Boys soccer: Fremd, Stevenson among teams to watch in postseason
The 49th MSL Soccer Cup is in the books, and with that it signals the start of postseason soccer which begins in earnest Tuesday.
This historic event is like no other as it is the longest running championship league final in the state, and one that has created countless memories for the players, coaches, fans and soccer community alike.
"The MSL Soccer Cup is such a fantastic, culminating event for our conference, and for me, to be a part of several. It is always a great honor for our players, program, school and our community," said Barrington coach Scott Steib.
Steib will conclude a brilliant career when he retires at the end of the 2025-2026 school year, taking with him back-to-back Soccer Cup victories in 2003 and 2004, and back-to-back defeats in 2007 and 2008 to rival Hersey.
"One of my favorite memories are those first two (Cup) titles to finally establish ourselves as one of the top teams in the MSL for the first time in program history," said Steib, who fondly remembers two goals from Phil Swarbrick in the Broncos’ 4-0 victory in 2003 over Hersey.
Steib would earn eight MSL Soccer Cup appearances, one short of Steve Keller, whose Fremd club beat Schaumburg Thursday night, 3-0, to claim a league best 11th league championship.
Steib and Keller will lead their teams into the postseason, along with all others, so let's take a look at what awaits in both in 2A and 3A play.
CLASS 2A
The online seeding process set in place by the IHSA draws plenty of moans and groans for a variety of reasons, and rightly so.
The potential for an early match between NLCC rivals Grayslake Central (11-5-0) and Wauconda (11-5-1) is one to watch, with the league champion from Central holding a 4-2 victory over the Bulldogs.
"(Us) playing Central is more like a sectional semifinal, or final for that matter," said Bulldogs coach Tim Miller.
All-State candidates Ivan Serrano and Mario Torres lead their respective clubs at Grayslake Central and Wauconda.
These two clubs sit at No. 4 and No. 5 respectively, behind top seed St. Viator (11-6-1) and No. 2 Carmel Catholic (12-5-2) whose turnaround season from the last few years is remarkable.
St. Viator is 1-4-0 in its last four games, which includes a recent 2-1 loss at home to the Corsairs.
Grayslake Central is the sectional host, and its champion will feed into the Geneva sectional at the Streamwood supersectional in early November.
Geneva (15-5-2), who moved down from 3A, is the No. 2 seed behind state powers Wheaton Academy (17-3-1) and Boylan at 16-2-0.
CLASS 3A
MSL champion Fremd (10-6-3) and runner-up Schaumburg (11-5-3) are on opposite ends of the sectional spectrum.
The Vikings are miscast as the No. 8 seed at the Hersey sectional, and are one victory away from facing top-seed Glenbrook North (15-3-3) who is undefeated in its last 12 games.
There are some interesting regional contests to keep an eye on, including No. 3 Stevenson (11-4-2) facing No. 14 Libertyville (2-14-2) at Round Lake on Tuesday in a regional opener that promises to be fierce given the longtime rivalry between these two NSC clubs.
No. 4 Hersey (14-7-2) will likely play No. 5 Warren (12-7-0) should the Blue Devils send off No. 12 Palatine (9-8-1) at Mundelein, with the aforementioned Barrington and its stingy backline led by Jack Ball meeting No. 10 Lake Zurich in their opener at Barrington Community Stadium.
The Broncos (12-4-5) have conceded just nine goals in its last 10 games.
"This is going to be a wide-open postseason, so there will be plenty of surprises," said Steib, whose opinion has been seconded by every coach asked for their predictions in the upcoming state series.
Lake Zurich (8-9-0) lost to Barrington, 1-0 back on Sept. 4, and since has gone 8-4-1.
Perhaps overlooked all season long, No. 3 Maine South (15-4-1) can expect to advance from its own regional to face 2024 3A state runner-up and No. 2 seed Lane Tech (16-2-0) whose lone two defeats are at the hands of top-seed Taft, who enters the tournament with a perfect 18-0-0 overall record.
The city champions have outscored its opponents 63-9.
At the Schaumburg sectional, which will feed into the Taft sectional at the New Trier supersectional, it is high-flying Leyden (17-3-1) who was anointed the top seed.
All-State candidate Rogelio Herrera takes charge along the back, while his teammate, Ryvin Del Pillar (12 goals), is the inspiration in a well rounded Eagles attack that excels both technically and tactically.
No. 6 Elk Grove (9-4-4) is on course to play No. 4 West Chicago (13-5-4) in its own regional should it get by Addison Trail (10-8-2) which is much better than the No. 12 seed it was given.
MSL rivals No. 5 Conant (8-8-5) and No. 11 Hoffman Estates (9-8-3) tangle in their regional opener at No. 3 Lake Park (14-3-3) which is enjoying its best season in recent history.
Last but not least is No. 7 Schaumburg, a talented and young club that has the potential to have a good postseason run should it go by No. 10 Wheaton Warrenville South (8-9-2), then No. 2 Glenbard West, who comes in at 18-6-2.
"Being a part of the MSL Soccer Cup final was a good game for us because it gave our guys the opportunity to play in a high pressure, high stakes game in advance of the start of the postseason," said Schaumburg coach Matt Meyer.
Just a reminder, the 2025 state finals are at Hoffman Estates High School, and will begin on Thursday, Nov. 6 with Class 1A semifinals. The Class 2A and 3A state finals start play the next day.
Finals will take place on Nov. 8.
For updated scores all throughout the postseason, go to ihsa.org.