Chicagoland Soccer Top 25
By Patrick Z. McGavin
A feverish and madcap Saturday featured multiple tournaments, the battle of St. Charles and signs of a resurgent Loyola as the Ramblers knocked off previously unbeaten and no. 4 Glenbrook South in opening round pool play of Lou Malnati’s Deep Dish Classic.
We had been anticipating this moment. Every part of the season has its own circle-the-calendar moments, a big conference game, a marquee showdown of teams from opposite conferences or a tournament.
On Saturday, everything came together and delivered a vivid and sprawling day, kaleidoscopic in scale and reach. Rather than mark the end, it only signifies the beginning, as now many of those same tournaments go to midweek, like Lou Malnati's and the Plainfield Classic.
Teams are also coping with injuries and illness or having to adjust their roster on the fly.
Hinsdale Central coach Tony Madonia said it best after his team lost a tight and very well played game against no. 5 Evanston on Saturday: “For some of our girls, this is their first year playing varsity,” he began, as if catching himself, and then adding, “and every other team is dealing with the same things. It doesn’t make us any different.”
Teams cast out and see their own image, echoes or moments of recognition. Everything accelerates in girls’ soccer, given how tight the schedule is and often how unaccommodating the weather is at the start of the season. Everything jams together.
Everything new is old again, or some variation of that tune. Geneva is back in the poll after an impressive win against Wheaton Warrenville South in their inaugural game in the new DuKane Conference.
The breadth of detail and the deepening intelligence and information helps fill in the blanks. Now it is showtime. Let it ride.
By Patrick Z. McGavin
A feverish and madcap Saturday featured multiple tournaments, the battle of St. Charles and signs of a resurgent Loyola as the Ramblers knocked off previously unbeaten and no. 4 Glenbrook South in opening round pool play of Lou Malnati’s Deep Dish Classic.
We had been anticipating this moment. Every part of the season has its own circle-the-calendar moments, a big conference game, a marquee showdown of teams from opposite conferences or a tournament.
On Saturday, everything came together and delivered a vivid and sprawling day, kaleidoscopic in scale and reach. Rather than mark the end, it only signifies the beginning, as now many of those same tournaments go to midweek, like Lou Malnati's and the Plainfield Classic.
Teams are also coping with injuries and illness or having to adjust their roster on the fly.
Hinsdale Central coach Tony Madonia said it best after his team lost a tight and very well played game against no. 5 Evanston on Saturday: “For some of our girls, this is their first year playing varsity,” he began, as if catching himself, and then adding, “and every other team is dealing with the same things. It doesn’t make us any different.”
Teams cast out and see their own image, echoes or moments of recognition. Everything accelerates in girls’ soccer, given how tight the schedule is and often how unaccommodating the weather is at the start of the season. Everything jams together.
Everything new is old again, or some variation of that tune. Geneva is back in the poll after an impressive win against Wheaton Warrenville South in their inaugural game in the new DuKane Conference.
The breadth of detail and the deepening intelligence and information helps fill in the blanks. Now it is showtime. Let it ride.
| Rk | LW | Team | W | L | T | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | Barrington | 5 | 0 | 1 | Ellie McAuley is an offensive player to watch |
| 2 | 2 | St. Charles North | 6 | 0 | 1 | Forward Maddie Rossi is another dangerous weapon |
| 3 | 5 | Evanston | 8 | 0 | 0 | Carley Menocal is excellent defender and corner specialist |
| 4 | 3 | New Trier | 5 | 0 | 5 | Heidi Bianucci provides set piece spark |
| 5 | 6 | Benet | 8 | 0 | 0 | Impressive road win at Notre Dame (Peoria) |
| 6 | 7 | Fremd | 3 | 1 | 1 | Emma Spotak helps bring Kinsella Cup home |
| 7 | 8 | St. Charles East | 9 | 2 | 0 | Sidda Patel is a skilled midfielder |
| 8 | 9 | Naperville North | 3 | 2 | 1 | Amanda Johnson posts her second shutout |
| 9 | 4 | Glenbrook South | 9 | 1 | 1 | Loyola ends unbeaten streak |
| 10 | 11 | Lyons | 3 | 0 | 1 | Grace Truax helps make up stellar defense |
| 11 | 13 | Lane | 7 | 1 | 1 | Alana Coffman plays everywhere on the field |
| 12 | 10 | Glenbard East | 7 | 1 | 1 | Molly Galvin is a versatile and dynamic talent |
| 13 | 15 | Sandburg | 8 | 1 | 1 | Excellent 3-0-0 week |
| 14 | 14 | Neuqua Valley | 2 | 2 | 3 | Shannon Tagler is a dynamic attacking player |
| 15 | HM | Geneva | 4 | 1 | 1 | Jenna Dominguez scores GW-goal against WW South |
| 16 | 12 | WW South | 4 | 1 | 1 | Molly Fank is a superb defender |
| 17 | HM | Maine South | 7 | 0 | 0 | Survives Wheaton Academy at PepsiCo Showdown |
| 18 | HM | Prairie Ridge | 8 | 0 | 1 | Captures Lake Zurich tournament |
| 19 | 20 | Waubonsie Valley | 4 | 1 | 1 | Commanding performance against Naperville Central |
| 20 | 18 | Stevenson | 5 | 0 | 2 | Dark horse at Lou Malnati’s Deep Dish Classic |
| 21 | 19 | Wauconda | 5 | 1 | 1 | Beat Highland Park in PepsiCo Showdown opener |
| 22 | 25 | Batavia | 6 | 1 | 2 | Bella Zink is a steady, talented midfielder |
| 23 | HM | Lemont | 5 | 2 | 1 | Danielle Irwin is a talented and creative midfielder |
| 24 | HM | Loyola | 2 | 2 | 2 | Lauren Daffada keys Glenbrook South upset |
| 25 | 24 | Hersey | 6 | 2 | 1 | Avery Larson is a quality forward |
Look out for: Deerfield, Conant, St. Francis, Lake Forest, Andrew, Prospect, St. Ignatius, Naperville Central, Wheaton Academy, Mother McAuley, Plainfield East, Lincoln-Way Central, Payton, Lockport, Latin