Chicagoland Soccer Top 25
By Patrick Z. McGavin
For the first time ever, the top-rated teams of the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25 poll and Illinois 10 poll squared off when Naperville North and Notre Dame (Peoria) met in the semifinals of the Go for the Goal Classic on Friday morning in Burlington, Iowa.
Notre Dame was rated higher by MaxPreps and had two victories over common opponents by greater margins. The Irish beat Fremd 4-0 and Naperville Central 4-2. North beat both of those programs by scores of 1-0.
The Irish discovered what Libertyville did in last year’s Class 3A state championship. Numbers are somewhat irrelevant against the Huskies. Ty Konrad scored on an assist from Cesar Recendez to pull out the 1-0 victory.
In the championship game, Naperville North defeated Wisconsin-power Marquette 4-3 in the shootout after the game ended 2-2. Tommy Welch made two spectacular saves to clinch the victory. North now has a 0.25 goals-against average, having posted 13 shutouts and conceded just four goals in 16 games.
Morton, Wheaton Academy and Mount Carmel also impressed at the tournament. The week just proved what many already knew: until proven otherwise, Chicago soccer is the tops.
By Patrick Z. McGavin
For the first time ever, the top-rated teams of the Chicagoland Soccer Top 25 poll and Illinois 10 poll squared off when Naperville North and Notre Dame (Peoria) met in the semifinals of the Go for the Goal Classic on Friday morning in Burlington, Iowa.
Notre Dame was rated higher by MaxPreps and had two victories over common opponents by greater margins. The Irish beat Fremd 4-0 and Naperville Central 4-2. North beat both of those programs by scores of 1-0.
The Irish discovered what Libertyville did in last year’s Class 3A state championship. Numbers are somewhat irrelevant against the Huskies. Ty Konrad scored on an assist from Cesar Recendez to pull out the 1-0 victory.
In the championship game, Naperville North defeated Wisconsin-power Marquette 4-3 in the shootout after the game ended 2-2. Tommy Welch made two spectacular saves to clinch the victory. North now has a 0.25 goals-against average, having posted 13 shutouts and conceded just four goals in 16 games.
Morton, Wheaton Academy and Mount Carmel also impressed at the tournament. The week just proved what many already knew: until proven otherwise, Chicago soccer is the tops.
| Rank | LW | School | W | L | T | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | Naperville N | 16 | 0 | 0 | Huskies top Wis. national power Marquette |
| 2 | 2 | Libertyville | 13 | 0 | 0 | Unbeaten and untied for best start ever |
| 3 | 3 | Morton | 12 | 2 | 1 | Mustangs prove they belong on national stage |
| 4 | 4 | Wheaton A | 15 | 1 | 0 | Capture bracket in Go for the Goal Classic |
| 5 | 7 | Solorio | 15 | 1 | 1 | Ivan Soriano makes big play in city quarterfinal |
| 6 | 5 | New Trier | 11 | 3 | 2 | Jeffrey Urban impresses in Iowa |
| 7 | 8 | West Aurora | 14 | 1 | 0 | Key game with Streamwood Monday |
| 8 | 13 | Latin | 17 | 0 | 0 | Running through Independent School League |
| 9 | 12 | Elgin | 12 | 1 | 2 | Headed for showdown with West Aurora |
| 10 | 11 | Fremd | 9 | 4 | 1 | Connor Sapiente solidifies strong middle |
| 11 | 10 | Lake Park | 12 | 2 | 2 | Gabriel Mendrano is a talented midfielder |
| 12 | 6 | Lyons | 11 | 6 | 0 | Ty Williams is skilled two-way player |
| 13 | 9 | Hinsdale C | 12 | 3 | 0 | Shut out by St. Ignatius |
| 14 | 14 | OPRF | 11 | 2 | 2 | Jaime Guillen has 16 goals |
| 15 | 15 | CL South | 11 | 2 | 3 | Forward Sabien Raymond pushes offense |
| 16 | 16 | Streamwood | 10 | 3 | 3 | Jose Ibarra looking to slow down West Aurora |
| 17 | 19 | St. Patrick | 15 | 3 | 0 | Angel Adame is a quality defender |
| 18 | HM | Addison Tr | 12 | 4 | 0 | Julio Acosta leads squad to 9-straight wins |
| 19 | 20 | Benet | 9 | 3 | 1 | T.J. McVey is a precocious freshman |
| 20 | 21 | SC East | 9 | 5 | 0 | Luke Schnitker keys Batavia victory |
| 21 | 22 | SC North | 10 | 4 | 1 | Nicky Sommer is skilled midfielder |
| 22 | 17 | Buffalo Gr | 11 | 4 | 2 | Brian Perez is an explosive talent |
| 23 | 24 | Oswego | 12 | 2 | 2 | Jonny Kraemer is player to watch |
| 24 | HM | Oswego E | 11 | 3 | 2 | Nolan Laczynski is big-time talent |
| 25 | 25 | Loyola | 10 | 1 | 3 | Oscar Blazer is skilled sophomore |
Look out for: St. Ignatius, York, Bremen, Evanston, Glenbrook South, Naperville Central, Neuqua Valley, Mount Carmel, Wheaton North, Metea Valley, Hersey, Stevenson, Zion-Benton, Mundelein, Highland Park.