Chicagoland Soccer Top 25
By Patrick Z. McGavin
EDITOR'S NOTE: Due to a coding problem, Benet was unintentionally left out of the poll. Chicagoland Soccer regrets the error. The poll will include 41 teams this week and will return to its normal form next week.
What a week.
When this season is broken down and analyzed in the future, this could have been the turning point. With teams energized after spring break and the weather finally cooperating, things got a little wild.
The most important in-season tournament, the Naperville Invitational, begins pool play Thursday. How tough is it to get through that bracket? Consider, of the last four large-school state champions (back-to-back Naperville North and back-to-back New Trier), only one won the Naperville Invitational -- Naperville North in 2013.
Ranked no. 1 in the country by USA Today, New Trier was unscored upon until Evanston’s standout sophomore Vanessa Eljaiek scored in the 28th minute in the semifinals of the PepsiCo Showdown on Thursday. New Trier prevailed 2-1 in overtime.
On Saturday, with star forward Kelly Maday out with an injury, New Trier suffered its first loss since the semifinals of last year’s Naperville Invitational. St. Charles North ended their 18-game winning streak with a 1-0 decision.
The teams seem connected. Naperville North ended St. Charles East’s nine-game winning streak 2-0. Like the Trevians, the Saints were also unscored upon this year.
Evanston beat St. Charles North in a PepsiCo Showdown quarterfinal. Loyola beat St. Charles North earlier in the year. Loyola and Evanston played to a 0-0 draw.
Now, the new no. 1 Loyola and the new no. 2 New Trier play in the championship of the PepsiCo Showdown’s top Aquafina Bracket on April 24 at IIT. Before that both teams must get through their Naperville Invitational pools.
This week’s poll also features some new faces and hot teams to look out for: Evanston climbed eight spots. Wheaton Warrenville South came from being unranked or listed in honorable mention. Downers Grove South makes another steady and sharp rise up the poll.
Naperville Central put together one of the most impressive weeks of the season in posting back-to-back shutouts of Waubonsie Valley and Neuqua Valley. The host school of the Naperville Invitational always gets up for the tournament.
Another team to watch is Conant. The Cougars have won six in a row since a season-opening loss to St. Charles North. Conant and Barrington meet Monday in a game that is almost certain to produce the West Division winner in the Mid-Suburban League.
Finally, kudos to Brian Papa, the legendary coach of Lincoln-Way East who has announced his retirement at the end of the season. The Griffins edged Saint Viator 2-1 in PepsiCo play Saturday. The victory was the combined 800th-career win in boys and girls for Papa.
By Patrick Z. McGavin
EDITOR'S NOTE: Due to a coding problem, Benet was unintentionally left out of the poll. Chicagoland Soccer regrets the error. The poll will include 41 teams this week and will return to its normal form next week.
What a week.
When this season is broken down and analyzed in the future, this could have been the turning point. With teams energized after spring break and the weather finally cooperating, things got a little wild.
The most important in-season tournament, the Naperville Invitational, begins pool play Thursday. How tough is it to get through that bracket? Consider, of the last four large-school state champions (back-to-back Naperville North and back-to-back New Trier), only one won the Naperville Invitational -- Naperville North in 2013.
Ranked no. 1 in the country by USA Today, New Trier was unscored upon until Evanston’s standout sophomore Vanessa Eljaiek scored in the 28th minute in the semifinals of the PepsiCo Showdown on Thursday. New Trier prevailed 2-1 in overtime.
On Saturday, with star forward Kelly Maday out with an injury, New Trier suffered its first loss since the semifinals of last year’s Naperville Invitational. St. Charles North ended their 18-game winning streak with a 1-0 decision.
The teams seem connected. Naperville North ended St. Charles East’s nine-game winning streak 2-0. Like the Trevians, the Saints were also unscored upon this year.
Evanston beat St. Charles North in a PepsiCo Showdown quarterfinal. Loyola beat St. Charles North earlier in the year. Loyola and Evanston played to a 0-0 draw.
Now, the new no. 1 Loyola and the new no. 2 New Trier play in the championship of the PepsiCo Showdown’s top Aquafina Bracket on April 24 at IIT. Before that both teams must get through their Naperville Invitational pools.
This week’s poll also features some new faces and hot teams to look out for: Evanston climbed eight spots. Wheaton Warrenville South came from being unranked or listed in honorable mention. Downers Grove South makes another steady and sharp rise up the poll.
Naperville Central put together one of the most impressive weeks of the season in posting back-to-back shutouts of Waubonsie Valley and Neuqua Valley. The host school of the Naperville Invitational always gets up for the tournament.
Another team to watch is Conant. The Cougars have won six in a row since a season-opening loss to St. Charles North. Conant and Barrington meet Monday in a game that is almost certain to produce the West Division winner in the Mid-Suburban League.
Finally, kudos to Brian Papa, the legendary coach of Lincoln-Way East who has announced his retirement at the end of the season. The Griffins edged Saint Viator 2-1 in PepsiCo play Saturday. The victory was the combined 800th-career win in boys and girls for Papa.
| Rank | LW | School | W | L | T | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3 | Loyola | 11 | 0 | 2 | Stephanie Ramsay comes of age |
| 2 | 1 | New Trier | 9 | 1 | 0 | Trevians are mortal |
| 3 | 5 | Naperville N | 5 | 1 | 0 | Statement win over St. Charles East |
| 4 | 2 | St. Charles E | 9 | 1 | 0 | St. Charles North showdown Tuesday |
| 5 | 12 | Evanston | 10 | 1 | 3 | Sheridan Cleave is a big-time keeper |
| 6 | 4 | St. Charles N | 8 | 2 | 0 | Ends New Trier’s 18-game win streak |
| 7 | 8 | Barrington | 6 | 1 | 1 | Outscored five MSL opponents 22-0 |
| 8 | 10 | Hinsdale C | 7 | 3 | 0 | Emily LaRocque is a major talent |
| 9 | HM | Naperville C | 6 | 2 | 1 | Isabel Reedy powers impressive week |
| 10 | 6 | Lyons | 9 | 1 | 1 | Mary Devine is excellent sophomore |
| 11 | 19 | DG South | 8 | 1 | 0 | Another quality win over strong Batavia team |
| 12 | 15 | Neuqua Valley | 4 | 3 | 1 | Sydney Rushing is a major offensive talent |
| 13 | 7 | Waubonsie V | 6 | 3 | 0 | Sarah Young is standout sophomore keeper |
| 14 | 11 | Batavia | 9 | 2 | 0 | MacKenzie Foster is a skilled midfielder |
| 15 | 13 | Plainfield North | 5 | 3 | 2 | Unscored upon in four PepsiCo games |
| 16 | NR | Bartlett | 11 | 3 | 1 | Mariela Alba's 16 assists guides Hawks |
| 17 | 16 | Geneva | 6 | 1 | 1 | Vikings look to impress at Naperville Inv. |
| 18 | 24 | Lake Zurich | 6 | 2 | 0 | Becca Kubin is explosive forward |
| 19 | 17 | Sandburg | 5 | 0 | 2 | With Loyola, final unbeaten team |
| 20 | NR | WW South | 5 | 2 | 1 | Outscored last five teams 19-1 |
| 21 | HM | Conant | 6 | 1 | 0 | Monday showdown with Barrington |
| 22 | 23 | Benet | 5 | 1 | 1 | Redwings have leg up in ESCC with Carmel win |
| 23 | 21 | Carmel | 6 | 2 | 1 | Abby Potter is another emerging weapon |
| 24 | 22 | Minooka | 8 | 1 | 0 | Bella Alessio is a standout keeper |
| 25 | 18 | Lincoln-Way E | 12 | 2 | 0 | Another benchmark for Brian Papa |
| 26 | HM | Huntley | 8 | 2 | 1 | Red Raiders are Gatorade Bracket finalist |
Look out for: Downers Grove North, Glenbard East, Libertyville, Warren, Lake Forest, Lincoln-Way North, York, Maine South, St. Francis, Mundelein, Oswego, Niles West, Glenbard West, Lockport, Latin.
EDITOR'S NOTE: In the interests of full disclosure to our Chicagoland Soccer readers, Patrick Z. McGavin's niece is on the Geneva High School varsity.
EDITOR'S NOTE: In the interests of full disclosure to our Chicagoland Soccer readers, Patrick Z. McGavin's niece is on the Geneva High School varsity.