Chicagoland Soccer Top 25
By Patrick Z. McGavin
A week ago Naperville North had a 45-game winning streak.
One tumultuous week later and the Huskies have not won a game in three attempts, with two ties and its 47-game unbeaten streak clipped in a 2-1 loss against new no. 1. Morton.
For much of the last decade, Naperville North, Morton and Libertyville, have shaped Illinois boys soccer.
There may not be a more topsy-turvy week in the rankings the rest of the year. It suggests a year hard to grasp, with a lot of very good, perhaps even exceptional teams.
Context is necessary. No team ever won or lost a state title the first week of the season. This is the beginning, though a start perhaps hard to get a firm grip on. Especially at this point of the season, schedules transcend records.
As New Trier coach Matt Ravenscraft said, this is the time of the year when coaches are craving data, hard numbers and statistical analysis to ferret out levels of strength and points of concern.
The schedule never lets up -- certainly not for the top programs, and tournaments continue apace in the form of brackets and pool play in the Northside College Showcase, Windy City Ram Classic and tournaments at Addison Trail and Lake Park.
It’s only the first day of September, and the moment is already thrilling and unexpected. Bring it on!
Editor's note: 2018 rank refers to position in final Chicagoland Soccer Top 25 last fall; HM-honorable mention; NR-not ranked
By Patrick Z. McGavin
A week ago Naperville North had a 45-game winning streak.
One tumultuous week later and the Huskies have not won a game in three attempts, with two ties and its 47-game unbeaten streak clipped in a 2-1 loss against new no. 1. Morton.
For much of the last decade, Naperville North, Morton and Libertyville, have shaped Illinois boys soccer.
There may not be a more topsy-turvy week in the rankings the rest of the year. It suggests a year hard to grasp, with a lot of very good, perhaps even exceptional teams.
Context is necessary. No team ever won or lost a state title the first week of the season. This is the beginning, though a start perhaps hard to get a firm grip on. Especially at this point of the season, schedules transcend records.
As New Trier coach Matt Ravenscraft said, this is the time of the year when coaches are craving data, hard numbers and statistical analysis to ferret out levels of strength and points of concern.
The schedule never lets up -- certainly not for the top programs, and tournaments continue apace in the form of brackets and pool play in the Northside College Showcase, Windy City Ram Classic and tournaments at Addison Trail and Lake Park.
It’s only the first day of September, and the moment is already thrilling and unexpected. Bring it on!
Editor's note: 2018 rank refers to position in final Chicagoland Soccer Top 25 last fall; HM-honorable mention; NR-not ranked
| Rk | 2018 rank | Team | W | L | T | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3 | Morton | 1 | 0 | 2 | Romario Iniquez ends Naperville North streak |
| 2 | 2 | Libertyville | 2 | 0 | 0 | Luke Underwood is skilled midfielder |
| 3 | 1 | Naperville North | 0 | 1 | 2 | Magical run is over, for now |
| 4 | 4 | New Trier | 2 | 0 | 1 | Jake Krueger sparks Grayslake C. rout |
| 5 | 6 | Solorio | 4 | 0 | 0 | Win Boilermaker Invitational |
| 6 | 15 | St. Patrick | 2 | 0 | 1 | Joshua Torres is electric to watch |
| 7 | 13 | Lyons | 1 | 0 | 2 | Jackson Turner is a skilled midfielder |
| 8 | 18 | CL South | 2 | 0 | 1 | Tyler Getzinger is highly skilled |
| 9 | 11 | Fremd | 0 | 1 | 2 | Jake Schoffstall is a prized talent |
| 10 | 10 | OPRF | 2 | 0 | 1 | Jai Hsieh-Bailey is a savvy defender |
| 11 | 16 | Benet | 2 | 0 | 0 | Anthony Klos is an offensive force |
| 12 | 17 | Loyola | 1 | 1 | 0 | Oscar Blazer is an elite junior |
| 13 | HM | Evanston | 1 | 0 | 1 | Explosive showing against Hoffman Estates |
| 14 | 12 | AddisonTrail | 3 | 0 | 0 | Uriel Rojo is dynamic and versatile |
| 15 | NR | Conant | 3 | 0 | 0 | Fast start for the Cougars |
| 16 | HM | Naperville Central | 1 | 0 | 1 | Owen Jarrell is off to hot start |
| 17 | NR | Warren | 4 | 0 | 0 | Ishaan Shah is very talented |
| 18 | 24 | Hinsdale Central | 2 | 1 | 0 | Impressive win over North Central (Indiana) |
| 19 | 22 | West Aurora | 2 | 0 | 0 | Dominates rival E. Aurora on Sat. |
| 20 | HM | St. Charles East | 2 | 0 | 0 | Keeper Jack Settles subdues Sabres |
| 21 | NR | Lockport | 3 | 0 | 0 | In semifinals of Windy City Ram Classic |
| 22 | NR | Glenbrook S. | 1 | 0 | 1 | Midfielder Julian Issar is exciting in space |
| 23 | NR | Barrington | 1 | 1 | 0 | Sharp efforts vs. ranked foes |
| 24 | 9 | Buffalo Grove | 2 | 1 | 0 | Ryan Kim is an exceptional talent |
| 25 | NR | West Chicago | 2 | 0 | 1 | Ties Naperville North to end win streak |
Look out for: Wheaton North, Highland Park, Glenbard North, Glenbard West, Plainfield North, Bremen, Barrington, St. Ignatius, Mount Carmel, Streamwood, Wheaton Academy, Homewood-Flossmoor, Young, Lane, Juarez