NAPERVILLE – St. Charles had a run worthy of the ages.

From 1990 to 2000 before the school was split into East and North, the Fighting Saints won eight state championships to become the all-time leader in IHSA history for titles.

St. Charles East keeps the accomplishments on its résumé, per the IHSA, and has been looking to add state title no. 9 since its rebranding in 2001. 

It young 2024 edition is the latest engaged in the quest.

The Saints (11-1-2) have been a formidable team this spring and aim to continue to show their strengths in their Naperville Invitational opener against Loyola (6-6-2) at 7 p.m. Thursday at Barrington High School.

St. Charles East coach Vince Dinuzzo said he anticipates a hard-fought battle against the Ramblers.

“We will have to play 80 minutes of quality soccer to get a result against Loyola,” he said. “They are organized and disciplined with dynamic players in the attack. We will need to limit their chances while capitalizing on our chances. Loyola is disciplined and organized in terms of their defensive shape. Their goalkeeper is a great-shot stopper who commands the box. Up-front, they play with pace and creativity.”

The Saints, ranked 17th in the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25, enter tonight’s game with great contributions from the offensive and defensive sides of the pitch. Through 14 games, the Saints have 10 shutouts, including blanking Alton and Lake Park in their last two games. The Saints’ only loss came against Crystal Lake Central in pool play of their Rose Augsburg-Drach Invitational on March 30. Since then, the club is unbeaten in 10 matches (9-0-1).

Dinuzzo said the top in-season tournament in Chicagoland is a good testing ground for his program.

“Loyola is going to provide us with a different set of problems,” Dinuzzo said. “With (state) seeding coming up next week and the way this tournament is structured, we expect a very competitive match. We’re looking forward to the challenge that this tournament provides.”

Dinuzzo said several players have raised expectations this spring following a 20-4-0 showing last season.

“Averie Foulkes is a freshman who works hard and will do whatever she needs to do to help the team,” he said. “She is selfless and everything you would like in a player. She has quietly posted six goals and four assists and is playing out of position. (Sophomore) Payton Rivard is a hard-working center defensive midfielder that has a nose for the ball. She’s someone who does not earn goals or assists but has been crucial in supporting our 10 shutouts.

“Mackenzie Loomis has been everything we expected as a four-year varsity centerback. She has been dominant out of the air and establishes a physical presence. Our goalkeepers, Sidney Lazenby and Mia Olenek have both done well to organize us and make saves when called upon.”

Loyola is in fighting shape after contesting the ultra-tough Lou Malnati’s Deep Dish Classic at New Trier. There they suffered close losses to then no. 1 Lyons (1-0) and no. 20 Stevenson (2-1), and tied no. 8 Glenbrook South 0-0.

The Ramblers have regained form with a 5-2-1 mark in their last eight games. All of Loyola’s losses have come against ranked or previously ranked team including Lane, Glenbrook North, Plainfield North and St. Charles North.