Chicagoland Soccer Top 25
By Patrick Z. McGavin
Today marks a crucial juncture, the end of the fourth week of a season already loaded with meaning and significance.
Libertyville remains at the top, but there was some movement in the top 10. Bradley-Bourbonnais is a hard team to get a proper read on given the absence of any truly meaningful competition.
Former no. 1 and defending Class 3A state champion Naperville North moves to the no. 2 slot. Teams that drop are not necessarily being punished so much as teams that were previously underneath them are being rewarded for particularly impressive showings.
Naperville Central dropped a couple of positions despite remaining very hot, winners of eight of its last nine games. Head-to-head matchups matter: Waukegan beat previously undefeated Morton; Morton beat Naperville Central; New Trier beat Waukegan.
St. Edward and Woodstock moved into the Top 25. Small schools should not be graded on the curve. The poll is meant to reflect the best teams. But these two undefeated programs have done enough to merit inclusion.
The regular season basically has another month of play. If the next month is as dramatic and scintillating as the first, expect even more of a wild ride and potential shake-ups and breakthroughs to come.
Editor's note: Games through September 16.
By Patrick Z. McGavin
Today marks a crucial juncture, the end of the fourth week of a season already loaded with meaning and significance.
Libertyville remains at the top, but there was some movement in the top 10. Bradley-Bourbonnais is a hard team to get a proper read on given the absence of any truly meaningful competition.
Former no. 1 and defending Class 3A state champion Naperville North moves to the no. 2 slot. Teams that drop are not necessarily being punished so much as teams that were previously underneath them are being rewarded for particularly impressive showings.
Naperville Central dropped a couple of positions despite remaining very hot, winners of eight of its last nine games. Head-to-head matchups matter: Waukegan beat previously undefeated Morton; Morton beat Naperville Central; New Trier beat Waukegan.
St. Edward and Woodstock moved into the Top 25. Small schools should not be graded on the curve. The poll is meant to reflect the best teams. But these two undefeated programs have done enough to merit inclusion.
The regular season basically has another month of play. If the next month is as dramatic and scintillating as the first, expect even more of a wild ride and potential shake-ups and breakthroughs to come.
Editor's note: Games through September 16.
| Rank | LW | School | W | L | T | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | Libertyville | 7 | 0 | 1 | Overpowering the North Suburban |
| 2 | 4 | Naperville N | 10 | 1 | 1 | Ian Guppy leads shutout win over Boylan |
| 3 | 2 | Bradley-B. | 8 | 0 | 0 | Undemanding schedule might be undoing |
| 4 | 6 | New Trier | 10 | 2 | 0 | Eric Plante steps up for Trevians |
| 5 | 7 | Waukegan | 8 | 1 | 1 | Plays SCN for Pepsi title |
| 6 | 3 | Morton | 9 | 1 | 1 | Edged 3-2 by Waukegan |
| 7 | 5 | Naperville C | 8 | 3 | 0 | Cameron Strang has all-around skills |
| 8 | 9 | Glenbrook N | 9 | 2 | 1 | Matt Metzger = emerging weapon for Spartans |
| 9 | 11 | Lyons | 8 | 3 | 1 | Adam McGahay is skilled offensive talent |
| 10 | 15 | Prairie Ridge | 10 | 0 | 0 | Most improved team of the year |
| 11 | 20 | SC North | 7 | 1 | 2 | Vito Lagioia drives North Stars to Pepsi final |
| 12 | NR | Dundee-Cr. | 11 | 0 | 2 | Pose biggest FVC threat to Prairie Ridge |
| 13 | 12 | Evanston | 8 | 1 | 1 | Showdown with rival New Trier Tuesday |
| 14 | 10 | Streamwood | 8 | 4 | 0 | Alex Chavez is a terrific offensive talent |
| 15 | 17 | West Aurora | 10 | 1 | 1 | Blackhawks are rolling |
| 16 | 16 | Mount Carmel | 9 | 1 | 0 | Team to beat in the Catholic League |
| 17 | 13 | Barrington | 10 | 3 | 0 | Clipped by Freeport |
| 18 | 18 | Latin | 9 | 1 | 0 | Putting another finals run together? |
| 19 | 22 | Carmel | 6 | 1 | 0 | Midfielder Henry Barnes is a quality player |
| 20 | NR | OPRF | 8 | 2 | 0 | Andrew Barkidjija a player to watch |
| 21 | 24 | Geneva | 6 | 1 | 1 | Nick Dispensa ignites surprising Vikings |
| 22 | HM | Leyden | 8 | 1 | 1 | Marco Villalobos superb on offense |
| 23 | HM | St. Edward | 12 | 0 | 0 | More than just A.J. Edwards |
| 24 | HM | Woodstock | 12 | 0 | 0 | Team on the rise |
| 25 | HM | Solorio | 6 | 3 | 3 | Alex Sanchez is a top sophomore |
Look out for: Round Lake, Plainfield Central, Loyola, Bulls, St. Ignatius, Wheaton Academy, Lane, Wheeling, Palatine, Thornton co-op, Bremen, Maine South, Glenbrook South, University (Chicago), Elgin