Chicagoland Soccer Final 50
By Patrick Z. McGavin
In the 43-year history of the boys state soccer tournament, six state champions finished without a loss. But every one of those -- even the great St. Charles teams that won back to back titles in 1995 and 1996 -- had an asterisk of sorts. Each had a technical blemish, a strike against them in the form of ties.
That puts the accomplishments of Naperville North and Libertyville into a different sphere. No team, much less two, had ever gotten to a state title game unbeaten and untied until Saturday night in Hoffman Estates.
It is hard to imagine a more scintillating and aesthetically pleasing brand of soccer than what Naperville North and Libertyville demonstrated. Unscientifically and not being parochial, it is hard to imagine any other high school in the country being able to beat either team.
It took perfection to knock out Libertyville, which entered the game with a goal-differential on the year of 82-15.
Naperville North has a privileged aura. They radiate confidence and verve. Their unorthodox style, the fact they don’t overwhelm you with their offensive attack, is hard to get accustomed to. The 1-0 state title victory was their 10th-such score of the year.
“It’s nerve wracking to always be in these 0-0, 1-0 games,” Naperville North coach Jim Konrad said after the Huskies beat Lake Park in double overtime in a Friday state semifinal.
Naperville North made its bid for being the greatest team in state history Saturday night with these highlights: a 45-game winning streak; 22 shutouts this season; and an astoundingly stingy five goals allowed in 26 games. Just when it appeared last year’s game could not be surpassed, Naperville North and Libertyville played ostensibly perfect soccer.
Naperville North became the first school to win three-consecutive state championships since Granite City South won five straight from 1976-80, and Gibault recorded a triple in 2005-2007.
“They finished, we didn’t,” Libertyville coach Kevin Thunholm said. “They won, we didn’t.”
The Wildcats’ two-year run of 42-2-2 is also remarkable. Thunholm has certainly lived up to the standards of the legendary Andy Bitta, whom he replaced two years ago.
Libertyville did everything but win. They played a perfect game and still lost. It proved that to score against the impenetrable Huskies and supernaturally skilled keeper Tommy Welch, you need a perfect sequence.
In an echo of last year, the season was an extended flashback and ended where it began. Naperville North was the preseason no. 1-rated team in the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25, originally published on August 17th.
Now the Huskies are also top-ranked in the final combined list that links the two separate Chicagoland Soccer polls into a final, statewide ordering.
Out of necessity and access, the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25 and Illinois 10 polls have always separated the Chicago teams, which are readily available for our northeastern-Illinois-based organization to watch and observe, from statewide programs outside the area that we have limited access to and less institutional knowledge of.
The Final 50 combines the polls to rank the state’s top teams.
It debuted after the girls spring season in 2017, and its fourth-overall appearance here.
Key: FRSR-final regular season rank; PR-preseason rank; NR-not ranked; HM-honorable mention: I-Illinois 10 rank.
By Patrick Z. McGavin
In the 43-year history of the boys state soccer tournament, six state champions finished without a loss. But every one of those -- even the great St. Charles teams that won back to back titles in 1995 and 1996 -- had an asterisk of sorts. Each had a technical blemish, a strike against them in the form of ties.
That puts the accomplishments of Naperville North and Libertyville into a different sphere. No team, much less two, had ever gotten to a state title game unbeaten and untied until Saturday night in Hoffman Estates.
It is hard to imagine a more scintillating and aesthetically pleasing brand of soccer than what Naperville North and Libertyville demonstrated. Unscientifically and not being parochial, it is hard to imagine any other high school in the country being able to beat either team.
It took perfection to knock out Libertyville, which entered the game with a goal-differential on the year of 82-15.
Naperville North has a privileged aura. They radiate confidence and verve. Their unorthodox style, the fact they don’t overwhelm you with their offensive attack, is hard to get accustomed to. The 1-0 state title victory was their 10th-such score of the year.
“It’s nerve wracking to always be in these 0-0, 1-0 games,” Naperville North coach Jim Konrad said after the Huskies beat Lake Park in double overtime in a Friday state semifinal.
Naperville North made its bid for being the greatest team in state history Saturday night with these highlights: a 45-game winning streak; 22 shutouts this season; and an astoundingly stingy five goals allowed in 26 games. Just when it appeared last year’s game could not be surpassed, Naperville North and Libertyville played ostensibly perfect soccer.
Naperville North became the first school to win three-consecutive state championships since Granite City South won five straight from 1976-80, and Gibault recorded a triple in 2005-2007.
“They finished, we didn’t,” Libertyville coach Kevin Thunholm said. “They won, we didn’t.”
The Wildcats’ two-year run of 42-2-2 is also remarkable. Thunholm has certainly lived up to the standards of the legendary Andy Bitta, whom he replaced two years ago.
Libertyville did everything but win. They played a perfect game and still lost. It proved that to score against the impenetrable Huskies and supernaturally skilled keeper Tommy Welch, you need a perfect sequence.
In an echo of last year, the season was an extended flashback and ended where it began. Naperville North was the preseason no. 1-rated team in the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25, originally published on August 17th.
Now the Huskies are also top-ranked in the final combined list that links the two separate Chicagoland Soccer polls into a final, statewide ordering.
Out of necessity and access, the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25 and Illinois 10 polls have always separated the Chicago teams, which are readily available for our northeastern-Illinois-based organization to watch and observe, from statewide programs outside the area that we have limited access to and less institutional knowledge of.
The Final 50 combines the polls to rank the state’s top teams.
It debuted after the girls spring season in 2017, and its fourth-overall appearance here.
Key: FRSR-final regular season rank; PR-preseason rank; NR-not ranked; HM-honorable mention: I-Illinois 10 rank.
| Rank | FRSR | PR | Team | W | L | T | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 1 | Naperville N | 26 | 0 | 0 | First perfect season in state history |
| 2 | 2 | 2 | Libertyville | 22 | 1 | 0 | Evan Rasmussen: 34 goals, 14 assists |
| 3 | 18 | NR | CL South | 22 | 2 | 3 | Alex Canfield led to 1st state berth, title |
| 4 | I1 | I2 | ND (Peoria) | 23 | 3 | 0 | Noah Madrigal one of top US juniors |
| 5 | 3 | 3 | Morton | 20 | 3 | 1 | Adrian Barrera one of state’s top players |
| 6 | 15 | 16 | St. Patrick | 24 | 4 | 0 | Shamrocks show they belong with elites |
| 7 | I3 | INR | Collinsville | 20 | 6 | 2 | Logan Whitehead led 3A 3rd place run |
| 8 | 19 | HM | Lake Park | 21 | 5 | 3 | GK Christian Lekki among state’s best |
| 9 | HM | HM | St. Ignatius | 17 | 8 | 0 | Matt Griffin helped to AA 3rd place |
| 10 | 13 | 14 | Lyons | 17 | 8 | 0 | Played state’s toughest schedule |
| 11 | 10 | 22 | OPRF | 18 | 4 | 2 | Stunned Morton in sectional semifinal |
| 12 | 23 | 21 | Streamwood | 18 | 5 | 3 | Alex Chavez led to 3A supersectional |
| 13 | 16 | HM | Benet | 17 | 4 | 1 | Nick Renfro led to 3A sectional final |
| 14 | 4 | 4 | New Trier | 15 | 4 | 2 | Logan Weaver ranks with all-time greats |
| 15 | 12 | NR | Addison Tr | 17 | 6 | 0 | Melvin Mora led run to sectional semis |
| 16 | INR | I1 | Gibault | 17 | 6 | 5 | Logan Doerr led 2-time AA trophy run |
| 17 | HM | HM | Mt Carmel | 18 | 5 | 2 | Felix Mendoza a top junior midfielder |
| 18 | 6 | 9 | Solorio | 20 | 2 | 2 | Junior Alex Sanchez led to 1st city title |
| 19 | 11 | HM | Fremd | 13 | 6 | 1 | Vikings game vs Naperville N, Libertyville |
| 20 | 8 | 24 | Elgin | 17 | 2 | 3 | Sectional finalist: Omar Lopez, 41 goals |
| 21 | 22 | HM | W Aurora | 18 | 4 | 1 | Andy Emile starred, best 3a run in 15 years |
| 22 | 5 | 12 | Wheaton A | 20 | 3 | 0 | Kilgallon bros. led to memorable heights |
| 23 | 20 | HM | Oswego | 18 | 3 | 2 | Omar Carreno: 35 goals, 16 assists |
| 24 | HM | 7 | Evanston | 16 | 6 | 1 | Reached sectional final for 4th year in row |
| 25 | 17 | HM | Loyola | 16 | 2 | 3 | Collin Leider powered to CCL Blue title |
| 26 | 7 | NR | Latin | 21 | 1 | 1 | Unbeaten during the regular season |
| 27 | 9 | 19 | Buffalo Gr | 14 | 5 | 2 | Beat Fremd for MSL Cup title |
| 28 | 14 | HM | York | 14 | 6 | 1 | Joe Meade one of state’s top juniors |
| 29 | 21 | 11 | Metea Valley | 13 | 6 | 1 | Evan Lang, James Lynch joy to behold |
| 30 | I2 | I3 | Columbia | 21 | 4 | 3 | Tough sectional final loss to Gibault |
| 31 | INR | I5 | Normal | 15 | 5 | 7 | Lost sectional final thriller vs Collinsville |
| 32 | I8 | INR | Springfield | 23 | 7 | 1 | Wolf Brethorst, high-scoring, 2-way star |
| 33 | NR | NR | Marmion | 14 | 7 | 2 | James Serrano 32 goals; AA 'super' qualifier |
| 34 | HM | 25 | SC East | 12 | 8 | 0 | Truitt Battin led Saints to sectional semi |
| 35 | HM | NR | Washington | 16 | 6 | 1 | Angel Arismendez led to city final, 'super' |
| 36 | I4 | I9 | Marqtte-Altn | 14 | 3 | 3 | 2017 A champ held their own in AA |
| 37 | INR | I7 | ND-Quincy | 21 | 5 | 2 | Mitchell Murphy powered A state champ |
| 38 | 24 | 18 | Hinsdale C | 17 | 6 | 0 | Returned to contender status this year |
| 39 | HM | 20 | Dundee-Cr | 18 | 4 | 4 | Jabari Washington led to regional titles |
| 40 | INR | INR | Morton (Ill.) | 17 | 5 | 1 | Great run to sectional final |
| 41 | INR | INR | Rochelle | 21 | 1 | 1 | Marmion ended 22-game unbeaten run |
| 42 | I9 | INR | Chmpaign C | 21 | 5 | 0 | One of the best teams in program history |
| 43 | NR | HM | Lake Zurich | 12 | 7 | 3 | Bears got hot, reached 3A sectional final |
| 44 | HM | HM | Mundelein | 15 | 5 | 1 | Bryan Alba led to sectional semi |
| 45 | I7 | INR | Carbondale | 19 | 4 | 1 | Tourney run ended in sectional title game |
| 46 | 25 | 10 | SC North | 12 | 6 | 1 | Elite scorer Matt Beaulieu bids adieu |
| 47 | I5 | INR | Mattoon | 20 | 2 | 3 | Lost heartbreaker in sectional semi |
| 48 | NR | HM | Lane | 13 | 6 | 2 | Fernando Alvarado led to 6-0-0 league run |
| 49 | NR | HM | St. Edward | 24 | 2 | 1 | Joshua Johansen led A runner-up |
| 50 | INR | INR | St. Teresa | 22 | 3 | 3 | Edgar Onate 50 goals; A 3rd place team |
Honorable mention: Edwardsville, Hersey, Oswego East, Vernon Hills, University (Normal), Normal West, Parker, St. Laurence, Bremen, Thornton (co-op), Neuqua Valley, Naperville Central, Young, Glenbard West, Minooka, Sandburg, Glenbrook South, Lockport, Dunlap, Soto