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Chicagoland Soccer Final 50 state ranking

By Patrick Z. McGavin



History was made — albeit not the way anybody wanted or anticipated.

And so, Chicagoland Soccer’s Final 50 postseason poll is identical to the First 50 preseason poll.

The bookend polls of Chicagoland Soccer have traditionally served as a combination introduction and summation of the season.

The First 50 opens the dialogue; the Final 50 closes the book on the season.

The novel coronavirus changed everything. On the eve of the new season, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced the suspension of in-school classes.

That order was extended twice, effectively ending any hope of having a spring sports season. The IHSA held out hope until the very end.

It was the heartbreaking though correct step to take. The Washington Post published an article June 8 of a comprehensive new study that showed how stay-at-home orders prevented an additional 60 million infections of the coronavirus in the United States.

June 6, was meant to mark the formal conclusion with the AA and 3A state championships at North Central College in Naperville.

For the first time in its 33-year girls soccer history, IHSA is not crowning a state champion.

Girls soccer is not alone. Besides all the other spring sports, the pandemic forced the cancellation of the boys basketball state championships as well.

The sense of profound disruption has deprived a great many people — athletes, coaches, referees, students, teachers, administrators, fans, journalists — of something essential and meaningful.

Out of sight is not the same as out of mind. At Chicagoland Soccer, we have sought to fill the void with stories and features highlighting the stories of players, students and coaches very much worth celebrating.

While the absence of games is the dominant story. It is far from the only one.

The First 50 was a way to say even if the games could not be played, these are the teams most likely to shape the discourse about this year’s season.

Fittingly in a sport with its special kind of orb that creates so much drama, the season has a circular shape, ending as it began. The Final 50 is a somewhat reminder of what was lost this year.

Coming off three consecutive finals appearances and two state championships over the last three years, Barrington was ranked no. 1 nationally.

Defending 3A champion Naperville North was seeking its fourth title of the last decade. Class AA winner Benet and Class A champion Columbia also had a great deal to be excited about.

New Trier senior Emma Weaver, the reigning Chicagoland Soccer Player of the Year, was also ready to make her own mark on her own terms.

What we are left with is to wonder and imagine what might have been. It is dizzying to conceive all the possibilities. Nothing is ever going to substitute for the lost memories.

The Final 50 is a very modest attempt to reckon with the sacrifices the players, coaches and teams have undergone.


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Rankings in the Final 50 poll is followed by last year’s Final 50 rank and the 2019 record.


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Rank'19 rkTeamWLTComment
12Barrington2221Sought 4th-straight 3A title appearance
23New Trier2235Emma Weaver eyed repeat POTY honor
39St. Charles E2260Saints were loaded with offensive weapons
41Naperville N1554Hannah Martin led Huskies 3A title defense
54St. Charles N1922North Stars back and reloaded
618Waubonsie V1732Megan Burling topped stacked roster
7NRLake Forest1182Returning club players made formidable
86Benet2431Kate Flynn led rise to 3A
917Fremd1453Ranked nationally by Top Drawer
1015Lane1941Deep Indians eyed 6th-straight city title
1116Young1871”Our year to do damage,” coach said
1219St. Ignatius1932Wolfpack was gifted and hungry
1314Evanston1462Callista O’Connor headed deep team
1411Neuqua V1054Wildcats had promising freshmen
1510Wauconda1932Was seconds away from 2019 AA title
1640Naperville C1191Looked more offensively dangerous
1745Warren1393Blue Devils physical, dangerous
1833Glenbard E1852Rams had fine blend of talent and youth
198Lyons1841Ava Dallavo a superb talent
2022Lemont1851Indians showcased great offensive talent
2143Loyola972Superb sophomores ready for break out
22NRDeerfield13122Malori Killoren keyed Warriors hopes
2313Glenbrook S2042Titans had wealth of experience, talent
247Columbia2721Talent galore for A powerhouse/titleist
2521Joliet Cath1830Makenzie Kaput led deep, versatile side
2629Sandburg1551Club players bolstered strong roster
275Stevenson2222Patriots looked to build off 2019 magic
2824Conant1632Talent and experience to burn
2920Triad2042Key personnel back from AA 3rd place run
3026ND (Peoria)1851A perennial threat
3139Jones1870Carmen Marshall is fun to watch
3223Batavia1752Grace Salyers led quality side
33NRND (Quincy)2130Hoped for another dominant run
3441Metea V1192Mustangs looked to be special on D
3528Cary-Grove1431A program on the rise
3632S Elgin1443Soph Katrina Barthelt older, more dangerous
3730NSCD1640Raiders jumped up in class and belonged
38NRCarmel7114Corsairs had intriguing youngsters
3934CL Central1940Resurgent team in Fox Valley
4035Prairie Ridge2021Loaded team ready for encore
4142Maine South1653Explosive and dangerous offense
4244Normal1952One of the best of Central Illinois
4338Geneva1162GK Katie Montgomery a bright talent
4425WW South1451Next generation looked to shine
4537Geneseo2221A program on the go
4636Dunlap1641Another program on the rise
47NRBurlington C1451Ill. recruit Zoey Kolhoff a star
4846O’Fallon1472A top program in St. Louis ‘burbs
4948Althoff2151Gave Columbia toughest 2019 game
50NRLisle1832Tara Kane a top junior talent
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