unsurpassed passion, chemistry and balance. Senior keeper Samantha Schmitz is the best in the state at her position. Barrington shut out 24 of its opponents last year.
On Monday night, it begins again. What a way to start with the Fillies traveling to no. 4 Naperville North for a thrilling showdown. Naperville North was the only team that beat Barrington last year, 1-0, in the championship of the North Shore Invitational at New Trier.
Naperville North is also the only team to score more than one goal against Barrington, in the Fillies’ 3-2 victory in the championship of the Naperville Invitational when the two squared off in the rematch.
Senior midfielder Michayla Herr and junior forward Ashley Prell are the offensive standouts to watch. Madi Rosen keys the back. Prell scored 15 goals, third best on the team last year, and added nine assists. Herr had seven goals despite missing part of the year with an injury.
Naperville North remains formidable with Illinois recruit Katelynn Buescher headlining a list of six returning starters. The Huskies feature six Division I recruits with midfielder Buescher, forward Shaina Dudas (Illinois State), the twin sisters Jessica and Alyssa Siebers (Illinois State) and forward Megan Benmore (Northern Iowa). Additionally, Loyola recruit Maddie Hausmann returns from playing club.
New Trier’s run of state championships ended, in dramatic fashion. The Trevians remains as dangerous and skilled as ever, and they open the year in the second slot. Senior defender Sydney Parker is arguably the best two-way player in the state. The sensational Emma Weaver is the state’s best sophomore.
St. Charles North has eight starters back from a supersectional team whose only loss came against New Trier. They feature two of the state’s top players in forward Gia Wahlberg and midfielder Hailey Rydberg. Junior forward Claudia Najera is another standout.
Downers Grove North, with Abby Swanson, features multiple returners from the Class 3A fourth place team, the first state trophy in program history. The legendary Brian Pappa, in his second year there, has a deep and talented group at his command.
You get the picture. Loyola, Geneva, Warren, Metea Valley and Neuqua Valley are also teams to watch. Other teams and players are likely to emerge. The ride starts Monday.
By Patrick Z. McGavin
Rejuvenation is the central metaphor of the moment. So it is the same with the girls soccer season suddenly, beautifully upon us.
Soccer is the ultimate in show me. Until proven otherwise, defending Class 3A state champion Barrington deserves to start the year where the Fillies ended last spring, atop the list of the state’s best programs.
Barrington outlasted New Trier on penalty kicks to win the first state title in program history. The Fillies also ended the Trevians’ remarkable run of three-consecutive state titles.
Chicagoland Soccer inaugurates the the start by publishing a poll of the top teams. It is meant to start a dialogue, a kick off to what figures to be another brilliant season.
Barrington ended the year ranked N=no. 1 in the country by USA Today/NSCAA and Top Drawer soccer. Now the team is ready to sustain that momentum. They open the year on a 20-game winning streak.
Sure, the Fillies graduated a great deal of talent. Coach Ryan Stengren still has great players with unsurpassed passion, chemistry and balance. Senior keeper Samantha Schmitz is the best in the state at her position. Barrington shut out 24 of its opponents last year.
On Monday night, it begins again. What a way to start with the Fillies traveling to no. 4 Naperville North for a thrilling showdown. Naperville North was the only team that beat Barrington last year, 1-0, in the championship of the North Shore Invitational at New Trier.
Naperville North is also the only team to score more than one goal against Barrington, in the Fillies’ 3-2 victory in the championship of the Naperville Invitational when the two squared off in the rematch.
Senior midfielder Michayla Herr and junior forward Ashley Prell are the offensive standouts to watch. Madi Rosen keys the back. Prell scored 15 goals, third best on the team last year, and added nine assists. Herr had seven goals despite missing part of the year with an injury.
Naperville North remains formidable with Illinois recruit Katelynn Buescher headlining a list of six returning starters. The Huskies feature six Division I recruits with midfielder Buescher, forward Shaina Dudas (Illinois State), the twin sisters Jessica and Alyssa Siebers (Illinois State) and forward Megan Benmore (Northern Iowa). Additionally, Loyola recruit Maddie Hausmann returns from playing club.
New Trier’s run of state championships ended, in dramatic fashion. The Trevians remains as dangerous and skilled as ever, and they open the year in the second slot. Senior defender Sydney Parker is arguably the best two-way player in the state. The sensational Emma Weaver is the state’s best sophomore.
St. Charles North has eight starters back from a supersectional team whose only loss came against New Trier. They feature two of the state’s top players in forward Gia Wahlberg and midfielder Hailey Rydberg. Junior forward Claudia Najera is another standout.
Downers Grove North, with Abby Swanson, features multiple returners from the Class 3A fourth place team, the first state trophy in program history. The legendary Brian Pappa, in his second year there, has a deep and talented group at his command.
You get the picture. Loyola, Geneva, Warren, Metea Valley and Neuqua Valley are also teams to watch. Other teams and players are likely to emerge. The ride starts Monday.
Rk | Team | W | L | T | Comment |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Barrington | 28 | 1 | 0 | Samantha Schmitz, Fillies ready to defending title |
2 | New Trier | 24 | 3 | 1 | Sydney Parker is top five player in state |
3 | St. Charles North | 19 | 1 | 3 | Hailey Rydberg is superb |
4 | Naperville North | 20 | 3 | 3 | Senior Illinois commit Katelynn Buescher leads attack |
5 | DG North | 20 | 4 | 2 | Abby Swanson is one of the state’s best players |
6 | Loyola | 18 | 7 | 0 | Maggie Brett came of age |
7 | Geneva | 22 | 2 | 1 | Sydney Gratz powers the Vikings |
8 | Neuqua Valley | 12 | 4 | 4 | Alyssa Bombacino is one of five returning starters |
9 | Metea Valley | 17 | 4 | 4 | Maeve Riordan is ready to take on greater offensive role |
10 | Warren | 21 | 2 | 2 | Courtney Chomko leads deep, talented group |
11 | Lyons | 16 | 5 | 1 | Eileen Murphy is one of state’s top juniors |
12 | Wheaton Academy | 21 | 6 | 0 | Sophia Lindquist is creative shotmaker |
13 | Lemont | 20 | 3 | 4 | Mairead Ruane had 30 goals, 15 assists last year |
14 | Fremd | 15 | 5 | 1 | Marta Cholewa ignites a steady, gifted group of returners |
15 | Naperville Central | 11 | 8 | 4 | NIU commit Sarah Avery headlines strong list returners |
16 | St. Charles East | 10 | 5 | 6 | Chantel Carranza is fantastic athlete and playmaker |
17 | Wauconda | 18 | 1 | 1 | Kayla Wisniewski had 25 goals and 18 assists for Class AA sectional finalist |
18 | Lake Zurich | 18 | 7 | 0 | Kristin Brousseau scored 25 goals with 21 assists as junior |
19 | Lane | 16 | 3 | 3 | Grace Dunaway leads deep and versatile roster |
20 | Maine South | 13 | 5 | 1 | Maddie Malinowski is dynamite |
21 | St. Francis | 11 | 6 | 3 | Kendra Pasquale is part of 10 returning starters |
22 | L-W West | 16 | 7 | 2 | Savina Filip is one of seven starters from supersectional qualifier |
23 | Glenbard East | 14 | 5 | 4 | Elizabeth Toledo tops list of nine returning starters |
24 | West Aurora | 18 | 4 | 2 | Riley O’Brien ready to take Blackhawks to next level |
25 | Carmel | 9 | 7 | 3 | Skyler Thomas is electrifying junior |
Look out for: Burlington Central, Benet, Evanston, Deerfield, Stagg, Batavia, IC Catholic Prep, Crystal Lake South, Libertyville, Lake Forest, Sycamore, Sandburg, Glenbrook South, Stevenson, Latin