Chicagoland Soccer Top 25
By Patrick Z. McGavin
The first month is history.
Now the question becomes how intertwined is the recent past to the present. With Naperville North and Libertyville holding their spots, they remain the standard by which all other programs are judged.
The Huskies survived two solid programs, Neuqua Valley and Fremd, in pulling out 1-0 victories. Tommy Welch, the Loyola basketball recruit and reigning Chicagoland Soccer Player of the Year, established a new school record for career shutouts.
“Welch made two world-class saves to secure the shut out,” Naperville North coach Jim Konrad said of the Fremd game. The Huskies have now won 29 games in a row dating to last year’s state tournament run.
On the basis of its strong effort, Fremd returns to the poll.
Libertyville has been just as dominant. Michigan recruit Evan Rasmussen had a hat trick in the Wildcats’ 5-1 victory over Warren on Thursday.
Wheaton Academy ended Solorio’s 17-game winning streak with a 3-2 win in a semifinal of the PepsiCo Showdown. Wheaton Academy plays no. 4 Morton in the championship of the tournament’s top bracket Sept. 23.
By Patrick Z. McGavin
The first month is history.
Now the question becomes how intertwined is the recent past to the present. With Naperville North and Libertyville holding their spots, they remain the standard by which all other programs are judged.
The Huskies survived two solid programs, Neuqua Valley and Fremd, in pulling out 1-0 victories. Tommy Welch, the Loyola basketball recruit and reigning Chicagoland Soccer Player of the Year, established a new school record for career shutouts.
“Welch made two world-class saves to secure the shut out,” Naperville North coach Jim Konrad said of the Fremd game. The Huskies have now won 29 games in a row dating to last year’s state tournament run.
On the basis of its strong effort, Fremd returns to the poll.
Libertyville has been just as dominant. Michigan recruit Evan Rasmussen had a hat trick in the Wildcats’ 5-1 victory over Warren on Thursday.
Wheaton Academy ended Solorio’s 17-game winning streak with a 3-2 win in a semifinal of the PepsiCo Showdown. Wheaton Academy plays no. 4 Morton in the championship of the tournament’s top bracket Sept. 23.
| Rank | LW | School | W | L | T | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | Naperville N | 10 | 0 | 0 | Cesar Recendez is superb junior |
| 2 | 2 | Libertyville | 8 | 0 | 0 | Wildcats rolling through North Suburban |
| 3 | 5 | Wheaton A | 10 | 0 | 0 | Ends Solorio 17-game winning streak |
| 4 | 4 | Morton | 7 | 1 | 1 | Andruw Martinez is standout keeper |
| 5 | 7 | Lake Park | 11 | 0 | 1 | Tom Thomas huge in Plainfield Classic games |
| 6 | 3 | Solorio | 10 | 1 | 0 | Favorite in World Cup city tournament format |
| 7 | 13 | Hinsdale C | 10 | 0 | 0 | Big win over York |
| 8 | 9 | York | 6 | 2 | 0 | Paolo Favuzzi is standout midfielder |
| 9 | 10 | New Trier | 6 | 1 | 2 | Jake Krueger scores first career goal Saturday |
| 10 | 12 | Elgin | 10 | 1 | 1 | Bryan Ramos leads victory over Hampshire |
| 11 | 17 | West Aurora | 9 | 1 | 0 | Blackhawks blank Batavia |
| 12 | 16 | Latin | 10 | 0 | 0 | Rivalry game with Parker Saturday |
| 13 | 23 | OPRF | 9 | 1 | 1 | Grant Kindler is skilled midfielder |
| 14 | HM | Lyons | 7 | 4 | 0 | Midfielder Mike Niedermeyer is excellent junior |
| 15 | 11 | Benet | 6 | 2 | 1 | Nick Renfro is dynamic player |
| 16 | 6 | CL South | 9 | 2 | 1 | Evan Carlson is elite defender |
| 17 | 8 | Streamwood | 7 | 3 | 0 | Michael Rubio is a standout defender |
| 18 | 15 | Buffalo Grove | 8 | 2 | 1 | Brian Perez is talented midfielder |
| 19 | HM | Fremd | 5 | 3 | 1 | Jake Schoffstall is breakout offensive talent |
| 20 | 25 | SC North | 7 | 3 | 1 | Bobby Curran has excelled as keeper |
| 21 | 18 | Glenbrook S | 7 | 1 | 4 | Big conference games approaching |
| 22 | 22 | Evanston | 8 | 2 | 0 | Confronts New Trier Thursday |
| 23 | 20 | St. Patrick | 8 | 3 | 0 | Diego Rivera solidifies defense |
| 24 | NR | Niles North | 10 | 2 | 1 | 11-game unbeaten run stopped by ranked foes |
| 25 | HM | Oswego | 7 | 2 | 1 | Mason McCaw is fun to watch |
Look out for: Neuqua Valley, Loyola, Oswego East, Wheaton North, Bremen, Metea Valley, Hersey, St. Charles East, Lockport, Addison Trail, Highland Park, Stevenson, Washington (Chicago), Bolingbrook, Lincoln-Way East.