Scouting Northwest: boys soccer postseason
Sectional soccer scouting report
The clubs competing in 14 area sectional sites, which begins in earnest at 16 regional locations this weekend, are dreaming of a bright future and deep playoff runs. Who will steal the soccer headlines during the next few weeks? Here's a quick look.
Barrington sectional
Top four teams: Rockford Boylan (17-1-2), Larkin (14-5-1), Crystal Lake South (17-1-2), Round Lake (13-1-5).
When the ball gets rolling at the four regional venues, the storyline at three of the sites is the terrific individual talent with all-state candidates Charlie Oliver (CL South) and Victor Zamora of Boylan, a trio from Round Lake who together have a room-full of goals to their credit. However, for all of this scintillating attacking soccer, there looms a threat to all from the the host Broncos (11-6-2), who might be short on star quality but make up for it with teamwork, organization, and a work rate which can take the pace right out from underneath most of the clubs in competition here.
“We're going to have to clean things up a little bit better, and play sharp, intelligent soccer if we want to take advantage of playing on our home turf in the sectionals, said Barrington coach Scott Steib, whose team won 7 straight to close out the regular season, including 5 shutouts.
The shift of power could switch to the Broncos should they get past No. 3 Cary-Grove (11-2-1) and then Round Lake in the Grant final. That would set up a likely sectional semifinal with former Rolling Meadows all-state GK Brian Allen and his team from Crystal Lake South, which went through the FVC Valley with a perfect record.
“Our (Jacobs) regional is like a mini-FVC conference tournament, so there won't be too many surprises, and if we advance to the Barrington sectional, and honestly, the team that arrives there on a hot streak, playing solid defense, is likely the favorite to come out, said Allen.
Advancement: The Barrington sectional champ meets the Schaumburg sectional champ at the Barrington supersectional.
Libertyville sectional
Top four teams: Libertyville (15-4-2), Fremd (14-2-2), Lake Zurich (11-6-2), Glenbrook North (11-2-3).
If what happened to Libertyville in the closing weeks of the regular season is any indication, this group of granite has a few cracks in it. The one-time top-rated club in the state has fallen on hard times, so much so that the Wildcats fell out of the NSC Lake championship race, giving way to Warren (No. 8), which just edged both Stevenson and Lake Zurich. Those two are among the 16 of 20 teams here with better-than-.500 records. “I don't believe anyone is afraid of (anyone) here, but I can tell you that you better not fall asleep or take any of these ball clubs lightly, or your season will be over, said coach Mike Taylor, who finds his St. Viator (14-5-2) club on a collision course with No. 4 Glenbrook North. The Spartans may have taken away from itself the advantage of being a turf team when they moved their regional from the super quick surface of Techny Park in favor of the natural grass in its football stadium. The No. 1 Wildcats will have their hands full just trying to get past Warren (11-5-5) and Stevenson, as well as ESCC power Carmel (11-8-2). No. 14 Palatine (11-8-1) fired the first shot in a likely rematch at the Highland Park regional final with the No. 3 Bears after a 1-0 victory last weekend. If the seeding deck had a do-over now, it would likely be Fremd at the top after the Vikings went 7-0-0 down the stretch to clinch their 12th MSL Soccer Cup appearance. Perhaps the most compelling first-round matches will see No. 6 Prospect (11-5-2) against No. 10 Deerfield (9-4-4) and scoring sensation Joey Calistri; Deerfield lost to the Knights in the season opener for both clubs 4-3.
Advancement: The Libertyville sectional champ advances to play the Maine South sectional champ at the Loyola University supersectional.
Maine South sectional
Top four teams: Niles West (13-2-4), Maine West (9-5-7), New Trier (6-6-5), Maine East (10-5-2).
The marvelous record from Niles West does not include a signature win over a quality opponent to help validate its top seed, except for Boylan in PKs. The Wolves, however, are still the most logical choice in this sectional. Inexperience and injuries have brought perennial state power New Trier back to earth this season, yet the Trevians still seem good enough to win their own regional. Another young club, Maine West, has struggled all year to find the back of the net. “We have the defense and goalkeeper to compete and advance, but we need to start to cash in on our opportunities, be sharper in the final third, and get better service into the box, says Maine West coach Mike DiVincenzo, whose club will play on turf, first at Loyola, then at Maine South.
Advancement: The Maine South champion advances to play the Libertyville sectional champ in the Loyola University supersectional.
Schaumburg sectional
Top four teams: Leyden (14-3-2), St. Charles North (14-4-2), Elk Grove (12-5-0) , Lake Park (9-7-4).
Every club but the top four has to believe there's a little magic left over from a year ago, when Schaumburg caught fire in the postseason and went from a sub-.500 team to one victory away from advancing into the last four of the Class 3A state tournament. And why not? Since the IHSA announced its regional pairings, the top four seeds have gone a combined 5-9-3, which includes the top two going 3-5-1. The same holds true for Nos. 5 and 6 (Geneva and Conant, both 9-7-1), who have struggled down the stretch, making Rolling Meadows (No. 12) and Hoffman Estates (No. 15), the type of opponent any high-ranked club wants to avoid. “Hoffman has a lot of attacking power, and has to be one of the best 4-win teams around, says Elk Grove coach Joe Bush, whose club had to work hard against the Hawks before clinching its first MSL division title. The same holds true for Meadows, which stunned MSL West champ Fremd in OT one week after ending Conant's hope of staying with the Vikings in the West race.
Advancement: The Schaumburg sectional champion advances to play the Barrington sectional champ in the Barrington supersectional.
Mike Garofola