Boys soccer notes: Stevenson, Vernon Hills, Conant claim tournament titles to begin 2026 season
Stevenson, Vernon Hills and Warren are off to flying starts during the early stages of the 2026 fall boys soccer season.
All three clubs remain undefeated after two full weeks of play with each club a perfect 5-0-0 thus far. Both Stevenson and Vernon Hills lifted championship tournament trophies.
The Patriots claimed their second straight crown at the Jim Wolter Titan Classic by defeating No. 4 Glenbard West, 2-0, in a hard-fought contest that saw both sides turn in a gritty 80-minute performance despite playing their third games in as many days.
"It's the depth of this team that has made the difference thus far. Our number 12 through 24 players have been better than the same from our opponents," said Patriots coach PepeJon Chavez.
A water-tight backline led by Cormac Bryne, Calvin Carafiol and Jacob Goldstein, and marvelous work rate turned in by Brady Brunner, Joniel Dizon, Sashin Kistana and Asher Lee, has been the difference.
Vernon Hills has enjoyed a marvelous start to its season, outscoring its five opponents 14-1, with keeper Max Gral already earning four shutouts.
"We had only three seniors on the team last year; however, we have 11 this year who know how to we want to play, and believe in the system and each other," said coach Mike McCaulou.
McCaulou said the quartet of Alex Agam, Justin Malfeit, Isaac Simpson and Gral have been key to the early success of his club.
According to coach Jason Ahonen, it was the spring of the 2021 COVID season when his Warren Blue Devils opened the season at 5-0-0.
"I really believe the work our guys put in together last summer had a lot to do with the start we've had thus far,“ Ahonen said. ”It was one of the highest participation rates we've ever had in summer league and camp.
"Every player who was on the team a year ago was part of it. Their commitment and work ethic raised the level for everyone else because they all knew that if they wanted to be a part of this team, they had to be willing to put in the extra work."
Angel Garcia and Quinn Lockwood, along with junior Luis Sandoval, have been the creative heartbeat of the Blue Devils.
Both Lake Zurich (5-1-1) and Wauconda (4-1-2) deserve a mention for their first two weeks of play. The Bears fell just short in the final of the Barrington Classic to Conant, as did Wauconda at its Alonso Sanchez Memorial in a heartbreaking loss to Zion-Benton in penalties.
The MSL campaign will begin in earnest this week, and Hersey (4-0-0) has set the tone following a super week of play at the annual St. Charles Invite. The Hawks recorded three shutout victories, including a 5-0 win over host St. Charles East on Saturday.
"It really starts with our team chemistry and our veteran leadership. And beyond that, our depth has been a massive strength," said coach Mike Rusniak.
The Huskies returned, among others, four veterans from their 2024 state championship club: Johnny Antoniou, Mechac Bryant, Adam Myslinski and Teddy Reyes. They added all-state keeper Patryk Smakowski last season.
"David Kozakiewicz has made a huge impact in our offense since being called up late last year,“ Rusniak said. ”His work rate and clinical finishing are first rate, and he is extremely coachable.
"Reyes, Myslinski and Daniel Shon have taken ownership in the midfield. Akram Aloviddinov and Bryant are locking things down along the back, Smakowski is so solid, and Antoniou constantly creates problems for the opponents."
Jason Franco was cautiously optimistic of what he might have at Conant (3-1-1) this fall. Cougars faithful might have caught a glimpse of that after Conant captured the championship trophy of the Barrington Classic last weekend.
"(That) game with Lake Zurich was much closer than it appeared with us down (2-1) before a brilliant goal from Pavel Ivanovski. A Shamus Devine penalty kick put us up for good, momentum swung our way, and with Pavel bagging two more, we went on to a 6-2 victory," said Franco.
The Cougars scored 18 goals in four tournament games.
"The boys are beginning to believe we can play with anyone, so we'll see how this week unfolds with a home-and-home with Hersey around a game with Schaumburg."
Mike Taylor, former longtime boys and girls head coach at St. Viator, now currently running the show at both programs at Providence Catholic, claimed his 600th career victory Saturday afternoon. He became the first in IHSA history to reach that lofty number on the boys side of the ledger.
The Hall of Fame coach, who now has 806 combined wins, was part of two state championship teams while at St. Viator, 13 state trophies and 14 ESCC championships.