State preview: Class AA
By Gary Larsen
In his 12th season as Crystal Lake South’s head coach, Brian Allen has taken the program into the previously uncharted territory of the Illinois state finals.
The Gators’ first order of business will be a tall one in a Class AA semifinal Friday at 1 p.m. at Hoffman Estates High School. They’ll take on a Gibault squad that is making its 12th state finals appearance since 2000.
“Gibault obviously has a rich soccer tradition and has been here at the state finals the last couple years,” Allen said. “They likely won't be fazed by the state finals atmosphere.
“But It's exciting to know as a coach that we haven't yet played our best soccer of the year. If the guys continue to find ways to keep improving and growing as individuals and collectively as a team, it should make for an exciting weekend.”
The Gators (20-2-3) took their first supersectional title with a 5-0 win over Fenton. They’ve outscored five postseason opponents 15-3 to earn to earn the program’s landmark Final Four berth.
Junior forward Alex Canfield spearheads the Gators’ attack with 30 goals and six assists in 25 games. Senior Ryan Coughlin has eight goals and nine assists, while seniors Andrew Edge and Nick Langdon have chipped in 11 assists apiece.
Edge, Langdon, and Coughlin help lead a stable of 12 seniors who have made Allen proud this year.
“I'm most proud of the growth the guys have achieved thus far this season,” he said. “The seniors set the tempo for the season very early on, even in the summer, making sure to pay attention to details so that they could grow and improve upon those moments during each future training session or game.”
The Gators have given up 18 goals in 25 games. Senior keeper Matt McCaleb has played in net for 19 games and given up only eight goals for a goals-against average of .42. The Gators ended the regular season ranked 18th in the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25.
Gibault is chasing its fifth state title. The Hawks won three-straight crowns from 2005-07, one in 2013, and placed second in Class AA last year to Solorio.
Coach Darryn Haudrich’s team is led offensively by seniors Logan Doerr (22 goals, 14 assists) and Karson Huels (15 goals, 17 assists). Defensively, the Hawks have given up 35 goals in 26 games, but only two in its five previous postseason games.
"(Doerr and Huels) have been playing together for over ten years now, both at the club and grade school level," Haudrich said. "They are a lot of fun to watch. They are a force to be reckoned with and difficult to contain and they very much are the reason that we have been able to find success the past three years with going to state."
A hot keeper can make all the difference downstate, and the Hawks believe that keeper Connor Olson will be up to the challenge.
"He's a beast in goal and is excellent at reading attacking plays, stopping PK's and organizing the defense," Haudirch said. "He really shines at being able to manage the game and has come through big time when the game is on the line, especially the past two seasons."
Haudrich also knows that while his side has an edge in state finals experience over Crystal Lake South, the Hawks aren't about to underestimate the Gators.
"We're aware of Crystal Lake South making their debut to the state tournament and we respect the season they're having," Haudrich said. "I think they will be a challenge for us with their size and strength, but we feel we are well prepared for the task at hand."
The second Class AA semifinal features St. Ignatius (16-7-0) against Notre Dame (Peoria) (22-2-0) at 3 p.m.
Four of St. Ignatius’ seven losses have come to Class 3A teams and all were by one goal. The Chicago school posted wins against 3A members Lane, Plainfield Central, Hinsdale Central and Mount Carmel. The class AA losses came against Crystal Lake South, St. Patrick and Marmion.
“I'm most proud of this team's ability to rise up and play with any team we face,” St. Ignatius coach Ryan Kearns said. “I purposefully scheduled lots of large 3A soccer schools like Oak Park and River Forest, New Trier, Evanston, and Hinsdale Central to get us ready for this moment on this stage.”
St. Ignatius beat Washington in the supersectional and previously upset 2016 title winner Latin and defending champion Solorio. The Washington win reversed the final order of the 2013 Class AA state title game between the teams.
Senior Matt Griffin has tallied 18 goals to lead the attack, and senior Keith Bevans has 10 goals and 5 assists heading into the semifinal. The Wolfpack has outscored its five postseason opponents 24-3.
Daniel Fernandez has six goals, and Kearns has gotten five goals apiece from Chris Braman, Aidan Hurst and Christian Telles.
Keeper Alex Beckwith gave up 15 goals in 17 games and fellow netminder Keenan Troy gave up six goals in seven games.
“This Ignatius team is incredibly difficult to defeat, and they're playing their best soccer right now,” Kearns said. “All of us are excited for the challenge tomorrow, and I'm confident they'll rise to the occasion.”
The Wolfpack will have its work cut out for it against Notre Dame, a team that has played its share of 3A teams and has a 1-0 to Naperville North this year. The Irish have won three state titles under coach Mike Bare since 2008 and four titles overall in 14 state finals appearances since 1994.
The Irish have also placed second twice and third once in the last 10 years. Their lone two losses this season came to two-time defending 3A state champion Naperville North, and to Gateway from Granite City, Ill., in the Go 4 the Goal Fall Classic on the last weekend of September in Iowa.
Notre Dame had outscored its five postseason opponents 27-4 and has scored 113 goals in 24 games this year. That’s an average of 4.7 goals scored per game. Only one of its wins was a one-goal decision.
Noah Madrigal leads all goalscorers at this weekend's AA and 3A state finals with 39 goals to go with 13 assists. Teammate Myles Sophanavong has 24 goals and 24 assists. Declan Dillon has 22 assists to go with 9 goals, and McKay LaHood has netted 13 goals this year.
Keepers Lucas Fontana, Charlie Lawless, and Kevin Wiles have all spent time in net for the Irish, who have given up 16 goals in 24 games.
By Gary Larsen
In his 12th season as Crystal Lake South’s head coach, Brian Allen has taken the program into the previously uncharted territory of the Illinois state finals.
The Gators’ first order of business will be a tall one in a Class AA semifinal Friday at 1 p.m. at Hoffman Estates High School. They’ll take on a Gibault squad that is making its 12th state finals appearance since 2000.
“Gibault obviously has a rich soccer tradition and has been here at the state finals the last couple years,” Allen said. “They likely won't be fazed by the state finals atmosphere.
“But It's exciting to know as a coach that we haven't yet played our best soccer of the year. If the guys continue to find ways to keep improving and growing as individuals and collectively as a team, it should make for an exciting weekend.”
The Gators (20-2-3) took their first supersectional title with a 5-0 win over Fenton. They’ve outscored five postseason opponents 15-3 to earn to earn the program’s landmark Final Four berth.
Junior forward Alex Canfield spearheads the Gators’ attack with 30 goals and six assists in 25 games. Senior Ryan Coughlin has eight goals and nine assists, while seniors Andrew Edge and Nick Langdon have chipped in 11 assists apiece.
Edge, Langdon, and Coughlin help lead a stable of 12 seniors who have made Allen proud this year.
“I'm most proud of the growth the guys have achieved thus far this season,” he said. “The seniors set the tempo for the season very early on, even in the summer, making sure to pay attention to details so that they could grow and improve upon those moments during each future training session or game.”
The Gators have given up 18 goals in 25 games. Senior keeper Matt McCaleb has played in net for 19 games and given up only eight goals for a goals-against average of .42. The Gators ended the regular season ranked 18th in the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25.
Gibault is chasing its fifth state title. The Hawks won three-straight crowns from 2005-07, one in 2013, and placed second in Class AA last year to Solorio.
Coach Darryn Haudrich’s team is led offensively by seniors Logan Doerr (22 goals, 14 assists) and Karson Huels (15 goals, 17 assists). Defensively, the Hawks have given up 35 goals in 26 games, but only two in its five previous postseason games.
"(Doerr and Huels) have been playing together for over ten years now, both at the club and grade school level," Haudrich said. "They are a lot of fun to watch. They are a force to be reckoned with and difficult to contain and they very much are the reason that we have been able to find success the past three years with going to state."
A hot keeper can make all the difference downstate, and the Hawks believe that keeper Connor Olson will be up to the challenge.
"He's a beast in goal and is excellent at reading attacking plays, stopping PK's and organizing the defense," Haudirch said. "He really shines at being able to manage the game and has come through big time when the game is on the line, especially the past two seasons."
Haudrich also knows that while his side has an edge in state finals experience over Crystal Lake South, the Hawks aren't about to underestimate the Gators.
"We're aware of Crystal Lake South making their debut to the state tournament and we respect the season they're having," Haudrich said. "I think they will be a challenge for us with their size and strength, but we feel we are well prepared for the task at hand."
The second Class AA semifinal features St. Ignatius (16-7-0) against Notre Dame (Peoria) (22-2-0) at 3 p.m.
Four of St. Ignatius’ seven losses have come to Class 3A teams and all were by one goal. The Chicago school posted wins against 3A members Lane, Plainfield Central, Hinsdale Central and Mount Carmel. The class AA losses came against Crystal Lake South, St. Patrick and Marmion.
“I'm most proud of this team's ability to rise up and play with any team we face,” St. Ignatius coach Ryan Kearns said. “I purposefully scheduled lots of large 3A soccer schools like Oak Park and River Forest, New Trier, Evanston, and Hinsdale Central to get us ready for this moment on this stage.”
St. Ignatius beat Washington in the supersectional and previously upset 2016 title winner Latin and defending champion Solorio. The Washington win reversed the final order of the 2013 Class AA state title game between the teams.
Senior Matt Griffin has tallied 18 goals to lead the attack, and senior Keith Bevans has 10 goals and 5 assists heading into the semifinal. The Wolfpack has outscored its five postseason opponents 24-3.
Daniel Fernandez has six goals, and Kearns has gotten five goals apiece from Chris Braman, Aidan Hurst and Christian Telles.
Keeper Alex Beckwith gave up 15 goals in 17 games and fellow netminder Keenan Troy gave up six goals in seven games.
“This Ignatius team is incredibly difficult to defeat, and they're playing their best soccer right now,” Kearns said. “All of us are excited for the challenge tomorrow, and I'm confident they'll rise to the occasion.”
The Wolfpack will have its work cut out for it against Notre Dame, a team that has played its share of 3A teams and has a 1-0 to Naperville North this year. The Irish have won three state titles under coach Mike Bare since 2008 and four titles overall in 14 state finals appearances since 1994.
The Irish have also placed second twice and third once in the last 10 years. Their lone two losses this season came to two-time defending 3A state champion Naperville North, and to Gateway from Granite City, Ill., in the Go 4 the Goal Fall Classic on the last weekend of September in Iowa.
Notre Dame had outscored its five postseason opponents 27-4 and has scored 113 goals in 24 games this year. That’s an average of 4.7 goals scored per game. Only one of its wins was a one-goal decision.
Noah Madrigal leads all goalscorers at this weekend's AA and 3A state finals with 39 goals to go with 13 assists. Teammate Myles Sophanavong has 24 goals and 24 assists. Declan Dillon has 22 assists to go with 9 goals, and McKay LaHood has netted 13 goals this year.
Keepers Lucas Fontana, Charlie Lawless, and Kevin Wiles have all spent time in net for the Irish, who have given up 16 goals in 24 games.