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Chicagoland Soccer Final 50 state ranking


By Patrick Z. McGavin


Nobody could have predicted the four-goal margin of York’s Class 3A state title performance against Fremd on Saturday night at Hoffman Estates.

But a predictive sign to its win was out there, albeit nearly 150 miles away.

Just hours before the soccer final, the York girls cross country team captured the Class 3A state championship by ending Naperville North’s four-year title reign.

Incidentally, the Huskies girls’ run coincided with the first leg of Naperville North's three-peat in boys soccer.

After braces from Sam Musial and Jose Herrera, York is the new state Class 3A champion. The Dukes’ boys team becomes the new poll-sitter in the Final 50,  dethroning Naperville North, which started the year at no. 1 in our First 50 preseason poll.

The Final 50 combines the two seasonally exclusive polls on the website -- the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25 and the Illinois 10. With no distinctions made by size, class or geography, the last poll of the boys season puts the closing touches on a vivid and terrific run.

“It’s easy to set a high bar,” York coach Jordan Stopka said after the semifinal win over Lockport. “It’s hard to get over it. I’m beyond ecstatic. We had high aspirations. Even during summer and at the start of our training, I asked our players how far you can push yourselves.

“They’ve taken that to heart.”

The last week of the season really showed how closely entwined are the top programs.

Fremd survived Oak Park and River Forest 1-0 in the Barrington Supersectional on a 79th-minute goal by Eli Schoffstall. The Huskies administered one of York's two losses.

OPRF also beat New Trier 1-0 on its home field in the sectional semifinals and routed Evanston 3-0 in the final. The Wildkits beat the Trevians earlier in the season, but the Winnetka school ended the regular-season as the top team in the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25.

York had two late goals to beat Huntley in the Streamwood Supersectional. The Red Raiders defeated Boylan in the first game of the season. Boylan never lost again en route to the Class AA state title.

Washington had Boylan on the ropes for much of the semifinal game Friday. The Patriots were a great postseason success story. They stunned city champion Payton in the Brother Rice Supersectional, avenging their loss in the city tournament title game.

Washington has three state trophies since 2013. Chicago Public League soccer earned another feather for its cap.

Grayslake Central is another team story worth celebrating. The Rams also achieved the improbable with their fourth place finish. Grayslake Central started the year at the Northside College Showcase, against the likes of New Trier and Libertyville, and began the year 0-4-0.

That experience and adversity shaped them. 

With its state title run a week ago, the achievements of Wheaton Academy also deserve special mention. Goals by twin brothers Joshua and Caleb Mariotti powered the Warriors’ 2-1 win over Althoff.

Class A Althoff and Class AA Triad were seeking a unique double -- capturing the girls and boys state soccer championships in the same calendar year.

They nearly pulled it off.

Three of the four small-school finalists (Althoff, Wheaton Academy and Timothy) sent their girls’ programs in the state finals. Triad was the lone AA representative to make both state title matches.

After the pandemic interrupted the boys state tournament with the first gap in its run since its inception in 1972, the return to the playoffs was a bracing and exhilarating experience. Let's savor this one for a while, before we look ahead to the next one.





Key: FRSR-final regular season rank; PR-Preseason First 50 rank; NR-not ranked; HM-honorable mention: I-Illinois 10 rank.
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RankFRSRPRTeamWLTComment
1927York2320Takes 3A title in 1st finals visit
2411Fremd2131Incredible season for 3A runnerup
37NROPRF1940Beat York in WSC play, fantastic run
41538Lockport2021Cinderella season ends with 3rd place
522Morton2133Mustangs take home another trophy
651Naperville N2162Five-straight sectional titles
721NRHuntley2032Gave Boylan only loss
8I1NRBoylan2710Jack Bonavia double PK takes AA title
9I216Triad2511Nearly completed boys & girls double
1085Lyons1761Beat York in WSC, typically fine year
11179Wheaton A1941Mariotti bros big in Class A title win
12I310Althoff2443Almost 2021 boys/girls sweep
13617Evanston1642Another strong tournament run
1416New Trier1721Aidan Crawford leaves great legacy
15320Barrington1642Jeremiah Gascho came of age
16HM13Naperville C1581Played state’s toughest schedule
17163St. Charles E1850Sebastian Carranza an All-American
18I634Collinsville2142Stunned by Lockport
19124Benet1561Elevated game in state tournament
20I4NRUrbana1912Only loss on penalties against Triad
21NRNRWashngtn (Chi)19523rd state trophy in last nine years
2218NRPayton2223City, sectional titles made history
23NRNRGrayslake C1482D. Marynevych keys brilliant state run
2410NRNtre Dme (Nles)2322Dons enjoyed unprecedented success
25NRNRElgin1245Took Huntley to brink
26NR28Moline1843Reached 3A sectional final
27HMNRGlenbrook S1236Under the radar team showed mettle
2814NRLW Central1722Gave Lockport only in-season loss
29HMNRRomeoville1953Reached a Class 3A sectional final
30I5NRNormal W1846Lost sectional heartbreaker on PKs
31118Loyola1033New coach, same excellent season
32HMNRTimothy1843Chris Cruz powered state finals run
3313NRLake Zurich1134Ian Ferguson had breakout year
3419NROswego E1751Ben Burns a breakout offensive star
352333Mt Carmel1341Marco Valencia 1 of Ill.'s top scorers
36HM39W Chicago1861Tristan Alfaro is a standout talent
37I7NRMorton (Ill.)1934Braden Damotte is a creative MF
38HMNRHinsdale C1033Red Devils had a comeback campaign
392031R Meadows1243Mustangs had great spring/fall seasons
40HM41Stevenson1534Patriots were not to be trifled with
4122NRCL South1842Bid adieu to 2018 AA title members
42NRNRMarmion1482Cadets brimming with young talent
43NRNRBloomington C2541Jaylen Bischoff is an elite junior
44I9NRMendota2610Nearly pulled off perfect run
45HM24Plainfield N1454Tigers have great junior class
46HM7W Aurora1353Carlos Garcia was a standout keeper
47HMNRE Aurora1454Colleges eye Roman Hernandez
48NR18Geneva986Christian Diaz led 2nd half surge
49NRNRGenoa-Kngstn2120Reams, Leon set scoring marks
5025NRMetea Valley1182Colin Bastianoni led tough crew
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