Chicagoland Soccer Top 25
By Patrick Z. McGavin
The opening week of the season is history.
What a start: multiple players with multiple-goal games; others off to blazing starts with prodigious numbers; and numerous teams with quality results.
After the summer training and the early exhibition of facing teammates during early August, there is a palpable relief and the expected intensity with the return of interscholastic competition.
The best teams and programs tend to dominate the discussion. The first week has also bore witness to some take-notice teams like Zion-Benton, which won the North Shore invitational Saturday.
Lake Park is another surprise entrant in the first formal Top 25 poll. The Lancers won just five games last year.
The new year is not just cause for optimism.The pieces start to coalesce with club players or first-time academy participants juicing up the lineups.
The uncertainty principle, the idea that anything is possible, reigns supreme the first two or three weeks of the season.
Players are finding their legs, fine-tuning their skills.
At the same time, no team ever won a state championship in late August. Slow starts are not a death knell. Plenty of soccer remains to be played.
This is the equivalent of taking on a new book, with digressive asides and in-between actions. Everything is fresh and new.
We just finished the opening chapter. Nobody knows how the story of the 2022 boys season will end.
Author's note: Last week ranking (LW) refers to respective position in First 50 poll minus the schools outside the Chicago coverage area.
By Patrick Z. McGavin
The opening week of the season is history.
What a start: multiple players with multiple-goal games; others off to blazing starts with prodigious numbers; and numerous teams with quality results.
After the summer training and the early exhibition of facing teammates during early August, there is a palpable relief and the expected intensity with the return of interscholastic competition.
The best teams and programs tend to dominate the discussion. The first week has also bore witness to some take-notice teams like Zion-Benton, which won the North Shore invitational Saturday.
Lake Park is another surprise entrant in the first formal Top 25 poll. The Lancers won just five games last year.
The new year is not just cause for optimism.The pieces start to coalesce with club players or first-time academy participants juicing up the lineups.
The uncertainty principle, the idea that anything is possible, reigns supreme the first two or three weeks of the season.
Players are finding their legs, fine-tuning their skills.
At the same time, no team ever won a state championship in late August. Slow starts are not a death knell. Plenty of soccer remains to be played.
This is the equivalent of taking on a new book, with digressive asides and in-between actions. Everything is fresh and new.
We just finished the opening chapter. Nobody knows how the story of the 2022 boys season will end.
Author's note: Last week ranking (LW) refers to respective position in First 50 poll minus the schools outside the Chicago coverage area.
Rk | LW | Team | W | L | T | Comment |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 1 | Plainfield N | 2 | 0 | 0 | Justin Williams is a skilled midfielder |
2 | 3 | OPRF | 3 | 0 | 0 | Isaac Cummings is a creative talent in the middle |
3 | 6 | York | 2 | 0 | 0 | Jose Herrera is big-time playmaker/scorer |
4 | 2 | New Trier | 2 | 0 | 1 | Evan Kanellos is creative & dynamic in space |
5 | 9 | Naperville C | 3 | 0 | 0 | Chase Adams makes spectacular debut |
6 | 8 | Lyons | 1 | 0 | 2 | Colin Sullivan is a disruptive center back |
7 | 4 | Morton | 2 | 1 | 0 | Edgar Quintero orchestrates attack |
8 | 18 | Libertyville | 2 | 0 | 0 | Andrew Phillips thrills in the middle |
9 | 15 | Warren | 3 | 0 | 0 | Miguel Garcia is off to electric start |
10 | 5 | Naperville N | 1 | 2 | 0 | Jaxon Stokes is an elite sophomore |
11 | 11 | St. Charles E | 3 | 0 | 0 | Mason Brockmeyer is on fire |
12 | 12 | Lockport | 5 | 0 | 0 | Reaches Windy City Ram Classic semis |
13 | 14 | Grayslake C | 1 | 0 | 1 | Daniel Marynevych is as good as it gets |
14 | 13 | Benet | 2 | 0 | 0 | Nico Picha is off to a hot start |
15 | 7 | Fremd | 0 | 0 | 2 | Leo Akashi has savvy & plenty of game |
16 | 31 | Elgin | 2 | 0 | 0 | Eduardo Nava is elite scorer |
17 | 28 | St. Charles N | 2 | 0 | 0 | Walter DeLaPaz is a dynamic talent in the middle |
18 | 16 | Stevenson | 2 | 0 | 1 | Tuesday match with Prospect |
19 | NR | Zion-Benton | 3 | 0 | 0 | Zee-Bees capture North Shore inv. |
20 | NR | Minooka | 3 | 0 | 0 | Solid wins over Metea Valley, Normal |
21 | 10 | Evanston | 1 | 0 | 1 | Looking to build out the attack |
22 | 23 | Glenbrook S | 2 | 1 | 1 | Adrian Potoniec is lethal talent up-top |
23 | 39 | Hersey | 2 | 1 | 0 | Charlie Sieg dangerous on free kicks |
24 | 38 | Round Lake | 0 | 0 | 1 | Strong performance against Lyons |
25 | NR | Lake Park | 3 | 0 | 0 | Francesco Cardone powers attack |
Look out for: Reavis, Geneva, Streamwood, Metea Valley, Young, Lane, St. Ignatius, Oswego East, Hinsdale Central, Barrington, Lake Zurich, Crystal Lake South, North Shore Country Day, Fenwick, Taft.
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