Chicagoland Soccer Top 25
By Patrick Z. McGavin
The soccer season is invariably measured incrementally, with the idea of taking time to fully assess the matter before making any grand pronouncements.
Saturday was a momentous day with significant tournament championships decided at the Northside College Showcase, the Best of the West, Hillner Classic, Jim Wolter/Titan Invitational, St. Charles Invitational, Barrington Classic and the Joe Novy Classic.
That is a lot to process. The top of the field looks pretty similar to a week ago with some minor adjustments.
New Trier’s extraordinary victory Saturday against Lyons helped clarify matters in the present tense. New Trier beat previously unbeaten and higher ranked Loyola and Libertyville.
Naperville North captured its sixth-consecutive Best of the West title, defeating two powerhouse programs on the same day, Benet and Naperville Central.
The afternoon also crystallized what we missed from the spring season—the absence of these high profile, incident-packed tournaments that go a long way in establishing hierarchies, competence, talent and level of competition.
It turned out to be a day we had been waiting for. It’s a snapshot to be sure, but it colors what can happen next. It reminded us of what was lost during the pandemic year.
Labor Day weekend is a moment of transition, marking the end of the summer months and the start of the next wave of activity. School is back. So is the game. Let’s rejoice in the wonderful collage of activity, emotion and depth of feeling.
Games through Sunday
By Patrick Z. McGavin
The soccer season is invariably measured incrementally, with the idea of taking time to fully assess the matter before making any grand pronouncements.
Saturday was a momentous day with significant tournament championships decided at the Northside College Showcase, the Best of the West, Hillner Classic, Jim Wolter/Titan Invitational, St. Charles Invitational, Barrington Classic and the Joe Novy Classic.
That is a lot to process. The top of the field looks pretty similar to a week ago with some minor adjustments.
New Trier’s extraordinary victory Saturday against Lyons helped clarify matters in the present tense. New Trier beat previously unbeaten and higher ranked Loyola and Libertyville.
Naperville North captured its sixth-consecutive Best of the West title, defeating two powerhouse programs on the same day, Benet and Naperville Central.
The afternoon also crystallized what we missed from the spring season—the absence of these high profile, incident-packed tournaments that go a long way in establishing hierarchies, competence, talent and level of competition.
It turned out to be a day we had been waiting for. It’s a snapshot to be sure, but it colors what can happen next. It reminded us of what was lost during the pandemic year.
Labor Day weekend is a moment of transition, marking the end of the summer months and the start of the next wave of activity. School is back. So is the game. Let’s rejoice in the wonderful collage of activity, emotion and depth of feeling.
Games through Sunday
| Rk | LW | Team | W | L | T | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | Morton | 4 | 0 | 1 | Ismael Zepeda is next great attacking player |
| 2 | 2 | St. Charles E | 6 | 0 | 0 | Connor King powers tournament victory |
| 3 | 9 | New Trier | 4 | 0 | 1 | Aidan Crawford makes for extraordinary shootout |
| 4 | 3 | Lyons | 4 | 1 | 1 | Aidan Hilling is a playmaker |
| 5 | 4 | Naperville N | 4 | 1 | 1 | Cam Radeke leads to Best of the West title |
| 6 | 6 | Loyola | 5 | 1 | 0 | Frank Miedema is athletic, powerful |
| 7 | 12 | York | 5 | 0 | 0 | Sam Musial is impactful |
| 8 | 20 | Lockport | 5 | 0 | 0 | Captures Windy City Classic |
| 9 | 25 | CL South | 5 | 0 | 0 | Tom Coughlin unlocks potent offense |
| 10 | 7 | Libertyville | 4 | 2 | T | Cole Danner powers elite junior class |
| 11 | 8 | Benet | 3 | 2 | 0 | Keeper Evan Lucas is stellar vs. Naperville N |
| 12 | 5 | West Aurora | 4 | 2 | 0 | 22-game winning streak snapped |
| 13 | 10 | Fremd | 2 | 0 | 1 | Leo Akashi a skilled young talent |
| 14 | 11 | Evanston | 4 | 0 | 1 | Captures their own tournament |
| 15 | 13 | Naperville C | 5 | 2 | 0 | Sean O’Reilly is a significant talent |
| 16 | HM | Stevenson | 5 | 0 | 2 | Captures Titan Invitational over Mount Carmel |
| 17 | NR | Lake Zurich | 4 | 1 | 1 | Strong showing at Barrington |
| 18 | 15 | Rolling Meadows | 2 | 0 | 0 | Gage Lockley stabilizes the middle attack |
| 19 | 19 | Warren | 4 | 1 | 0 | Alexis Medina is a playmaker |
| 20 | 23 | Addison Trail | 4 | 0 | 0 | Christian Alcaraz keys Novy title |
| 21 | 14 | Barrington | 4 | 1 | 0 | Jack Peterson is electric player in space |
| 22 | NR | Mount Carmel | 3 | 2 | 0 | Challenges Stevenson at Titan Invitational |
| 23 | HM | Metea V | 3 | 1 | 0 | Colin Bastianoni is off to brilliant start |
| 24 | 24 | St. Charles N | 3 | 1 | 0 | Zach Curtis is an elite stopper |
| 25 | HM | Notre Dame | 6 | 0 | 0 | Mike Shanahan keys fabulous beginning |
Look out for: Wheaton North, Oswego East, Niles North, Prairie Ridge, Oak Park and River Forest, Joliet West, Solorio, Shepard, St. Laurence, Marist, North Shore Country Day, Maine South, Vernon Hills, Sycamore, Stagg
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