Chicagoland Soccer Top 25
By Patrick Z. McGavin
Following the stunning news of previously top-ranked Lyons losing against Bloom, a friend and colleague immediately texted me:
“Bloom loses to Lincoln-Way West, ties Lincoln-Way East and Homewood-Flossmoor — two of the bottom teams in the SouthWest Suburban....and then beats Lyons!?
“What a weird soccer season.”
The Lions competed without the top two players on their roster, but the Senior Night loss remains stunning.
Maybe this is just the new normal.
In 2020, the pandemic lockdown in the spring wiped out the girls high school season and most of the club season, forced the postponement of the boys fall season and jammed together three boys seasons in a year and a half.
At the moment, it seems fanciful to imagine any other scenario but a prep soccer world world where little conforms to previous patterns or our widely held ideas.
The choice for the new no. 1 came down to one of the previous occupiers of the space, defending Class 3A state champion York, and insurgent Elgin.
They have identical 10-0-3 records. They have played similar schedules, including their tie on September 12 in the Streamwood Fall Classic.
The chosen tiebreaker comes from that same tournament — Elgin beat no. 15 St. Charles East 3-1; the Dukes tied the Saints.
Elgin has posted nine shutouts and permitted just four goals in 13 games. Defender Julian Orozco, the team leader, credited the blitzing, high-pressure style of new coach James Romano, who formerly led Marmion.
The other serious threat for the top spot was Naperville Central.
The Redhawks began the week just out of the top 10 after losing on penalties against Conant in a BodyArmor bracket Sept. 18.
The Redhawks have what some may consider a bad loss — a 5-2 beat down against previously top-ranked Plainfield North in the early Best of the West.
Their body of work is otherwise impressive with wins over no. 5 Morton, no. 19 Oak Park and River Forest, and no. 17 Hinsdale Central.
Then came the telling victory that was their 2-1 triumph over rival and previously third-ranked Naperville North on Sept. 20.
Naperville Central has two shootout losses in tournaments that went straight to kicks, meaning no overtime periods.
Those came against no. 6 Conant and no. 13 Sandburg.
The Redhawks have played inarguably the toughest schedule in the state. They get the benefit of the doubt, and the push above Conant and Sandburg.
As the end of September approaches, the season takes on heightened stakes.
Class AA and 3A State tournament seeding will be announced Thursday.
The games played Monday are the final data points before coaches have to submit their records for sectional voting.
Young, which also has a new coach in Nick Maksa, enters the poll at no. 21 after knocking out previous no. 20 Evanston 2-1 Saturday. Their dance card also includes a 3-2 loss at no. 5 Morton and a 1-0 loss at no. 8 New Trier.
The Dolphins host Taft on Monday. Young is 7-3-2. The Eagles are 9-3-2. The winner gets the upper hand in the Chicago Public League Premier Division Northwest.
Lane is another city school that just missed the cut of the Top 25. The school has a new nickname, by the way, the Champions (certainly fitting the girls run of seven-straight city titles).
Lane and Young played to an earlier 0-0 draw. The city tournament is adopting a new cutthroat 32-team single-elimination format.
It will make for some thrilling play, befitting for a season in which the ground has shifted constantly beneath our feet.
By Patrick Z. McGavin
Following the stunning news of previously top-ranked Lyons losing against Bloom, a friend and colleague immediately texted me:
“Bloom loses to Lincoln-Way West, ties Lincoln-Way East and Homewood-Flossmoor — two of the bottom teams in the SouthWest Suburban....and then beats Lyons!?
“What a weird soccer season.”
The Lions competed without the top two players on their roster, but the Senior Night loss remains stunning.
Maybe this is just the new normal.
In 2020, the pandemic lockdown in the spring wiped out the girls high school season and most of the club season, forced the postponement of the boys fall season and jammed together three boys seasons in a year and a half.
At the moment, it seems fanciful to imagine any other scenario but a prep soccer world world where little conforms to previous patterns or our widely held ideas.
The choice for the new no. 1 came down to one of the previous occupiers of the space, defending Class 3A state champion York, and insurgent Elgin.
They have identical 10-0-3 records. They have played similar schedules, including their tie on September 12 in the Streamwood Fall Classic.
The chosen tiebreaker comes from that same tournament — Elgin beat no. 15 St. Charles East 3-1; the Dukes tied the Saints.
Elgin has posted nine shutouts and permitted just four goals in 13 games. Defender Julian Orozco, the team leader, credited the blitzing, high-pressure style of new coach James Romano, who formerly led Marmion.
The other serious threat for the top spot was Naperville Central.
The Redhawks began the week just out of the top 10 after losing on penalties against Conant in a BodyArmor bracket Sept. 18.
The Redhawks have what some may consider a bad loss — a 5-2 beat down against previously top-ranked Plainfield North in the early Best of the West.
Their body of work is otherwise impressive with wins over no. 5 Morton, no. 19 Oak Park and River Forest, and no. 17 Hinsdale Central.
Then came the telling victory that was their 2-1 triumph over rival and previously third-ranked Naperville North on Sept. 20.
Naperville Central has two shootout losses in tournaments that went straight to kicks, meaning no overtime periods.
Those came against no. 6 Conant and no. 13 Sandburg.
The Redhawks have played inarguably the toughest schedule in the state. They get the benefit of the doubt, and the push above Conant and Sandburg.
As the end of September approaches, the season takes on heightened stakes.
Class AA and 3A State tournament seeding will be announced Thursday.
The games played Monday are the final data points before coaches have to submit their records for sectional voting.
Young, which also has a new coach in Nick Maksa, enters the poll at no. 21 after knocking out previous no. 20 Evanston 2-1 Saturday. Their dance card also includes a 3-2 loss at no. 5 Morton and a 1-0 loss at no. 8 New Trier.
The Dolphins host Taft on Monday. Young is 7-3-2. The Eagles are 9-3-2. The winner gets the upper hand in the Chicago Public League Premier Division Northwest.
Lane is another city school that just missed the cut of the Top 25. The school has a new nickname, by the way, the Champions (certainly fitting the girls run of seven-straight city titles).
Lane and Young played to an earlier 0-0 draw. The city tournament is adopting a new cutthroat 32-team single-elimination format.
It will make for some thrilling play, befitting for a season in which the ground has shifted constantly beneath our feet.
Rk | LW | Team | W | L | T | Comment |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2 | Elgin | 10 | 0 | 3 | Julian Orozco is an elite defender |
2 | 3 | York | 10 | 0 | 3 | Stefan Rebic is crucial part of lockdown D |
3 | 1 | Lyons | 9 | 2 | 3 | Liam Carolan stabilizes the back |
4 | 11 | Naperville C | 12 | 3 | 0 | Sean O’Reilly keys North victory |
5 | 4 | Morton | 9 | 2 | 0 | Ivan Ramirez is creative and dynamic in middle |
6 | 10 | Conant | 12 | 3 | 1 | Finding their stride again |
7 | 5 | Naperville N | 8 | 3 | 1 | Owen Gaccione is coming up big |
8 | 7 | New Trier | 10 | 1 | 4 | Aidan Nicholson a big target up-top |
9 | 9 | Plainfield N | 13 | 3 | 0 | Aidan Smith hero against W Aurora |
10 | 8 | Stevenson | 11 | 0 | 2 | Patriots clip Hersey 1-0 |
11 | 18 | Romeoville | 16 | 0 | 1 | Spartans top area wins |
12 | 6 | Grayslake C | 9 | 1 | 1 | After injuries hurt, Mitchell Fein helps reorganize |
13 | 21 | Sandburg | 10 | 1 | 2 | Eagles take out Stagg |
14 | 19 | Benet | 9 | 3 | 3 | Frosh Mateo Picha joins family business |
15 | 15 | St. Charles E | 11 | 2 | 1 | Connor Brown a superb 2-way threat |
16 | 13 | Stagg | 13 | 2 | 1 | Chargers taken out by Sandburg |
17 | NR | Bloom | 10 | 4 | 2 | Blazing Trojans ruin Lyons’ Senior Night |
18 | 12 | Hinsdale C | 7 | 3 | 1 | Ardit Abdullai is a dynamic finisher |
19 | 17 | OPRF | 7 | 3 | 0 | Nazir Cruz is gifted with the ball |
20 | 22 | Lockport | 11 | 2 | 1 | Porters are 6-1-0 in last 7 games |
21 | HM | Young | 7 | 3 | 2 | Garens Petrulis a set piece standout |
22 | 23 | W Aurora | 9 | 3 | 4 | Falls to Plainfield N in 78th minute |
23 | NR | Geneva | 6 | 1 | 7 | Genel Jaffer directs offense |
24 | 24 | St. Charles N | 7 | 3 | 3 | Diego Torres is dangerous in the middle |
25 | 14 | E Aurora | 9 | 3 | 2 | Showdown with Larkin Friday |
Look out for: Evanston, Warren, Round Lake, Taft, Streamwood, Lane, Fremd, Rolling Meadows, Zion-Benton, Joliet West, Glenbrook North, Hersey, Oak Lawn, Oswego East, Oak Forest.
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