Reflecting on Burlington Central’s progress at the halfway point of the season, first year coach Dean Ames summed it up from an academic perspective.

“In terms of a school grade, I’d say we’re probably at a B,” he said of his squad, which is 6-2-2 overall and 1-0-0 in the Fox Valley Conference. “I think we’re doing well. We’re definitely making progress in some areas.

“I don’t think the results are exactly what we had hoped for. I think both myself and the players feel like we really could have won our first nine games.”

Using the letter grade analogy would be tough for Crystal Lake South coach Brian Allen. His
team, which returned only five starters from last year’s Class AA state championship squad is a “work in progress.”

“Each week it varies. I mean we’ve had games that I’ve put us close to that A range, and we’ve been games that we’ve been probably in the D range and everything in between,” he said. “That’s just part of our inconsistency with our youth and the injuries we’ve been dealing with.”

The league foes meet at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday at Crystal Lake South.

The Gators (5-6-0, 1-1-0) are looking for a positive result.

“We’re on a four-game losing streak right now, so obviously we’re working to get out of that funk and trying to change the trajectory of the rest of the season,” said Allen. 

Crystal Lake South is the two-time defending conference champion. It shared the 2023 crown with Huntley.

Burlington Central believes the record of Crystal Lake South, which has lost to three Class 3A schools and Class AA-ranked Boylan, is deceiving.

“We’re going to give them their respect. They’ve got a lot of really, really good players,” said Ames. “Just because their record is only 5-6-0 doesn’t mean that they’re
not setting themselves up for another repeat.”

The Rockets are 1-1-0 in league play.
While juniors Sam Knych (seven goals) and Max Salas (four) are the Rockets’ top scorers, senior Alan Murillo (three) is critical to Burlington Central’s attack.

“He can be really dangerous, because he’s really good on the ball. He can create some
mismatches,” Ames said. “He can definitely cause issues for some people.”

Junior Noah Rosborough directs the Rockets’ center-pitch play.

“Midfield is the strength of our team, and Noah is the engine that makes everything go,” said Ames. “He rarely comes off the field.”

Seniors Holden Wiegel and Owen Carlson, who both moved from outside back to centerback, are making the grade.

“They’re doing extremely well. They’re keeping the forwards in front of them and making opponents take bad shots,” said the Burlington Central coach.

Earning four clean-sheets and allowing only eight goals, keeper Charles Wyzukovicz has
patrolled the Rockets’ net for all of their matches.

Crystal Lake South has suffered a major loss with senior Ali Ahmed, who scored 25 goals in an all-state campaign last year and is still on the sideline.

“We’re hopeful that he can return next week,” Allen said.

Returning starter and all-stater Nick Prus is trying to fill in the scoring void. The senior is well on pace to surpass last year’s mark of 14 goals. Prus has already found the back of
the net 12 times this season. 

The midfielder has already bettered last year’s total of three assists by two.

“He’s picked up where he left off last year. He scored the game-winner in the state championship and has just kind of continued to put the team on his shoulders,” Allen said. 

A trio of sophomores is about ready to step up in support.

“I think now is the time you’re going to start seeing some of these younger guys help Nick out,” said Allen. “We’ve got his little brother, Will. We’ve got Dustin Banner out wide and Ethan Nawracaj up-top who has been filling in since Ali’s been out.”

Senior Pierce Johnson, an all-conference veteran starter, and sophomore Kaleb Nunnally anchor the Gators’ defense.

“Those two have really settled our backline in the middle,” noted Allen.

Newcomers Patryk Pocica and Noah Dunteman share Crystal Lake South goaltending duties.

“They’re both great kids, good leaders,” said Allen. ”And our backline feels comfortable with both of them.”