Chicagoland Soccer First 50 state ranking
By Patrick Z. McGavin
Just call this the deep pleasure of the return.
In our pandemic year, high school sports is one of the many things close to our hearts that have been upended. The girls soccer season, like the entire spring calendar last year, was wiped out, depriving some of the best teams in the country from showing what they were capable of.
The boys’ 2020 fall season is just now finally gaining shape and definition with its delayed return on March 9; exactly 16 months will have passed since the last IHSA boys game.
On November 9, 2019, West Chicago stunned Morton on second half goals by Julian Guzman and Jahir Martinez for the championship of Class 3A.
Earlier that day, Benet defeated defending state champion Crystal Lake South 2-0 in the AA state championship game. That Redwings’ team entered the record books, conceding a ridiculously stingy four goals in 23 games.
Now, we are back after the IHSA, working closely with the Illinois Department of Health and office of Gov. J.B. Pritzker, having declared health conditions have improved enough to play high school soccer.
The boys are the opening week, playing a six-week compressed schedule. The most significant change is also the most unfortunate -- the absence of a state tournament.
The state series has always provided shape and meaning to our rankings, both in our Top 25 poll of the top programs in Chicago and the best outside the city, spotlighted in the Illinois 10 rankings.
Though the lack of a state tournament is a cruel turn, the fact that games exist at all is a cause for deep celebration. Schools are playing primarily conference-only schedules. Some are adding league tournaments to complete their schedule.
The other significant change is the rule that prevents players from playing club and high school simultaneously has been amended for this unprecedented season.
The backdrop ought to make for a compelling, fantastic and frenetic mad dash to the finish line on April 17.
Given the backdrop, this edition of the First 50 is designed to address the state of the game, providing context to the teams and players to watch during this all-too-brief campaign.
It is impossible, by any juncture, to get everything forensically correct, given the extended layoff and pause brought about by the delay to the season and the lack of a summer and fall club season.
Let this be the start of a new dialogue, a sign of better times to come, and a moment to cherish what is again before us.
The poll includes the preseason ranking, the ranking in the Final 50 from 2019 and the record from that season.
By Patrick Z. McGavin
Just call this the deep pleasure of the return.
In our pandemic year, high school sports is one of the many things close to our hearts that have been upended. The girls soccer season, like the entire spring calendar last year, was wiped out, depriving some of the best teams in the country from showing what they were capable of.
The boys’ 2020 fall season is just now finally gaining shape and definition with its delayed return on March 9; exactly 16 months will have passed since the last IHSA boys game.
On November 9, 2019, West Chicago stunned Morton on second half goals by Julian Guzman and Jahir Martinez for the championship of Class 3A.
Earlier that day, Benet defeated defending state champion Crystal Lake South 2-0 in the AA state championship game. That Redwings’ team entered the record books, conceding a ridiculously stingy four goals in 23 games.
Now, we are back after the IHSA, working closely with the Illinois Department of Health and office of Gov. J.B. Pritzker, having declared health conditions have improved enough to play high school soccer.
The boys are the opening week, playing a six-week compressed schedule. The most significant change is also the most unfortunate -- the absence of a state tournament.
The state series has always provided shape and meaning to our rankings, both in our Top 25 poll of the top programs in Chicago and the best outside the city, spotlighted in the Illinois 10 rankings.
Though the lack of a state tournament is a cruel turn, the fact that games exist at all is a cause for deep celebration. Schools are playing primarily conference-only schedules. Some are adding league tournaments to complete their schedule.
The other significant change is the rule that prevents players from playing club and high school simultaneously has been amended for this unprecedented season.
The backdrop ought to make for a compelling, fantastic and frenetic mad dash to the finish line on April 17.
Given the backdrop, this edition of the First 50 is designed to address the state of the game, providing context to the teams and players to watch during this all-too-brief campaign.
It is impossible, by any juncture, to get everything forensically correct, given the extended layoff and pause brought about by the delay to the season and the lack of a summer and fall club season.
Let this be the start of a new dialogue, a sign of better times to come, and a moment to cherish what is again before us.
The poll includes the preseason ranking, the ranking in the Final 50 from 2019 and the record from that season.
| Rank | '19 rk | Team | W | L | T | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3 | Morton | 23 | 4 | 2 | 6 starters return from 3A finalist |
| 2 | 1 | W Chicago | 24 | 2 | 3 | Isaias Palacios powers defending 3A champs |
| 3 | 2 | Benet | 20 | 1 | 2 | 6 starters return from AA championship team |
| 4 | 7 | St. Patrick | 25 | 4 | 3 | Joshua Torres elite for 3A 4th finisher |
| 5 | 4 | Naperville N | 19 | 5 | 2 | Soph Alex Barger poised for stardom |
| 6 | 13 | Warren | 16 | 4 | 4 | All-American Max Floriani top deep squad |
| 7 | 9 | Fremd | 15 | 2 | 4 | Perennial power reloads with defense, speed |
| 8 | 17 | SC East | 18 | 2 | 3 | 6 starters, top transfer, bolster attack |
| 9 | 6 | Edwardsville | 21 | 5 | 1 | Brennan Weller leads downstate power |
| 10 | 15 | Lyons | 15 | 4 | 3 | Max Behm leads talented, skilled team |
| 11 | 11 | New Trier | 16 | 2 | 4 | 8 starters return for 3A power |
| 12 | 10 | Evanston | 18 | 2 | 2 | Duals New Trier for league supremacy |
| 13 | 12 | Libertyville | 15 | 3 | 3 | 6 starters back, historically elite side |
| 14 | 14 | Triad | 23 | 3 | 3 | AA power, solid nucleus from 3rd place team |
| 15 | 38 | Loyola | 12 | 6 | 2 | 10 starters back return for CCL power |
| 16 | 5 | CL South | 20 | 5 | 4 | 8 returners from AA runnerup |
| 17 | 19 | Jacobs | 16 | 5 | 3 | Strong nucleus from 3A supersectional side |
| 18 | 8 | ND (Peoria) | 22 | 2 | 0 | Perennial power remains elite |
| 19 | 18 | St. Laurence | 19 | 6 | 1 | Top 2 scorers back; AA 4th place team |
| 20 | 25 | Solorio | 19 | 4 | 1 | 7 starters back from city finalist |
| 21 | 20 | Oswego | 18 | 5 | 1 | 3-year conference unbeaten streak |
| 22 | 23 | W Aurora | 18 | 5 | 1 | Zach Thompson leads 3A sectional finalist |
| 23 | 24 | Lane | 13 | 3 | 1 | Defending city champs are athletic |
| 24 | 28 | Mt. Carmel | 13 | 5 | 1 | Talented, experience, looks to rebound |
| 25 | 36 | Naperville C | 10 | 7 | 5 | 4 starters back for defensive program |
| 26 | NR | Streamwood | 10 | 9 | 4 | Jose Ibarra named to All-American game |
| 27 | 30 | Marist | 15 | 6 | 5 | 6 starters back from AA sectional finalist |
| 28 | 31 | Morton (Ill) | 24 | 3 | 1 | Blake Gibson leads deep group |
| 29 | HM | Glenbard N | 13 | 9 | 3 | Nathan Enriquez on national club champs |
| 30 | 33 | Dunlap | 18 | 3 | 2 | Morton’s top challenger in Mid-Illini |
| 31 | 27 | Addison Trail | 13 | 5 | 3 | Anthony Hernandez leads deep squad |
| 32 | 21 | Geneva | 13 | 5 | 4 | 6 starters back from 3A sectional qualifier |
| 33 | NR | Fenwick | 15 | 6 | 1 | 9 starters return for CCL power |
| 34 | 41 | Barrington | 16 | 5 | 1 | 7 returning players for perennial power |
| 35 | 22 | SC North | 11 | 5 | 3 | Luke Persenico keys talented, deep roster |
| 36 | 46 | Maine South | 13 | 7 | 1 | John Cronnolly a creative talent |
| 37 | HM | ND (Quincy) | 17 | 9 | 1 | Seth Anderson leads A powerhouse |
| 38 | 37 | Glenbrook S | 11 | 7 | 4 | Justin Leszynski has dynamic talent |
| 39 | NR | Leyden | 11 | 10 | 1 | 8 returning starters for perennial winner |
| 40 | NR | Normal | 10 | 11 | 3 | 8 starters back for central Illinois power |
| 41 | 49 | Marq (Alton) | 19 | 4 | 5 | Return foundation of A state finalist |
| 42 | 29 | Univ (Chi) | 22 | 3 | 2 | Alexandre Bal leads 2019 A champion |
| 43 | NR | Glenbard E | 10 | 6 | 2 | Gavin Wooldridge tops 7 returnees |
| 44 | 39 | OPRF | 12 | 5 | 2 | Shot creator Paul Garcia leads attack |
| 45 | 47 | Springfield | 17 | 5 | 3 | Senators a model of consistency |
| 46 | HM | St. Ignatius | 10 | 8 | 1 | Aidan Hurst leads 5 2019 starters |
| 47 | HM | Wheaton N | 13 | 6 | 1 | 9 starters back for rapid improvers |
| 48 | 50 | Univ (Nrml) | 19 | 6 | 0 | Samuel Moore is top returning talent |
| 49 | 34 | Bloom | 19 | 6 | 1 | Jonathan Elizade -- elite scorer, playmaker |
| 50 | HM | NSCD | 18 | 7 | 1 | Return nucleus of historic A 4th place team |