BHS soccer team gets a champion's welcome

With a fire department escort, the Barrington High School boys soccer team rolled through town Tuesday, basking in the glory of its first state title.After securing the state championship this weekend with a victory over Naperville's Neuqua Valley High, Barrington honored the team with a parade down Main Street, followed by a schoolwide pep rally. Senior forward Michael Mehringer said it was exciting to ride in the fire trucks and see people along Main Street waving and giving them thumbs up."It was crazy," Mehringer said. "It was the best feeling."Following the short parade, the team was greeted by thousands of screaming fans at the school."When they write the story of 2007, it is going to have to include that the best boys soccer in Illinois was played in Barrington," Principal Emil Rode said.During the pep assembly, history teacher John Roncone told the crowd the team is one of the best in the nation."We are currently nationally ranked in the top five in the entire country in two national polls," Roncone said, noting the team could end the year atop one of the rankings.Barrington is ranked 6th currently by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America.Sporting their gold medal medallions around their necks, each of the 17 team members received loud ovations from the crowd when introduced. Head coach Scott Steib said the tremendous support they received from the students and community helped power them to the state title."You guys were awesome," Steib told the students. "I kid you not, you had a lot to do with this."At the end of the pep rally, the team officially presented the state trophy to Rode and Athletic Director Mike Obsuszt."We don't get to see this very often, so let's enjoy every minute of it," Roncone said.The team earned its first state soccer title by winning three games during this weekend's state tournament in Naperville.The team knocked off Collinsville 3-0 in the quarterfinals Friday, then beat Hinsdale Central 2-0 in the state semifinals Saturday morning.On Saturday night, the team prevailed 2-1 in the championship match over Neuqua during a triple-overtime thriller that lasted 106 minutes.Barrington's state soccer title by the numbersbull; 25: Wins this season, the most in school history.bull; 2: Losses this season.bull; 16: Shutouts this season, a new school record.bull; 17: Goals allowed all season, the fewest in school history.bull; 3: Total number of minutes, out of 2,200, the team trailed in a game all season. In its two losses this season, the team lost in penalty shootouts.