Chicagoland Soccer Top 25
By Patrick Z. McGavin
For all intents and purposes, this was the first week of the season. Now every ranked team has played, some have even managed to get in four or five games.
The top three are unchanged. The big mover is Glenbard East, now up to no. 4, after their breathtaking and dominant 5-1 victory over previous no. 24 Andrew in the championship of the Windy City Ram Classic on Saturday at Reavis. This team has it all: size, speed, technical skill and moxie.
The South Suburbs is a hotbed this year: Lincoln-Way East, Providence, Lincoln-Way Central, Marist, Andrew and Tinley Park all showed significant promise at the Windy City Ram Classic.
Warren also had an impressive week, going 3-0 and posting a scoring differential of 16-1. Two big rivals, Geneva and Batavia, have also impressed.
Still, it is only worth repeating that nobody ever won a state championship in March. This intemperate weather, as Shakespeare might call it, has thrown everything asunder.
Now a great many schools embark on spring break and are taking anywhere from 5-10 days off from their next game.
A big tournament in St. Louis later this week features some of the best local teams with some excellent teams from the southern wing of the state. Neuqua Valley and Edwardsville play Friday, for example.
Those are going to be some games to watch.
Speaking of which, we also have a new top team in the Illinois 10, the poll of the best teams outside of Chicago. Granite City, the last team from outside the area to win a Class 3A state championship (2011), defeated previous no. 1 Triad 1-0 last Wednesday. They are now perched at the top of the poll.
Editor's note: In the interest of full disclosure, Geneva's Molly McGavin is related to the author.
By Patrick Z. McGavin
For all intents and purposes, this was the first week of the season. Now every ranked team has played, some have even managed to get in four or five games.
The top three are unchanged. The big mover is Glenbard East, now up to no. 4, after their breathtaking and dominant 5-1 victory over previous no. 24 Andrew in the championship of the Windy City Ram Classic on Saturday at Reavis. This team has it all: size, speed, technical skill and moxie.
The South Suburbs is a hotbed this year: Lincoln-Way East, Providence, Lincoln-Way Central, Marist, Andrew and Tinley Park all showed significant promise at the Windy City Ram Classic.
Warren also had an impressive week, going 3-0 and posting a scoring differential of 16-1. Two big rivals, Geneva and Batavia, have also impressed.
Still, it is only worth repeating that nobody ever won a state championship in March. This intemperate weather, as Shakespeare might call it, has thrown everything asunder.
Now a great many schools embark on spring break and are taking anywhere from 5-10 days off from their next game.
A big tournament in St. Louis later this week features some of the best local teams with some excellent teams from the southern wing of the state. Neuqua Valley and Edwardsville play Friday, for example.
Those are going to be some games to watch.
Speaking of which, we also have a new top team in the Illinois 10, the poll of the best teams outside of Chicago. Granite City, the last team from outside the area to win a Class 3A state championship (2011), defeated previous no. 1 Triad 1-0 last Wednesday. They are now perched at the top of the poll.
Editor's note: In the interest of full disclosure, Geneva's Molly McGavin is related to the author.
Rank | LW | School | W | L | T | Comment |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 1 | Naperville N | 4 | 0 | 0 | Shaina Dudas is top offensive talent |
2 | 2 | Barrington | 2 | 0 | 0 | Haley Tausend is great defender |
3 | 3 | New Trier | 4 | 0 | 0 | Strong win over Prospect |
4 | 10 | Glenbard E | 5 | 0 | 0 | Lindsey Novak keys Windy City title |
5 | 4 | St. Charles N | 2 | 0 | 1 | Sami Sample is a standout keeper |
6 | 5 | St. Charles E | 2 | 0 | 1 | Hayley Popiel is a great defender |
7 | 8 | Fremd | 3 | 0 | 1 | Missy Adrian is superb forward |
8 | 6 | Neuqua V | 0 | 1 | 1 | Ryan Gareis is a special talent |
9 | 13 | Sandburg | 2 | 0 | 0 | Solid win over good Wheaton N team |
10 | 17 | Warren | 3 | 0 | 0 | Chomko sisters are dynamic |
11 | 18 | Geneva | 4 | 0 | 0 | Rapach-Lagowski part of off. juggernaut |
12 | 9 | Glenbrook S | 1 | 0 | 0 | Good start to year |
13 | 11 | LW East | 4 | 1 | 0 | Clipped by Glenbard East |
14 | 7 | Evanston | 2 | 0 | 1 | Draw with Glenbrook N |
15 | 15 | Metea V | 2 | 0 | 1 | Forward Taylor Rohm is exciting |
16 | HM | Batavia | 2 | 0 | 0 | Anna Rakos leads surging Bulldogs |
17 | 21 | Benet | 1 | 1 | 0 | Katie Gesior is a special player |
18 | 14 | Huntley | 1 | 0 | 1 | Played Palatine to draw |
19 | HM | Lyons | 1 | 0 | 1 | Erin Smothers emerges on scene |
20 | NR | Conant | 2 | 0 | 0 | Emily Mazurek 4 goals against Waubonsie |
21 | 16 | Plainfield N | 2 | 1 | 0 | Daelyn Thompson is a bright young talent |
22 | 22 | Sycamore | 2 | 0 | 0 | Proving last year was no fluke |
23 | NR | DG North | 3 | 0 | 0 | Chloe Nowka secures Elk Grove title |
24 | HM | WW South | 1 | 1 | 0 | Young but very talented |
25 | 20 | St. Francis | 1 | 0 | 1 | Erin Peck is another offensive talent |
Look out for: Naperville Central, Bartlett, Glenbrook North, Prospect, Deerfield, Andrew, Tinley Park, Lincoln-Way Central, Waubonsie Valley, Palatine, Libertyville, Latin, Lockport, Wauconda, Loyola