Chicagoland Soccer Top 25
By Patrick Z. McGavin
At last, some continuity from the previous week.
For the first time this season, the top four teams stayed unchanged. New Trier became the first top-ranked team to hold its place the week it reached the No. 1 ranking. Although Trevians coach Matt Ravenscraft did admit he was nervous.
In a compressed six-week season, every game matters. The point is brought home with a vengeance this week and it will most definitely be the case when top-ranked Trevians host no. 3 Warren on Monday night.
Unbeaten West Aurora hosts Plainfield North in a showdown of the Southwest Suburban Prairie on Wednesday.
The two teams that have laid claim as the best in the Chicago Catholic League, Loyola and newly ranked St. Laurence, will go a long way toward settling that conference race this week.
In the absence of a state tournament this year, the end-point is clear and unmistakable.
If the top was unchanged, the rest of the Top 25 had some interesting shifts. Some teams did not play this week due to spring break.
The usual caveat applies more than ever with the rankings: a team that drops is not necessarily a function of a specific result less than the rise of another team.
The usual axiom about the season being a marathon does not apply this spring. It is likely to have a profound effect going forward. The underclassmen get a quality run up to the traditional fall season that will start August 23. That is literally just around the corner, especially with summer camps and contact days.
The seniors did not get an ideal finish but a respectable one that is better than most anticipated last Christmas.
Two weeks to go, and the teams are dialed in. Let's go!
Games through Saturday
By Patrick Z. McGavin
At last, some continuity from the previous week.
For the first time this season, the top four teams stayed unchanged. New Trier became the first top-ranked team to hold its place the week it reached the No. 1 ranking. Although Trevians coach Matt Ravenscraft did admit he was nervous.
In a compressed six-week season, every game matters. The point is brought home with a vengeance this week and it will most definitely be the case when top-ranked Trevians host no. 3 Warren on Monday night.
Unbeaten West Aurora hosts Plainfield North in a showdown of the Southwest Suburban Prairie on Wednesday.
The two teams that have laid claim as the best in the Chicago Catholic League, Loyola and newly ranked St. Laurence, will go a long way toward settling that conference race this week.
In the absence of a state tournament this year, the end-point is clear and unmistakable.
If the top was unchanged, the rest of the Top 25 had some interesting shifts. Some teams did not play this week due to spring break.
The usual caveat applies more than ever with the rankings: a team that drops is not necessarily a function of a specific result less than the rise of another team.
The usual axiom about the season being a marathon does not apply this spring. It is likely to have a profound effect going forward. The underclassmen get a quality run up to the traditional fall season that will start August 23. That is literally just around the corner, especially with summer camps and contact days.
The seniors did not get an ideal finish but a respectable one that is better than most anticipated last Christmas.
Two weeks to go, and the teams are dialed in. Let's go!
Games through Saturday
| Rk | LW | Team | W | L | T | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | New Trier | 11 | 0 | 0 | Dante Mitchell emerges as lethal scorer |
| 2 | 2 | Lyons | 7 | 1 | 0 | Johnny Laczynski next, great program keeper |
| 3 | 3 | Warren | 8 | 0 | 0 | Nathan Stutzman orchestrates skilled attack |
| 4 | 4 | Benet | 7 | 1 | 0 | Hans Haenicke is dynamic scorer up-top |
| 5 | 7 | St. Charles N | 10 | 2 | 0 | Colin Michaels is hyper creative with ball |
| 6 | 8 | Naperville N | 6 | 2 | 0 | Tyler Amoo-Mensah is savvy and experienced |
| 7 | 13 | St. Charles E | 10 | 2 | 1 | Connor King solidifies rapidly improving back |
| 8 | 5 | Morton | 4 | 1 | 2 | Ismael Zepeda is electric in space |
| 9 | 6 | Loyola | 5 | 1 | 0 | Colin Redmond is superb two-way talent |
| 10 | 9 | Hersey | 7 | 0 | 0 | Eric Worwa a fine offensive threat |
| 11 | 10 | W Aurora | 11 | 0 | 0 | Showdown with Plainfield N Wednesday |
| 12 | 18 | Leyden | 6 | 1 | 0 | Ozzie Pacheco a creative, thrilling midfield talent |
| 13 | 16 | Geneva | 5 | 2 | 5 | Dominic Peri is fast and creative in middle |
| 14 | 14 | Timothy | 6 | 1 | 0 | GK Jason Westra anchors a talented back |
| 15 | NR | Lakes | 7 | 1 | 0 | Big win over Stevenson |
| 16 | 15 | Stevenson | 5 | 2 | 0 | Lose tough one to Lakes |
| 17 | 23 | Jacobs | 6 | 0 | 1 | Class of the Fox Valley |
| 18 | HM | St. Laurence | 6 | 0 | 0 | Marquee game with Loyola |
| 19 | HM | DG North | 5 | 1 | 1 | Sam Bull is aggressive, physical and tough |
| 20 | 22 | Wheaton A | 7 | 2 | 1 | Giovanni Nicoski excels in gifted jr. class |
| 21 | 11 | Fenwick | 4 | 1 | 1 | Narayan Sharma infuses speed, athleticism for middle attack |
| 22 | NR | Buffalo Grove | 7 | 1 | 0 | OT wins over Fremd, Barrington |
| 23 | 24 | Plainfield North | 8 | 1 | 1 | Justin Williams another dynamic soph talent |
| 24 | 12 | Maine South | 5 | 2 | 1 | Jackson Wambach is exciting to watch |
| 25 | 20 | St. Patrick | 6 | 2 | 0 | Ivan Guerrero is creative talent in the middle |
Look out for: York, Oswego, Niles West, St. Ignatius, Fremd, Glenbard East, Glenbrook North, Lane, Solorio, Sandburg, Barrington, Round Lake, Shepard, North Shore Country Day, Crystal Lake South.
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