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Chicagoland Soccer Final 50



​By Patrick Z. McGavin

The first signal was there at the start. On openinging day Aug. 26, from what was presumed to be the start of another dominant run by three-time defending Class 3A state champion Naperville North, came notice from an insurgent force.

West Chicago opened the season with a 2-2 draw with the Huskies, firing up a flare that this might not be another ordinary year. 

By the conclusion of the Wildcats’ riveting 2-0 victory over what some considered heavily favored Morton in the Class 3A state championship at Hoffman Estates, something magical had taken hold.

The Class 3A nightcaps on both nights of the state finals were electric. Somewhere around 5-6,000 mad, passionate and beautiful fans jammed into the stands on both sides of the field. They ignored some brutally cold weather, distracted by their hopes and captivated by the sensations, the spellbinding play and magical back-and-forth actions of great high school teams and their student-athletes playing in the most meaningful games of their lives.

It felt like a top international match, but captured through the prism of prep soccer at its most elemental and pure. The spirit was infectious, a bliss-out of soaring emotions and tender actions: the 67 Morton fan buses that were lined up three deep in some portions of the Hoffman Estates High School parking lot 
on Friday night; or the plaintive, tear-streaked eyes of a young woman holding aloft the sign “We are WeGO.”

Earlier in the afternoon sun, Benet beat defending champion Crystal Lake South 2-0 to capture the Class AA tournament.

The Redwings completed one of the most impressive tournament runs ever. Benet did not surrender a goal and closed out its state run with shutouts of 2018 state runnerup Notre Dame (Peoria) in the supersectional, solid St. Laurence in the semifinals and the defending champion Gators in the title game.

Benet allowed a ridiculous four goals in 23 games. On Oct. 3, Benet and West Chicago played to a scoreless draw. Only three teams scored on Benet this year. Their only loss, against Naperville North, came in part due to a penalty kick.

Naperville North’s run officially ended Nov. 5 in an instant classic match against Morton that ended with a shootout.

The West Chicago game at the beginning of the year ended the Huskies’ 45-game winning streak. A couple of days later, Morton ended the unbeaten streak at 47 games.


A word about St. Patrick, which by their estimation finished a “disappointing” fourth in Class 3A. The Shamrocks won 25 games. They beat West Chicago 1-0 during the season and played two great games with Morton. They tied Benet 1-1.

West Chicago and Benet will finish with the top spots in the Final 50, but Morton, St. Patrick and Naperville North were right there. West Chicago withstood Morton’s extraordinary first half pressure and found the means to win its first state title in any sport since 1974.

Below sits the final order, but it was until the very end a fluid mixture that could have gone any number of different ways. West Chicago earns the distinction of going out on top. Benet is right there, with Morton very close behind.

Out of necessity and access, the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25 and Illinois 10 polls have always separated the Chicago area teams from those outside the area. The main reason is that our northeastern-Illinois-based main staff has limited opportunities to observe the statewide programs and therefore less practical and institutional knowledge of them.

After additional clarity brought on by the state series, the Final 50 combines the polls to rank the state’s top teams. This is the third edition of the boys Final 50.

Another great season is in the books. What an unforgettable campaign it was!

Key: R-ranking; FRR-final regular-season rank; PR-Preseason First 50 rank; NR-not ranked; HM-honorable mention: I-Illinois 10 rank.


​​
RFRRPRTeamWLTComment
18NRWest Chicago2423Wildcats stun Morton in 3A final
2316Benet20121 of best defenses ever led to AA title
312Morton (B-C)2342Came up bit short after brilliant season
421Naperville N1952Championship string ends at 3
587CL South2054Alex Canfield an all-time great
6I541Edwardsville2151Brennan Weller leads talented underclass
746St Patrick2543Finals do not dull excellent run
8I14ND (Peoria)2220Noah Madrigal ends outstanding career
965Fremd1524MSL Cup, regional, sectional titles
10918Evanston1822Avenged NT loss in sectional semi
11512New Trier1624Model of consistency and excellence
1273Libertyville1533Elite group sees finals run end
1313NRWarren (Gur)1644Blue Devils reclaim elite status
14I4NRTriad2333Travis Speer goes out in style
15109Lyons1543WSC Silver title, perennial contender
162115York1671Gave W Chicago fits in sectional final
171230St Charles E1823A gifted team, skilled young returnees
18HMNRSt Laurence1961Earned 1st state hardware
1925NRJacobs1653Beat CLS, tied Fremd, sectional titleist
201717Oswego18513rd-straight perfect league run
21HMNRGeneva1354Vikings wins up 225 percent this season
22HM45St Charles N1153Put on dynamic late tournament run
232443West Aurora18511st back-to-back sectional finals
241533Lane1331Captured city title in electric final
251114Solorio1941Sad ending, potential AA Final 4 team
26HM20Buffalo Gr1282Volatile year, sectional semi appearance
2716NRAddison Trail1353Typical quality season for Blazers
28HM13Mt Carmel (Chi)1351Captured the Go 4 the Goal title in Ia
29NRNRUniv (Chicago)2232Historic run to Class A state title
30NRNRMarist1565Got hot late, earned 3A sectional final
31INRNRMorton (Ill)2431Supersectional loss to Triad
32INRNRGlenwood1661Another solid and satisfying season
33INRNRDunlap1832Fought ND (Peoria) in sectional title game
34NRNRBloom1961Christian Munoz 1 of state’s top sophs
3514NRRound Lake1325Finally received deserved seeding
36NR36Naperville C1075Battled thru 1 of state’s top schedules
37HM46Glenbrook S1174Athletic, gifted team hit rut late
382023Loyola1262Brilliant junior class is set to return
392211OPRF1252Huskies fun to watch, tough to play
40I6NRCarbondale2132Terriers had 1 of top years ever
412339Barrington1651Broncos had superb comeback year
42HMNRL-W Central1450Nick Willner had breakout year
43NRNRL-W West14110Captured 1st sectional title
44I2NRRochester1832Another great year for perennial power
45NRNRElgin1263Gave W Chicago 1 of its 2 losses
46NR40Maine South13716 losses to ranked teams
47INR42Springfield1753Another solid season for Senators
48INRNRO’Fallon1552Took Edwardsville to brink sectional semi
49I749Marquette (Alt)19452nd time in state final in 3 years
50I8NRUniv (Nor)1960Lost 'super' heartbreaker in PKs
Honorable mention: Notre Dame (Quincy), Moline, Waterloo, North Shore Country Day, Hinsdale Central, Zion-Benton, Columbia, Champaign Central, Boylan, Glenbard North, Wheaton North, Glenbard West, Waubonsie Valley, Metea Valley, Niles West, Plainfield North, Dundee-Crown, St. Ignatius, Fenwick, Lemont, Kaneland, Wheaton Academy, Oak Forest, St. Rita, Reavis, Taft.

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