As expected, welcome to the shakeup.
After three weeks of relative calm and stability within the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25, everything suddenly broke sideways.
Blame the weather.
“It felt weird to be warm out today,” St. Francis coach Jim Winslow said of the gorgeous spring weather during his opening game against Libertyville in the 5th annual Lou Malnati’s Deep Dish Classic on Saturday at Evanston.
With summer-like conditions expected this week, everything glorious and pure about the game takes center stage.
The resumption of group play in the Deep Dish Classic is the highlight of the week, punctuated by the Thursday semifinals and the championship round on Saturday.
The Plainfield Classic is another tournament to watch, especially with no, 4 Plainfield North running roughshod through much of its competition.
Geneva is the top threat to the Tigers at their tournament. The teams played a memorable championship game last year.
Some teams moved up or down in the Top 25 this week even if they did not suffer a loss or experience a tie.
Other teams may have had a good week against solid competition or were just very impressive. Some teams may have been dormant.
But movement is good for a poll. Stasis? Not so much.
Come back next week for another possible jumbling. The spring breaks are largely over, and many team schedules can now advance without interruption.
The picture could start to become clearer.
| Rank | Previous | Team | Record | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | Metea Valley | 6-0-2 | Riley Strcic jolts the middle attack |
| 2 | 2 | Barrington | 5-0-1 | Sarah Sarnowski is a gifted attacking player |
| 3 | 4 | Lyons | 6-0-0 | Josie Pochocki is a physical and skilled player in the middle |
| 4 | 3 | Plainfield N | 7-0-2 | Permitted just three goals |
| 5 | 7 | New Trier | 8-0-1 | Honor Dold is a gifted two-way force |
| 6 | 5 | St. Charles E | 8-0-0 | Ella Stehman is very dangerous in space |
| 7 | 9 | Evanston | 5-0-1 | Lily Shure sparks revenge win vs. Naperville North |
| 8 | 6 | LW Central | 7-0-2 | Lockport rematch ends in tie |
| 9 | 10 | Naperville C | 4-0-1 | Taylor Walk helps shut out St. Charles North |
| 10 | 11 | St. Charles N | 5-1-0 | Abby Vichich is a lockdown disruptor |
| 11 | 16 | Libertyville | 3-0-1 | Wildcats face Naperville North Monday |
| 12 | 13 | Benet | 5-1-0 | Shannon Clark notches another shutout against elite program |
| 13 | 15 | Oswego E | 5-1-1 | Emma Klosterman helps stabiilize the middle |
| 14 | 18 | Lockport | 7-1-1 | The favorites in their own Porter Cup |
| 15 | 23 | LW East | 8-1-0 | Thrash Class A power Herscher |
| 16 | 20 | Geneva | 5-1-0 | Marquette-bound Lily Coats is a dynamic two-way threat |
| 17 | 19 | Fremd | 4-1-0 | Gwen Zimmerman is a fast, athletic up-front talent |
| 18 | HM | Hinsdale Central | 4-0-2 | Avery Edgewater sparks victory over WW South |
| 19 | 14 | Carmel | 4-1-1 | Bella D'Amore is a sharp presence in the back |
| 20 | 8 | Deerfield | 5-1-1 | Simone Criz is a resourceful, savvy player in the middle |
| 21 | NR | Mundelein | 5-2-0 | Mustangs make statement in Deerfield victory |
| 22 | 17 | Naperville N | 2-3-1 | Keeper Olivia Ochsner is a fantastic freshman |
| 23 | HM | Stevenson | 4-2-0 | Patriots take out Lane for third-straight win |
| 24 | 22 | York | 5-0-1 | Montini ends perfect start |
| 25 | 25 | Loyola | 2-2-3 | Emily Plovanich is a fun player to watch |
Look out for: Lake Zurich, Glenbrook North, Hersey, Lane, Wheaton North, Glenbard West, Batavia, Wheaton Warrenville South, Prospect, Riverside-Brookfield, Downers South, Plainfield South, Lake Forest, Maine South, Morton.
