Chicagoland Soccer Top 25
By Patrick Z. McGavin
Now is the time to praise programs that have stood the test of time and been synonymous with quality and consistency.
Lyons and Fremd make the big leap in the new rankings. The Lions advanced eight spots after they beat one-loss conference rivals Oak Park and River Forest, and Hinsdale Central two days apart.
For good measure Lyons also routed a solid Reavis team to punctuate the 3-0-0 week.
Coach Paul Labbato entered the year in wholly unfamiliar territory without a single returning starter from last year’s Class 3A sectional finalist. It hardly matters.
New players cycle into the program and leave an imprint, a selflessness and passion for the sport.
The Vikings also went 3-0-0 with three shutouts over previous no. 18 Buffalo Grove, Conant and a dominant Kinsella Cup win over rival Palatine. Fremd is assimilating some club players into the mix. The Vikings are getting better with each game. Coach Steve Keller began the year quietly confident his team would find its way.
This is the week he was rewarded for his optimism.
Insurgent programs or Cinderella stories of programs that come from nowhere make for great theater. Their type is never going to lose their excitement and passion.
Something must also be said of the perennials, programs that have stood the test of time and continue to flourish.
Like any newspaperman worth his salt will tell you: all good stories deserve attention.
By Patrick Z. McGavin
Now is the time to praise programs that have stood the test of time and been synonymous with quality and consistency.
Lyons and Fremd make the big leap in the new rankings. The Lions advanced eight spots after they beat one-loss conference rivals Oak Park and River Forest, and Hinsdale Central two days apart.
For good measure Lyons also routed a solid Reavis team to punctuate the 3-0-0 week.
Coach Paul Labbato entered the year in wholly unfamiliar territory without a single returning starter from last year’s Class 3A sectional finalist. It hardly matters.
New players cycle into the program and leave an imprint, a selflessness and passion for the sport.
The Vikings also went 3-0-0 with three shutouts over previous no. 18 Buffalo Grove, Conant and a dominant Kinsella Cup win over rival Palatine. Fremd is assimilating some club players into the mix. The Vikings are getting better with each game. Coach Steve Keller began the year quietly confident his team would find its way.
This is the week he was rewarded for his optimism.
Insurgent programs or Cinderella stories of programs that come from nowhere make for great theater. Their type is never going to lose their excitement and passion.
Something must also be said of the perennials, programs that have stood the test of time and continue to flourish.
Like any newspaperman worth his salt will tell you: all good stories deserve attention.
| Rank | LW | School | W | L | T | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | Naperville N | 12 | 0 | 0 | GKs Barba and Welch score for 2-time champs |
| 2 | 2 | Libertyville | 10 | 0 | 0 | Survives Waukegan upset bid |
| 3 | 4 | Morton | 9 | 1 | 1 | Andre Olvera is talented midfielder |
| 4 | 3 | Wheaton A | 12 | 1 | 0 | Chris Eklund is versatile offensive talent |
| 5 | 9 | New Trier | 9 | 1 | 2 | Benjamin Streett is talented midfielder |
| 6 | 14 | Lyons | 9 | 4 | 0 | Team of the week |
| 7 | 6 | Solorio | 12 | 1 | 1 | Edgar Torres is lockdown defender |
| 8 | 11 | West Aurora | 11 | 1 | 0 | Program-record 10-game win streak |
| 9 | 7 | Hinsdale C | 11 | 2 | 0 | Lyons ends 10-game streak |
| 10 | 5 | Lake Park | 12 | 1 | 2 | Frankie Ciara solidifies superb backline |
| 11 | 19 | Fremd | 8 | 3 | 1 | Josh Bennett powers Kinsella trophy won |
| 12 | 10 | Elgin | 11 | 1 | 2 | Leads Upstate Eight |
| 13 | 12 | Latin | 14 | 0 | 0 | Best start in school history |
| 14 | 13 | OPRF | 10 | 2 | 1 | Brody Bliss is talented forward |
| 15 | 16 | CL South | 11 | 2 | 1 | Jack Wruck is part of gifted middle |
| 16 | 17 | Streamwood | 8 | 3 | 1 | Michael Rubio is skilled midfielder |
| 17 | 18 | Buffalo Gr | 9 | 4 | 1 | Alex Berk is quality attacking player |
| 18 | 8 | York | 8 | 3 | 0 | Ethan Oder is a skilled forward |
| 19 | 23 | St. Patrick | 11 | 3 | 0 | Diego Rivera helps beat Benet |
| 20 | 15 | Benet | 7 | 3 | 0 | Tom Miskin is elite defender |
| 21 | HM | St. Charles E | 7 | 3 | 1 | Renato Avendano keys North upset |
| 22 | 20 | St. Charles N | 9 | 4 | 1 | Logan Michels is dynamic forward |
| 23 | 21 | Glenbrook S | 9 | 1 | 5 | Knocks off rival Glenbrook North |
| 24 | 25 | Oswego | 10 | 2 | 1 | Crush Woodstock for PepsiCo bracket title |
| 25 | HM | Loyola | 8 | 1 | 3 | Austin Agyemangis offensive spark |
Look out for: Bremen, Addison Trail, Oswego East, Evanston, Marmion, St. Ignatius, Naperville Central, Neuqua Valley, Niles North, Wheaton North, Metea Valley, Hersey, Stevenson, Zion-Benton, Mundelein