Boys soccer / Scouting Cook County
Mid-Suburban League (MSL)
Barrington
Coach: Scott Steib (27th year)
Last year: 6-8-6 (3-6-2, 4th, MSL West)
Top returning players: Seniors Jack Ball (D), Magdiel Magdaleno (MF); juniors Alex Liapis (MF).
Outlook: The Broncos found themselves in a season-long scoring drought a year ago, and despite conceding just one goal per game, they managed just 13 goals in 20 games. “We're going to be very strong defensively, but we must find a way to score more this season,” said coach Scott Steib, who returns his terrific all-area central defender Jack Ball.
Buffalo Grove
Coach: Darren Llewellyn (8th year)
Last year: 6-8-4, (3-6-2, 5th, MSL East)
Top returning players: Seniors Juan Aparicio (D-MF), Roberto Arellano (D), Brady Goetz (D), Jonathan Maradkel (MF), Daniel Svalbonas (F).
Outlook: The Bison at times last season were a very difficult club to play against, other times not so. “We have a chance to be a very competitive team, especially with a solid group of players back (most) of which I've had with me the last four years, which includes all-sectional midfielder (Maradkel),” said coach Llewellyn. If the Bison can shore things up between the pipes, and stay healthy, they may be the team to beat in the new divisional realignment.
Conant
Coach: Jason Franco (18th year)
Last year: 14-9-2 (7-3-1, MSL West champs, sectional champs)
Top returning players: Seniors Ben Schaeffer (F), Chase Staniak (D); junior Kacper Niziolek (D).
New players to watch: Junior Marko Gouk (F); sophomores Seamus Devine (MF), Blake Staniak (D).
Outlook: A heartbreaking 2-1 loss to eventual 3A state runners-up Lane Tech in the supersectional dashed the hopes of the Cougars of reaching the state tournament for the first time since 2016. A big reason for the success of Jason Francos' club was the brilliant play of the two-time all-state scoring star Krystian Niziolek, now playing at Roosevelt University. “Our strength this year will be our depth at multiple positions. We'll be able to change 7-8 guys with very little drop off,” said Franco. "(However) we're young with six sophomores who will play significant minutes, so there will be a period of adjustment.”
Elk Grove
Coach: Dan Klaus (3rd year)
Last year: 11-6-1 (6-4-1, 3rd, MSL East)
Top returning players: Seniors Olivier Bielecki (MF), Nery Gomez (D), Alan Maya-Gonzalez (MF), Marsil Merza (D); sophomores Alexis Jimenez (MF), Arthur Mikina (F).
Outlook: The benefit of having a quartet of veteran returning players back: Bielecki, Gomez, Maya-Gonzales, Merza, plus the sophomore Mikina up top will give Dan Klaus' younger players a chance to get better as the season moves forward. “Our guys coming back were part of a successful season, so they know what it (takes). Now we just want to improve upon (that), while the younger guys get themselves up to speed,” said Klaus.
Fremd
Coach: Steve Keller (28th year)
Last year: 6-11-1 (5-6-0, 3rd, MSL West)
Top returning players: Seniors Ramon Aros (MF), Tyler Roos (M-F), Stefan Smolak (D-MF); juniors Yassin Abdelwares (MF-F), Jose Hernandez (F).
New players to watch: Juniors Oliver Chambers (D), Hayden Santiago (MF); sophomore Rafael Abadie-Ramirez (M-F-D).
Outlook: After a tough start to the 2024 season, the Vikings finally got themselves back level at 6-6-1 until a five-game losing streak would end their season well below the .500 mark. “We'll need to replace our keeper, but we have a lot of returning players that gained valuable experience last season,” said Steve Keller, who has a terrific central defender in (Stefan Smolak) as well as fellow seniors Ramon Aros and Tyler Roos to inspire the attack.
Hersey
Coach: Mike Rusniak (8th year)
Last year: 19-3-5 (7-1-3, MSL champs, 3A state champions)
Top returning players: Seniors Diego Ortiz (F), Nik Van De Mark (MF); juniors Johnny Antoniou (MF), Adam Myslinski (MF), Teddy Reyes (MF).
New players to watch: Junior Patryk Smakowski (GK); sophomore Mike Lazar (MF).
Outlook: Hersey soccer fans enjoyed the times of their lives as they experienced the Huskies’ unforgettable run to a 3A state title when it would defeat Lane Tech in penalty kicks to lift its first championship trophy in the sport. There were far too many heroes to list in this space, and many have since graduated, yet there is a solid core of players back who contributed quality minutes all throughout the 2024 campaign. “We have a strong group back, who have set high expectations for themselves, and have already proven to be strong leaders,” said Rusniak.
Hoffman Estates
Coach: Sean Armstrong (8th year)
Last year: 4-11-4 (2-7-2, 5th, MSL West)
Top returning players: Seniors Allain Acevedo (GK), Henry Henning (D), Oziel Morales (MF), Lukas Vanaskaukas (F); junior Olivier Pleban (D).
New players to watch: Seniors Mason Haussman (MF), Diego Segura (MF).
Outlook: The Hawks got out on their front foot at the start of the 2024 campaign, but their inability to find the back of the net afterwards saw Sean Armstrong's team drop seven games by one goal. “This year we have a team that will play fast, and much more physical than a year ago, and it will also be one of our strongest defensive teams we've had since I've been here,” said Armstrong.
Palatine
Coach: Aaron Morris (4th year)
Last year: 11-8-3 (6-3-2, 2nd, MSL West)
Top returning players: Seniors Gabriel Carmona (MF), Sebastian Lopez (F), Israel Romaniz (MF), Erick Guerrero-Ramos (MF); juniors Alexander Bailon (D), Brandon Torrez (F).
New players to watch: Senior Carson Latek (F); sophomores Evan Kasparaitis (D), Tiao Rodriguez (MF); freshman August LaCapra (D).
Outlook: With the all-state central-defender Jackson Post in charge along the back, the Pirates were able to stay close to eventual division champion Conant until a late season swoon ended the hopes of Aaron Morris' club. “We have guys who can create, are very technical, lots of depth with players willing to play all over the pitch in order for us to show many different looks,” said Morris, who has Alexander Bailon back to replace Post. “We have another strong senior class, but we are playing in the strongest conference from top-to-bottom, so we'll need to learn to do the little things in order to get results.”
Prospect
Coach: Nick Feeney (1st year)
Last year: 4-9-5 (2-7-2, 6th, MSL East)
Outlook: Nick Feeney becomes the third coach in as many years to take charge of the Knights program, and will inherit a club that graduated nine including its all-sectional, all-MSL midfielder Hayden Hoelting, who is playing this fall at Ohio Dominican University. While Feeney lost most of his first 11 from a year ago, he does, however, return the backline duo of: Andrew Moreth and Quinn Zinzer, both of whom earned valuable experience in the starting lineup throughout the season. The Knights will open play at the 39th Jim Wolter Titans Invite, hosted annually at Glenbrook South.
Rolling Meadows
Coach: Brett Olson (9th year)
Last year: 14-5-3 (7-1-3, 2nd, MSL East)
Top returning players: Senior Zach Rogers (MF); juniors Patryk Bochonko (D), Dash Lockley (MF), Emanuil Myrtollari (D-MF); sophomore Noah Dwyer (MF).
New players to watch: Senior Tony Romanacce (D); sophomores Tommy Jackman (MF), Konrad Tomczak (MF-F).
Outlook: With three all-state players on its 2024 roster, the Mustangs appeared to be on their way to one of their best seasons in recent memory, until a trio of 1-1 draws ended their hopes in league play before a heartbreaking regional final loss in penalty kicks to Stevenson put an abrupt end to the season. “We had an incredibly talented senior class last year, be we'll be very inexperienced all over the field, but with a lot of individual skill and success from club soccer that we hope will translate to the high school game,” said coach Brett Olson.
Schaumburg
Coach: Matt Meyer (2nd year)
Last year: 6-9-3 (2-8-1, 6th, MSL West)
Top returning players: Seniors Juan Carlos (D), Mati Krzanowski (MF), Anthony Say (GK); juniors Jesus Rosales (D), Joel Rosales (MF).
New players to watch: Senior Jeshua Loiaza-Veliz (F); freshman Filip Tabaczynski (F).
Outlook: The Saxons found themselves in the latter half a year ago after a slow start under Matt Meyer, who once starred for the Saxons before doing the same at Augustana. “We're looking to build on the momentum of last year, and with a strong senior and junior core, anchored by our standout keeper Anthony Say, and the relentless energy from Mati Krzanowski, I feel like we can make an impact this season,” said Meyer.
Wheeling
Coach: Kevin Lennon (10th year)
Last year: 9-5-2 (6-4-1, 4th, MSL East)
Top returning players: Seniors Chris Conejo (F), Sebastian Hernandez (MF), Javier Zavala (D); junior Jesus Zavala (D).
New players to watch: Junior Maicol Manrique (D); sophomore Tomas Aviles (MF).
Outlook: After three straight sub-.500 seasons, the Wildcats turned things around last fall, keeping themselves in the race for a division title. “We graduated a lot of skilled seniors, many of which had been with the varsity all four years, but the returning players have a great attitude and work ethic that we hope will leads us towards the top of the conference,” said Kevin Lennon, who will look to Chris Conejo to run the attack, Sebastian Hernandez to control the middle of the park, and Jesus Zavala to provide solid defense.
West Suburban Conference
Leyden
Coach: Mark Valintis (18th year)
Last year: 19-3-2 (6-0-0, WSC-Gold champs, regional champs)
Top Returning Players: Seniors Rafael Burciaga (F), Ryvin Del Pilar (F), Diego Esquivel (MF), Rogelio Herrera (MF-D), Vladmir Martinez (MF-F).
New Players to Watch: Senior Jose Mendez (MF); juniors Josue Fajardo (F), Isaac Huitrado (F); freshman Dylan Hutton (D).
Outlook: Mark Valintis' 2024 club would enjoy a trust that enabled the Eagles to dominate 80 minutes each, and every night, thanks in part to having two all-state players and a wonderfully talented and gifted roster that lost in penalty kicks to eventual 3A state runner-up Lane Tech in its sectional final. “We return just one defender, and have two new keepers, so it will take some time to grow together after graduating (16) seniors,” admits Valintis. “However, our 1v1 ability, and depth, especially in the midfield and up top will be our strength.”
Central Suburban League
Maine East
Coach: Jeff Bishop (9th year)
Last year: 4-19-0 (2-3-0, 3rd CSL North)
Top returning players: Seniors Diego Escobar (MF), Tariq Hamad (D), Paul Planica (F), Aldin Rizvanoic (F); junior Zakhar Bets (GK).
New players to watch: Sophomores Nikola Dasic (D), Cristian Orduna Landi (MF).
Outlook: Jeff Bishop has reason to be optimistic with the return of his all-CSL forward Paul Planica and four others from a club that finished third a year. “We have a lot of experience coming back, we know what to expect and what we have to do in order to compete, and our experience along the back, (if) we can finish what we create, it can be a very successful season,” said Bishop.
Maine South
Coach: Dan States (25th year)
Last year: 14-7-3 (1-3-1, 5th, CSL South, regional champs)
Top returning players: Seniors Niali Cronnolly (F), Bartek Galimski (F), Wyatt Kelleher (D), Cooper Larson (MF), Oscar Podraza (D), Stefan Radosavlijec (F-MF),
New players to watch: Seniors Samuel Rodriguez (GK), Sebastian Rodriguez (F).
Outlook: What a job Dan States and his Hawks did so a year ago as the club fought its way through one of the toughest soccer leagues around before stunning perennial state power New Trier for a regional title. “We have extensive depth with 12 returning players, so we should have a good core to help us through another challenging schedule,” said States. “We'll be strong along the back with anchors (Wyatt) Kelleher and (Oscar) Podraza, but question mark will be how we adapt up top after the graduation of two all-state track stars, and terrific soccer players, Will Smucker and Sean Schermerhorn who stretched defenses for us last year.”
Maine West
Coach: Eliades Hernandez (3rd year)
Last year: 9-7-1 (3-1-1, 2nd, CLS North)
Top returning players: Senior Bryan Romero (F); juniors Dominick Giacchetti (D), Jonathan Salazar (D); sophomores Bryan Garcia (MF), Kacper Gucwa (MF).
New players to watch: Juniors Lorenzo Burgio (MF), Alex Dziura (MF); sophomore Matthew Kiros (D).
Outlook: The all-CSL duo of Bryan Romero and Kacper Gucwa will headline a solid core coming back for the Warriors, who along with their division rivals figure reigning champion Niles North to be the team to beat. “We worked very hard during the summer to build chemistry, and creating unity, so the players are motivated and healthy and ready to go,” said Eliades Hernandez, who admits to having a young roster, and one that lacks size.
East Suburban Catholic Conference
St. Viator
Coach: Byron DeLeon (5th year)
Last year: 3-18-0 (2-6-0, 8th, ESCC)
Top returning players: Senior Diego Garcia (MF); junior Miles Waddell (MF-F); sophomore Thomas Mepham (GK).
New players to watch: Sophomore Saul Jimenez (D-MF); freshman Connor Curtin (D).
Outlook: The Lions will look to do far more than a year ago during an eighth-place finish in the ESCC, dominated by the likes of league co-champions Benet Academy and Notre Dame. Byron DeLeon will look to reverse their fortunes, both in the ESCC as well as in nonconference play by leaning on the likes of senior MF Diego Garcia, and a young, but enthusiastic roster. “This is a very skillful team, but we a really young, so it will take some time for us to come together,” said DeLeon.