Boys soccer notes: NLCC, MSL races going down to wire while Warren holds slim lead in NSC
The climatic conclusion of several conference races continued to play out this past week as teams make their play for the big trophy.
Grayslake North, Round Lake and Wauconda’s fight to reach the summit in the Northern Lake County Conference featured the three sides taking turns swatting the other around during an interesting week of results.
All three were undefeated two weeks ago before Round Lake beat Grayslake North, 4-1, then two days later, Wauconda defeated the Panthers, 2-1.
"We're playing like a team and trusting in everyone," said Round Lake coach Hugo Tellez, whose Panthers are atop the league with Grayslake North at 5-1-0, while Wauconda (4-1-0) is right behind.
"The majority of our team last year was made up of sophomores and juniors who felt all of the losses from a year ago and have used that as fuel for this season. Thus far it has been paying off, and we're just rolling with it."
Tellez said his captain Eduardo Gonzalez has been a strong voice along the back, using his leadership qualities to help his teammates reach a higher level of play. The duo of Juan Arizmendi and Jaden Albarran have set a high standard in the middle of the park with their creativity, vision and mental strength.
Adam DeCaluwe has a talented and veteran group at Grayslake North that has done all the right things in order to keep its focus on the big prize.
"This group has been a great group to work with,“ DeCaluwe said. ”They play with purpose, a desire to control the ball, and they're an attacking threat where nearly everyone can create and finish their chances.
"We've played with confidence for the majority of the season, and it's that confidence that has allowed us to compete and respond to the tough challenges we can face at any time."
DeCaluwe said keeper Rory Braden, along with the senior trio of Maksim Dupor, Kiefer Flynn and Brady Ronin, have been his most consistent, with Dupor, Ronin, Michael Cordova and Christian Carvalho his top goal scorers.
DeCaluwe, now in his 21st season at North, has collected 363 victories combined between the boys and girls programs, where he has been in charge since the doors opened.
"I've been fortunate to have so many terrific teams,“ DeCaluwe said. ”Last year's group was special as they tied the most wins in a season (15), won a regional, and just fell short in the sectional final.
"We had a regional winning team in 2023, which was a fun group to coach, and in 2018 we were league champs for the first time, and that trophy we are desperately trying to get our hands back on."
The Knights will host crosstown rival Grayslake Central at 6:15 p.m. Tuesday.
"This is the most important game of the regular season. We all know players from North, and it's for bragging rights of the community," said Central senior Josh Clement.
MSL races remain tight: While the Hersey-Conant outcome on Monday will have a major effect on who lifts the championship trophy in the MSL West, it appears Barrington is revving to make a serious run at MSL East leading Rolling Meadows.
The Broncos (5-4-3, 3-1-2) used goals from Mitch Vitale and Joe Manczak to claim a 2-1 victory at Rolling Meadows (9-2-2, 4-1-1) late last week to move within two points (13-11) of the Mustangs, who just a week ago looked nearly untouchable.
"We're finally healthy, we have a great backline in front of a really good keeper in Evan Ryder, we are playing with a lot confidence, and our new coach (Caleb Copeland) has us playing with composure, which has helped us go 4-0-2 in our last six games," said Vitale.
Vitale, along with teammate Alex Liapis, were 2025 Daily Herald Cook County All-Area players, and both continue to be the box-to-box stars for the Broncos.
"We're still having trouble finding the back of the net at times, but guys like Nick Bielko have been great at the (six) for us, and Griffin Dahlin has brought a lot of speed and quickness out on the wing, plus we're becoming more dangerous in our set-piece chances as well," said Vitale.
Warren leads the NSC: The race is far from over in the NSC as well with Warren, Lake Zurich, Stevenson, Zion-Benton and now, suddenly, Libertyville inching its way into the mix.
Last week in Lincolnshire, an 80-minute thriller took place with host Stevenson drawing with Warren, 1-1, to keep the Blue Devils atop the league table.
"It was the type of game we all expected with us playing on the road, against such a great team like Stevenson, so to take a point home with us was huge," said Warren’s Logan Ahonen.
Ahonen, a senior for the Blue Devils, equalized with a brilliant free kick in the 52nd minute, just two minutes after a dazzling finish from Stevenson’s Jacob Goldstein gave way to an intense final 28 minutes.