Chicagoland Soccer First 50 poll
By Patrick Z. McGavin
The return of girls soccer last year proved not just aesthetically pleasing but also emotionally satisfying.
The games, with their attendant joy, celebration and heartbreak, constituted their own form of catharsis.
Last year marked the great unknown after the absence of high school competition in 2020.
The impact of a pandemic that wiped out the girls season two years ago is still being felt. It is almost impossible to fully gauge the athletic and emotional repercussions on young student-athletes who missed an entire year of competition.
The truncated return to prep play in 2021 was not ideal by format or structure. Games were jammed together. Programs were restricted by geography. Crucial in-season tournaments that traditionally shaped and prepared teams were still absent.
An interesting upside was that for the first time in the history of the three-class format, each state title was determined on the same day.
It ended with a mad celebration for the Illinois side of the St. Louis metropolitan area. Althoff, Triad and O’Fallon swept Chicago-area teams in their respective state title games.
On the verge of a new season, those schools loom large in Chicagoland Soccer's exclusive First 50 rankings, a preseason organizing of the state’s top teams.
Regardless of geography, any program in Illinois, private or public, rthat competes in the IHSA was eligible for consideration.
For the first time in the history of the poll, a downstate power and Class AA team tops the list -- Triad begins the year ranked no. 1.
The Knights beat both O’Fallon and Althoff last season and are riding high on a 25-game unbeaten streak (24-0-1).
After opening last season with a tie against Granite City, Triad ran the table.
"In the bubble” in the unorthodox scenario of last year, the three downstate schools ensconced themselves and thrived.
Behind a historic championship game performance by Regan Moody, Althoff dominated Timothy in the Class A title match.
The AA and 3A title games were close and turned on a couple of key sequences.
Triad won two one-goal games in the Final Four.
O’Fallon won three-straight, single-goal games in the supersectional and state finals. The Panthers overcame a 1-0 deficit against Libertyville in the semifinal. In the title game, runnerup Lyons saw two shots hit the post.
The trio of downstate schools deserved their props. Among them, Althoff was the most dominant. After facing monster competition from Columbia and Marquette (Alton) leading up to the state finals, they breezed to the title by an aggregate score of 10-0 against Wheaton Academy (semifinal) and Timothy (title).
Looking ahead, to the 2022 AA state tourney, Benet has nine starters back from an 18-1-0 team that lost to Lyons in a Class AAA sectional final. Now the Redwings drop back to the AA designation. Who was the last team to beat Triad? Benet took the state semifinal in 2019 en route to its own state championship.
O’Fallon's title broke the hammerlock of three schools, Naperville North, Barrington and New Trier, who had won the previous seven Class 3A state title matches.
Those traditional Chicagoland schools are all back in the thick of it and rank among the biggest challengers to dethrone the Panthers.
As good as they were last year, Althoff, Triad and O’Fallon are not likely to run away with anything. The quality of the competition throughout the state is just too high.
The First 50 is many things, a conversation starter, a teaser, a way to open the dialogue. It is also not infallible.
The York boys, for instance, were not happy with their First 50 ranking last fall at no. 27. They went out and proved this writer wrong by winning the state title.
People like polls, and that is why the regular-season long Chicagoland Soccer Top 25 weekly listing of the best teams in the northeast corner of the state is so popular. It begins next week.
Likewise, the Illinois 10 ranking that measures the temperature throughout the rest of the state is also regarded as must reading for many.
The First 50 poll below includes each team's preseason ranking, its Final 50 position at the end of last season, and their 2021 record.
Last season showed us what we missed. It has also raised the level of anticipation for the new campaign, the first full slate since 2019.
Let the games begin
By Patrick Z. McGavin
The return of girls soccer last year proved not just aesthetically pleasing but also emotionally satisfying.
The games, with their attendant joy, celebration and heartbreak, constituted their own form of catharsis.
Last year marked the great unknown after the absence of high school competition in 2020.
The impact of a pandemic that wiped out the girls season two years ago is still being felt. It is almost impossible to fully gauge the athletic and emotional repercussions on young student-athletes who missed an entire year of competition.
The truncated return to prep play in 2021 was not ideal by format or structure. Games were jammed together. Programs were restricted by geography. Crucial in-season tournaments that traditionally shaped and prepared teams were still absent.
An interesting upside was that for the first time in the history of the three-class format, each state title was determined on the same day.
It ended with a mad celebration for the Illinois side of the St. Louis metropolitan area. Althoff, Triad and O’Fallon swept Chicago-area teams in their respective state title games.
On the verge of a new season, those schools loom large in Chicagoland Soccer's exclusive First 50 rankings, a preseason organizing of the state’s top teams.
Regardless of geography, any program in Illinois, private or public, rthat competes in the IHSA was eligible for consideration.
For the first time in the history of the poll, a downstate power and Class AA team tops the list -- Triad begins the year ranked no. 1.
The Knights beat both O’Fallon and Althoff last season and are riding high on a 25-game unbeaten streak (24-0-1).
After opening last season with a tie against Granite City, Triad ran the table.
"In the bubble” in the unorthodox scenario of last year, the three downstate schools ensconced themselves and thrived.
Behind a historic championship game performance by Regan Moody, Althoff dominated Timothy in the Class A title match.
The AA and 3A title games were close and turned on a couple of key sequences.
Triad won two one-goal games in the Final Four.
O’Fallon won three-straight, single-goal games in the supersectional and state finals. The Panthers overcame a 1-0 deficit against Libertyville in the semifinal. In the title game, runnerup Lyons saw two shots hit the post.
The trio of downstate schools deserved their props. Among them, Althoff was the most dominant. After facing monster competition from Columbia and Marquette (Alton) leading up to the state finals, they breezed to the title by an aggregate score of 10-0 against Wheaton Academy (semifinal) and Timothy (title).
Looking ahead, to the 2022 AA state tourney, Benet has nine starters back from an 18-1-0 team that lost to Lyons in a Class AAA sectional final. Now the Redwings drop back to the AA designation. Who was the last team to beat Triad? Benet took the state semifinal in 2019 en route to its own state championship.
O’Fallon's title broke the hammerlock of three schools, Naperville North, Barrington and New Trier, who had won the previous seven Class 3A state title matches.
Those traditional Chicagoland schools are all back in the thick of it and rank among the biggest challengers to dethrone the Panthers.
As good as they were last year, Althoff, Triad and O’Fallon are not likely to run away with anything. The quality of the competition throughout the state is just too high.
The First 50 is many things, a conversation starter, a teaser, a way to open the dialogue. It is also not infallible.
The York boys, for instance, were not happy with their First 50 ranking last fall at no. 27. They went out and proved this writer wrong by winning the state title.
People like polls, and that is why the regular-season long Chicagoland Soccer Top 25 weekly listing of the best teams in the northeast corner of the state is so popular. It begins next week.
Likewise, the Illinois 10 ranking that measures the temperature throughout the rest of the state is also regarded as must reading for many.
The First 50 poll below includes each team's preseason ranking, its Final 50 position at the end of last season, and their 2021 record.
Last season showed us what we missed. It has also raised the level of anticipation for the new campaign, the first full slate since 2019.
Let the games begin
| Rk | '21 rk | Team | W | L | T | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | Triad | 24 | 0 | 1 | Starts season on 24-game win streak |
| 2 | 4 | Libertyville | 18 | 2 | 0 | Club talent adds to nucleus of 3d place run |
| 3 | 2 | O’Fallon | 20 | 2 | 0 | Avery Christopher leads 3A champs |
| 4 | 3 | Lyons | 20 | 1 | 0 | GK Izzy Lee anchors suffocating "D" |
| 5 | 14 | Naperville C | 13 | 2 | 4 | 8 starters, 6 univ. recruits for sectional finalist |
| 6 | 8 | Naperville N | 12 | 3 | 3 | 9 starters return from supersectional power |
| 7 | 7 | New Trier | 20 | 2 | 4 | Trevians don't rebuild, they reload |
| 8 | 16 | Loyola | 16 | 2 | 2 | Brilliant senior class is battle-tested |
| 9 | 19 | Warren | 15 | 2 | 3 | 5 recruits (4 D I) make for imposing lineup |
| 10 | 5 | Barrington | 17 | 3 | 1 | Brooke Brown tops superb junior class |
| 11 | 9 | Benet | 18 | 1 | 0 | 9 starters back from sectional finalist |
| 12 | 11 | Evanston | 14 | 3 | 3 | Brealy n Viamille leads skilled attack |
| 13 | 10 | Sandburg | 18 | 2 | 0 | Erin O’Connor a great 2-way talent |
| 14 | 12 | Althoff | 22 | 2 | 0 | Strong favorites to repeat in Class A |
| 15 | 13 | Glenwood | 15 | 1 | 0 | Ally Matthews is an elite stopper |
| 16 | 20 | Glenbrook N | 14 | 2 | 3 | Lily Denk is a fantastic talent |
| 17 | 18 | St. Charles N | 14 | 5 | 2 | Bella Najera leads stacked lineup |
| 18 | 6 | St. Charles E | 22 | 1 | 1 | McKenna Gahagan is the offensive catalyst |
| 19 | 17 | Stevenson | 14 | 4 | 1 | NSC is lethal at the top |
| 20 | 24 | Saint Viator | 14 | 5 | 1 | Emilie Doersching tops compelling returnees |
| 21 | 31 | St. Ignatius | 15 | 7 | 1 | Shannon Rydz leads powerhouse lineup |
| 22 | 27 | Lane | 12 | 4 | 2 | City’s best until proven otherwise |
| 23 | 32 | Young | 13 | 5 | 1 | Watch out for Daphne Murray |
| 24 | NR | Neuqua V | 8 | 10 | 1 | Brooke Miller powers Wildcats’ resurgence |
| 25 | 25 | Normal | 22 | 2 | 1 | Solid returners from 22-2-1 team |
| 26 | 15 | Joliet Cath | 16 | 2 | 1 | Angels return plenty of offensive firepower |
| 27 | 30 | Oswego East | 14 | 1 | 0 | 5 college recruits return from 1-loss team |
| 28 | 33 | St. Francis | 13 | 1 | 0 | Spartans are athletic, skilled and fast |
| 29 | 23 | Wheaton A | 19 | 5 | 0 | Emily Setran leads energetic, potent attack |
| 30 | NR | Metea V | 12 | 8 | 1 | Tyra King leads 10 returning starters |
| 31 | 49 | Timothy | 17 | 3 | 0 | Versatil e lineup returns from A state finalist |
| 32 | 29 | Fremd | 11 | 4 | 0 | Lily Spotak as good as they get |
| 33 | NR | Andrew | 11 | 8 | 0 | Leah Crotty has next level talent |
| 34 | 26 | Edwardsville | 9 | 4 | 0 | Syd ney Lane a versatile 2-way prospect |
| 35 | 21 | Columbia | 12 | 7 | 0 | Althof f’s biggest downstate challenger |
| 36 | NR | Glenbrook S | 5 | 14 | 4 | Lilly O’Rourke powers Titans’ return |
| 37 | 34 | ND (Peoria) | 15 | 3 | 2 | Solid group back from supersectional team |
| 38 | 37 | Highland Pk | 13 | 4 | 0 | Giants are explosive, skilled in middle |
| 39 | 36 | Burlington C | 15 | 7 | 1 | 5 starters back from supersectional team |
| 40 | 22 | Marqtte (Alt) | 13 | 7 | 1 | Another top threat to Althoff |
| 41 | 41 | Deerfield | 15 | 8 | 2 | Has a lot of skilled young offensive talent |
| 42 | 43 | Payton | 15 | 7 | 0 | Grizzlies look to build off supersectional run |
| 43 | 42 | Dunlap | 15 | 4 | 0 | Samanth a Cenek 1 of state’s best |
| 44 | 50 | ND (Quincy) | 17 | 3 | 1 | Lia Quintero is an elite scorer |
| 45 | NR | Glenbard E | 8 | 4 | 2 | Maia Zatarski is dynamite with the ball |
| 46 | 45 | Bartlett | 11 | 3 | 1 | Tessa Evans leads talented and deep roster |
| 47 | 42 | Jones | 11 | 4 | 1 | Carolina Rondelli is next offensive star |
| 48 | 38 | Freeport | 15 | 1 | 0 | Pretzels only lost to Burlington C last year |
| 49 | NR | Univ (Nrml) | 14 | 7 | 0 | Solid group back from sectional finalist |
| 50 | NR | Wauconda | 11 | 6 | 2 | McKenzie Arden is elite keeper |