Same as it ever was – top-notch Naperville
Central, North meet again for DuPage Valley supremacy
By Matt Le Cren
Fans are always in for a treat when Naperville North and Naperville Central play each other.
Tuesday’s clash at North will be particularly special for the respective head coaches.
This will be the first – and possibly only – time that all three sons of North coach Jim Konrad and Central coach Troy Adams will play against each other.
Senior defender Ryan Konrad is one of North’s three co-captains. Junior midfielder Carter Adams and freshman forward Chase Adams are two of the catalysts for Central. All three start and likely will figure prominently in the outcome.
“Troy and I are buddies, and with Troy’s sons being on the team, it will make it even more fun,” Jim Konrad said. “His sons came to some of my club practices this winter, and I got a chance to coach Carter a couple times.
“I’ve known those boys forever and will always be cheering for them. Obviously, I hope they don’t have career nights against us, but I’m always cheering for them. It will be a fun night.”
With temperatures forecast to be in the low 80s for the 6:30 p.m. kickoff, both sides are hoping for a significant crowd to watch the host Huskies, currently ranked fifth in the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25, battle the 11th-ranked Redhawks.
As usual, the winner of the match will almost certainly go on to win the DuPage Valley Conference championship. The Huskies (8-2-1, 2-0-0) and Redhawks (9-3-0, 2-0-0) stand above the other league teams both in pedigree and talent.
The Huskies hold the psychological edge -- the Redhawks have not beaten them since 2017. They also have arguably the best player in the state in do-everything senior Alex Barger, the Indiana commit and four-year starter.
But the Redhawks, who had a five-game winning streak snapped Sunday in a shootout loss to Conant in a BodyArmor bracket championship, have the more potent offense so far. The Redhawks have racked up 43 goals compared to 28 for the Huskies.
Click here to read the Naperville Central-Conant game story
“We’re very similar in terms of record and performance,” Jim Konrad said. “With that said, it’s a cliché to say when you play your cross-town rival in any sport, records and stuff go out the window.”
Despite both teams’ offensive prowess, Jim Konrad foresees a low-scoring game.
“Most times it comes down to who executes on a restart or who puts away the big chance,” he said. “Neither of us will probably get a lot of chances on Tuesday.
“Then it will be who can handle the offensive pressure. I know they’ve been scoring a bunch of goals. They’ve been scoring more than we have. We’ll have to manage their attack.”
The Huskies have been solid defensively, allowing 11 goals overall, seven of which came during their current eight-game unbeaten streak. They are 7-0-1 in their last eight matches, with the only blemish a 2-2 tie with Marmion.
North’s backline of Konrad, Adam Zielke, Alex Arredondo and Conor Hanrahan will have its hands full with the likes of seniors Joey LoDuca, Josh Weigel and Chase Adams, who could be Barger’s heir apparent as the next big Division I player to come out of Naperville.
Chase Adams bagged a hat-trick in his high school debut, an impressive 3-1 win over 2021 state semifinalist Morton. The Mustangs then went on a nine-game winning streak before losing to recrowned no. 1 Lyons 1-0 at home on Saturday.
Click here to read Naperville Central-Morton game story
“Chase is a special player,” Jim Konrad said. “I was at his first game and watched him play Morton. I was blown away.
“I knew Chase was a special kid even when he was younger. He has the right collection of physical abilities, and then he’s so smart. He’s technically gifted. He’s just the whole package.
“He’s special right now. A year or two from now he’s going to be a real load.”
That’s what Barger already is, and he has a history of scoring big goals against Central. Despite being moved all over the field, Barger is heating up again, having scored twice in Saturday’s 3-1 win over Fremd to increase his team-leading goal total to eight, four more than sophomores Hanrahan and Noah Radeke.
Two wild cards could be the defensive midfielders – Carter Adams for Central and junior Hindo Allie for North. They play a vital if often little-noticed position.
Carter Adams has been overshadowed by his younger brother.
“I’m thrilled that Chase is doing so well,” Jim Konrad said. “His brother, Carter, is a great player too.
“He plays the six, so he doesn’t quite get the attention, but they’re both very good players.”
Allie is a natural forward but also has willingly ceded his chance to play in the limelight.
“In the preseason we were doing a drill, and he did a really good job of kind of keeping with Barger,” Jim Konrad said. “I was like, ‘Man, if you can stay with Barger, you’re a legit kid.’
“I talked to Hindo and said, ‘Would you consider playing the midfield.’ And he was like, ‘Yeah, whatever you need, coach.’”
The results have been impressive. Allie has two assists, but more importantly opened up the field for others to attack.
“He has been arguably our most consistent kid all year,” Jim Konrad said. “He’s been fantastic.
“I started him Game 2 or 3, and he has made us quite a bit better with his ability to track runners, hold the ball and keep the ball for us. He’s really held us together in the middle of the field.”
Barger now is free to play multiple positions, often in the same game.
“That gives us way more flexibility with Barger, because I had Barger D-mid to start the year,” Jim Konrad said. “I was able to move him around based on what the game needs, because Hindo has been able to hold the midfield for us.
“If you plan for Barger at one spot, and he just goes someplace else, it’s tough for teams to game-plan for him at all, much less when you’re moving him around.”
While Barger will be the top focus of Central’s defense, North’s back line will have to deal with multiple threats. LoDuca leads the Redhawks with 12 goals, but Nathan Kwon (nine goals), Weigel (seven goals, six assists) and Chase Adams (seven goals, four assists) must be accounted for.
The Redhawks also have senior midfielder Sean O’Reilly working his way back from injury. Troy Adams said he will see some action.
“Trying to predict what is going to happen in these games is not something I would be willing to make a wager on,” Troy Adams said. “But history tells us it’s probably going to be a close game.
“It will be somebody catching a break or being fortunate one way or the other that leads to a goal. Then can you hang on until the end.”
While everyone is hoping North and Central will meet again in the playoffs, Tuesday’s family ties angle could be a one-off. But the two teams are family in a greater sense.
“I think it’s that sense of community that Central and North both have,” Troy Adams said. “I think both of us as coaches, obviously it’s our family, but we try to instill that sense of family in all the kids.
“Both of us stress that this is important to us. It is important enough to us that we’re wanting our sons to go through it.”
Central, North meet again for DuPage Valley supremacy
By Matt Le Cren
Fans are always in for a treat when Naperville North and Naperville Central play each other.
Tuesday’s clash at North will be particularly special for the respective head coaches.
This will be the first – and possibly only – time that all three sons of North coach Jim Konrad and Central coach Troy Adams will play against each other.
Senior defender Ryan Konrad is one of North’s three co-captains. Junior midfielder Carter Adams and freshman forward Chase Adams are two of the catalysts for Central. All three start and likely will figure prominently in the outcome.
“Troy and I are buddies, and with Troy’s sons being on the team, it will make it even more fun,” Jim Konrad said. “His sons came to some of my club practices this winter, and I got a chance to coach Carter a couple times.
“I’ve known those boys forever and will always be cheering for them. Obviously, I hope they don’t have career nights against us, but I’m always cheering for them. It will be a fun night.”
With temperatures forecast to be in the low 80s for the 6:30 p.m. kickoff, both sides are hoping for a significant crowd to watch the host Huskies, currently ranked fifth in the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25, battle the 11th-ranked Redhawks.
As usual, the winner of the match will almost certainly go on to win the DuPage Valley Conference championship. The Huskies (8-2-1, 2-0-0) and Redhawks (9-3-0, 2-0-0) stand above the other league teams both in pedigree and talent.
The Huskies hold the psychological edge -- the Redhawks have not beaten them since 2017. They also have arguably the best player in the state in do-everything senior Alex Barger, the Indiana commit and four-year starter.
But the Redhawks, who had a five-game winning streak snapped Sunday in a shootout loss to Conant in a BodyArmor bracket championship, have the more potent offense so far. The Redhawks have racked up 43 goals compared to 28 for the Huskies.
Click here to read the Naperville Central-Conant game story
“We’re very similar in terms of record and performance,” Jim Konrad said. “With that said, it’s a cliché to say when you play your cross-town rival in any sport, records and stuff go out the window.”
Despite both teams’ offensive prowess, Jim Konrad foresees a low-scoring game.
“Most times it comes down to who executes on a restart or who puts away the big chance,” he said. “Neither of us will probably get a lot of chances on Tuesday.
“Then it will be who can handle the offensive pressure. I know they’ve been scoring a bunch of goals. They’ve been scoring more than we have. We’ll have to manage their attack.”
The Huskies have been solid defensively, allowing 11 goals overall, seven of which came during their current eight-game unbeaten streak. They are 7-0-1 in their last eight matches, with the only blemish a 2-2 tie with Marmion.
North’s backline of Konrad, Adam Zielke, Alex Arredondo and Conor Hanrahan will have its hands full with the likes of seniors Joey LoDuca, Josh Weigel and Chase Adams, who could be Barger’s heir apparent as the next big Division I player to come out of Naperville.
Chase Adams bagged a hat-trick in his high school debut, an impressive 3-1 win over 2021 state semifinalist Morton. The Mustangs then went on a nine-game winning streak before losing to recrowned no. 1 Lyons 1-0 at home on Saturday.
Click here to read Naperville Central-Morton game story
“Chase is a special player,” Jim Konrad said. “I was at his first game and watched him play Morton. I was blown away.
“I knew Chase was a special kid even when he was younger. He has the right collection of physical abilities, and then he’s so smart. He’s technically gifted. He’s just the whole package.
“He’s special right now. A year or two from now he’s going to be a real load.”
That’s what Barger already is, and he has a history of scoring big goals against Central. Despite being moved all over the field, Barger is heating up again, having scored twice in Saturday’s 3-1 win over Fremd to increase his team-leading goal total to eight, four more than sophomores Hanrahan and Noah Radeke.
Two wild cards could be the defensive midfielders – Carter Adams for Central and junior Hindo Allie for North. They play a vital if often little-noticed position.
Carter Adams has been overshadowed by his younger brother.
“I’m thrilled that Chase is doing so well,” Jim Konrad said. “His brother, Carter, is a great player too.
“He plays the six, so he doesn’t quite get the attention, but they’re both very good players.”
Allie is a natural forward but also has willingly ceded his chance to play in the limelight.
“In the preseason we were doing a drill, and he did a really good job of kind of keeping with Barger,” Jim Konrad said. “I was like, ‘Man, if you can stay with Barger, you’re a legit kid.’
“I talked to Hindo and said, ‘Would you consider playing the midfield.’ And he was like, ‘Yeah, whatever you need, coach.’”
The results have been impressive. Allie has two assists, but more importantly opened up the field for others to attack.
“He has been arguably our most consistent kid all year,” Jim Konrad said. “He’s been fantastic.
“I started him Game 2 or 3, and he has made us quite a bit better with his ability to track runners, hold the ball and keep the ball for us. He’s really held us together in the middle of the field.”
Barger now is free to play multiple positions, often in the same game.
“That gives us way more flexibility with Barger, because I had Barger D-mid to start the year,” Jim Konrad said. “I was able to move him around based on what the game needs, because Hindo has been able to hold the midfield for us.
“If you plan for Barger at one spot, and he just goes someplace else, it’s tough for teams to game-plan for him at all, much less when you’re moving him around.”
While Barger will be the top focus of Central’s defense, North’s back line will have to deal with multiple threats. LoDuca leads the Redhawks with 12 goals, but Nathan Kwon (nine goals), Weigel (seven goals, six assists) and Chase Adams (seven goals, four assists) must be accounted for.
The Redhawks also have senior midfielder Sean O’Reilly working his way back from injury. Troy Adams said he will see some action.
“Trying to predict what is going to happen in these games is not something I would be willing to make a wager on,” Troy Adams said. “But history tells us it’s probably going to be a close game.
“It will be somebody catching a break or being fortunate one way or the other that leads to a goal. Then can you hang on until the end.”
While everyone is hoping North and Central will meet again in the playoffs, Tuesday’s family ties angle could be a one-off. But the two teams are family in a greater sense.
“I think it’s that sense of community that Central and North both have,” Troy Adams said. “I think both of us as coaches, obviously it’s our family, but we try to instill that sense of family in all the kids.
“Both of us stress that this is important to us. It is important enough to us that we’re wanting our sons to go through it.”