Boys soccer: Postseason scouting, Northwest
Boys soccer / Postseason scouting
Class 3AToday marks the full-fledged start start of the postseason, and with it a dizzying euphoria for those teams fortunate enough to win and advance at each state. It can be a remarkable time of the year for those select few who are able to navigate their way all the way to the the first weekend of November.
Here's a quick glance at what to expect in the weeks ahead:
Glenbrook North sectionalTop 4 seeds (in order): Evanston (16-1-3), Maine South (12-1-5), New Trier (8-8-2), Glenbrook North (12-6-1).
Advancement: Sectional champ advances to play Stevenson champion in Barrington supersectional on Tuesday, Nov. 3 at 7 p.m.
The lowdown: No. seed 6 Leyden tends to be at its best at home, and when the Eagles welcome No. 3 New Trier, Prospect and others beginning Tuesday, coach Mark Valintis hopes that will make a difference.
"I can guarantee you we won't overlook (Prospect) in our opener, with an eye on New Trier in the regional final," said Valintis, who watched his team go 7-0-1 at home. "If we're fortunate to meet New Trier, I believe it will be a great game. Both teams will be confident and work tirelessly to get the result, and although past games, or records might impact the way both come out, I don't feel any of that will matter when that opening whistle blows."
The Trevians' overall record won't fool Valintis and his staff. The perennial Central Suburban League and state power possesses a big, strong backline, along with more than enough speed and quickness. Leyden can nullify much of this strength thanks in part to the dynamic duo along the back - Alfredo Recendez in goal and first-rate defender Cesar Franco, along with a top scoring threat, senior Albert Arabik.
While New Trier might have the most name recognition, this fall a trio of serious contenders are also eager to win the trophy. No. 1 seed Evanston has defeated Warren, Libertyville and St. Viator, and is air-tight in its backline to complement quality keeper talent. Maine South recently won the CSL crown with its victory over Deerfield. Sectional host Glenbrook North is as stingy as they come, thanks in part to goalkeeper Ian Albert - but the Spartans have had trouble finding the back of the net, witnessed by the nine 1-0 matches it has been involved in. Glenbrook North has finished 5-4 in those 1-goal results, which includes a hard-fought decision against Alan Matan's team at Maine West. "Scoring has been a major problem all throughout our season," said Matan, "but we have shown we can play with some of the best, such as GBN. But in the end, a mistake, and our inability to finish, has cost us. "It's a new season now for us, so we'll see what happens.
Should Leyden win its second consecutive regional crown, Valintis knows what lies ahead.
"We watched Maine South against Deerfield, and South defends with eight behind the ball, five in the back, and they look tough to crack," he said. "They have a lot of speed up top as well, and have won a lot of close games. Evanston just doesn't give up any goals, and they are very athletic, but in a wide-open sectional like this where conference rivals might be playing each other for the third time, things can happen. We're kind of the unknown team in this sectional, so it should be an exciting couple of weeks."
Stevenson sectionalTop 4 seeds: Warren (15-4-3), Barrington (14-5-3), Libertyville (11-3-1), Wheeling (14-2-4)
Advancement: Sectional champ advances to play Glenbrook North sectional champion in Barrington supersectional on Tuesday, Nov. 3 at 7 p.m.
The lowdown: The popular headliners leading up to this sectional must be focused from the very start or risk falling victim to the upset epidemic which hit in this area last season. "Warren and us were out in the first round last year, so you know when Palatine and Fremd are Nos. 11 and 14 seeds, you had better pay attention right from your regional opener," said Barrington coach Scott Steib, whose team was surprised by No. 13 Stevenson in OT last fall while Warren was sent home by upstart Buffalo Grove. "This sectional has to be the deepest, if not one of the top two, and when you're at that Fremd regional, where you have (the Vikings), Palatine, the MSL runner-up (Buffalo Grove) and Libertyville all there, that says something about this sectional."
The North Suburban champion Wildcats have to be wary of Fremd (7-12-1), which is always dangerous this time of the season, and would enjoy making its mark at its home park. Last year the Vikings defeated the 'Cats in a sectional semifinal.
Palatine (11-4-3), which has quietly fashioned a solid season, has functioned without a true scorer, relying instead on a tactically sound defensive unit which hopes to slow down the free-flowing attack of MSL Cup finalist Buffalo Grove. "It's tough when you open the playoffs against one of your own from the MSL, but that's the way it goes, so if you don't come ready to play right from the start, you're one and done," said BG coach Brad Abel.
No. 4 seed Wheeling and No. 12 St. Viator (13-10-4) were both sent to the Grayslake North regional, where Ed Uhrik's team meets No. 19 Grayslake North at the start and the Lions, coming off a disappointing regular-season finale loss to Benet in OT, take on No. 5 Deerfield (14-4-2), the runners-up in the PepsiCo Showdown and more recently the CSL.
"When you in a sectional like this where it's so wide open, you're scouting just about everyone because you just don't know what is going to happen along the way," said Taylor, who guided the Lions to a fourth-place trophy in Class 2A last season.
Uhrik offers a different spin on the landscape which awaits his club Tuesday.
"Everywhere in the sectional is incredibly loaded, but for us, we feel fortunate not be playing teams from the MSL at this time of the year and instead teams with varying styles, with none of us being very familiar with each other," he said. "The trick now, at least for my boys, is to focus on the goal of advancing into the sectionals, and having them find that feeling of urgency once again after losing it a bit when we realized our goal of making it into the MSL Cup fell short." What may help the Cats in time of need is scoring, and the club does possess a trio of finishers: Elias Cisneros, Nick Janulis and Dennis Gavrila, who have combined to bag 37 of the 50 goals Wheeling has scored this season.
Wheaton Academy sectionalTop 4 seeds: Schaumburg (16-2-0), Glenbard North (12-3-2), St. Charles North (13-4-3), Wheaton Academy (16-3-1).
Advancement: Sectional champion advances to play Huntley sectional champ in Barrington supersectional on Tuesday, Nov. 3 at 4:30 p.m.
The lowdown: After agonizing near-misses in 2012 and 2013, the dream became a reality for Wheaton Academy last fall when it lifted the Class 2A state trophy. One year later, competing in 3A, the Warriors find themselves a part of a first-class group at the top end of this sectional, which finds MSL champion Schaumburg as the No. 1 seed. "We were thrilled to win it all in the MSL," said Schaumburg coach Hamid Mehreioskouei. "It is such a difficult thing to do. Even if we didn't win the league title, it would not have defined our season - but it will if we can advance from this sectional, and ultimately play into the final week of the season." The big challenge ahead of the Saxons head coach is to have his club continue to be a stingy defensive group while remaining a vibrant attacking outfit.
"This is a sectional loaded with many of the top teams in the state, and I believe any team seeded 1-10 (here) can get hot, and with some luck, come out on top," said Conant coach Jason Franco. "With that said, Schaumburg has too many pieces in too many positions. Plus they have multiple players who can score, and that is gold in high school soccer."
The Saxons' immediate concern will be opening the tournament at No. 8 Lake Park (12-3-4), which fell one match short of returning to the last weekend a year ago. The Lancers play with a lot of energy, which should only increase the intensity as they host a regional. Franco's team is also at home in the regional but has a difficult opener with No. 5 St. Charles East (13-4-2), a team that's been strong lately after starting out 1-3-1. "(East) has been hot of late, and they have some big, talented kids, but we've shown we can play opponents at that level," Franco said.
The Cougars (8-5-6) gave Schaumburg its lone defeat in the MSL, then one week later, dealt another loss to a top club, Barrington.
- Mike Garfola