Chicagoland Soccer Top 25
By Patrick Z. McGavin
It seems hard to fathom, but the season is already approaching the crucial juncture.
The seeds for the state tournament are about to be announced. With the pandemic season, the game appears in a perpetual loop with constant action. Here we are, just a couple of weeks out from the start of the state tournament.
The question is: Will there be an October surprise?
Probing further, is there a team out there largely unnoticed or flying under the radar that is about to make a huge leap with the regular season now pushing into the final?
Soccer in these parts has a fixed order, more or less, with the same dominant programs like Naperville North, Morton, Lyons and Benet always at or near the top.
That is still largely the case. Just like football, another sport whose order got whacked by the pandemic, a different order asserts itself, with upsets and the seeming sure thing not so obvious.
Benet is the big riser after its solid performance against top-ranked Morton and its upset of previous no. 3 Lyons.
Chicagoland Soccer writer Steve Millar had Lockport and Lincoln-Way Central ranked no. 1 and no. 2 in his rankings for the Daily Southtown. Lincoln-Way Central ended Lockport’s perfect run with the 3-2 victory.
The Knights move into the Top 25.
Hinsdale Central is another team that is demanding notice with victories in the last 10 days over Oak Park and River Forest, Lyons and Naperville Central. That’s an impressive run.
All bets are off. The season is up for grabs. The only constants are the nonstop rush of excitement and the lack of certainty.
That is the way it should be.
This is fun!
Games through Sunday
By Patrick Z. McGavin
It seems hard to fathom, but the season is already approaching the crucial juncture.
The seeds for the state tournament are about to be announced. With the pandemic season, the game appears in a perpetual loop with constant action. Here we are, just a couple of weeks out from the start of the state tournament.
The question is: Will there be an October surprise?
Probing further, is there a team out there largely unnoticed or flying under the radar that is about to make a huge leap with the regular season now pushing into the final?
Soccer in these parts has a fixed order, more or less, with the same dominant programs like Naperville North, Morton, Lyons and Benet always at or near the top.
That is still largely the case. Just like football, another sport whose order got whacked by the pandemic, a different order asserts itself, with upsets and the seeming sure thing not so obvious.
Benet is the big riser after its solid performance against top-ranked Morton and its upset of previous no. 3 Lyons.
Chicagoland Soccer writer Steve Millar had Lockport and Lincoln-Way Central ranked no. 1 and no. 2 in his rankings for the Daily Southtown. Lincoln-Way Central ended Lockport’s perfect run with the 3-2 victory.
The Knights move into the Top 25.
Hinsdale Central is another team that is demanding notice with victories in the last 10 days over Oak Park and River Forest, Lyons and Naperville Central. That’s an impressive run.
All bets are off. The season is up for grabs. The only constants are the nonstop rush of excitement and the lack of certainty.
That is the way it should be.
This is fun!
Games through Sunday
Rk | LW | Team | W | L | T | Comment |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 1 | Morton | 10 | 0 | 2 | Daniel Martinez helps preserve unbeaten streak |
2 | 2 | Fremd | 10 | 1 | 1 | Christian Tirado is offensively skilled |
3 | 6 | St. Charles E | 12 | 1 | 0 | Phil Anton is a stellar defender |
4 | 7 | Evanston | 10 | 0 | 3 | Earns tough draw with Warren |
5 | 8 | New Trier | 9 | 1 | 1 | Eli Drake is creative with the ball |
6 | 4 | Naperville N | 10 | 3 | 2 | Jacob Ryu is a stabilizing force |
7 | 5 | Rolling Meadows | 10 | 0 | 2 | Wilson Espino is versatile talent |
8 | 24 | Benet | 8 | 4 | 0 | Andy Nash helps take down Lyons |
9 | 3 | Lyons | 9 | 4 | 1 | Finn Mahaney is dangerous in space |
10 | 10 | Loyola | 9 | 1 | 2 | James Collins is intriguing offensive talent |
11 | 11 | OPRF | 10 | 2 | 0 | Alex Hauck helps solidify the middle attack |
12 | 12 | York | 11 | 1 | 0 | Connor Bare is a disruptive stopper |
13 | 18 | Addison Trail | 9 | 1 | 0 | Brian Terran is set piece specialist |
14 | HM | LW Central | 11 | 1 | 0 | Ends Lockport’s perfect season hopes |
15 | 15 | W Chicago | 11 | 3 | 0 | Tough schedule paying dividends |
16 | 14 | Oswego E | 10 | 1 | 0 | Cael Cummings is terrific two-way talent |
17 | 17 | Warren | 8 | 1 | 4 | Matt Hegge is dynamic in the middle |
18 | 19 | Lake Zurich | 8 | 1 | 4 | Battling Warren for North Suburban supremacy |
19 | 20 | Barrington | 8 | 1 | 2 | Lexi Salazar is a dangerous offensive talent |
20 | 9 | Lockport | 8 | 1 | 0 | Layoff ends with loss |
21 | 22 | Notre Dame | 12 | 1 | 1 | Andy Barrezueta is gifted offensive talent |
22 | 21 | Libertyville | 7 | 4 | 3 | Felix Amyot plays everywhere on field |
23 | HM | Elk Grove | 10 | 3 | 1 | The surprise of the MSL |
24 | 23 | W Aurora | 9 | 3 | 2 | Blackhawks take down Plainfield E |
25 | 13 | Naperville C | 10 | 6 | 0 | Evan King is superb talent |
Look out for: Look out for: East Aurora, Metea Valley, Hinsdale Central, Stevenson, Plainfield North, Plainfield Central, Romeoville, Plainfield East, Wheaton North, Oswego, Huntley, Marmion, Hersey, Minooka, Mount Carmel.
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