Chicagoland Soccer First 50 state ranking
By Patrick Z. McGavin
Joe Moreau won five-consecutive girls state championships with St. Charles from 1996 to 2000. The Neuqua Valley coach reached the state final against New Trier in 2014.
He posed the existential question on the eve of the new and overdue 2021 season.
“Everyone is thinking the same thing: How good are we going to be?”
“No one knows until teams start to play games. Two years away from the high school game has been tough. We are very excited to get started playing games.”
With the wide rollout of games beginning Tuesday (April 13), the longest interruption in the 33-year history of girls high school soccer in Illinois is blessedly over.
On June 1, 2019, at North Central College in Naperville, Benet sophomore Jaimee Cibulka scored in the 94th minute in the Redwings’ comeback victory over Wauconda in the Class AA state championship game.
A few hours later, Naperville North keeper Amanda Johnson made a series of striking stops as the Huskies defeated two-time defending state champion Barrington in the Class 3A state title game.
Our long winter of discontent and the absence of games is finally extinguished.
Now Benet is part of the field of Class 3A, Cibulka is a Loyola recruit and The Beautiful Game is back.
The IHSA not only announced the resumption of its spring sports; in a reversal of the fall and winter seasons, girls soccer will crown its state champions when the Final Fours meet June 18-19.
Benet, Naperville North and defending Class A champion Columbia all return to the First 50, Chicagoland Soccer’s statewide preseason poll of the best teams in the state.
Call it the ultimate conversation starter, a way to glide back into a game that has been absent for too long.
When ranking teams, history matters and past performance has a way of establishing future results.
The reality is the best programs tend to be the best, with few exceptions, from year to year.
Naperville North, Barrington and New Trier have dominated Class 3A state soccer the last decade. North won titles in 2012, 2013 and 2019, and finished second in 2011 and third in 2018.
New Trier won three-consecutive championships between 2013 to 2015 and lost to Barrington in the state title game, on penalty kicks, in 2017 and 2018. New Trier also finished third in 2019
It’s impossible to fully gauge what was lost during the pandemic year of 2020 that wiped out all spring sports. For soccer, the loss was considerable. Barrington was ranked no. 1 in the country by Top Drawer. New Trier and Naperville North were just behind them.
The emotional void was profound, with its corresponding absence of camaraderie and friendships, of bonding and team chemistry.
Thankfully, the games are back.
A few helpful hints on this very peculiar, unprecedented iteration of the First 50. The previous record and the program’s ranking in the Final 50 both refer to 2019.
Any reference to a starter refers to either a starter from 2019 or a player projected to start last year.
Welcome back to the pitch girls. You have been missed.
By Patrick Z. McGavin
Joe Moreau won five-consecutive girls state championships with St. Charles from 1996 to 2000. The Neuqua Valley coach reached the state final against New Trier in 2014.
He posed the existential question on the eve of the new and overdue 2021 season.
“Everyone is thinking the same thing: How good are we going to be?”
“No one knows until teams start to play games. Two years away from the high school game has been tough. We are very excited to get started playing games.”
With the wide rollout of games beginning Tuesday (April 13), the longest interruption in the 33-year history of girls high school soccer in Illinois is blessedly over.
On June 1, 2019, at North Central College in Naperville, Benet sophomore Jaimee Cibulka scored in the 94th minute in the Redwings’ comeback victory over Wauconda in the Class AA state championship game.
A few hours later, Naperville North keeper Amanda Johnson made a series of striking stops as the Huskies defeated two-time defending state champion Barrington in the Class 3A state title game.
Our long winter of discontent and the absence of games is finally extinguished.
Now Benet is part of the field of Class 3A, Cibulka is a Loyola recruit and The Beautiful Game is back.
The IHSA not only announced the resumption of its spring sports; in a reversal of the fall and winter seasons, girls soccer will crown its state champions when the Final Fours meet June 18-19.
Benet, Naperville North and defending Class A champion Columbia all return to the First 50, Chicagoland Soccer’s statewide preseason poll of the best teams in the state.
Call it the ultimate conversation starter, a way to glide back into a game that has been absent for too long.
When ranking teams, history matters and past performance has a way of establishing future results.
The reality is the best programs tend to be the best, with few exceptions, from year to year.
Naperville North, Barrington and New Trier have dominated Class 3A state soccer the last decade. North won titles in 2012, 2013 and 2019, and finished second in 2011 and third in 2018.
New Trier won three-consecutive championships between 2013 to 2015 and lost to Barrington in the state title game, on penalty kicks, in 2017 and 2018. New Trier also finished third in 2019
It’s impossible to fully gauge what was lost during the pandemic year of 2020 that wiped out all spring sports. For soccer, the loss was considerable. Barrington was ranked no. 1 in the country by Top Drawer. New Trier and Naperville North were just behind them.
The emotional void was profound, with its corresponding absence of camaraderie and friendships, of bonding and team chemistry.
Thankfully, the games are back.
A few helpful hints on this very peculiar, unprecedented iteration of the First 50. The previous record and the program’s ranking in the Final 50 both refer to 2019.
Any reference to a starter refers to either a starter from 2019 or a player projected to start last year.
Welcome back to the pitch girls. You have been missed.
| Rk | 19 rk | Team | W | L | T | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3 | New Trier | 22 | 3 | 5 | Morgan Fagan leads 9 returners |
| 2 | 9 | SC East | 22 | 6 | 0 | Hannah Miller leads 7 returning starters |
| 3 | 45 | Warren | 13 | 9 | 3 | Blue Devils have elite junior class |
| 4 | NR | Libertyville | 13 | 7 | 0 | Club players bolster attack |
| 5 | NR | Buffalo Gr | 6 | 7 | 4 | Illinois recruit Alyssa Weede's high school debut |
| 6 | 4 | SC North | 19 | 2 | 2 | Makenna Collins keys athletic backline |
| 7 | 1 | Naperville N | 15 | 5 | 4 | Emily Dulik is dynamic |
| 8 | 6 | Benet | 24 | 3 | 1 | Jaimee Cibulka is prolific scorer |
| 9 | 2 | Barrington | 22 | 2 | 1 | Young roster looks to maintain tradition |
| 10 | 8 | Lyons | 18 | 4 | 1 | Ava Dallavo is a 4-year starter |
| 11 | 11 | Neuqua V | 10 | 5 | 4 | Katelyn Nardulli is player to watch |
| 12 | 40 | Naperville C | 11 | 9 | 1 | Creative Emma Irle is fun to watch |
| 13 | 43 | Loyola | 9 | 7 | 2 | Molly Sipe is a dazzling young talent |
| 14 | 14 | Evanston | 14 | 6 | 2 | Wildkits flash athleticism, young talent |
| 15 | 15 | Lane | 19 | 4 | 1 | Eily Quinn is two-sport star |
| 16 | 16 | Young | 18 | 7 | 1 | Ella Koleno is a breathtaking young talent |
| 17 | 7 | Columbia | 27 | 2 | 1 | Strong nucleus from Class A state champ |
| 18 | 10 | Wauconda | 19 | 3 | 2 | Deep team from 2019 AA runner-up |
| 19 | 22 | Lemont | 18 | 5 | 1 | Victoria Silvar is a lethal scorer |
| 20 | 21 | Joliet Cath | 18 | 3 | 0 | Deep returning nucleus from AA finals |
| 21 | 17 | Fremd | 14 | 5 | 3 | Caleigh Stone is exciting talent |
| 22 | 12 | Andrew | 21 | 6 | 1 | 8 returning starters, supersectional team |
| 23 | 5 | Stevenson | 22 | 2 | 2 | Threat to Warren, Libertyville in NSC |
| 24 | 18 | Waub V | 17 | 3 | 2 | Warriors reload with young talent |
| 25 | 13 | GBS | 20 | 4 | 2 | Titans look to retool around young talent |
| 26 | 19 | St Ignatius | 19 | 3 | 2 | Former Loyola star Caroline Zadina new coach |
| 27 | 33 | Glenbard E | 19 | 3 | 2 | Sarah Lilijestrand had 14 goals as freshman |
| 28 | 20 | Triad | 20 | 4 | 2 | Deep list of returners from AA 3rd-place team |
| 29 | 26 | ND (Peoria) | 18 | 5 | 1 | Tegan Timerman a top Central Illinois player |
| 30 | 28 | Cary-Grove | 14 | 3 | 1 | U-Tenn. recruit Jenna Stayart is awesome talent |
| 31 | 29 | Sandburg | 16 | 5 | 1 | ISU recruit Kristiana Pappanastos keys deep roster |
| 32 | 25 | WW South | 14 | 5 | 1 | Melisa Hadzik ready for breakout year |
| 33 | 24 | Conant | 16 | 3 | 2 | Took St. Charles E to sectional shootout |
| 34 | 44 | Normal | 19 | 5 | 2 | Ryann Anderson powers attack |
| 35 | 23 | Batavia | 17 | 5 | 2 | Ashley Whelpley is an exciting offensive talent |
| 36 | 37 | Geneseo | 22 | 2 | 1 | Set school win record, upward trajectory |
| 37 | 36 | Dunlap | 16 | 4 | 1 | Will challenge ND Peoria in conference |
| 38 | NR | GBN | 12 | 8 | 0 | Lily Denk leads talented young roster |
| 39 | 48 | Althoff | 21 | 5 | 1 | One of the best in Southern Illinois |
| 40 | 39 | Jones | 18 | 7 | 0 | Carmen Marshall is electric with the ball |
| 41 | NR | Deerfield | 13 | 12 | 2 | Riley Schimanski has knack for scoring |
| 42 | NR | Plainfield N | 13 | 8 | 3 | Allie Kroll is a terrific talent |
| 43 | 41 | Metea V | 11 | 9 | 2 | Katy Flanders makes offense go |
| 44 | NR | Carmel | 7 | 11 | 4 | Mia Salvi is final link to family dynasty |
| 45 | NR | ND (Quincy) | 24 | 3 | 0 | “Should be good Class A team by end of season,” -- coach |
| 46 | 34 | CL Central | 19 | 4 | 1 | Emma Bolanowski is skilled and tough |
| 47 | 38 | Geneva | 11 | 6 | 2 | Annie Brolly keys the backline |
| 48 | 42 | Maine S | 16 | 5 | 3 | Molly Pistorius is a top junior |
| 49 | 46 | O’Fallon | 14 | 7 | 2 | Aubrey Mister is an explosive talent |
| 50 | 30 | NSCD | 16 | 4 | 0 | Eun Hae Lillig back, 2nd 2018-19 Class A |