Chicagoland Soccer Top 25
By Patrick Z. McGavin
That was fast.
A season that seemingly just started now approaches the final week of the regular season for the larger classification schools.
The Chicago Public League takes centerstage this week with its own Final Four: no. 13 Lane, Young, Jones and Payton battle in the two semifinals on Tuesday. Those two winners square off Thursday night at Lane. Lane and Jones are the two favorites to reach the title game.
Young has won the city title three times in the last six years. They are more than capable. The Dolphins are getting healthy and have an emerging star in junior forward Sara Woods, who has eight goals in her team’s last three games.
On Wednesday night in Buffalo Grove, top-ranked Barrington goes after an unprecedented sixth-consecutive MSL Cup. Coach Ryan Stengren praised the off-season training and work regimen of his players. The Fillies have played nine games in the last two weeks, many against elite competition and under duress, and won them all. They are currently on a 12-game win streak.
No. 4 New Trier will bid for the CSL championship at Glenbrook North on Tuesday.
The top 15-18 slots are fairly consistent with last week. This is the time to spot the risers and those teams peaking at the right time. Carmel looked like a team dazed and confused three weeks into the season. Now the Corsairs are 6-0-2 in their last eight and have a chance to claim the undisputed East Suburban Catholic title with a victory at home against Marian on Monday.
Loyola, back in the rankings at no. 17, is 8-2-0 in its last 10 games.
This is the prelude to the curtain opener for the state tournament: the regional quarterfinals are over in Class A; and the action begins for the bigger schools. This is a transition week for many schools who are looking to get healthy and be sharp for the start of regional play. It all moves in a blur. Enjoy the final week of relative calm.
Then it gets even more interesting.
By Patrick Z. McGavin
That was fast.
A season that seemingly just started now approaches the final week of the regular season for the larger classification schools.
The Chicago Public League takes centerstage this week with its own Final Four: no. 13 Lane, Young, Jones and Payton battle in the two semifinals on Tuesday. Those two winners square off Thursday night at Lane. Lane and Jones are the two favorites to reach the title game.
Young has won the city title three times in the last six years. They are more than capable. The Dolphins are getting healthy and have an emerging star in junior forward Sara Woods, who has eight goals in her team’s last three games.
On Wednesday night in Buffalo Grove, top-ranked Barrington goes after an unprecedented sixth-consecutive MSL Cup. Coach Ryan Stengren praised the off-season training and work regimen of his players. The Fillies have played nine games in the last two weeks, many against elite competition and under duress, and won them all. They are currently on a 12-game win streak.
No. 4 New Trier will bid for the CSL championship at Glenbrook North on Tuesday.
The top 15-18 slots are fairly consistent with last week. This is the time to spot the risers and those teams peaking at the right time. Carmel looked like a team dazed and confused three weeks into the season. Now the Corsairs are 6-0-2 in their last eight and have a chance to claim the undisputed East Suburban Catholic title with a victory at home against Marian on Monday.
Loyola, back in the rankings at no. 17, is 8-2-0 in its last 10 games.
This is the prelude to the curtain opener for the state tournament: the regional quarterfinals are over in Class A; and the action begins for the bigger schools. This is a transition week for many schools who are looking to get healthy and be sharp for the start of regional play. It all moves in a blur. Enjoy the final week of relative calm.
Then it gets even more interesting.
| Rank | LW | School | W | L | T | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | Barrington | 20 | 1 | 0 | Sophia Spinell goal delivers MSL title |
| 2 | 4 | SC North | 13 | 0 | 3 | K.B. Kusswurm is excellent stopper |
| 3 | 2 | Naperville N | 14 | 2 | 3 | Megan Benmore provides another spark |
| 4 | 3 | New Trier | 16 | 2 | 1 | Hope Baisley strong in midfield |
| 5 | 7 | Warren | 16 | 1 | 1 | Courtney Chomko is top sophomore |
| 6 | 6 | Geneva | 16 | 1 | 1 | Stephanie Howe aids explosive offense |
| 7 | 5 | Fremd | 13 | 3 | 1 | Jennifer Josten is standout stopper |
| 8 | 9 | Neuqua V | 8 | 3 | 4 | Hailey Furio is dynamic in space |
| 9 | 10 | Lake Forest | 9 | 4 | 1 | Alyssa Marquis -- young talent to watch |
| 10 | 11 | Metea V | 13 | 3 | 3 | Sophia Senese another dynamic offensive piece |
| 11 | 12 | Batavia | 12 | 2 | 2 | Offense looking for new energy |
| 12 | 13 | Nazareth | 17 | 2 | 1 | Julia Olander a top freshman talent |
| 13 | 14 | Lane | 14 | 2 | 3 | Going for third-straight city title |
| 14 | 22 | Lyons | 11 | 4 | 1 | Eileen Murphy keys huge win over DG North |
| 15 | 15 | DG North | 13 | 2 | 2 | Delaney Forst is stellar forward |
| 16 | 17 | CL South | 15 | 1 | 1 | Big win over Prairie Ridge |
| 17 | HM | Loyola | 12 | 6 | 0 | Maggie Brett stars vs. St. Francis |
| 18 | 21 | Wauconda | 14 | 0 | 1 | Aimee Berg is an elite defender |
| 19 | 8 | Lake Zurich | 14 | 5 | 0 | Forward Kyra Ripoli is very skilled |
| 20 | 19 | L-W East | 13 | 3 | 1 | Jade Christensen is superb stopper |
| 21 | 20 | Glenbrook S | 15 | 4 | 0 | Played New Trier tough |
| 22 | HM | Carmel | 8 | 4 | 3 | Skyler Thomas is gifted sophomore forward |
| 23 | HM | Naperville C | 9 | 7 | 4 | Beat Illinois Top 10 no. 1 |
| 24 | 18 | West Aurora | 17 | 2 | 1 | 18-game unbeaten streak snapped |
| 25 | 16 | SC East | 9 | 3 | 6 | Searching for offensive spark |
Look out for: Palatine, Evanston, Sycamore, Lemont, Libertyville, Burlington Central, Glenbard East, Latin, Hinsdale South, St. Francis, Plainfield North, Prairie Ridge, Glenbrook North, Waubonsie Valley, Jones