Boys soccer: Lake County season preview
Antioch
Coach: Michael McDermott (4th season)
Last year: 5-15-0, 2-5-0 (6th, NLC)
Top returning players: Senior Brett Brose (D); sophomore Cade Ternes (MF)
New faces to watch: Junior Spencer Wood; freshmen Max Mehring (MF)
Outlook: The Sequoits lost their entire starting 11, so the club is obviously very young as they look to chase league favorites Grayslake Central and Round Lake. "We're incredibly young, but very hungry, which we hope will help drive us to contend during a tough NLCC schedule," says coach Michael McDermott, who will lean on newcomers Cade Ternes and Max Mehring to run the show in the middle of the park.
Carmel
Coach: Rob Etheridge (1st season)
Last year: 10-8-1, 5-4-0 (5th, ESCC)
Top returning players: Seniors Helmuth Fendel (MF), August Lombardo (D), Alesandro Pineda (MF); junior Roman Lynch (F-MF)
New faces to watch: Sammy Arroyo (F-MF), Rolando Colon (MF)
Outlook: Longtime club coach and former Loyola Academy coach Rob Etheridge takes over a Corsairs program that will once again do battle in a top heavy ESCC conference, which last season was led by undefeated Notre Dame. "We'll need some time in the early going after losing 15 seniors, but our work rate, teamwork and the strong leaders who have returned will be the strength of this team," says Etheridge.
Grant
Coach: Andy Flaker (10th season)
Last year: 7-15-1, 1-6-0 (7th, NLC)
Top returning players: Seniors Julian Celis (MF), Gio Hinestrosa (MF), Eddie Murray (D), Ayden Sheppard (F), Alex Shubin (MF); juniors Finn Joiner (D), Miguel Nunes (MF)
New faces to watch: Sophomores Jordy Torres (MF), Diego Vazquez (MF)
Outlook: Program numbers are up, and so are expectations with a Bulldogs group that features seven returning players for coach Andy Flaker. "We have the talent and tools to have a very successful season, and our overall work ethic is the best I've seen in all my years here," admits Flaker.
Grayslake Central
Coach: Keith Andersson (5th season)
Last year: 14-8-2, 6-0-1 (2A state fourth place, NLC champs)
Top returning players: Seniors Alan Alonso (D-MF), Jose Chavez (D-MF), Daniel Marynevych (F), Cameron Paul (F), Eric Garcia Perez (D), Raymond Sereno (F-MF), Lucas Veenstra (D).
New faces to watch: Sophomores Jaziel Alonso (MF), Anderson Chevrier (D-MF), Jacob Clement (MF); freshmen Damian Sereno (D), Ivan Sereno (MF)
Outlook: Central fans could have never expected their favorite club to enjoy such a remarkable and memorable season after an 0-4-0 start to the 2021 campaign that ended with the Rams bringing home their first state trophy. "We were very grateful to reach state. It was a goal we wanted to reach as a program, so to experience it all was really amazing," says coach Keith Andersson of the fourth-place 2A state finish. "We lost some very good players who will be difficult to replace, but we have talented players coming back, and some amazing younger players ready to step in."
Grayslake North
Coach: Adam DeCaluwe (17th season)
Last year: 5-13-1, 3-4-0 (5th, NLC)
Top returning players: Seniors Chase Bollinger (GK), Gavin Congalton (F), Ilija Dupor (F), Manny Juarez (F), Joe Swambar (GK); juniors Chris Fabela (MF), Will Verber (MF); sophomores Bryce Stoneham (D), Chris Von Briesen (MF)
New faces to watch: Juniors Jose Alcala (D), Matthew Hansen (D), Diego Ruiz (MF); sophomores Noah Sanzana (MF), Sam Soriano (F); freshmen Danny Fabela (MF), Alonso Morales (D), Leo Pedraza (MF)
Outlook: North was hit hard with graduation losses, losing 11 while returning one half dozen from a year ago. "We're light in experience, but the youth we are bringing in with us seem to be of pretty good quality and character," offers coach Adam DeCaluwe. "We lost a lot of tight games last season, which we'll look to turn around in our favor this year."
Lakes
Coach: Kevin Kullby (18th season)
Last year: 6-13-1, 4-3-0 (4th, NLC)
Top returning players: Seniors Wyatt Swanson (F), Citizen Schmitt (MF); junior Drew Chamernik (MF)
Outlook: The dean of area coaches, Kullby had six seasons as head coach at Lake Forest before taking over at Lakes to give him 24 years overall during a wonderful career thus far. "Round Lake and Grayslake Central are the teams to beat, but in summer league play, we showed we can counter with speed against equal opponents. So if we stay injury free, we should be able to hold our own against our 2A rivals," opines Kullby.
Lake Zurich
Coach: Mike Schmitz (16th season)
Last year: 11-4-3, 4-2-1 (2nd, NSC)
Top returning players: Seniors Jack Cardwell (D-F), Ian Ferguson (MF-F), Matt Magiel (M-F), Tyler Wits (MF); junior Fil Kanski (GK)
Outlook: The Bears might be ready to be taken seriously in the NSC this fall after coming off its second place league finish. They return all-state senior Ian Ferguson (14 goals) who is set to shine in the middle of the park. "We have 10 back, all with starting experience, and who played in several situations and roles for us. So we feel like we can be competitive every time we step out onto the field," says Schmitz.
Libertyville
Coach: Kevin Thunholm (6th season)
Last year: 10-7-4, 2-2-3 (4th, NSC)
Top returning players: Seniors Felix Amyot (D), Jake Berlowski (D), Cole Danner (MF), Milosh Dupor (MF), Alek LaRoi (MF), Andrew Phillips (MF), Matt Slago (D-MF-F), CJ Villina (D); junior Mateo Portillo (F)
New faces to watch: Senior Eli Johnson (GK); sophomores Noah Finnema (F), Nick Snow (D)
Outlook: Silverware remains the ultimate objective for Kevin Thunholm's club which endured its share of injury setbacks a year ago yet still advanced into a regional final. "We always have high expectations around here. We were a team that two years ago brought several young players to the varsity (took our lumps) and now these are our leaders with two good years under the belt - playing at the highest level. So our strength will be their leadership, and our defense," says Thunhom, who lean on midfield partnership of Andrew Phillips and Alek LaRoi.
Mundelein
Coach: Sebastian Falinski (3rd season)
Last year: 11-8-3, 2-4-1 (6th, NSC, regional champs)
Top returning players: Seniors Matt Daniels (F), Ale Hidrogo (MF-D), Omar Mangato (MF), Cade McGlothlin (D), Ivan Villegas (MF); juniors Franki Jimenez (MF-F), Adrian Rosiles (D)
New faces to watch: Junior Oscar Hernandez (MF); sophomores Kaidan Mata (MF), Diego Sanchez (F), Rian Xu (D)
Outlook: It has been the big three of Libertyville Stevenson, and Warren who have been in control of the NSC for so very long, but a late season surge may have signaled that Sebastian Falinski's men are ready to make their mark in the league. "The strength of our team will be the balance of returning players who made an impact a year ago along with the new addition of young talent. They will allow us to mix up the style of play quickly as we have some highly technical and versatile players," says Falinski, whose club beat Lake Zurich and Warren to win a regional title.
Round Lake
Coach: Hugo Tellez (13th season)
Last year: 9-6-5, 6-0-1 (2nd, NLC)
Top returning players: Seniors Edgar Arteaga (MF), Ivan Barrientos (MF), Jerry Perez (GK); sophomore Jorgie Morales (MF)
New Faces to Watch: Senior Harold Mercado (D); junior Luis Salinas (F).
Outlook: Talk among NLC coaches is that Round Lake might rise to the top of the table this fall with the all-NLC duo of Jerry Perez and Edgar Arteaga leading the way for Hugo Tellez' Panthers, who have recorded 10 or more victories since 2013. "Perez is our leader, and with us being able to work, and build with the ball from the back, we should be a very competitive team this year," says Tellez, whose club outscored its league rivals 26-4 a year ago.
Stevenson
Coach: PepeJon Chavez (3rd season)
Last year: 15-3-4, 4-2-2 (3rd, NSC, regional champs)
Top returning players: Seniors Nazar Mormul (F), Steven Nyc (D), Owen Zakrewski (D), Aiden Morris (GK), Daniel Sokolvsky (F)
New faces to watch: Seniors Bhargav Devabhaktuni (MF), Filip Janda (F), Rohan Gopalam (MF), Bryant Rouse (MF)
Outlook: Airtight along the back, and the ability to swiftly counter and play through the middle of the park led the way to a wonderful 2021 campaign. Stevenson conceded just 18 on the season en route to its regional championship, and eventual loss to 3A state runner-up Fremd in sectional play. "We have a solid core returning, and a roster that has balance, who wants to work hard together each and every time we go out," says Chavez, whose club always will play an attractive style of soccer.
Vernon Hills
Coach: Mike McCaulou (20th season)
Last year: 12-5-3, 3-2-0 (3rd, CSL North, regional champs)
Top returning players: Seniors Alexa Arbutina (D), Brandon Marquez (D), Milan Raval (MF); junior Nikita Stepanov (MF)
New faces to watch: Sophomore Brandon Grunfeld (GK)
Outlook: With three of his best from a year ago - Raul Jasso, Glen McGowan and Valde Nasso - all playing collegiate soccer this fall, it's clear Mike McCaulou will look to others to replace the talented trio. "We have great kids that are willing to work hard for one another with a team purpose, and we will do our best to play a quality style of possession soccer at the same time," says the Cougars coach.
Warren
Coach: Jason Ahonen (15th season)
Last year: 13-5-4, 5-0-2 (NSC champs)
Top returning players: Seniors Tommy DeSanto (MF), Miguel Galvan (MF), Miguel Garcia (F), Matt Paraskos (F), Ryan Stanciak (D); junior Lucas Ahonen (MF)
New faces to watch: Senior Leo Arizmendi (F); junior Diego Torres (D); sophomore Ethan Cole (GK)
Outlook: Blue Devils held off strong challenges from Lake Zurich, Stevenson and Libertyville to lift their second straight NSC trophy thanks in part to a stingy bunch along the back led by Cael Harris and a quartet of returning players who can attack with purpose. "This team is an attack-minded group that loves to go forward to put the opposition under pressure in its own end. And with the return of several players who play critical positions within our formation, I am very excited about the upcoming season," says coach Jason Ahonen.
Wauconda
Coach: Tim Miller (5th season)
Last year: 8-6-3, 5-2-0 (3rd, NLC)
Top returning players: Seniors Eddie Cirilo (MF), Juan Duron (D), Christian Melchor (GK); junior Karsten Ternes (D); sophomore Freddie Barnshaw (MF)
New faces to watch: Senior Jacob Kotapka (F); juniors Antonio DosSantos (MF), Keegan Murphy (MF); sophomore Luka Gmittovic (F)
Outlook: The NLC has suddenly found itself to be a league of quality and depth, with Wauconda right there in the mix with favorites Grayslake Central and Round Lake. "We are poised to make a real push for the top of our conference with eight returning starters. So if we stay healthy and play with confidence in the final third, I feel this group has a chance to compete," says coach Tim Miller.