Chicagoland Soccer Top 25
By Patrick Z. McGavin
When something is supposed to scarcely happen but suddenly seemingly happens in every other game, what are we to make of it? Call it just another part of this crazy season?
That is not meant rhetorically.
The rare 80th-minute goal is part of the great allure of the game.
It's not as rare as a hole in one. Still, what are the mathematical chances?
This reporter has seen six examples in the last 10 days.
That includes a score with four seconds left in a game eventually decided in double overtime.
On Sunday, at the championships of BodyArmor event, 80th-minute goals happened three times in a matter of seconds.
At the Lyons Soccer Complex, Naperville Central and Conant eached scored 80th-minute goals before the Cougars prevailed in a shootout.
Not to be outdone, St. Patrick secured an 80th-minute goal against Larkin on a penalty kick when a player was fouled inside the box as a deep free kick was occurring.
Finally, West Aurora marred Romeoville’s perfect start to the season with an 80th-minute goal Tuesday for a 2-2 tie.
That’s nuts.
It speaks, I think, to the topsy-turvy nature of the season. Nothing is ever quite settled, when everything is up for grabs.
Lyons returns to the top spot after its 1-0 victory over Morton.
Previously top-ranked York did not lose, but had two ties and did not quality for the championship game of the Streamwood Fall Classic.
Elgin won the tournament. The Dukes and Maroons tied and have the same record. The In the same event Elgin beat St. Charles East 3-1, and the Fighting Saints and York tied.
Elgin and East Aurora are the big movers this week. The two Upstate Eight Conference rivals put together very impressive runs.
Elgin beat a deep field to win at Streamwood.
The Tomcats dominated their group at the Plainfield Classic, breezed through their semifinal and then stunned previously top-ranked Plainfield North in the shootout phase after the teams combined for a stunning eight goals in regulation.
Elgin beat East Aurora 2-0 recently. The Maroons have allowed just three goals in 11 games.
Hopefully this puts to rest the charge made in some quarters that teams that aren't in the Chicagoland Soccer network get short shrift when it comes to the rankings. One wonders if they've ever read the Illinois 10?
Two of the top 10 and four of the top 14 in this week’s rankings are schools that are unconnected to the site. However, they and all others are always welcome.
If you’re good enough to make the cut, you are going to be recognized.
`
By Patrick Z. McGavin
When something is supposed to scarcely happen but suddenly seemingly happens in every other game, what are we to make of it? Call it just another part of this crazy season?
That is not meant rhetorically.
The rare 80th-minute goal is part of the great allure of the game.
It's not as rare as a hole in one. Still, what are the mathematical chances?
This reporter has seen six examples in the last 10 days.
That includes a score with four seconds left in a game eventually decided in double overtime.
On Sunday, at the championships of BodyArmor event, 80th-minute goals happened three times in a matter of seconds.
At the Lyons Soccer Complex, Naperville Central and Conant eached scored 80th-minute goals before the Cougars prevailed in a shootout.
Not to be outdone, St. Patrick secured an 80th-minute goal against Larkin on a penalty kick when a player was fouled inside the box as a deep free kick was occurring.
Finally, West Aurora marred Romeoville’s perfect start to the season with an 80th-minute goal Tuesday for a 2-2 tie.
That’s nuts.
It speaks, I think, to the topsy-turvy nature of the season. Nothing is ever quite settled, when everything is up for grabs.
Lyons returns to the top spot after its 1-0 victory over Morton.
Previously top-ranked York did not lose, but had two ties and did not quality for the championship game of the Streamwood Fall Classic.
Elgin won the tournament. The Dukes and Maroons tied and have the same record. The In the same event Elgin beat St. Charles East 3-1, and the Fighting Saints and York tied.
Elgin and East Aurora are the big movers this week. The two Upstate Eight Conference rivals put together very impressive runs.
Elgin beat a deep field to win at Streamwood.
The Tomcats dominated their group at the Plainfield Classic, breezed through their semifinal and then stunned previously top-ranked Plainfield North in the shootout phase after the teams combined for a stunning eight goals in regulation.
Elgin beat East Aurora 2-0 recently. The Maroons have allowed just three goals in 11 games.
Hopefully this puts to rest the charge made in some quarters that teams that aren't in the Chicagoland Soccer network get short shrift when it comes to the rankings. One wonders if they've ever read the Illinois 10?
Two of the top 10 and four of the top 14 in this week’s rankings are schools that are unconnected to the site. However, they and all others are always welcome.
If you’re good enough to make the cut, you are going to be recognized.
`
Rk | LW | Team | W | L | T | Comment |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 7 | Lyons | 8 | 1 | 3 | Colin Sullivan is lockdown defender |
2 | 14 | Elgin | 8 | 0 | 3 | Maroons capture Streamwood title |
3 | 1 | York | 8 | 0 | 3 | Gustavo Herrera puts fear into defenses |
4 | 2 | Morton | 9 | 2 | 0 | Ismael Zepeda is skilled and dangerous out front |
5 | 3 | Naperville N | 8 | 2 | 1 | Alex Barger has five-goal week |
6 | 5 | Grayslake C | 8 | 0 | 1 | Lucas Veenstra is a skilled two-way player |
7 | 8 | New Trier | 9 | 1 | 2 | Ollie Fernandez delivers against Young |
8 | 11 | Stevenson | 10 | 0 | 1 | Patriots edge Warren 1-0 |
9 | 4 | Plainfield N | 11 | 2 | 0 | Sean Elster is savvy and skilled |
10 | 6 | Conant | 9 | 3 | 1 | Survives Naperville C on penalties |
11 | 9 | Naperville Central | 9 | 3 | 0 | Josh Weigel is creative with the ball |
12 | 12 | Hinsdale C | 7 | 1 | 1 | Braden Henry is terrific in space |
13 | 15 | Stagg | 11 | 1 | 1 | Beats Minooka Sunday |
14 | NR | E Aurora | 7 | 2 | 2 | Stuns North for Plainfield Cup title |
15 | 18 | St. Charles E | 9 | 2 | 1 | Jack Harrington stabilizes the middle attack |
16 | 13 | Warren | 6 | 2 | 1 | Matt Galvan stands out in midfield |
17 | 10 | OPRF | 6 | 3 | 0 | Ezra Plotkin is a disruptive stopper |
18 | 23 | Romeoville | 12 | 0 | 1 | W Aurora ends perfect start |
19 | 17 | Benet | 7 | 3 | 0 | Evan Lucas is a dynamic keeper |
20 | HM | Evanston | 7 | 0 | 2 | New Trier showdown Tuesday |
21 | 20 | Sandburg | 7 | 1 | 2 | Hard to score on |
22 | 24 | Lockport | 8 | 2 | 1 | Second to Elgin at Streamwood |
23 | 21 | W Aurora | 8 | 2 | 3 | Dramatic tie with Romeoville |
24 | 22 | St. Charles N | 7 | 2 | 2 | Bryce Thomas is two-way threat |
25 | NR | Rolling Meadows | 8 | 2 | 0 | Joe Salemi powers the attack |
Look out for: Zion-Benton, Joliet West, Bolingbrook, Maine South, Glenbrook North, Palatine, Hersey, Oak Lawn, Plainfield East, West Chicago, Taft, Lane, Young, Shepard, Oswego East, Libertyville.
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