Chicagoland Soccer First 50
state preseason ranking
By Patrick Z. McGavin
How do you top last year?
For the first time ever, two teams with perfect records met in the final game of the year -- the championship of the Class 3A state title.
Naperville North eclipsed Libertyville 1-0, providing a bookend, matching the score of the previous year. The Huskies have won 45 -consecutive games dating to the 2017 season.
Coach Jim Konrad has questions of his own, naturally how are the Huskies going to do without All-Americans Tom Welch and Colin Iverson.
Only four teams scored against Naperville North last year. Look for the Huskies to play a more up-tempo style and concede a few more goals to score more in an open-ended system highlighting the special talents of preseason All-American forward Ty Konrad.
Naperville North is ranked no. 3 nationally by Top Drawer Soccer.
Despite being vanquished in consecutive years by the Huskies, Libertyville has been in the Class 3A state title game three times in the last four years. They are 42-2-2 the last two years.
In a normal cycle, the Wildcats would be talked about as one of the great teams in state history. They should be but have been shifted to the shadow of Naperville North.
Dynamics have to be brought down convincingly.
The following is a first look at the season that starts Monday. Until the hard data comes in, we are primarily drawing on the past to imagine a present.
The First 50 team information is prefaced by preseason ranking, final ranking in 2018 and 2018 record.
It is hard to escape the feeling the song remains the same. Defending Class AA state champion Crystal Lake South returns a preseason All-American forward Alex Canfield, another elite talent.
At this point, the wonder is whether an upstart or surprise group makes a run and crashes the party. Until proven otherwise, fortune favors Naperville North.
The rest of the field looks to write their own narrative and dreams.
state preseason ranking
By Patrick Z. McGavin
How do you top last year?
For the first time ever, two teams with perfect records met in the final game of the year -- the championship of the Class 3A state title.
Naperville North eclipsed Libertyville 1-0, providing a bookend, matching the score of the previous year. The Huskies have won 45 -consecutive games dating to the 2017 season.
Coach Jim Konrad has questions of his own, naturally how are the Huskies going to do without All-Americans Tom Welch and Colin Iverson.
Only four teams scored against Naperville North last year. Look for the Huskies to play a more up-tempo style and concede a few more goals to score more in an open-ended system highlighting the special talents of preseason All-American forward Ty Konrad.
Naperville North is ranked no. 3 nationally by Top Drawer Soccer.
Despite being vanquished in consecutive years by the Huskies, Libertyville has been in the Class 3A state title game three times in the last four years. They are 42-2-2 the last two years.
In a normal cycle, the Wildcats would be talked about as one of the great teams in state history. They should be but have been shifted to the shadow of Naperville North.
Dynamics have to be brought down convincingly.
The following is a first look at the season that starts Monday. Until the hard data comes in, we are primarily drawing on the past to imagine a present.
The First 50 team information is prefaced by preseason ranking, final ranking in 2018 and 2018 record.
It is hard to escape the feeling the song remains the same. Defending Class AA state champion Crystal Lake South returns a preseason All-American forward Alex Canfield, another elite talent.
At this point, the wonder is whether an upstart or surprise group makes a run and crashes the party. Until proven otherwise, fortune favors Naperville North.
The rest of the field looks to write their own narrative and dreams.
| Rk | '18 rk | Team | W | L | T | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | Naperville N | 26 | 0 | 0 | Favorite for 4th-straight 3A title |
| 2 | 5 | Morton (Cicero) | 20 | 3 | 1 | Early Naperville N showdown Sat. |
| 3 | 2 | Libertyville | 22 | 1 | 0 | Mickey Reilly takes featured role |
| 4 | 4 | Notre Dame (Peo) | 23 | 3 | 0 | Noah Madrigal--early All-American |
| 5 | 19 | Fremd | 13 | 6 | 1 | Ringing with high expectations |
| 6 | 6 | St. Patrick | 24 | 4 | 0 | Loaded with talent, depth and experience |
| 7 | 3 | CL South | 22 | 2 | 3 | Defending title in AA, Canfield key |
| 8 | 12 | Streamwood | 18 | 5 | 3 | Jose Ibarra is state’s top defender |
| 9 | 10 | Lyons | 17 | 8 | 0 | Lions’ tough schedule always pays off |
| 10 | 11 | Collinsville | 20 | 6 | 1 | The best of the Deep South programs |
| 11 | 11 | OPRF | 18 | 4 | 2 | 13 returners back from elite side |
| 12 | 14 | New Trier | 15 | 4 | 2 | Showcase is best early-season tournament |
| 13 | 17 | Mt. Carmel (Chic) | 18 | 5 | 2 | Caravan tops on South Side |
| 14 | 18 | Solorio | 20 | 2 | 2 | Alex Sanchez is unstoppable |
| 15 | 28 | York | 14 | 6 | 1 | Dukes are royalty this year |
| 16 | 13 | Benet | 17 | 4 | 1 | Stacked with young and glittering talent |
| 17 | 23 | Oswego | 18 | 3 | 2 | Mason McCaw had 31 goals last year |
| 18 | 24 | Evanston | 16 | 6 | 1 | 4-straight sectional title game slots |
| 19 | 31 | Normal | 15 | 5 | 7 | Talented and skilled offensive group |
| 20 | 15 | Buffalo Grove | 14 | 5 | 2 | Graduation losses, talent remains |
| 21 | 15 | Leyden | 17 | 6 | 0 | Eagles are a model of consistency |
| 22 | 29 | Metea Valley | 13 | 6 | 1 | Gandhi Cruz is an elite keeper |
| 23 | 25 | Loyola | 16 | 2 | 3 | Ramblers have intriguing junior class |
| 24 | 16 | Gibault | 17 | 6 | 5 | Connor Olson had 100+ saves last year |
| 25 | 30 | Columbia | 21 | 4 | 3 | Eagles are on the verge |
| 26 | 37 | Notre Dame (Qcy) | 21 | 5 | 2 | Irish move up a class |
| 27 | 8 | Lake Park | 21 | 5 | 3 | Looking to show last year no fluke |
| 28 | 9 | St. Ignatius | 17 | 8 | 0 | A dangerous and very exciting team |
| 29 | 38 | Hinsdale C | 17 | 6 | 0 | Red Devils are back in the discussion |
| 30 | 34 | St. Charles E | 12 | 6 | 1 | Youngest Carranza a breakout soph |
| 31 | 26 | Latin | 21 | 1 | 1 | Romans enter the post-Tom Bower era |
| 32 | NR | Glenbrook N | 9 | 9 | 4 | Spartans sek rebound from injury-filled '18 |
| 33 | 48 | Lane | 13 | 6 | 2 | Deep, talented Indians among city’s best |
| 34 | 33 | Marmion | 14 | 7 | 2 | Strong nucleus, '18 'super' qualifier |
| 35 | HM | Young | 16 | 5 | 1 | Dolphins will battle Solorio, Lane for city |
| 36 | HM | Naperville C | 6 | 7 | 4 | Redhawks are an intriguing team |
| 37 | HM | Thornton (co-op) | 13 | 6 | 1 | Sectional finalist still loaded |
| 38 | NR | L-W East | 16 | 6 | 1 | Cory Pitlik is one of the best around |
| 39 | NR | Barrington | 12 | 8 | 2 | Ready to make some noise |
| 40 | NR | Maine South | 13 | 6 | 4 | Challenges New Trier and Evanston |
| 41 | HM | Edwardsville | 11 | 3 | 3 | Looking for offensive spark |
| 42 | 32 | Springfield | 23 | 7 | 1 | Looks to remain elite |
| 43 | 21 | West Aurora | 18 | 4 | 1 | Zach Thompson is a top junior |
| 44 | HM | Sandburg | 13 | 6 | 2 | Bunch back from sectional qualifier |
| 45 | 46 | St. Charles N | 12 | 6 | 1 | Seeks rebound after off year |
| 46 | NR | Glenbrook S | 12 | 7 | 5 | Titans primed for big campaign |
| 47 | 49 | St. Edward | 24 | 2 | 1 | Made first state final school history |
| 48 | 50 | St. Teresa | 22 | 3 | 3 | Explosive offensive team |
| 49 | 36 | Marquette (Altn) | 14 | 3 | 3 | A small school Goliath |
| 50 | 22 | Wheaton A | 20 | 3 | 0 | Coach Cody Snouffer oversees new era |