Fox Valley area boys soccer teams gear up for postseason play
With the winners of the Class 3A Streamwood, Jacobs and Huntley boys soccer regionals meeting Wednesday, Oct. 29 in the DeKalb sectional, here's how the Fox Valley area teams stack up as regional play begins this weekend.
At Streamwood: The host Sabres finished 12-5-2, earning a No. 1 seed again in the same regional as 2013. They look to avenge a semifinal loss to South Elgin but we won't know Streamwood's opponent for Wednesday's 4:30 p.m. showdown until Saturday's play-in at Memorial Field at 12 p.m. concludes between No. 5 South Elgin and No. 4 Elgin, who meet for the first time since the Storm bounced the Maroons in last year's play-in. The Sabres have wins over both schools and played to a scoreless tie against Larkin on September 23 while hitting three crossbars in the process.
"It's our regional to lose," Sabres coach Matt Polovin said. "(We) are clicking and the great thing about it is that everyone said this was supposed to be a rebuilding year."
Forward Alan Camarena, a Burlington Central transfer, has reloaded things at Streamwood. His 21 goals and 10 assists account for 53 points and are good for second in the area and first overall among all 3A and 2A teams in the Daily Herald's Fox Valley circulation area while top rated goalie Sergio Blanco has 7 shutouts on the season. Blerim Shoboni is another threat for a speedy Streamwood with 6 goals and 5 assists.
In Wednesday's 7 p.m. nightcap, No. 2 Dundee-Crown (12-8-1) comes in against No. 3 Larkin struggling. D-C arrives on a 3-game skid, including losses to Jacobs, Cary-Grove and Larkin, the latter a 3-2 loss in a rematch of last year's regional semifinal. The Chargers need production out of midfielder Will Campos (8 goals, 6 assists) and forward Freddy Martinez (9 goals, 4 assists. Keeper Jose Gonzalez also has 7 shutouts on the season that adds to the mix. No. 3 Larkin will be trying to find ways to score. Mid-defender Hector Mendoza leads the way in goals but the Royals (7-10-5) have only scored 21 to date. The Royals have come on in the second half with better results as the youthful squad has moved around to different positions. After a 5-1 loss to St. Charles East on September 30, Larkin's gone 3-1-1, which includes wins over Elgin, Prairie Ridge and D-C. Goaltender Leo Perez will increase the Royals chances if they look for a repeat title in Saturday's 3 p.m. title game.
"We lose by one goal we win by one goal it seems like," said Royals coach Ken Hall. "If we struggle to score goals then we're going to struggle to win. It's kind of been our M.O. all year."
At Jacobs: Top-seeded Crystal Lake South is the favorite in this mini-Fox Valley Conference tournament that begins Tuesday at 4:30 p.m. with the Gators playing the host Golden Eagles and ends next Friday in the regional final at 5 p.m. After winning the FVC Valley Division undefeated, the Gators (15-5-1) ride in winning 8 of their last 9. Seven of their 8 shutouts come from keeper Dalton Kause, who's allowed 21 goals in 20 games. CLS' potent attack starts with forward Andrew Grabowski (15 goals and 6 assists) while midfielders Orlando Tapia (10 goals, 6 assists), Charlie Ruff (4 goals, 11 assists) and forward Stefan Harris (10 goals, 6 assists) round out the scoring. "If they play up to their standard and up to their potential that we do have the capability of going out and competing against all these teams in our regional and replicating what was done during the conference season," South coach Brian Allen said.
No. 2 Cary-Grove might oblige. At 15-2 the Trojans are no cupcake and pose a major threat with a defensive unit led by seniors Brad Sigsworth and Pat McKune while Ethan Csoka in goal has 8 shutouts. C-G has allowed just 12 goals in 17 games. Offensively, Josh Gratz exemplified his strength in the midfield with his game-winning free kick against D-C in the season finale. The Trojans open regional play on Tuesday at 7 p.m. against No. 3 McHenry (10-7-4). No. 4 Jacobs rides in with momentum. After a PK loss to McHenry came the most stirring win of the season Tuesday in a 1-0 quagmire win against D-C, as Chris Rigby (5 goals, 4 assists) sneaked in a first half free kick that snapped a 4-game skid.
"South's the most dangerous, Cary just competes and us and McHenry can put a game together and on the right day we're in good shape," Jacobs coach AJ Cappello said. "It'll be two good games."
At Huntley: The top-seeded Red Raiders (7-12-5) get No. 4 Rockford East at home at 5 p.m. Tuesday while No. 2 DeKalb and No. 3 Rockford Jefferson follows at 7 p.m. DeKalb (10-5-4) poses the biggest threat coming off a season sweep of Sycamore. If seeds hold Huntley can avenge last year's regional final loss to the Barbs next Saturday at 4 p.m. But the Red Raiders pocketed a 1-0 road win over DeKalb 2 weeks ago to boot.
At Schaumburg: It's déjà vu for No. 18 Bartlett in the Schaumburg regional. A date with Lake Park awaits Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. if the Hawks can notch a win over No. 14 Willowbrook on Saturday at 3 p.m. Lake Park down the Hawks 5-1 last season.
Class 2A At Burlington Central: The host Rockets defend their regional title on Rocket Hill Tuesday at 5 p.m. against either No. 5 Sandwich or No. 4 Hampshire. The Whips (6-13-2) look to advance in their 6 p.m. showdown Friday after upsetting FVC Fox champ Grayslake Central in PKs last week. But the Rockets (13-5-2) are streaking, winning 6 of 7 by a tally of 35-5 that includes 4 shutouts by keeper Ryan Fitzgerald, who has 7 in total. Freshman forward Jack Schramme is third in the area with 21 goals and 11 assists but not far behind is the speedy midfielder Stefan Jochum with 15 goals and 5 assists. BC coach Mike Gecan says the Rockets reached new levels at times this season but need to be more consistent on teamwork and defense. The injury bug has passed, but can they survive themselves?
"I definitely think when we're on we're the best team I think everyone can admit that. When we're off, we can lose to any one of those teams," Gecan said. "Our worst enemy is ourselves at times. It's a combination of not always playing with each other or not positive with each other." No. 2 Kaneland and No. 3 Sycamore square off in the nightcap at 7 p.m. with the regional title next Friday at 4:30 p.m.