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.
Rankings in the Final 50 poll is followed by last year’s Final 50 rank and the 2019 record.
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.
Rankings in the Final 50 poll is followed by last year’s Final 50 rank and the 2019 record.
| Rank | '19 rk | Team | W | L | T | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | Barrington | 22 | 2 | 1 | Sought 4th-straight 3A title appearance |
| 2 | 3 | New Trier | 22 | 3 | 5 | Emma Weaver eyed repeat POTY honor |
| 3 | 9 | St. Charles E | 22 | 6 | 0 | Saints were loaded with offensive weapons |
| 4 | 1 | Naperville N | 15 | 5 | 4 | Hannah Martin led Huskies 3A title defense |
| 5 | 4 | St. Charles N | 19 | 2 | 2 | North Stars back and reloaded |
| 6 | 18 | Waubonsie V | 17 | 3 | 2 | Megan Burling topped stacked roster |
| 7 | NR | Lake Forest | 11 | 8 | 2 | Returning club players made formidable |
| 8 | 6 | Benet | 24 | 3 | 1 | Kate Flynn led rise to 3A |
| 9 | 17 | Fremd | 14 | 5 | 3 | Ranked nationally by Top Drawer |
| 10 | 15 | Lane | 19 | 4 | 1 | Deep Indians eyed 6th-straight city title |
| 11 | 16 | Young | 18 | 7 | 1 | ”Our year to do damage,” coach said |
| 12 | 19 | St. Ignatius | 19 | 3 | 2 | Wolfpack was gifted and hungry |
| 13 | 14 | Evanston | 14 | 6 | 2 | Callista O’Connor headed deep team |
| 14 | 11 | Neuqua V | 10 | 5 | 4 | Wildcats had promising freshmen |
| 15 | 10 | Wauconda | 19 | 3 | 2 | Was seconds away from 2019 AA title |
| 16 | 40 | Naperville C | 11 | 9 | 1 | Looked more offensively dangerous |
| 17 | 45 | Warren | 13 | 9 | 3 | Blue Devils physical, dangerous |
| 18 | 33 | Glenbard E | 18 | 5 | 2 | Rams had fine blend of talent and youth |
| 19 | 8 | Lyons | 18 | 4 | 1 | Ava Dallavo a superb talent |
| 20 | 22 | Lemont | 18 | 5 | 1 | Indians showcased great offensive talent |
| 21 | 43 | Loyola | 9 | 7 | 2 | Superb sophomores ready for break out |
| 22 | NR | Deerfield | 13 | 12 | 2 | Malori Killoren keyed Warriors hopes |
| 23 | 13 | Glenbrook S | 20 | 4 | 2 | Titans had wealth of experience, talent |
| 24 | 7 | Columbia | 27 | 2 | 1 | Talent galore for A powerhouse/titleist |
| 25 | 21 | Joliet Cath | 18 | 3 | 0 | Makenzie Kaput led deep, versatile side |
| 26 | 29 | Sandburg | 15 | 5 | 1 | Club players bolstered strong roster |
| 27 | 5 | Stevenson | 22 | 2 | 2 | Patriots looked to build off 2019 magic |
| 28 | 24 | Conant | 16 | 3 | 2 | Talent and experience to burn |
| 29 | 20 | Triad | 20 | 4 | 2 | Key personnel back from AA 3rd place run |
| 30 | 26 | ND (Peoria) | 18 | 5 | 1 | A perennial threat |
| 31 | 39 | Jones | 18 | 7 | 0 | Carmen Marshall is fun to watch |
| 32 | 23 | Batavia | 17 | 5 | 2 | Grace Salyers led quality side |
| 33 | NR | ND (Quincy) | 21 | 3 | 0 | Hoped for another dominant run |
| 34 | 41 | Metea V | 11 | 9 | 2 | Mustangs looked to be special on D |
| 35 | 28 | Cary-Grove | 14 | 3 | 1 | A program on the rise |
| 36 | 32 | S Elgin | 14 | 4 | 3 | Soph Katrina Barthelt older, more dangerous |
| 37 | 30 | NSCD | 16 | 4 | 0 | Raiders jumped up in class and belonged |
| 38 | NR | Carmel | 7 | 11 | 4 | Corsairs had intriguing youngsters |
| 39 | 34 | CL Central | 19 | 4 | 0 | Resurgent team in Fox Valley |
| 40 | 35 | Prairie Ridge | 20 | 2 | 1 | Loaded team ready for encore |
| 41 | 42 | Maine South | 16 | 5 | 3 | Explosive and dangerous offense |
| 42 | 44 | Normal | 19 | 5 | 2 | One of the best of Central Illinois |
| 43 | 38 | Geneva | 11 | 6 | 2 | GK Katie Montgomery a bright talent |
| 44 | 25 | WW South | 14 | 5 | 1 | Next generation looked to shine |
| 45 | 37 | Geneseo | 22 | 2 | 1 | A program on the go |
| 46 | 36 | Dunlap | 16 | 4 | 1 | Another program on the rise |
| 47 | NR | Burlington C | 14 | 5 | 1 | Ill. recruit Zoey Kolhoff a star |
| 48 | 46 | O’Fallon | 14 | 7 | 2 | A top program in St. Louis ‘burbs |
| 49 | 48 | Althoff | 21 | 5 | 1 | Gave Columbia toughest 2019 game |
| 50 | NR | Lisle | 18 | 3 | 2 | Tara Kane a top junior talent |