Chicagoland Soccer Top 25
By Patrick Z. McGavin
Consensus is rare in any sport, but the dominant thought from players and coaches now is the profound sense of joy and exhilaration they feel with high school soccer back on the pitch.
As Morton’s superb coach Jim Bageanis coach said, “You only get four years to play high school.”
In a sport like soccer, history can repeat itself. Naturally, the first no. 1 of the regular season is a program, Naperville North, that has been ensconced in this spot for much of the last four years.
Two years ago, the Huskies went wire-to-wire as the no. 1 in winning their third-consecutive Class 3A state championship and completing an undefeated season.
Rated no. 5 in the First 50, the Huskies jumped out with three impressive victories over Neuqua Valley, Kaneland and First 50 no. 3 Benet. It should be noted that Naperville North gave Benet its only loss last year.
The 2-0 victory Saturday ended the Redwings’ nine-game winning streak dating to last season.
Lyons delivered the first surprise with an impressive 3-2 victory over Morton, the top-ranked team in the First 50. One thing that is very clear, programs with a history and continuity are better equipped to deal with the profound uncertainty of the moment.
The nearly 20 contact days the IHSA permitted last fall is a telling sign of the early dominant programs.
“We were able to meet three times a week under the state regulations last fall, and we were ready to go,” Lyons coach Paul Labbato said.
St. Charles East and New Trier also impressed with their diverse and high-powered attacks in the first week. Hersey, right on the cusp of the First 50, also showed they are going to be a team to reckon with.
Fremd was rated highly in the First 50. They are a young team, and they had a slow start to the week. It didn't help that their top player, junior midfielder Eli Schoffstall, was away on the hardwood.
As the basketball players now rejoin their teams full-time, the season is going to get ever more interesting. The fun is just starting.
So is our collective sense of being blessed.
By Patrick Z. McGavin
Consensus is rare in any sport, but the dominant thought from players and coaches now is the profound sense of joy and exhilaration they feel with high school soccer back on the pitch.
As Morton’s superb coach Jim Bageanis coach said, “You only get four years to play high school.”
In a sport like soccer, history can repeat itself. Naturally, the first no. 1 of the regular season is a program, Naperville North, that has been ensconced in this spot for much of the last four years.
Two years ago, the Huskies went wire-to-wire as the no. 1 in winning their third-consecutive Class 3A state championship and completing an undefeated season.
Rated no. 5 in the First 50, the Huskies jumped out with three impressive victories over Neuqua Valley, Kaneland and First 50 no. 3 Benet. It should be noted that Naperville North gave Benet its only loss last year.
The 2-0 victory Saturday ended the Redwings’ nine-game winning streak dating to last season.
Lyons delivered the first surprise with an impressive 3-2 victory over Morton, the top-ranked team in the First 50. One thing that is very clear, programs with a history and continuity are better equipped to deal with the profound uncertainty of the moment.
The nearly 20 contact days the IHSA permitted last fall is a telling sign of the early dominant programs.
“We were able to meet three times a week under the state regulations last fall, and we were ready to go,” Lyons coach Paul Labbato said.
St. Charles East and New Trier also impressed with their diverse and high-powered attacks in the first week. Hersey, right on the cusp of the First 50, also showed they are going to be a team to reckon with.
Fremd was rated highly in the First 50. They are a young team, and they had a slow start to the week. It didn't help that their top player, junior midfielder Eli Schoffstall, was away on the hardwood.
As the basketball players now rejoin their teams full-time, the season is going to get ever more interesting. The fun is just starting.
So is our collective sense of being blessed.
| Rk | 1st 50 | Team | W | L | T | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 5 | Naperville N | 3 | 0 | 0 | Jacob Ryu powers Benet victory |
| 2 | 10 | Lyons | 1 | 0 | 0 | Jack Luttrell is big weapon |
| 3 | 1 | Morton | 0 | 1 | 0 | Johnny Murillo is dynamic midfielder |
| 4 | 3 | Benet | 1 | 1 | 0 | Preston Wray early offensive spark |
| 5 | 4 | St. Patrick | 0 | 0 | 0 | Forward Jaden Buelvas is creative in space |
| 6 | 8 | SC East | 3 | 0 | 0 | Sebastian Carranza off to fast start |
| 7 | 11 | New Trier | 3 | 0 | 0 | Aidan Crawford is elite keeper |
| 8 | 2 | W. Chicago | 1 | 0 | 1 | Naperville C ends winning streak |
| 9 | 6 | Warren | 1 | 0 | 0 | Edward Luna is top two-way talent |
| 10 | 15 | Loyola | 1 | 0 | 0 | Michael Sullivan is athletic and imposing presence |
| 11 | 16 | CL South | 2 | 0 | 0 | Deven Tinajero is elite shot creator |
| 12 | 26 | Streamwood | 2 | 0 | 0 | Aldo Jimenez leads victory over SC North |
| 13 | 36 | Maine S | 2 | 0 | 0 | Matt Skorupa is a big-time stopper |
| 14 | NR | Hersey | 2 | 0 | 0 | Patryk Bujak is a fun, exciting player to watch |
| 15 | 34 | Barrington | 2 | 0 | 0 | Strong win over Fremd |
| 16 | 13 | Libertyville | 0 | 0 | 0 | Opens Thursday at Mundelein |
| 17 | 33 | Fenwick | 1 | 0 | 0 | Ari Velliotis is a dynamic and athletic forward |
| 18 | 25 | Naperville C | 1 | 0 | 2 | GK Caden Redpath impresses against W. Chicago |
| 19 | 22 | W Aurora | 3 | 0 | 0 | Offense big against Batavia |
| 20 | 32 | Geneva | 2 | 0 | 1 | Evan Horvath powers strong backline |
| 21 | 21 | Oswego | 0 | 0 | 0 | Starting another conference streak |
| 22 | 31 | Addison Trail | 1 | 0 | 1 | Senior Angel Gomez is a big-time playmaker |
| 23 | 35 | SC North | 2 | 1 | 0 | Jared Sinnaeve shapes the middle attack |
| 24 | NR | Deerfield | 2 | 0 | 2 | Ari Wainer is a gifted and inventive forward |
| 25 | NR | Lake Park | 1 | 1 | 0 | Nico Bartlett is an elite sophomore |
Look out for: Solorio, St. Laurence, Fremd, Evanston, Grayslake Central, Jacobs, Dundee-Crown, Lane, Glenbrook South, Leyden, Glenbard North, St. Ignatius, Wheaton Academy, Bloom, University.
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