Season preview:
DuPage Valley Conference
By Patrick Z. McGavin
In games of significance or value in the postseason, chances are that a team from the DuPage Valley Conference (DVC) is a part of the equation. That goes back to 1974, the third year the Illinois High School Association offered a state championship when Wheaton Central, the precursor of Wheaton Warrenville South, reached the state title game. The Tigers returned to the state title game two years later.
The 1998 Naperville North team -- coached by Dave Bucher -- edged Boylan 1-0 in the Class AA state title game, marking the first state championship in the league’s history. Naperville Central made back-to-back championship appearances in the Class 3A title game in 2011 and 2012. Since 2011, the DVC has had five Final Four teams (two in 2013).
Naperville North’s 3-1 state title victory over Barrington last November was the culmination of a great tournament run by the Huskies. This season, Chicagoland Soccer's no. 1 preseason team returns a strong and deep pool of players, marked by skill, size and talent.
After their season-opening 5-0 win over Downers Grove South on Monday (Aug. 21), the Huskies have won 11 games in a row dating back to last season and are unbeaten in their last 18 games. The Huskies posted a 7-0-1 to win the DVC crown in 2017, but it was much harder than it looked.
“Sure, we won the state championship last year, but we won three conference games in overtime,” Naperville North coach Jim Konrad said. “As good as we were, we fought our way through the conference.”
The Huskies’ success has cast a wider spotlight on the entire league. Besides Naperville North, Naperville Central and Neuqua Valley are ranked in the Chicagoland Soccer preseason Top 25. Several other programs are capable of joining the group.
“There are nine teams and somebody is going to finish first and somebody is going to be finish ninth,” Glenbard North coach Gregg Koeller said. “The difference between first and ninth is going to be one mistake here, one mistake there. Naperville North, Naperville Central and Neuqua Valley are certainly powerhouses. They are bringing back good teams. Every game in the conference, you never see 7-0 scores. You see 2-1 or 1-0, and I feel like that is the way it is going to be this year.”
This year also marks an end, the final year of the current nine-team structure. Because of football schedules and the difficulty of reaching playoff eligibility, four schools are breaking away after the 2017-2018 sports year. Wheaton Warrenville South, Wheaton North, Lake Park and Glenbard North are set to leave.
“This year is definitely bittersweet,” Konrad said. “I am going to be sad to see those guys go. I really like those coaches, and I respect those programs. I am a DVC kid. I grew up in the league. I am super proud to be a member of it. We have the most championships in the conference, and it is something we are proud of.”
Here is a closer look at the teams and top players in the league. All records and statistics are from 2016. Rankings refer to the Chicagoland Soccer Preseason Top 25.
Naperville North
Coach: Jim Konrad
2016 DVC finish: champion (7-0-1)
2016 record: 21-2-3
Chicagoland Soccer rank: 1
Motivation and desire are the hardest qualities to fully anticipate with high school athletes. “It is going to be interesting to see how we respond after winning [state],” Naperville North coach Jim Konrad said. “It is going to be interesting to see how we react to the pressure and the expectations.”
The Huskies captured the second state title in program history by defeating Barrington 3-1 in the Class 3A state championship last November at Hoffman Estates. Most impressive, the Huskies beat two undefeated, nationally-rated programs during the run. First, Naperville North beat Morton, ranked no. 1 in the country in one national poll, in the supersectional. Then they administered the only loss suffered by Bradley-Bourbonnais in the state semifinals.
Now Konrad returns eight starters and several other key returners and newcomers as the Huskies begin their quest to repeat. Konrad has a career-mark of 223-57-26 in his 13 years directing the program. Tom Welch, a 6-foor-6 junior, is an elite two-way athlete. He has multiple Division I basketball offers, and Konrad believes he has the talent, skill and drive to play professional soccer. He allowed just 13 goals in 24 games and was involved in 13 shutouts to earn both Chicagoland Soccer and IHSSCA All-State recognition.
Six-foot-5 junior Colin Iverson anchors the backline. His versatility is virtually unmatched -- he is capable of playing anywhere on the field and is absolutely breathtaking on set pieces. Iverson had 10 goals and five assists last season. Senior Ethan Harvey, a shutdown defender, recorded a team-best 12 assists. Jack Barry, a rangy midfielder, scored the game-winning goal in the state championship game. He had 10 goals and seven assists last year. Junior defender Mitch Konrad was named all-conference.
Senior forward Ian Guppy, senior midfielder Will Ritzman, and sophomore forwards Ty Konrad and Cesar Recendez are dangerous and dynamic offensive players.
As if that were not enough, highly-regarded sophomore Patrick Koenig, transferred from Minooka and provides another weapon up-top.
The only true question is replacing Illinois Gatorade Player of the Year Chris Sullivan. The Bowling Green freshman led the Huskies with 19 goals and 13 assists.
“I am interested in seeing who is going to take up that role, where the pressure is on, and who is going to be the lightning rod for the team and score that big goal for us or absorb all of that pressure,” Konrad said. “As good as were last year, Sullivan really bailed us out a lot of times.”
Still, Naperville North is the standard bearer.
“I assume that everybody in our league is always good,” Konrad said. “Every school graduated some good players. Our strength is that we have so many good young players. Our sophomore class is exceptional. We do not have any divas on this team. This year’s team, like last year’s, is one that is willing to grind.”
Naperville Central
Coach: Troy Adams
2016 DVC finish: third, tie (5-3-0)
2016 record: 9-7-4
Chicagoland Soccer rank: 15
The Redhawks are a long way from a one-man team. Senior midfielder Nate Zain is an elite talent. Last year he played a direct role in 75 percent of Naperville Central’s goals. He finished with four goals and six assists and was a dual all-stater last season. He is the top performer and the cause of optimism going forward.
“We have a really good core group of kids coming back,” Naperville Central coach Troy Adams said. “We have six starters back, and a lot of minutes back. The team finished tied for third, at 5-3-0, in the conference race.
“We have the chance to build off the developments of last year, and I think will will be stronger defensively. The question is whether we are going to be able to find ways to put the ball in the back of the net.”
A three-year starter, Zain brings poise, savvy and experience. Naperville Central has two other quality players who are three-year starters. Senior forward Zack Kokes scored five goals and added two assists. Senior defender Jimmy Kalkofen contributed three goals and three assists. Offensively, another player worth tracking is explosive sophomore Owen Jarrell, who started 11 games last year.
Senior Rokas Stadalninkas, who had four goals and an assist last year, and junior Cameron Strang fortify the back.
“Without a doubt, [Naperville] North is returning a lot of kids,” Adams said. “I think every [conference] game is going to be one- or two-goal games. The way it shapes out, you will probably have three or four teams bunched together, and it will come down to the last two weeks when you need ... a victory here or a victory there. Every game is going to be close, and I think it is going to come down to execution.”
Neuqua Valley
Coach: Arnoldo Gonzalez
2016 DVC finish: second (5-1-2)
2016 record: 13-6-4
Chicagoland Soccer rank: 25
Soccer is a process-driven sport. Two years ago Arnoldo Gonzalez took over the decorated Neuqua Valley squad and looked to put his own personality and drive into the program. He thought it would take a full three years. The Wildcats jumped the gun.
Neuqua Valley denied Naperville North a perfect run in conference play when they battled the Huskies to a scoreless draw. The Wildcats (5-1-2) finished as a surprising conference runner-up last year and reached a sectional final against the Huskies. The rematch favored Naperville North, but Neuqua Valley made its statement.
“This is the start of my third year, which means we have had two camps now where the kids know what we are looking forward to,” Gonzalez said. “We have our camps early in the summer and that has helped the players develop a greater knowledge of what we expect from them and what we want them to work on to get ready for the season.”
Neuqua Valley must account for one significant loss, graduated defender Spencer Wiese who scored a remarkable 11 goals from the back. The team has a marquee talent ready to take command of the team. Senior forward Billy Heniades scored a team-high 16 goals and demonstrated toughness, speed and a great touch. Gonzalez is looking for a breakout campaign from senior midfielder Amish Gupta. Senior Edon Kosova is the leader of an athletic backline.
“We are really looking forward to the season,” Gonzalez said. “We have some very good sophomores who are eager to get out there and see how they match up with the seniors. Last year we were stacked, but I cannot wait to see what seniors are going to step up. If they do, I think we are going to have another close match with [Naperville] North and the rest of the league.”
Wheaton Warrenville South
Coach: Guy Callipari
2016 DVC finish: third, tie (5-3-0)
2016 record: 10-8-2
Guy Callipari is the voice among the conference coaches. “He is only a couple of years older than me, but he is somebody I have always looked up to,” Jim Konrad said. “He has been a great guide to this conference.”
The Tigers have been the face of the conference. “Two things I know after 27 years -- recognize quality and surround yourself with people of quality and positive influence. The DuPage Valley Conference has been that platform for me and our program,” Callipari said.
In Wheaton Warrenville South's last run under the conference’s present iteration, the team returns seven featured players from a team that was a late-season upset away from being conference runner-up. “Our midfield returns the greatest number of players and their experience is going to allow us to acclimate through the middle and offensive third of the field,” Callipari said.
The veterans to follow in the middle are seniors Fabian Aranda (three assists) and Unla Husseini, who scored three goals and contributed three assists. The middle is also bolstered by three talented newcomers, senior Jesus Martinez and sophomores Ryan Dufty and Nick McCrath.
Junior Sumani Husseini, who scored three goals with three assists last year, is the most dynamic player up-top. Callipari is also excited by junior Declin Ermer.
The Tigers have two skilled and experienced defenders in seniors Will Buxton and Gabby Lazcano. Senior Benji Cruz takes over the keeper duties.
The big issue for the Tigers is finding the firepower to replace graduated star Charlie Kerby.
Waubonsie Valley
Coach: Jose Garcia
2016 DVC finish: fifth, tie (3-4-1)
2016 record: 12-8-1
The Warriors had a tough-luck regular season, losing four one-goal games in conference. Two of those defeats happened in overtime. The team turned it around in the state tournament and reached a sectional. That meant something.
Now six starters return and the team is loaded with excitement and optimism.
“Winning a regional last year was a big deal for us, and we now have a good number of those players coming back,” Waubonsie Valley coach Jose Garcia said. “The spine of our team is back. I was very encouraged with how how we played in the summer. The progression I have seen with the players who are now seniors is exactly where I want them to be. We have been building for this program, from the time they were freshmen, to become the good, established players that they have become.”
The Warriors have a foundational player in senior forward Giacomo Parrino. He was the biggest reason the team won three times as many games as the previous season. He showed superb quickness, accuracy and creativity in scoring seven goals and contributing 15 assists. Garcia is also very high on senior forward Rogelio Grimaldi.
The two best midfielders to watch are seniors Mitch Mueller and Steven Spano. The open question is the team’s backline, where leaders Brett Babcock and Jack Olmstead each graduated.
“This is one of the top conferences in the nation,” Garcia said. “Naperville North has always been a strong team, and I think they are going to come back even stronger. I think we are going to be right in the mix. Everyone has a chance this year. That is just the way high school soccer is.”
Glenbard North
Coach: Gregg Koeller
2016 DVC finish: fifth, tie (3-4-1)
2016 record: 11-6-2
Glenbard North coach Gregg Koeller, with Guy Callipari, has been a mainstay of the conference. He has built, virtually by hand, a quality program. This year’s team qualifies as both a reckoning and a summation. Koeller is retiring after this season, his 30th with the Panthers. Some of his greatest success occurred over the last three years with a graduated senior class.
His final team, in effect, starts from scratch.
“This is a total remake,” Koeller said. “We graduated 16 seniors. We have been very successful recently because we have had a lot of these kids at the varsity level for three or four years. We have five returning seniors. I was pleasantly surprised with the attitudes and work ethic of the kids in the summer, in both their training and how we played in summer league. I think the new players realize there are going to be opportunities.”
The most significant loss is the coach’s son, Danny Koeller, who was a Chicagoland Soccer and IHSCCA all-stater. Danny Koeller and midfielder Livre Emena shaped the attack. Now the team’s centerpieces are senior midfielders Best Emena and Erik Lopez.
Sophomore Ode Emena and senior Danny Le form the rock of the backline.
“We are going to be a pretty new team in terms of what we put out that first game,” Koeller said. “We have a group of young, talented, though inexperienced players, and we should only get better as the season progresses and they gain valuable varsity experience.”
The end of Koeller's coaching tenure mirrors a significant change to the conference going forward.
“It’s kind of sad,” he said. “I have been coaching in the DuPage Valley for 30 years. In soccer it has been one of the most competitive conferences year-in and year-out. I don’t think this year is going to be any different than previous years. It is going to be competition each night, with close games and great players and coaches.”
Metea Valley
Coach: Josh Robinson
2016 DVC finish: eighth (2-6-0)
2016 record: 4-11-4
The Mustangs are eager to vanquish the memories of last year’s four-win campaign. They got off on the right foot with a suggestive 3-2 win over Jacobs on Monday (August 21).
So the numbers from last season may be deceptive. Metea Valley was often better than its record suggested. After going winless through its first five games, Metea Valley stunned a quality New Trier team in a PepsiCo Showdown tournament game for its first win of the year.
Other positive signs included a solid win over Wheaton Warrenville South in conference play and a lopsided victory over Hinsdale South. Each showed what the team was capable of. Now the Mustangs have seven starters back. Coach Josh Robinson said the first goal was reclaiming a positive vibe, one that slipped away in the disappointment and acrimony of a year ago.
“Last year was tough, record-wise and I think culture-wise,” Robinson said. “The culture dipped down from the year before. We spent a lot of time in the offseason sitting down with the seniors and talking about culture and rebuilding trust. This summer was an extension of that with our camp. I saw a difference, and that was great. The attitudes were great. What we saw over the summer is what we hoped to see last season, and it never quite worked out.”
Defense is the team’s strength. As such, the Mustangs’ top talent is senior defender Ethan Ytterberg, who was named IHSSCA all-sectional last year. He is a physical, disruptive talent with excellent vision and a strong feel for the game.
Junior midfielder Evan Lang is the team’s top offensive player.
“Naperville North had a tremendous year last year in winning the state, but you can go 5-3-0 and win the conference,” Robinson said. “That is what makes it so enjoyable. The games are close; they are tight. It is very enjoyable to coach those games because you are playing against quality teams, but also playing against good people.”
Lake Park
Coach: Sean Crosby
2016 DVC finish: fifth, tie (3-4-1)
2016 record: 10-12-2
The Lancers were a very interesting team to watch a year ago. Sean Crosby took over the program and found a gifted, though youth-laden, roster that learned on the spot. The maturation process was something to see.
The Lancers had as many as seven sophomore starters. The results were encouraging. Lake Park lost to Naperville North in overtime and later stunned St. Charles East to win the Warrior Invitational at Waubonsie Valley. The future was something worth waiting on.
“Now we also have some seniors filling in some roles that we did not really have last year,” Crosby said. “We have a really good summer, a great turnout. We finished first in our summer league. They know it is a big difference when the first real game starts. Now, a lot of guys who had significant playing time last year are repeating.”
The Lancers’ junior class has a chance to be special. Midfielder Franco Presta earned all-conference recognition in scoring four goals and adding three assists. Forward Jesus Juarez (five goals, five assists) and midfielder Matteo Costa (three goals, three assists) also impressed. Defender Tom Zakic, who had two goals and an assist, is the leader of the back.
Sebastian Glodz, a senior midfielder, had two goals and two assists last year.
“We finished fifth in the conference last year, and our goal is to move up in the standings,” Crosby said. “When you play teams in conference, you knows guys much better and the games are separated by fewer goals. We have the state champion coming out of our conference, and we saw teams competing with [Naperville North] during conference play. Then by the end of the year, North was at a whole different level. It’s wild to see how close you can get and then have separation out of conference.”
Wheaton North
Coach: Rob Stassen
2016 DVC finish: ninth (0-8-0)
2016 record: 2-16-2
In a conference as historically great as the DuPage Valley, somebody has to finish last. It is not always an accurate reflection of a team’s strengths. The Falcons failed to win a game in conference. Perspective matters.
Now the team has nine starters back. It is a new year, and a new beginning.
“Obviously we had a tough season last year with our results,” Wheaton North coach Rob Stassen said. “We played great teams and great players, but we were young and immature. I only really graduated one starter, in our center back. We have three new forwards, and they are all connecting. Scoring goals has been a real struggle for us, and I think we are going to be better up-top.”
One of those forwards is junior Alex Beausoleil, whose name, in French, translates, as “beautiful sun,” an apt metaphor for a team looking for a burst of optimism. The Falcons look to be competitive in the middle with standouts Jorge Patino, who was all-conference, and Jake Dzarnowski.
“The guys have returned more hungry and mature,” Stassen said. “Jorge in the middle is an injection of speed and pace. We are in pretty good shape defensively, and we have some nice returning players. The boys are hungry and excited to show how they are and show the rest of the conference how much they have improved.”
This is the third season since Stassen took over the program. The signs were there a year ago, like playing Naperville North to a one-goal game.
“Coming off of last year’s building, I’d look to be in the middle of the pack,” Stassen said.
“There’s a couple in the room I think we will be alright against, and a couple we might get lucky against. It will be nice to be knocking on the door of the top teams. Time will tell on that one.”
The Falcons started the 2017 season the right way. After tying Schurz a year ago, Wheaton North topped the visiting Bulldogs 5-1 on opening night.
DuPage Valley Conference
By Patrick Z. McGavin
In games of significance or value in the postseason, chances are that a team from the DuPage Valley Conference (DVC) is a part of the equation. That goes back to 1974, the third year the Illinois High School Association offered a state championship when Wheaton Central, the precursor of Wheaton Warrenville South, reached the state title game. The Tigers returned to the state title game two years later.
The 1998 Naperville North team -- coached by Dave Bucher -- edged Boylan 1-0 in the Class AA state title game, marking the first state championship in the league’s history. Naperville Central made back-to-back championship appearances in the Class 3A title game in 2011 and 2012. Since 2011, the DVC has had five Final Four teams (two in 2013).
Naperville North’s 3-1 state title victory over Barrington last November was the culmination of a great tournament run by the Huskies. This season, Chicagoland Soccer's no. 1 preseason team returns a strong and deep pool of players, marked by skill, size and talent.
After their season-opening 5-0 win over Downers Grove South on Monday (Aug. 21), the Huskies have won 11 games in a row dating back to last season and are unbeaten in their last 18 games. The Huskies posted a 7-0-1 to win the DVC crown in 2017, but it was much harder than it looked.
“Sure, we won the state championship last year, but we won three conference games in overtime,” Naperville North coach Jim Konrad said. “As good as we were, we fought our way through the conference.”
The Huskies’ success has cast a wider spotlight on the entire league. Besides Naperville North, Naperville Central and Neuqua Valley are ranked in the Chicagoland Soccer preseason Top 25. Several other programs are capable of joining the group.
“There are nine teams and somebody is going to finish first and somebody is going to be finish ninth,” Glenbard North coach Gregg Koeller said. “The difference between first and ninth is going to be one mistake here, one mistake there. Naperville North, Naperville Central and Neuqua Valley are certainly powerhouses. They are bringing back good teams. Every game in the conference, you never see 7-0 scores. You see 2-1 or 1-0, and I feel like that is the way it is going to be this year.”
This year also marks an end, the final year of the current nine-team structure. Because of football schedules and the difficulty of reaching playoff eligibility, four schools are breaking away after the 2017-2018 sports year. Wheaton Warrenville South, Wheaton North, Lake Park and Glenbard North are set to leave.
“This year is definitely bittersweet,” Konrad said. “I am going to be sad to see those guys go. I really like those coaches, and I respect those programs. I am a DVC kid. I grew up in the league. I am super proud to be a member of it. We have the most championships in the conference, and it is something we are proud of.”
Here is a closer look at the teams and top players in the league. All records and statistics are from 2016. Rankings refer to the Chicagoland Soccer Preseason Top 25.
Naperville North
Coach: Jim Konrad
2016 DVC finish: champion (7-0-1)
2016 record: 21-2-3
Chicagoland Soccer rank: 1
Motivation and desire are the hardest qualities to fully anticipate with high school athletes. “It is going to be interesting to see how we respond after winning [state],” Naperville North coach Jim Konrad said. “It is going to be interesting to see how we react to the pressure and the expectations.”
The Huskies captured the second state title in program history by defeating Barrington 3-1 in the Class 3A state championship last November at Hoffman Estates. Most impressive, the Huskies beat two undefeated, nationally-rated programs during the run. First, Naperville North beat Morton, ranked no. 1 in the country in one national poll, in the supersectional. Then they administered the only loss suffered by Bradley-Bourbonnais in the state semifinals.
Now Konrad returns eight starters and several other key returners and newcomers as the Huskies begin their quest to repeat. Konrad has a career-mark of 223-57-26 in his 13 years directing the program. Tom Welch, a 6-foor-6 junior, is an elite two-way athlete. He has multiple Division I basketball offers, and Konrad believes he has the talent, skill and drive to play professional soccer. He allowed just 13 goals in 24 games and was involved in 13 shutouts to earn both Chicagoland Soccer and IHSSCA All-State recognition.
Six-foot-5 junior Colin Iverson anchors the backline. His versatility is virtually unmatched -- he is capable of playing anywhere on the field and is absolutely breathtaking on set pieces. Iverson had 10 goals and five assists last season. Senior Ethan Harvey, a shutdown defender, recorded a team-best 12 assists. Jack Barry, a rangy midfielder, scored the game-winning goal in the state championship game. He had 10 goals and seven assists last year. Junior defender Mitch Konrad was named all-conference.
Senior forward Ian Guppy, senior midfielder Will Ritzman, and sophomore forwards Ty Konrad and Cesar Recendez are dangerous and dynamic offensive players.
As if that were not enough, highly-regarded sophomore Patrick Koenig, transferred from Minooka and provides another weapon up-top.
The only true question is replacing Illinois Gatorade Player of the Year Chris Sullivan. The Bowling Green freshman led the Huskies with 19 goals and 13 assists.
“I am interested in seeing who is going to take up that role, where the pressure is on, and who is going to be the lightning rod for the team and score that big goal for us or absorb all of that pressure,” Konrad said. “As good as were last year, Sullivan really bailed us out a lot of times.”
Still, Naperville North is the standard bearer.
“I assume that everybody in our league is always good,” Konrad said. “Every school graduated some good players. Our strength is that we have so many good young players. Our sophomore class is exceptional. We do not have any divas on this team. This year’s team, like last year’s, is one that is willing to grind.”
Naperville Central
Coach: Troy Adams
2016 DVC finish: third, tie (5-3-0)
2016 record: 9-7-4
Chicagoland Soccer rank: 15
The Redhawks are a long way from a one-man team. Senior midfielder Nate Zain is an elite talent. Last year he played a direct role in 75 percent of Naperville Central’s goals. He finished with four goals and six assists and was a dual all-stater last season. He is the top performer and the cause of optimism going forward.
“We have a really good core group of kids coming back,” Naperville Central coach Troy Adams said. “We have six starters back, and a lot of minutes back. The team finished tied for third, at 5-3-0, in the conference race.
“We have the chance to build off the developments of last year, and I think will will be stronger defensively. The question is whether we are going to be able to find ways to put the ball in the back of the net.”
A three-year starter, Zain brings poise, savvy and experience. Naperville Central has two other quality players who are three-year starters. Senior forward Zack Kokes scored five goals and added two assists. Senior defender Jimmy Kalkofen contributed three goals and three assists. Offensively, another player worth tracking is explosive sophomore Owen Jarrell, who started 11 games last year.
Senior Rokas Stadalninkas, who had four goals and an assist last year, and junior Cameron Strang fortify the back.
“Without a doubt, [Naperville] North is returning a lot of kids,” Adams said. “I think every [conference] game is going to be one- or two-goal games. The way it shapes out, you will probably have three or four teams bunched together, and it will come down to the last two weeks when you need ... a victory here or a victory there. Every game is going to be close, and I think it is going to come down to execution.”
Neuqua Valley
Coach: Arnoldo Gonzalez
2016 DVC finish: second (5-1-2)
2016 record: 13-6-4
Chicagoland Soccer rank: 25
Soccer is a process-driven sport. Two years ago Arnoldo Gonzalez took over the decorated Neuqua Valley squad and looked to put his own personality and drive into the program. He thought it would take a full three years. The Wildcats jumped the gun.
Neuqua Valley denied Naperville North a perfect run in conference play when they battled the Huskies to a scoreless draw. The Wildcats (5-1-2) finished as a surprising conference runner-up last year and reached a sectional final against the Huskies. The rematch favored Naperville North, but Neuqua Valley made its statement.
“This is the start of my third year, which means we have had two camps now where the kids know what we are looking forward to,” Gonzalez said. “We have our camps early in the summer and that has helped the players develop a greater knowledge of what we expect from them and what we want them to work on to get ready for the season.”
Neuqua Valley must account for one significant loss, graduated defender Spencer Wiese who scored a remarkable 11 goals from the back. The team has a marquee talent ready to take command of the team. Senior forward Billy Heniades scored a team-high 16 goals and demonstrated toughness, speed and a great touch. Gonzalez is looking for a breakout campaign from senior midfielder Amish Gupta. Senior Edon Kosova is the leader of an athletic backline.
“We are really looking forward to the season,” Gonzalez said. “We have some very good sophomores who are eager to get out there and see how they match up with the seniors. Last year we were stacked, but I cannot wait to see what seniors are going to step up. If they do, I think we are going to have another close match with [Naperville] North and the rest of the league.”
Wheaton Warrenville South
Coach: Guy Callipari
2016 DVC finish: third, tie (5-3-0)
2016 record: 10-8-2
Guy Callipari is the voice among the conference coaches. “He is only a couple of years older than me, but he is somebody I have always looked up to,” Jim Konrad said. “He has been a great guide to this conference.”
The Tigers have been the face of the conference. “Two things I know after 27 years -- recognize quality and surround yourself with people of quality and positive influence. The DuPage Valley Conference has been that platform for me and our program,” Callipari said.
In Wheaton Warrenville South's last run under the conference’s present iteration, the team returns seven featured players from a team that was a late-season upset away from being conference runner-up. “Our midfield returns the greatest number of players and their experience is going to allow us to acclimate through the middle and offensive third of the field,” Callipari said.
The veterans to follow in the middle are seniors Fabian Aranda (three assists) and Unla Husseini, who scored three goals and contributed three assists. The middle is also bolstered by three talented newcomers, senior Jesus Martinez and sophomores Ryan Dufty and Nick McCrath.
Junior Sumani Husseini, who scored three goals with three assists last year, is the most dynamic player up-top. Callipari is also excited by junior Declin Ermer.
The Tigers have two skilled and experienced defenders in seniors Will Buxton and Gabby Lazcano. Senior Benji Cruz takes over the keeper duties.
The big issue for the Tigers is finding the firepower to replace graduated star Charlie Kerby.
Waubonsie Valley
Coach: Jose Garcia
2016 DVC finish: fifth, tie (3-4-1)
2016 record: 12-8-1
The Warriors had a tough-luck regular season, losing four one-goal games in conference. Two of those defeats happened in overtime. The team turned it around in the state tournament and reached a sectional. That meant something.
Now six starters return and the team is loaded with excitement and optimism.
“Winning a regional last year was a big deal for us, and we now have a good number of those players coming back,” Waubonsie Valley coach Jose Garcia said. “The spine of our team is back. I was very encouraged with how how we played in the summer. The progression I have seen with the players who are now seniors is exactly where I want them to be. We have been building for this program, from the time they were freshmen, to become the good, established players that they have become.”
The Warriors have a foundational player in senior forward Giacomo Parrino. He was the biggest reason the team won three times as many games as the previous season. He showed superb quickness, accuracy and creativity in scoring seven goals and contributing 15 assists. Garcia is also very high on senior forward Rogelio Grimaldi.
The two best midfielders to watch are seniors Mitch Mueller and Steven Spano. The open question is the team’s backline, where leaders Brett Babcock and Jack Olmstead each graduated.
“This is one of the top conferences in the nation,” Garcia said. “Naperville North has always been a strong team, and I think they are going to come back even stronger. I think we are going to be right in the mix. Everyone has a chance this year. That is just the way high school soccer is.”
Glenbard North
Coach: Gregg Koeller
2016 DVC finish: fifth, tie (3-4-1)
2016 record: 11-6-2
Glenbard North coach Gregg Koeller, with Guy Callipari, has been a mainstay of the conference. He has built, virtually by hand, a quality program. This year’s team qualifies as both a reckoning and a summation. Koeller is retiring after this season, his 30th with the Panthers. Some of his greatest success occurred over the last three years with a graduated senior class.
His final team, in effect, starts from scratch.
“This is a total remake,” Koeller said. “We graduated 16 seniors. We have been very successful recently because we have had a lot of these kids at the varsity level for three or four years. We have five returning seniors. I was pleasantly surprised with the attitudes and work ethic of the kids in the summer, in both their training and how we played in summer league. I think the new players realize there are going to be opportunities.”
The most significant loss is the coach’s son, Danny Koeller, who was a Chicagoland Soccer and IHSCCA all-stater. Danny Koeller and midfielder Livre Emena shaped the attack. Now the team’s centerpieces are senior midfielders Best Emena and Erik Lopez.
Sophomore Ode Emena and senior Danny Le form the rock of the backline.
“We are going to be a pretty new team in terms of what we put out that first game,” Koeller said. “We have a group of young, talented, though inexperienced players, and we should only get better as the season progresses and they gain valuable varsity experience.”
The end of Koeller's coaching tenure mirrors a significant change to the conference going forward.
“It’s kind of sad,” he said. “I have been coaching in the DuPage Valley for 30 years. In soccer it has been one of the most competitive conferences year-in and year-out. I don’t think this year is going to be any different than previous years. It is going to be competition each night, with close games and great players and coaches.”
Metea Valley
Coach: Josh Robinson
2016 DVC finish: eighth (2-6-0)
2016 record: 4-11-4
The Mustangs are eager to vanquish the memories of last year’s four-win campaign. They got off on the right foot with a suggestive 3-2 win over Jacobs on Monday (August 21).
So the numbers from last season may be deceptive. Metea Valley was often better than its record suggested. After going winless through its first five games, Metea Valley stunned a quality New Trier team in a PepsiCo Showdown tournament game for its first win of the year.
Other positive signs included a solid win over Wheaton Warrenville South in conference play and a lopsided victory over Hinsdale South. Each showed what the team was capable of. Now the Mustangs have seven starters back. Coach Josh Robinson said the first goal was reclaiming a positive vibe, one that slipped away in the disappointment and acrimony of a year ago.
“Last year was tough, record-wise and I think culture-wise,” Robinson said. “The culture dipped down from the year before. We spent a lot of time in the offseason sitting down with the seniors and talking about culture and rebuilding trust. This summer was an extension of that with our camp. I saw a difference, and that was great. The attitudes were great. What we saw over the summer is what we hoped to see last season, and it never quite worked out.”
Defense is the team’s strength. As such, the Mustangs’ top talent is senior defender Ethan Ytterberg, who was named IHSSCA all-sectional last year. He is a physical, disruptive talent with excellent vision and a strong feel for the game.
Junior midfielder Evan Lang is the team’s top offensive player.
“Naperville North had a tremendous year last year in winning the state, but you can go 5-3-0 and win the conference,” Robinson said. “That is what makes it so enjoyable. The games are close; they are tight. It is very enjoyable to coach those games because you are playing against quality teams, but also playing against good people.”
Lake Park
Coach: Sean Crosby
2016 DVC finish: fifth, tie (3-4-1)
2016 record: 10-12-2
The Lancers were a very interesting team to watch a year ago. Sean Crosby took over the program and found a gifted, though youth-laden, roster that learned on the spot. The maturation process was something to see.
The Lancers had as many as seven sophomore starters. The results were encouraging. Lake Park lost to Naperville North in overtime and later stunned St. Charles East to win the Warrior Invitational at Waubonsie Valley. The future was something worth waiting on.
“Now we also have some seniors filling in some roles that we did not really have last year,” Crosby said. “We have a really good summer, a great turnout. We finished first in our summer league. They know it is a big difference when the first real game starts. Now, a lot of guys who had significant playing time last year are repeating.”
The Lancers’ junior class has a chance to be special. Midfielder Franco Presta earned all-conference recognition in scoring four goals and adding three assists. Forward Jesus Juarez (five goals, five assists) and midfielder Matteo Costa (three goals, three assists) also impressed. Defender Tom Zakic, who had two goals and an assist, is the leader of the back.
Sebastian Glodz, a senior midfielder, had two goals and two assists last year.
“We finished fifth in the conference last year, and our goal is to move up in the standings,” Crosby said. “When you play teams in conference, you knows guys much better and the games are separated by fewer goals. We have the state champion coming out of our conference, and we saw teams competing with [Naperville North] during conference play. Then by the end of the year, North was at a whole different level. It’s wild to see how close you can get and then have separation out of conference.”
Wheaton North
Coach: Rob Stassen
2016 DVC finish: ninth (0-8-0)
2016 record: 2-16-2
In a conference as historically great as the DuPage Valley, somebody has to finish last. It is not always an accurate reflection of a team’s strengths. The Falcons failed to win a game in conference. Perspective matters.
Now the team has nine starters back. It is a new year, and a new beginning.
“Obviously we had a tough season last year with our results,” Wheaton North coach Rob Stassen said. “We played great teams and great players, but we were young and immature. I only really graduated one starter, in our center back. We have three new forwards, and they are all connecting. Scoring goals has been a real struggle for us, and I think we are going to be better up-top.”
One of those forwards is junior Alex Beausoleil, whose name, in French, translates, as “beautiful sun,” an apt metaphor for a team looking for a burst of optimism. The Falcons look to be competitive in the middle with standouts Jorge Patino, who was all-conference, and Jake Dzarnowski.
“The guys have returned more hungry and mature,” Stassen said. “Jorge in the middle is an injection of speed and pace. We are in pretty good shape defensively, and we have some nice returning players. The boys are hungry and excited to show how they are and show the rest of the conference how much they have improved.”
This is the third season since Stassen took over the program. The signs were there a year ago, like playing Naperville North to a one-goal game.
“Coming off of last year’s building, I’d look to be in the middle of the pack,” Stassen said.
“There’s a couple in the room I think we will be alright against, and a couple we might get lucky against. It will be nice to be knocking on the door of the top teams. Time will tell on that one.”
The Falcons started the 2017 season the right way. After tying Schurz a year ago, Wheaton North topped the visiting Bulldogs 5-1 on opening night.