Chicagoland Soccer Top 25
By Patrick Z. McGavin
The most unprecedented and unpredictable season in state history is reaching some sense of definition.
Welcome to the penultimate regular season Top 25. Next week we will do a deeper dive into the sectionals and how the state tournament might play out.
The state tournament seeds came out earlier this week, signaling the end of one stage and the beginning of the next.
The boys reformatted season had only games and conference titles to celebrate and honor. The girls are closer to what most of us are used to, a regular season and full state tournament.
The absence of the major tournaments like the Naperville Invitational has left more questions than answers at this point. Many top programs have forsaken out-of-conference schedules and have played teams from their own league in home-and-road dates.
It has resulted in some exciting soccer and some revealing scores, but it has also yielded a certain sameness and familiarity.
On Saturday, one clear exception was the showdown of top-ranked St. Charles East and defending Class 3A state champion Naperville North.
Naperville North managed to puncture some of the air of invincibility from the Saints in the 1-1 tie.
Lyons is still unscored upon in 12 games this season. In the past, the Lions typically played Naperville North or New Trier, and that provided a greater benchmark to their season.
Many of those natural out-of-league rivalries are not viable this season. So, we are left to ponder, until the start of the state tournament.
The Chicago Public League Tournament championship and the MSL Soccer Bowl are the next arbiters of success.
They won’t settle all the questions. They provide a great runway to the start of the next turn of this unique season.
Games through Sunday
By Patrick Z. McGavin
The most unprecedented and unpredictable season in state history is reaching some sense of definition.
Welcome to the penultimate regular season Top 25. Next week we will do a deeper dive into the sectionals and how the state tournament might play out.
The state tournament seeds came out earlier this week, signaling the end of one stage and the beginning of the next.
The boys reformatted season had only games and conference titles to celebrate and honor. The girls are closer to what most of us are used to, a regular season and full state tournament.
The absence of the major tournaments like the Naperville Invitational has left more questions than answers at this point. Many top programs have forsaken out-of-conference schedules and have played teams from their own league in home-and-road dates.
It has resulted in some exciting soccer and some revealing scores, but it has also yielded a certain sameness and familiarity.
On Saturday, one clear exception was the showdown of top-ranked St. Charles East and defending Class 3A state champion Naperville North.
Naperville North managed to puncture some of the air of invincibility from the Saints in the 1-1 tie.
Lyons is still unscored upon in 12 games this season. In the past, the Lions typically played Naperville North or New Trier, and that provided a greater benchmark to their season.
Many of those natural out-of-league rivalries are not viable this season. So, we are left to ponder, until the start of the state tournament.
The Chicago Public League Tournament championship and the MSL Soccer Bowl are the next arbiters of success.
They won’t settle all the questions. They provide a great runway to the start of the next turn of this unique season.
Games through Sunday
| Rk | LW | Team | W | L | T | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | St. Charles East | 16 | 0 | 1 | Yasmin Martinez is emerging standout |
| 2 | 2 | Benet | 13 | 0 | 0 | Paige Neri is another strong offensive piece |
| 3 | 3 | Libertyville | 11 | 1 | 0 | Needs Warren win over Stevenson for 3-way NSC tie |
| 4 | 4 | New Trier | 13 | 1 | 4 | Charlotte Dellin is gifted young talent |
| 5 | 5 | Barrington | 10 | 1 | 2 | Must win at Prospect to guarantee MSL title berth |
| 6 | 6 | Naperville Central | 8 | 1 | 4 | Lauren Thorne is player to watch |
| 7 | 7 | Loyola | 11 | 1 | 2 | Ellie Bradley is making her name at keeper |
| 8 | 8 | Warren | 11 | 1 | 3 | Mia Gloria a dynamic young offensive talent |
| 9 | 10 | Lyons | 12 | 0 | 0 | Kate Fulscher a disruptive stopper |
| 10 | 11 | St. Charles North | 10 | 4 | 2 | Rian Spaulding is a sharp talent |
| 11 | 12 | Naperville North | 7 | 2 | 3 | Rosy Viton is stellar against Naperville Central |
| 12 | 15 | Glenbrook North | 10 | 1 | 3 | Strong shutout of Evanston |
| 13 | 9 | Sandburg | 11 | 1 | 0 | LW West ends perfect run |
| 14 | 14 | Evanston | 11 | 2 | 3 | Wildkits draw with New Trier |
| 15 | 16 | Stevenson | 10 | 2 | 1 | Faces Warren Tuesday for share of conference |
| 16 | 13 | Joliet Catholic | 10 | 1 | 1 | Benet gives 1st loss |
| 17 | 17 | St. Francis | 10 | 0 | 0 | Lauren Bruce is part of strong junior wave |
| 18 | 19 | Oswego East | 10 | 0 | 0 | Mikayla Lambert a bright young prospect |
| 19 | 18 | Fremd | 9 | 2 | 0 | Sam Gary is a solid keeper |
| 20 | 21 | Young | 12 | 3 | 1 | Annelise Kelner stabilizes the middle attack |
| 21 | 22 | Lane | 9 | 3 | 2 | Mary Rau is fantastic sophomore talent |
| 22 | HM | Highland Park | 12 | 2 | 0 | Perfect in Central Suburban North |
| 23 | HM | Bartlett | 9 | 2 | 0 | Tessa Evans powers winning streak |
| 24 | HM | Jones | 10 | 1 | 1 | Carolina Rondelli is a top sophomore |
| 25 | 23 | Buffalo Grove | 9 | 4 | 3 | Plays Barrington or Fremd in MSL Cup |
Look out for: Look out for: Burlington Central, Prairie Ridge, Cary-Grove, Wheaton Warrenville South, Wheaton North, Geneva, Downers Grove South, Lincoln-Way Central, Plainfield North, Oswego, Downers Grove North, Fenwick, Lemont, South Elgin, St. Ignatius
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