Chicagoland Soccer Top 25
By Patrick Z. McGavin
The calendar flip to October underscores the seriousness of the moment.
So does the IHSA formally releasing the state big-school tournament seeds Thursday. The point is clear: the end of the regular season is near.
Now the games ramp up in importance, value and meaning.
Sometimes clarity comes in the form of an outside picture. Such was the case this week as several elite programs ventured to Burlington, Iowa, for the Go 4 the Goal Fall Classic.
In 2017 and 2018, Naperville North secured its status as a contemporary dynasty by winning the top bracket the last two years.
The Huskies were back in the toughest draw, with Illinois compatriots Morton and upstart Mount Carmel, jammed together with several programs ranked in the Top 10 nationally by MaxPreps and Top Drawer Soccer.
Morton, Naperville North and Mount Carmel all reached the winners’ bracket semifinals. Mount Carmel stunned the Huskies 1-0, ending their 10-game winning streak on a professional free kick goal by Damian Rincon in the second half.
Morton suffered its first loss of the season against Marquette (Wis.) in the semifinals. Mount Carmel rode the momentum of the Naperville North game to defeat previously unbeaten and nationally ranked Marquette 2-0 in the final.
St. Patrick moves to the top of the rankings, another indicator of the Shamrocks’ rise to elite status. It also sets up a 1-2 clash Sunday in a bracket title tilt for a PepsiCo Showdown trophy against Morton at Lyons.
Mount Carmel’s slow start at the Barrington Tournament the first week of the season is now a distant memory. The team is playing at a higher level, meeting the heightened expectations of a program that reached a Class 3A supersectional last year and finished second in AA in 2016.
Southwest Prairie Conference leader Oswego enters the rankings. The Panthers are on a 12-game winning streak since losing on penalty kicks against Benet in pool play of the Best of the West. Mason McCaw, one of the state’s best players, has 23 goals and seven assists.
Oswego won 3-0 over previous no. 11 West Aurora last week. The Panthers are riding a 26-game conference.
The season has a gliding forward momentum. It also has curves and digressions. York has weathered an up-and-down start, and is now playing like the team that was ranked among the top programs at the start of the year.
Things are getting serious.
By Patrick Z. McGavin
The calendar flip to October underscores the seriousness of the moment.
So does the IHSA formally releasing the state big-school tournament seeds Thursday. The point is clear: the end of the regular season is near.
Now the games ramp up in importance, value and meaning.
Sometimes clarity comes in the form of an outside picture. Such was the case this week as several elite programs ventured to Burlington, Iowa, for the Go 4 the Goal Fall Classic.
In 2017 and 2018, Naperville North secured its status as a contemporary dynasty by winning the top bracket the last two years.
The Huskies were back in the toughest draw, with Illinois compatriots Morton and upstart Mount Carmel, jammed together with several programs ranked in the Top 10 nationally by MaxPreps and Top Drawer Soccer.
Morton, Naperville North and Mount Carmel all reached the winners’ bracket semifinals. Mount Carmel stunned the Huskies 1-0, ending their 10-game winning streak on a professional free kick goal by Damian Rincon in the second half.
Morton suffered its first loss of the season against Marquette (Wis.) in the semifinals. Mount Carmel rode the momentum of the Naperville North game to defeat previously unbeaten and nationally ranked Marquette 2-0 in the final.
St. Patrick moves to the top of the rankings, another indicator of the Shamrocks’ rise to elite status. It also sets up a 1-2 clash Sunday in a bracket title tilt for a PepsiCo Showdown trophy against Morton at Lyons.
Mount Carmel’s slow start at the Barrington Tournament the first week of the season is now a distant memory. The team is playing at a higher level, meeting the heightened expectations of a program that reached a Class 3A supersectional last year and finished second in AA in 2016.
Southwest Prairie Conference leader Oswego enters the rankings. The Panthers are on a 12-game winning streak since losing on penalty kicks against Benet in pool play of the Best of the West. Mason McCaw, one of the state’s best players, has 23 goals and seven assists.
Oswego won 3-0 over previous no. 11 West Aurora last week. The Panthers are riding a 26-game conference.
The season has a gliding forward momentum. It also has curves and digressions. York has weathered an up-and-down start, and is now playing like the team that was ranked among the top programs at the start of the year.
Things are getting serious.
| Rk | Last wk | Team | W | L | T | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4 | St. Patrick | 17 | 0 | 2 | Luis Angel Saucedo is a dynamic player |
| 2 | 1 | Morton | 12 | 2 | 2 | Adrian Salto anchors strong back |
| 3 | 23 | Mount Carmel | 12 | 2 | 1 | Caravan make statement on big stage |
| 4 | 2 | Naperville North | 11 | 4 | 2 | Alex Barger is an elite freshman |
| 5 | 5 | Benet | 10 | 1 | 1 | Hans Haenicke sparks win over Carmel |
| 6 | 4 | Libertyville | 11 | 0 | 3 | Jack Brennan is a strong talent in middle |
| 7 | 6 | New Trier | 12 | 1 | 4 | James Paden is another gifted offensive weapon |
| 8 | 7 | Solorio | 17 | 1 | 1 | Goes for city repeat title this week |
| 9 | 10 | W. Chicago | 12 | 1 | 3 | Wildcats have tied Benet, Naperville N |
| 10 | 13 | Fremd | 8 | 1 | 4 | Nick Austin is a skilled talent |
| 11 | 14 | Lyons | 8 | 3 | 2 | Gavin Fertitta is the hero against OPRF |
| 12 | 12 | Crystal Lake S | 10 | 3 | 4 | Garett Schneider is talented playmaker |
| 13 | 8 | Evanston | 12 | 1 | 1 | New Trier ends unbeaten streak |
| 14 | 16 | Round Lake | 9 | 1 | 4 | Had Libertyville on the ropes |
| 15 | 17 | St. Charles E. | 13 | 1 | 2 | Tyler Filbert is a dangerous option in middle |
| 16 | 18 | Barrington | 13 | 3 | 1 | Getting hot at the right time |
| 17 | 22 | Zion-Benton | 12 | 3 | 2 | Continuing to play at impressive level |
| 18 | NR | Oswego | 13 | 4 | 1 | Impressive shutout win over W. Aurora |
| 19 | 11 | West Aurora | 12 | 3 | 1 | Zach Thompson is a quality player |
| 20 | 20 | Warren | 10 | 3 | 3 | Luke Schoenbrunn helps secure New Trier draw |
| 21 | NR | York | 9 | 5 | 1 | Paolo Favuzzi is a dangerous talent |
| 22 | 19 | Buffalo Grove | 9 | 5 | 2 | Forward Brian Perez is electric |
| 23 | 9 | OPRF | 9 | 3 | 2 | Nicolo Stella is gifted talent in middle |
| 24 | 24 | Loyola | 10 | 4 | 2 | Austin Agyemang is an offensive spark |
| 25 | HM | Geneva | 11 | 3 | 1 | Shun Yonehara elevates the Vikings’ attack |
Look out for: Stagg, St. Laurence, Jacobs, Addison Trail, Glenbrook South, Naperville Central, Glenbard North, Dundee-Crown, Waubonsie Valley, Wheaton North, South Elgin, Lincoln-Way Central, St. Ignatius, Taft, Lane
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