Chicagoland Soccer Top 25
By Patrick Z. McGavin
The most significant week of the season is now history -- and part of history. After seemingly locked in at the no. 2 spot, Barrington is the new no. 1 after its pulsing 3-2 victory over previous top-ranked Naperville North in the championship of the Naperville Invitational.
The Fillies survived a schedule of playing five games in six days, which included a 3-0 quarterfinal win over then no. 25 Naperville Central and a 1-0 shutout of no. 3 New Trier in the semifinals. It is worth repeating: the bracket draw of the Naperville Invitational is more demanding and difficult than the state tournament, playing three high-level games in the space of about 36 hours.
Barrington’s achievement is worth celebrating and honoring. It also leads up to the game of the year in the Mid-Suburban League, the Wednesday clash between the Fillies and no. 5 Fremd. The Vikings’ performance at the Naperville Invitational was on a par with Barrington. They dominated their pool and beat previous no. 5 Neuqua Valley and took Naperville North to the brink in a double-overtime 1-0 loss, despite recently losing two of its best players to season-ending injuries.
Twelve of the top 14 teams in the poll are members of the Chicagoland Soccer network. Recently, we published a list of the best players from schools in the network. I’d personally recommend trying to see as many of these spotlighted players as you can.
Click here to see Chicagoland Soccer's Players to Watch
The Top 25 takes programs outside the network just as seriously as member teams in considerations for the rankings. This is a merit-based poll.
Lake Zurich moves into the top 10 this week -- it is the only top 10 program that is not a Chicagoland Soccer subscriber. The Bears opened the year with losses to New Trier and Fremd and then ripped off 12-straight wins.
In the game of the year, so far, then 15th-ranked Lake Zurich went up 4-2 on no. 8 Warren late in the second half Tuesday. The Blue Devils’ Lindsey Hardiman put on an extraordinary performance by scoring two goals 23 seconds apart to fuel a stunning 5-4 comeback victory.
The Bears responded by coming back two nights later to beat no. 10 Lake Forest 2-0.
Lake Zurich senior forward Rebecca Kubin is arguably the most dangerous offensive player in the state. A converted track sprinter, her speed is absolutely next level. She scored three goals against the Blue Devils. If she is not the best player, she is certainly one of the most aesthetically pleasing to see play. Her ascension, along with the rise of Barrington, are just two reasons this season is turning into one for the ages.
By Patrick Z. McGavin
The most significant week of the season is now history -- and part of history. After seemingly locked in at the no. 2 spot, Barrington is the new no. 1 after its pulsing 3-2 victory over previous top-ranked Naperville North in the championship of the Naperville Invitational.
The Fillies survived a schedule of playing five games in six days, which included a 3-0 quarterfinal win over then no. 25 Naperville Central and a 1-0 shutout of no. 3 New Trier in the semifinals. It is worth repeating: the bracket draw of the Naperville Invitational is more demanding and difficult than the state tournament, playing three high-level games in the space of about 36 hours.
Barrington’s achievement is worth celebrating and honoring. It also leads up to the game of the year in the Mid-Suburban League, the Wednesday clash between the Fillies and no. 5 Fremd. The Vikings’ performance at the Naperville Invitational was on a par with Barrington. They dominated their pool and beat previous no. 5 Neuqua Valley and took Naperville North to the brink in a double-overtime 1-0 loss, despite recently losing two of its best players to season-ending injuries.
Twelve of the top 14 teams in the poll are members of the Chicagoland Soccer network. Recently, we published a list of the best players from schools in the network. I’d personally recommend trying to see as many of these spotlighted players as you can.
Click here to see Chicagoland Soccer's Players to Watch
The Top 25 takes programs outside the network just as seriously as member teams in considerations for the rankings. This is a merit-based poll.
Lake Zurich moves into the top 10 this week -- it is the only top 10 program that is not a Chicagoland Soccer subscriber. The Bears opened the year with losses to New Trier and Fremd and then ripped off 12-straight wins.
In the game of the year, so far, then 15th-ranked Lake Zurich went up 4-2 on no. 8 Warren late in the second half Tuesday. The Blue Devils’ Lindsey Hardiman put on an extraordinary performance by scoring two goals 23 seconds apart to fuel a stunning 5-4 comeback victory.
The Bears responded by coming back two nights later to beat no. 10 Lake Forest 2-0.
Lake Zurich senior forward Rebecca Kubin is arguably the most dangerous offensive player in the state. A converted track sprinter, her speed is absolutely next level. She scored three goals against the Blue Devils. If she is not the best player, she is certainly one of the most aesthetically pleasing to see play. Her ascension, along with the rise of Barrington, are just two reasons this season is turning into one for the ages.
Rank | LW | School | W | L | T | Comment |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2 | Barrington | 16 | 1 | 0 | Ellie Stodola goal wins Naperville title |
2 | 1 | Naperville North | 13 | 1 | 2 | Morgan Lockridge is elite defender |
3 | 3 | New Trier | 15 | 2 | 0 | Megan Murdoch is superb stopper |
4 | 4 | St. Charles North | 12 | 0 | 2 | Madison Kauffmann is shot-maker |
5 | 9 | Fremd | 11 | 2 | 1 | Vikings make Naperville statement |
6 | 6 | Geneva | 14 | 1 | 0 | Maddie Stellick is excellent junior |
7 | 8 | Warren | 14 | 1 | 1 | Lindsey Hardiman spurs comeback vs. LZ |
8 | 15 | Lake Zurich | 13 | 3 | 0 | Kristin Brousseau is brilliant junior |
9 | 5 | Neuqua Valley | 6 | 3 | 4 | Junior Yanel Ortiz is superb keeper |
10 | 10 | Lake Forest | 7 | 4 | 0 | Sarah Bires is rangy defensive stopper |
11 | 11 | Metea Valley | 9 | 3 | 3 | Emily Lindblom is developing force |
12 | 7 | Batavia | 12 | 2 | 0 | Avery Davis is talented sophomore |
13 | 13 | Nazareth | 15 | 2 | 1 | Sophia Cullotta makes name |
14 | 14 | Lane | 11 | 2 | 3 | Carlye Makuch a standout sophomore |
15 | 16 | DG North | 11 | 1 | 2 | Earns sectional top seed |
16 | 12 | St. Charles East | 8 | 3 | 4 | Allison Strauss takes Naperville N to limit |
17 | 17 | CL South | 12 | 1 | 1 | Only lost to St. Charles N |
18 | 18 | West Aurora | 16 | 1 | 0 | Freshmen McPherson twins are exciting |
19 | 19 | Lincoln-Way E | 10 | 3 | 1 | Ava Eggert is stellar |
20 | 23 | Glenbrook South | 14 | 3 | 0 | Plays Warren for Glenbrook Cup title Wed. |
21 | 20 | Wauconda | 12 | 0 | 1 | Only blemish is CL South draw |
22 | HM | Lyons | 9 | 4 | 1 | Bella Lestina is a top junior |
23 | 24 | Prairie Ridge | 10 | 1 | 0 | Showdown with CL South looms |
24 | HM | Sycamore | 13 | 1 | 3 | Finding their stride |
25 | HM | Lemont | 11 | 1 | 3 | Played well at Tournament of Champions |
Look out for: Naperville Central, Plainfield South, Burlington Central, Glenbard East, Carmel, Minooka, Latin, Conant, Mundelein, St. Francis, Plainfield North, Loyola, Wheaton Academy, Glenbrook North, Hinsdale South