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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.
​​
RankLWSchoolWLTComment
13Loyola1102Stephanie Ramsay comes of age
21New Trier910Trevians are mortal
35Naperville N510Statement win over St. Charles East
42St. Charles E910St. Charles North showdown Tuesday
512Evanston1013Sheridan Cleave is a big-time keeper
64St. Charles N820Ends New Trier’s 18-game win streak
78Barrington611Outscored five MSL opponents 22-0
810Hinsdale C730Emily LaRocque is a major talent
9HMNaperville C621Isabel Reedy powers impressive week
106Lyons911Mary Devine is excellent sophomore
1119DG South810Another quality win over strong Batavia team
1215Neuqua Valley431Sydney Rushing is a major offensive talent
137Waubonsie V630Sarah Young is standout sophomore keeper
1411Batavia920MacKenzie Foster is a skilled midfielder
1513Plainfield North532Unscored upon in four PepsiCo games
16NRBartlett1131Mariela Alba's 16 assists guides Hawks
1716Geneva611Vikings look to impress at Naperville Inv.
1824Lake Zurich620Becca Kubin is explosive forward
1917Sandburg502With Loyola, final unbeaten team
20NRWW South521Outscored last five teams 19-1
21HMConant610Monday showdown with Barrington
2223Benet511Redwings have leg up in ESCC with Carmel win
2321Carmel621Abby Potter is another emerging weapon
2422Minooka810Bella Alessio is a standout keeper
2518Lincoln-Way E1220Another benchmark for Brian Papa
26HMHuntley821Red 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. 
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