Chicagoland Soccer Top 25
By Patrick Z. McGavin
The Great River Classic in Burlington, Ia., played out some 250 miles west of Chicago.
What happened proves especially illuminating and provides sharp context as the season moves into a new gear.
The weekend marked the end of September, signifying the mad rush to the regular-season finish line in two weeks.
The IHSA state seeds were issued late Thursday, another ritual and defining action of the season. We will have more to say about seeds and the relative strengths of each sectional in our final regular-season poll.
The Burlington tournament has gone under different iterations and formats. As a magnet for many of the top programs in the Midwest, it shakes out of teams and creates a sharper and more accurate hierarchy of teams as we approach the start of the playoffs.
In the Bimbo Bakeries bracket, Morton and Naperville North showed off their considerable power, depth and versatility.
The Mustangs went 3-0-0 to be crowned the champ. Among the Mustangs victories was a 2-0 decision over St. Thomas Aquinas. Naperville North scored a late goal to forge a 1-1 tie with that same Saints team.
Morton and Naperville North sidestepped the traditional championship to avoid a rematch of their first-week game (Mustangs won 2-1).
The teams have played each other in each of the last two Class 3A supersectional championship games (both Morton wins). It was a smart move to avoid another game.
In the Capelli Sport bracket, Naperville Central captured back-to back-shootout victories over Evanston and St. Charles North.
The Redhawks are on a roll, fueled by the rivalry victory over Naperville North on Sept. 20. Naperville Central is now at its highest ranking of the season.
Despite the shootout loss against Naperville Central, St. Charles East makes another big leap, in part based on what they accomplished in Iowa.
Earlier in the week the Saints posted shutout victories over two previously ranked teams -- St. Charles North and Geneva.
In a rematch of last year’s Class A state championship game, Althoff defeated Wheaton Academy 1-0 in a Great River Classic championship bracket, reversing the Warriors’ 2-1 victory last fall.
By virtue of its strong performance and excellent strength of schedule, Althoff is now the no. 1-ranked program in the Illinois 10.
Wheaton Academy moves into the Top 25.
Not all games are created equal. In pretty much all sports, games played at the end of the year have greater predictive value than games at the beginning.
Teams invariably improve and find their true form as the season moves on, unless they are ravaged by injuries.
The Burlington tournament is a snapshot, a way for Chicago-based and other Illinois programs to gauge where they are at a very critical juncture.
As the season develops a downhill momentum, clarity and order sharpens the focus on otherwise complex, wild and unpredictable year.
By Patrick Z. McGavin
The Great River Classic in Burlington, Ia., played out some 250 miles west of Chicago.
What happened proves especially illuminating and provides sharp context as the season moves into a new gear.
The weekend marked the end of September, signifying the mad rush to the regular-season finish line in two weeks.
The IHSA state seeds were issued late Thursday, another ritual and defining action of the season. We will have more to say about seeds and the relative strengths of each sectional in our final regular-season poll.
The Burlington tournament has gone under different iterations and formats. As a magnet for many of the top programs in the Midwest, it shakes out of teams and creates a sharper and more accurate hierarchy of teams as we approach the start of the playoffs.
In the Bimbo Bakeries bracket, Morton and Naperville North showed off their considerable power, depth and versatility.
The Mustangs went 3-0-0 to be crowned the champ. Among the Mustangs victories was a 2-0 decision over St. Thomas Aquinas. Naperville North scored a late goal to forge a 1-1 tie with that same Saints team.
Morton and Naperville North sidestepped the traditional championship to avoid a rematch of their first-week game (Mustangs won 2-1).
The teams have played each other in each of the last two Class 3A supersectional championship games (both Morton wins). It was a smart move to avoid another game.
In the Capelli Sport bracket, Naperville Central captured back-to back-shootout victories over Evanston and St. Charles North.
The Redhawks are on a roll, fueled by the rivalry victory over Naperville North on Sept. 20. Naperville Central is now at its highest ranking of the season.
Despite the shootout loss against Naperville Central, St. Charles East makes another big leap, in part based on what they accomplished in Iowa.
Earlier in the week the Saints posted shutout victories over two previously ranked teams -- St. Charles North and Geneva.
In a rematch of last year’s Class A state championship game, Althoff defeated Wheaton Academy 1-0 in a Great River Classic championship bracket, reversing the Warriors’ 2-1 victory last fall.
By virtue of its strong performance and excellent strength of schedule, Althoff is now the no. 1-ranked program in the Illinois 10.
Wheaton Academy moves into the Top 25.
Not all games are created equal. In pretty much all sports, games played at the end of the year have greater predictive value than games at the beginning.
Teams invariably improve and find their true form as the season moves on, unless they are ravaged by injuries.
The Burlington tournament is a snapshot, a way for Chicago-based and other Illinois programs to gauge where they are at a very critical juncture.
As the season develops a downhill momentum, clarity and order sharpens the focus on otherwise complex, wild and unpredictable year.
Rk | LW | Team | W | L | T | Comment |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 1 | Elgin | 13 | 0 | 3 | Erick Ortiz ignites top of attack |
2 | 2 | York | 11 | 0 | 3 | Jayden Waski is explosive in space |
3 | 4 | Naperville C | 16 | 0 | 3 | Patrick Berryman is an elite stopper |
4 | 3 | Lyons | 11 | 2 | 3 | Mason Burda is a talented sophomore |
5 | 5 | Morton | 13 | 2 | 0 | Julian Sotelo is a plug and play talent |
6 | 7 | Naperville N | 11 | 3 | 2 | Hindo Allie is explosive and quick to the ball |
7 | 9 | Plainfield N | 15 | 3 | 0 | Sean Elster is free kick specialist |
8 | 10 | Stevenson | 13 | 0 | 2 | Holds upper hand for conference title |
9 | 15 | St. Charles E | 15 | 3 | 1 | Griffin Counts is a skilled and disruptive talent |
10 | 8 | New Trier | 10 | 1 | 5 | Kevin Farina is an athletic stopper |
11 | 12 | Grayslake C | 11 | 1 | 1 | Nick Molochnikov is strong middle presence |
12 | 11 | Romeoville | 19 | 0 | 1 | Plainfield North showdown Tuesday |
13 | 13 | Sandburg | 13 | 1 | 2 | Lockport confrontation looms |
14 | 6 | Conant | 13 | 4 | 1 | Trails Fremd for MSL Cup berth |
15 | 19 | OPRF | 10 | 3 | 0 | Isaac Cummings solidifies the middle attack |
16 | 16 | Stagg | 16 | 2 | 1 | Winners of fourth straight |
17 | 17 | Bloom | 13 | 4 | 2 | Enjoy a 3-1 goal differential |
18 | 20 | Lockport | 13 | 2 | 1 | Sandburg game determines conference title |
19 | 14 | Benet | 10 | 4 | 0 | Peter Hepburn is two-way threat |
20 | HM | Fremd | 9 | 5 | 2 | Joey Rodino helps secure Kinsella Cup |
21 | 22 | W Aurora | 11 | 3 | 4 | Blackhawks are putting it together |
22 | HM | Warren | 9 | 3 | 2 | Jack Elkington stars in Carmel rout |
23 | 21 | Young | 8 | 3 | 3 | Cesar Lopez is quick, athletic forward |
24 | HM | Taft | 10 | 3 | 3 | Matej Sokola secures Young draw |
25 | NR | Wheaton A | 8 | 4 | 3 | Mariotti twins serve up victories |
Look out for: Geneva, Evanston, Hinsdale Central, St. Charles North, St. Patrick, Round Lake, Vernon Hills, Lane, Zion-Benton, Glenbrook North, Hersey, Oak Lawn, Oswego East, Oak Forest, Lemont.
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