Downers Grove North
Coach Brian Gervase
Home field 4436 Main St.; and Dorhoefer Park on Saratoga Street, two blocks north of Ogden Avenue
2008 record 2-17-3
Next home game Thursday, Sept. 10 vs. Lake Zurich

TOP RETURNERS
Paul Hogan        jr.    M
Neil Corcoran        sr.    D
Matt Weiss        sr.    M
Marcin Modzelewski    jr.    D
Luis Salas            sr.    F
Ben Stein            sr.    M
Justin Pickering        sr.    M
Matt Paprocki        jr.    GK
Blayne Munar        sr.    GK

PROMISING NEWCOMERS
AJ Jeffries        fr.    F
Cullen Cummings        fr.    F
Alex Vogler        jr.    D
Jake Mousel        jr.    D
Stuart Melton        jr.    M
Tom Budnik        jr.    D

OUTLOOK
After two consecutive rough seasons, Downers North appears to be rapidly on the rise. The first three games of the 2009 season have produced a 1-0-2 record, including a 1-1 tie with perennial power Benet and a 3-2 win over Streamwood (a regional champion last fall).
An impact player all over the field since debuting on varsity as a freshman, Hogan has been one of the sparks for the great start. The Trojans’ co-captain scored one of the goals against Streamwood.
“Paul was an all-sectional player last year, and he’s been great in the first few games,” Gervase said.
Giving Downers North a huge immediate lift has been 6-foot-3 freshman Anthony “AJ” Jeffries, whose rebound goal with 10 seconds left tied the Benet game and who also scored the game-winning goal against Streamwood with 15 minutes left in the game. Jeffries has three goals in three games, including the game-tying tally in a 1-1 tie against Conant on Saturday.
“AJ’s doing a really nice job,” Gervase said. “He’s a big kid, and athletic.”
Senior Neil Corcoran anchors the Downers North defense, which also features two returning goalkeepers with varsity experience in Matt Paprocki and Blayne Munar.
“We have two solid keepers,” Gervase said. “Blayne started our first two games (Benet and Streamwood) and Matt the third. We want to split time between them at least through the Lake Park Tournament (the season’s first five games), and they’re both doing a really nice job.”
Besides Hogan, juniors like Modzelewski, Budnik and Mousel (among others) are making an impact.
“Our junior class is very strong,” Gervase said, “and the strength of our team is probably our back four. Neil Corcoran is a senior who is back (from last year), and we return our three other backs.

Downers Grove South
Coach Jon Stapleton
Home field 63rd Street and Dunham Road, Downers Grove
2008 record 17-7-2
Next home game ThursdayDGood 9/1/09 , Sept. 3 vs. Hersey

TOP RETURNERS
Charlie Stanke     sr.    M
Cal Roselieb    sr.    D
Matt LaLonde    sr.    M
Marcus Salinas    sr.    F
Julian Damian    sr.    F
Andrew Reed    sr.    GK
Cal Tondelli    sr.    D
Ryan Mihalko    sr.    D

PROMISING NEWCOMERS
David Masolak    jr.     M
Kyle Wolf        jr.    F
Zach Baleski    jr.    F
Nick Suker    jr.    D
Conor Kelch    jr.    D
Sam Hadley    jr.    GK

OUTLOOK
The Mustangs look to extend their run of five straight regional championships (which began with during the 2004 state championship season), and even the challenges of replacing seven starters and some early season inconsistencies should keep that goal well within reach.
“We knew the beginning of the year would be tough,” Stapleton said of his team’s 0-1-1 start and tough games to come this week (Morton, Hersey and Brother Rice) and next (the Great Midwest Classic in Indianapolis). “But the goal is always to make a run in the second half (of the season).”
Returnees Charlie Stanke, Cal Roselieb, Matt LaLonde and Marcus Salinas will play key roles.
“Those four guys saw the most time last year, so they’re going to be significant to the success of our season,” Stapleton said. “We’re replacing a lot of guys ... our entire back line except Cal Roselieb, and we have two new goalkeepers in Andrew Reed and Sam Hadley.
“We’ve moved Marcus Salinas up top (to forward) this year from outside midfielder, and we have five guys competing for two spots up top. I think scoring by committee will be the key to success. We’ll probably have a lot of guys with three, four or five goals.”
Roselieb scored the first goal Saturday, and Julian Damian also scored in the first half for a 2-0 lead before Oswego East rallied for a 2-2 tie. Downers South also dropped its season opener 2-0 at Fremd.

Westmont
Coach Ron Neurauter
Home field 909 Oakwood Drive, Westmont
2008 record 13-1 as junior varsity team (first-year varsity program)
Next home game Sept. 3 vs. Herscher

TOP RETURNERS
Jesus Martinez    sr.    M
Carlos Oregel    sr.    D
Eddie Zakhem    sr.    M
Sean Hastings    sr.    F
Dave Kolaczkowski    sr.    D
Tim Nge        so.    GK
Joel Cantoran    sr.    M
Lukasz Karam    so.    D
Maksym Kmit    sr.    F
Eric Tenorio    so.    D
Nick Fregeau    sr.    D
Mike Coneely    sr.    M

PROMISING NEWCOMERS
Ivan Mindov    jr.    F
Chris Frank    jr.    GK

OUTLOOK
After rolling to a 13-1 record as a JV program last year, Westmont has begun its first year of varsity play in style. Following a 3-1 opening win over Chicago Christian, the Sentinels jolted defending Class 1A runner-up Timothy Christian 1-0. Hastings (who scored the winning goal against Timothy) and Mindov (two goals in the Chicago Christian game) have been the offensive stars, but a balanced effort led by Martinez is the key to Westmont’s success.
“With Jesus I can sit and enjoy the game because he’s a coach on the field,” Neurauter said. “He knows that much about the game. He was the leading scorer on the team last year, and Jesus had a tryout for the Fire Developmental League. They brought in 500 players from the Midwest and he survived a couple of rounds. He was the 150th cut.”
Martinez, Carlos Oregel and Eddie Zakhem are tri-captains for the senior-dominated Sentinels.
“We have 11 guys that work together,” said Neurauter, who has 23 players on his roster. “Defensively everybody is helping out. Carlos Oregel is doing a great job back there, and against Timothy our starting goalkeeper Tim Nge went down. We put in his junior backup Chris Frank and we didn’t miss a beat. It’s nice to have two goalkeepers with the capability to do the job like that.”
Sophomore defenders Karam and Tenorio are two more reasons for high hopes now and in the future for the first-year Sentinels.
“Lukasz has a super leg for free kicks and direct kicks — he’s a force,” Neurauter said. “And Eric at sweeper is quick. He’s all over the place.”

St. Joseph
Coach Stanley Niemiec
Home field 10900 W. Cermak Road, Westchester
2008 record 17-7-2, 8-1 East Suburban Catholic Conference
Next home game Saturday vs. Elmwood Park, 2:30 p.m.

TOP RETURNERS
Marco Gutierrez    sr.    F
Alex Gutierrez    sr.    D
Jovani Castanon    jr.    GK
Tyler Lafferty    sr.    MF
Rolando Zuniga    sr.    D

PROMISING NEWCOMERS
Matt Christopher    jr.    D
Benjamin Gerger    jr.    MF
Manny Valdez    jr.    MF
Kevin Casanova    jr.    F
Danny Jacquez    jr.    D

OUTLOOK
As St. Joseph comes off its ninth state tournament appearance and sixth top-four finish, the 2008 Class 2A third-place finishers have been creating depth in the roster in practice thus far.
“The performance I have seen from these guys in the first week has been tremendous and they know we need to start out the season strong,” said head coach Stanley Niemiec. “With such a large roster the competition throughout practice not only strengthens the players but also helps reinforce the fact that we have a deep bench with a great supporting cast.”
Niemiec says Marco Gutierrez and Alex Gutierrez are expected to lead the team both vocally and by example. Rolando Zuniga and Jovani Castanon have also grown in their roles as leaders this season.
“Our team’s biggest strength is the senior-laden roster we have this year,” Niemiec said. “It includes experience and an attitude of finishing what they started here at St. Joseph. Our juniors will learn and become better from the hard work they are putting in when fighting for positions, as well as lessons they are learning from the experience we have on our roster.”


Fenwick
Coach Robert Watson
Home field Dominican Priory, Harlem Avenue and Division Street, River Forest
2008 record 9-8-2, 1-4 Chicago Catholic League
Next home game Saturday vs. Northridge Prep, 12 p.m.

TOP RETURNERS
Mike Jank    sr.    GK
Mark Finan    sr.    MF
Will Rigali    sr.    MF
Matt Parrilli    sr.    MF
Charlie Cafaro    sr.    MF
Sean Prendiville    sr.    MF

PROMISING NEWCOMERS
Albano Latifi    jr.    D
Tom Semba    jr.    D
Joe Fahey    jr.    D

OUTLOOK
With a strong Chicago Catholic League that includes the likes of Loyola, Mt. Carmel, St. Ignatius and Providence, the Friars realize that they will once again be in a tight race for conference supremacy. But having goalkeeper Mike Jank, who has the potential to play at the next level, gives Fenwick stability on the backside of the field. A midfield comprised of five seniors should provide even more experience.
“This group is fairly confident and working to improve each day,” said head coach Robert Watson. “We need to produce more scoring opportunities as well as execute better. We will need several players to step up and provide scoring.”
Watson also says the two main goals are to win the CCL title and win a regional title. In 2008, the Friars fell 3-0 to Lyons Township in a Class 3A regional championship. They should receive a good test when they play No. 2 seed Streamwood in the Pepsi Showdown.


Nazareth Academy
Coach Doug Hunt
Home field 1209 W. Ogden Ave., La Grange Park
2008 record 7-12, 1-7 East Suburban Catholic Conference
Next home game Wednesday vs. Latin, 4:30 p.m.

TOP RETURNERS
Billy Ritzenthaler        sr.    D
Alex Wilkinson        jr.    F
Jake Ramsey        jr.    D
Jaime Nassar-Velasquez    jr.    GK
John McLachlan        so.    F/MF
Kevin Caldwell        so.    D
Phil Lombardo        so.    MF

PROMISING NEWCOMERS
Nick Haraus        so.    D

OUTLOOK
Describing his thoughts on the 2009 campaign, Doug Hunt said, “The season is a big question mark.” And it is difficult to disagree with Nazareth’s head coach when the team has Bill Ritzenthaler as the only starting senior.
“Several three- or four-year players graduated from last year’s team,” Hunt said. “This has left a big gap on the field both from a leadership and physical aspect.”
Even though youth is one of the Roadrunner’s main characteristics, Ritzenthaler, Alex Wilkinson and Jaime Nassar-Velasquez are three-year starters while Jake Ramsey is a two-year starter.
“It is my hope, a big one, to at least match last season's record, if not improve on it a little,” Hunt said. “I have an experienced goalie and the leading scorer the last two seasons, Alex (Wilkinson), back.  Now it is a matter of how quickly the young players can step up and fill in the void created by graduation.”
The East Suburban Catholic Conference is a quality one as usual with traditional powers St. Viator, Benet, Carmel and St. Joseph looking to chase for the top spot in the league.
“We got our first conference win in the present conference structure last year when we defeated Notre Dame,” Hunt said. “It is a big hill we are trying to climb but we are making slow progress.”
Nazareth began the season with a 6-0 win over Illinois Math and Science Academy last Thursday. Nassar-Velasquez collected the shutout while Wilkinson tallied four scores. 
 

Proviso West
Coach Victor Montoya
Home field 4701 Harrison St., Hillside
2008 record 8-14, 0-6 West Suburban Silver Conference
Next home game Sept. 10 vs. Thornton North, 4:30 p.m.

TOP RETURNERS
Mario Arzate    sr.    GK
Edgar Romero    sr.    F
Mario Rodriguez    jr.    MF
Jose Rodriguez    jr.    MF
Franco Alcocer    jr.    MF
Pedro Martinez    so.    MF
Miguel Gomez    so.    D

PROMISING NEWCOMERS
Emmanuel Carrasco    so.    D
Gio Lucero    so.    D

OUTLOOK
The Panthers will be looking to avoid being the doormat of the always-tough West Suburban Silver Conference again this season. Head coach Victor Montoya says it’s going to start by improving game by game and week by week.
“This is a confident group that continues to grow,” Montoya said. “The strengths of the team are going to be the defense and the midfield.”
As far as improvement goes, gaining experience and finding better communication are concerns of Montoya considering that Proviso West is young. In 2008, the Panthers posted a 2-0 win over Curie in a Class 3A regional semifinal and fell 5-1 to sectional final qualifier Morton in the following round.
 

Morton
Coach Mike Caruso
Home field 26th St. and Harlem Ave., Berwyn
2008 record 24-3-1, 5-1 West Suburban Gold Conference
Next home game Saturday vs. Hersey, 9 a.m.

TOP RETURNERS
Francisco Gonzalez    sr.    D
Rene Leon    sr.    D
Joel Salmeron    so.    F
Mario Castanon    sr.    M/F
Ivan Chavez    jr.    M/F
Hugo Castanon    sr.    M/F
Jose Montes    jr.    M/F
Jason Saucedo    sr.    GK

PROMISING NEWCOMERS
Toribio Romo    jr.     D
Jesus Morales    so.    M/F

OUTLOOK
Mike Caruso says the Mustangs usually have to work their way into the rankings during the season. But with various publications having preseason expectations of a top five ranking, Morton does not need to earn respect as it did in the past. Instead, it has to show that it is as good as advertised.
“This is probably the most talented team we’ve had since I’ve been here,” said Caruso, who is entering his sixth year as head coach. “We can’t have a letdown. We’re lacking experience, but the goal is to be playing our best by the end of the season.”
The Mustangs should be able to gauge themselves early with two tournaments. They are scheduled to play Downers Grove South (this past Tuesday), Brother Rice (Thursday) and Hersey (Saturday) in Hinsdale Central’s Red Devil Cup. Morton has qualified for the finals the last three years and won the championship on two of those occasions. The Mustangs will also begin the Pepsi Showdown at home against Mt. Carmel next Tuesday and are ranked No. 4 out of 33 teams.
Their season began last Thursday with a 4-0 win at Willowbrook in West Suburban Gold Conference action, with Jose Montes netting two goals. Morton has won four league titles in the last five years and were champions in 2008. The Mustangs went on to qualify for a Class 3A sectional final and fell 2-1 to Hinsdale Central. Last season’s seniors Daniel Ortiz and Enrique Flores are now playing soccer at Morton College while Stipo Zeba is at Valparaiso.
“We need to keep up the intensity and play the full 80 minutes,” Caruso said. “And we need to focus on putting balls away.”
 

Riverside Brookfield
COACH Danny Makaric (6th year)
HOME FIELD 160 Ridgewood Road, Riverside
2008 RESULTS Lost 2-1 to Little Village in the Class 2A regional championship
NEXT HOME GAME Sept. 8 vs. Elmwood Park, 6:30 p.m.

TOP RETURNERS
Jerry Brown        sr.    D
Tim Hannigan        sr.    D
Rafael Romero        sr.    M
Ismael Romo        sr.    M
Rubin Chavez        so.   F

PROMISING NEWCOMERS
Cagetano Chavez        fr.    F
Edvardo Marentes    fr.    F

OUTLOOK
The Bulldogs feel they have momentum coming off last year’s appearance in the regional championship, and have high hopes of going further this year.
“Coming off the loss last year, I think we want it more,” Romo said. “We have a couple good incoming freshmen, some returning sophomores, and we have a good amount of seniors, so we have the experience.”
The bulk of the team’s senior leadership will be found on the defensive side of the field, where Brown and Hannigan will serve as the backbone of the team. Where RB could run into trouble is on offense. Makaric is comfortable with who he has at midfield, but having young, undersized, and inexperienced players leading the offensive attack has the coach a little bit concerned.
“I just worry about forwards because last year in the regional finals, we missed so many chances,” Makaric said. “We prepared the chances, but we missed the chances.”

Lyons Township
COACH Paul Labbato (third year)
HOME FIELD West Field at North Campus, located at the corner of Cossitt Avenue and Willow Springs Road
2008 RESULTS 15-5-2, tied for first in the West Suburban Silver, won Class 3A regional title, lost 1-0 to Hinsdale Central in the Class 3A St. Ignatius sectional semifinalgpietras 8/31/09 STYLE??
NEXT HOME GAME Sept. 4 vs. Homewood Flossmoor, 4:30 p.m.

TOP RETURNERS
Billy McGuinness        sr.    D
Chris Meingast        sr.    M/D
Brian Heimerdinger  sr.    M/F
Andrew Aviles        sr.    M
Zach Pearsall        sr.    M
Sully Fox         sr.    GK

PROMISING NEWCOMERS
Peter Kravolec-Kirchherr        jr.    M/D
Alex Economou            jr.    M/D
Danny Paice           sr.    M/D
Jack Bowton            sr.    D
 
OUTLOOK
Lyons Township started the season on a strong note with shutout wins over Sandburg and Hinsdale South last week before losing 4-0 on Saturday to Neuqua Valley, the No. 1 team in both the Chicago Tribune and Chicago Sun-Times preseason polls.
The Lions know all about the different preseason rankings that named them one of the top teams in the state this season, but they also know that no games are won on preseason accolades.
“We know it’s there, we pay attention,” Labbato said of the rankings. “Now that people have put us somewhere in the top 10, top 15, or wherever we may fall, the expectations go up and you can’t lose focus in any games, and that’s always the worry.”

St. Joseph
Coach Stanley Niemiec
Home field 10900 W. Cermak Road, Westchester
2008 record 17-7-2, 8-1 East Suburban Catholic Conference
Next home game Saturday vs. Elmwood Park, 2:30 p.m.

TOP RETURNERS
Marco Gutierrez    sr.    F
Alex Gutierrez    sr.    D
Jovani Castanon    jr.    GK
Tyler Lafferty    sr.    M
Rolando Zuniga    sr.    D

PROMISING NEWCOMERS
Matt Christopher    jr.    D
Benjamin Gerger    jr.    M
Manny Valdez    jr.    M
Kevin Casanova    jr.    F
Danny Jacquez    jr.    D

OUTLOOK
As St. Joseph comes off its ninth state tournament appearance and sixth top-four finish, the 2008 Class 2A third-place finishers have been creating depth in the roster in practice thus far.
“The performance I have seen from these guys in the first week has been tremendous and they know we need to start out the season strong,” said head coach Stanley Niemiec. “With such a large roster the competition throughout practice not only strengthens the players but also helps reinforce the fact that we have a deep bench with a great supporting cast.”

Fenwick
Coach Robert Watson
Home field Dominican Priory, Harlem Avenue and Division Street, River Forest
2008 record 9-8-2, 1-4 Chicago Catholic League
Next home game Saturday vs. Northridge Prep, 12 p.m.

TOP RETURNERS
Mike Jank    sr.    GK
Mark Finan    sr.    M
Will Rigali    sr.    M
Matt Parrilli    sr.    M
Charlie Cafaro    sr.    M
Sean Prendiville    sr.    M

PROMISING NEWCOMERS
Albano Latifi    jr.    D
Tom Semba    jr.    D
Joe Fahey    jr.    D

OUTLOOK
With a strong Chicago Catholic League that includes the likes of Loyola, Mt. Carmel, St. Ignatius and Providence, the Friars realize that they will once again be in a tight race for conference supremacy. But having goalkeeper Mike Jank, who has the potential to play at the next level, gives Fenwick stability on the backside of the field.
A midfield comprised of five seniors should provide even more experience.
“This group is fairly confident and working to improve each day,” said head coach Robert Watson. “We need to produce more scoring opportunities as well as execute better. We will need several players to step up and provide scoring.”

Nazareth Academy
Coach Doug Hunt
Home field 1209 W. Ogden Ave., La Grange Park
2008 record 7-12, 1-7 East Suburban Catholic Conference
Next home game Wednesday vs. Latin, 4:30 p.m.

TOP RETURNERS
Billy Ritzenthaler        sr.    D
Alex Wilkinson        jr.    F
Jake Ramsey        jr.    D
Jaime Nassar-Velasquez    jr.    GK
John McLachlan        so.    F/M
Kevin Caldwell        so.    D
Phil Lombardo        so.    M

PROMISING NEWCOMERS
Nick Haraus        so.    D

OUTLOOK
Describing his thoughts on the 2009 campaign, Doug Hunt said, “The season is a big question mark.”
And it is difficult to disagree with Nazareth’s head coach when the team has Bill Ritzenthaler as the only starting senior.
“Several three- or four-year players graduated from last year’s team,” Hunt said. “This has left a big gap on the field both from a leadership and physical aspect.”
Even though youth is one of the Roadrunner’s main characteristics, Ritzenthaler, Alex Wilkinson and Jaime Nassar-Velasquez are three-year starters while Jake Ramsey is a two-year starter.
 

Proviso West
Coach Victor Montoya
Home field 4701 Harrison St., Hillside
2008 record 8-14, 0-6 West Suburban Silver Conference
Next home game Sept. 10 vs. Thornton North, 4:30 p.m.

TOP RETURNERS
Mario Arzate    sr.    GK
Edgar Romero    sr.    F
Mario Rodriguez    jr.    M
Jose Rodriguez    jr.    M
Franco Alcocer    jr.    M
Pedro Martinez    so.    M
Miguel Gomez    so.    D

PROMISING NEWCOMERS
Emmanuel Carrasco    so.    D
Gio Lucero        so.    D

OUTLOOK
The Panthers will be looking to avoid being the doormat of the always-tough West Suburban Silver Conference again this season.
Head coach Victor Montoya says it’s going to start by improving game by game and week by week.
“This is a confident group that continues to grow,” Montoya said. “The strengths of the team are going to be the defense and the midfield.”
As far as improvement goes, gaining experience and finding better communication are concerns of Montoya considering that Proviso West is young.
In 2008, the Panthers posted a 2-0 win over Curie in a Class 3A regional semifinal and fell 5-1 to sectional final qualifier Morton in the following round.
 

Morton
Coach Mike Caruso
Home field 26th St. and Harlem Ave., Berwyn
2008 record 24-3-1, 5-1 West Suburban Gold Conference
Next home game Saturday vs. Hersey, 9 a.m.

TOP RETURNERS
Francisco Gonzalez    sr.    D
Rene Leon    sr.    D
Joel Salmeron    so.    F
Mario Castanon    sr.    M/F
Ivan Chavez    jr.    M/F
Hugo Castanon    sr.    M/F
Jose Montes    jr.    M/F
Jason Saucedo    sr.    GK

PROMISING NEWCOMERS
Toribio Romo    jr.     D
Jesus Morales    so.    M/F

OUTLOOK
Mike Caruso says the Mustangs usually have to work their way into the rankings during the season. But with various publications having preseason expectations of a top five ranking, Morton does not need to earn respect as it did in the past. Instead, it has to show that it is as good as advertised.
“This is probably the most talented team we’ve had since I’ve been here,” said Caruso, who is entering his sixth year as head coach. “We can’t have a letdown. We’re lacking experience, but the goal is to be playing our best by the end of the season.”
The Mustangs should be able to gauge themselves early with two tournaments. They are scheduled to play Downers Grove South (this past Tuesday), Brother Rice (Thursday) and Hersey (Saturday) in Hinsdale Central’s Red Devil Cup. Morton has qualified for the finals the last three years and won the championship on two of those occasions. The Mustangs will also begin the Pepsi Showdown at home against Mt. Carmel next Tuesday and are ranked No. 4 out of 33 teams.
Their season began last Thursday with a 4-0 win at Willowbrook in West Suburban Gold Conference action, with Jose Montes netting two goals. Morton has won four league titles in the last five years and were champions in 2008. The Mustangs went on to qualify for a Class 3A sectional final and fell 2-1 to Hinsdale Central. Last season’s seniors Daniel Ortiz and Enrique Flores are now playing soccer at Morton College while Stipo Zeba is at Valparaiso.
“We need to keep up the intensity and play the full 80 minutes,” Caruso said. “And we need to focus on putting balls away.”

Wheaton Warrenville South
COACH Guy Callipari (20th year)
HOME FIELD Red Grange Field, 1920 S. Wiesbrook Road, Wheaton
2008 RECORD 7-7-8
CONFERENCE DuPage Valley
Next Home Game Tuesday vs. Lincoln-Way East (Pepsi Showdown), 5 p.m.

TOP RETURNERS
Derek Babb    sr.    K
Andrew Bellmer    sr.    M
Andy Guerrero    sr.    D

PROMISING NEWCOMERS
Alec Brazeau        so.    F
Will Huesing        so.    D

OUTLOOK
This year figures to be a complete turnaround from last year’s record for the Tigers.
Coach Guy Callipari believes his team, which was young last year, will return more polished and more developed. One key to the Tigers is in its 13 seniors. “It bodes well,” Callipari said. “They’ve grown up together, they’ve played together. They should be quicker to establish rhythm in their play.”
The young 2008 team showed heart and would not give up, tying more games than they lost or won. “Those ties can certainly be turned around to victories,” Callipari said.
He added that they also tied a state record with seven overtimes.
Besides key returning seniors such as Andrew Bellmer, Andy Guerrero and goalkeeper Derek Babb, Callipari said the team also has good influx of new talent, such as Alec Brazeau and Will Huesing.
Other than becoming more polished, Callipari said the Tigers do not plan on making any significant changes to have a successful season. That might be because all of his players have played at the club level.
“They’ve been playing for eight months and the game is the best teacher,” Callipari said.
 

Wheaton North
COACH Bryce Cann (5th year)
HOME FIELD Rexilius Field, 1 Falcon Way, Wheaton
2008 RECORD: 11-6-6
Conference DuPage Valley
Next Home Game Thursday, Sept. 10 vs. Glenbard North, 6:30 p.m.

TOP RETURNERS
Pat Langan    sr.    M
Mike Lenzi    sr.    F
Josh Bennett    sr.    F
Mat Bauer    sr.    GK
Kyle Rezabek    sr.    D
Bobby Edwards    sr.    D
Elvin Ahmeti    sr.    D

PROMISING NEWCOMERS
A.J. Ramirez    jr.    M
Jacques        jr.    M

OUTLOOK
If the Falcons want to have to same kind of success they had last year when they were regional champs, they’re going to have to gel.
“Last year, we had a number of experienced players,” said coach Bryce Cann, who returns just seven players with varsity experience. “This year, we got a lot of guys that just haven’t seen much varsity experience.”
Fatigue, at least, does not look it’s going to be a problem this year. At 16 deep in the ranks, Cann said they’ll be able to keep legs fresh during games. “We’re going to be able to rotate guys out,” Cann said.
Another strength is in their backline defense, with returning seniors such as goalkeeper Matt Bauer and defender Kyle Rezabek.
“With the seniors in the back line, hopefully, that’s a level of maturity and discipline that we can develop,” Cann said.
He also sees some good performance at the other end of the field. Up front, we got some guys who are creative,” Cann said. “We’re hopeful we’ll have some balance.”

West Chicago
COACH Stephen Brugmann (8th year)
HOME FIELD Memorial Stadium, 326 Joliet St., West Chicago
2008 RECORD: 13-8-3
CONFERENCE DuPage Valley
Next Home Game Tuesday vs. Downers North (Pepsi Showdown), 7 p.m.

TOP RETURNERS
Dorain Carrasco    sr.    M
Chris Quintana    jr.    M/D
Adrian Porcayo    jr.    GK
Miquel Ortiz    sr.    M
Andrew Aguilar    sr.    D
Carlos Vasquez    sr.    M/F

PROMISING NEWCOMERS
Richard Paret    so.    M
Luis Medina    so.    D
Martin Orozco    so.    M

OUTLOOK
The Wildcats lose all-DVC Luis Ortega who played a major role in turning the team around last year and leading them to the J.D. Jacobs Tournament championship.
Ortega is a senior, but will be not joining the team this year due to personal reasons, according to coach Stephen Brugmann.
“It’s a huge loss for us,” Brugmann said. “He’s one of the best players I’ve ever coached.”
But coach Brugmann likes what he see from this year’s crop. “They’re intelligent and very coachable,” Brugmann said.
He has faith that his two captains, Dorain Carrasco and Chris Quintana, can lead the team and fill the void left by Ortega.

Wheaton Academy
Coach Jeff Brooke
Home field 900 Prince Crossing Road, West Chicago
2008 record 14-5-4
Conference Suburban Christian
Next home game Sept. 10 vs. New Trier (Pepsi Challenge)

TOP RETURNERS
Josh Kremers        sr.    M/D
Brandon VanderVeen    sr.    M/F
Alex Varga        sr.    M
Phil Oster            sr.    GK
Nate Nupanga        sr.    D
Tim Daniels        jr.    M/F
Devin Moore        jr.    M/F
Travis Guerra        sr.    M
Quinn Gorski        sr.    D
Babel Daniel        sr.    F

PROMISING NEWCOMERS
Joshua Urban        so.    M/F
Jesse Carmody        so.    GK
Frank Della Torre        so.    M

OUTLOOK
After the Wheaton Academy girls won a state title last spring, the boys are looking to continue their own rise this fall.
The early results have been impressive. Their three straight wins to open 2009 have been by a combined margin of 17-1, with West Chicago (a 2-1 Warriors’ win in the opener) the only team to seriously test Wheaton Academy.
Tim Daniels has led the offense with five goals in the last two games (including a hat trick Saturday in a 9-0 rout of Guerin Prep), and Devin Moore has netted four goals on the year. Moore and Travis Guerra were the offensive heroes in the comeback win over West Chicago, with Guerra netting the winning goal in the final minutes.
Phil Oster has been a standout at goalkeeper, and a corps of defenders and midfielders led by Josh Kremers, Brandon VanderVeen, Alex Varga, Nate Nupanga and Quinn Gorski (among others) has effectively limited opponents’ chances.

St. Francis
Coach Tim Dailey
Home field 2130 W. Roosevelt Road, Wheaton
2008 record 12-10-2
Conference Suburban Christian
Next home game Sept. 12 vs. Montini

TOP RETURNERS
Kyle Wood    sr.    D
Jamie Pigott    sr.    F
Danny Wright    sr.    D
Ryan Suerte    so.    GK
Drew Mascari    so.    M
Adam Fetter    so.    M

PORMISING NEWCOMERS
Jon Mifsud    fr.     M
Andy Wood    fr.    M
Matt Bonner    fr.    D
Dave Kaminski    so.    F
Anthony Farace    so.    D
Perry Poulos    so.    D
Kyle Bhatia    jr.    D
Mike Vale    jr.    MF
T.J. Kliebhan    jr.    M
Wes Dorman    jr.    M
Andres Pena    jr.    F

OUTLOOK
St. Francis coach Tim Dailey will hope the same blueprint that worked for the Spartans’ girls soccer team in the spring carries over to the boys program. The girls squad’s heavy reliance on freshmen and sophomores produced a great season, and the St. Francis boys team will similarly take the field depending on big things from its underclassmen.
Kyle Wood, Jamie Pigott and Danny Wright (a state qualifier in track relay last spring) are the only three seniors on the Spartans’ 17-player varsity roster, and three sophomores who played extensively as freshmen (including returning goalkeeper Ryan Suerte) will provide additional talent both now and in the future.
Suerte and fellow sophomore returnees Drew Mascari and Adam Fetter will have plenty of familiar teammates over the next few years. Three freshmen and three sophomores are also expected to make an immediate impact in the St. Francis lineup.
The Spartans will look to continue their streak of eight straight seasons finishing at .500 or better.

Geneva
NICKNAME Vikings
COLORS Royal blue and white
HOME FIELD Burgess Field, 1482 Gray St., Geneva
COACH Ryan Estabrook
2008 RECORD 20-3-1
CONFERENCE Western Sun

TOP RETURNERS
Michael Edwards    sr.    D
Kevin Hilgart    sr.    F
Seamus Kaminsky    jr.    M
Brady Wahl    jr.    M
Ryan Ward    sr.    GK
Jeff Williams    sr.    F

PROMISING NEWCOMERS
Joshua Poythress    fr.    M
Brandon Sloan    fr.    M

OUTLOOK
The Vikings have collected 20 wins and a regional championship each of the last three seasons. Things might be a little different this fall as Geneva returns just four starters to the pitch and just seven players overall.
“We don't have a lot of varsity experience returning, so we may struggle early in the season,” Estabrook said.
It hasn’t appeared that way yet as the Vikings stand at 2-0-1 with a pair of wins out at the Quincy tournament. While there will undoubtedly be a bit of a learning curve as so many players get acclimated to the varsity level, the Vikings should remain competitive. The reason is Ward, a senior keeper who is among the group of four remaining starters. A strong defense should keep the Vikings in plenty of games.
“Our defense is probably the heart of this team as our goalkeeper and all three backs are returning players,” Estabrook said.
Shawn Sloan and his 29 goals have moved on, meaning the offense could start out as a work in progress in the early going.
Still, there is something to be said for building team unity, and that could be the Vikings’ biggest hurdle to success as they strive for another Western Sun Conference title. Estabrook expects always-tough Batavia and a resurgent DeKalb team to join Geneva in the hunt for the WSC crown.

St. Charles North
NICKNAME North Stars
COLORS Royal blue and black
HOME FIELD 255 Red Gate Road, St. Charles
COACH Eric Willson
2008 RECORD 14-9-2
CONFERENCE Upstate Eight (5-4-1)

TOP RETURNERS
Angelo Catalano    sr.    M
Dan Figura    sr.    M
Zach Hosler    sr.    GK
Tyler McEnery    sr.    GK
Matt Rassmussen    jr.    F
James Reed    sr.    F

PROMISING NEWCOMERS
Tyler Davis    fr.    M
Drew Smith    so.    M

OUTLOOK
It was another season, another deep playoff run for the North Stars in 2008. This season should be much of same as 13 players return from that team, all of whom saw significant minutes last year and all of whom can play almost anywhere on the field.
“We expect to get everybody’s best game,” Willson said, “And I expect us to compete with everybody.”
Two experienced goalkeepers — Hosler and McEnery — will split time this year, as they did last season, and both provide stability at one of the most important positions on the field.
“They’ve both been on varsity since their sophomore years, and they’ve rotated starting every other game,” Willson said. “I expect that to continue.”
Catalano stepped up in some big situations last year and returns to anchor the midfield. Figura is listed as a midfielder on the North Stars’ roster, but Willson can insert him at nearly any position and expect to get the same results.
One thing is for certain — by the time the postseason rolls around in late October the North Stars will be battle-tested. Already standing at 1-1 after games against Stevenson (a 2-1 loss) and Rockford-Guilford (a 3-2 win), North will be challenged by Geneva, Neuqua Valley, St. Charles East, Waubonsie Valley, Streamwood and in tournaments like Barrington and the Pepsi Showdown.
“We don’t have a game anywhere on our schedule where we can take a game off,” Willson said. “It’s going to be just like that in the playoffs.”

St. Charles East
NICKNAME Saints
COLORS Black and orange
HOME FIELD Norris Stadium, 1020 Dunham Road, St. Charles
COACH Paul Jennison
2008 RECORD 9-7-7
CONFERENCE Upstate Eight (3-2-4)

TOP RETURNERS
John Bren    jr.    M
Scott Dettro    sr.    GK
Charlie Lyon    sr.    GK
John Schnell    sr.    D
Chris Tomek    jr.    F

OUTLOOK
Excitement surrounds the Saints this season. Despite losing some key players from last year’s team (standout midfielder Jeff Jones among them), plenty of talent returns all over the field, and that continuity should pay almost immediate dividends.
“I’d say we’re going to be fairly solid,” said Jennison, the second-year Saints coach. “I’m pretty excited about this year. We have a strong senior class and a good mix of juniors and seniors, so it should be a good year.”
Bren had a strong sophomore campaign last season, and he should be part of a solid foundation for the Saints.
“Hopefully he can be productive,” Jennison said. “His ability to break up a play and possess the ball is amazing.”
Perhaps the biggest positive so far is that, to a player, the Saints are buying into Jennison’s scheme and playing the game how he would like to see it played.
“Our ability to play the ball, keeping the ball on our feet,” Jennison said of his team’s greatest strength. “We’re able to pass the ball. They know how I want to play, and that’s how they’re playing.”
Schnell, a returning senior defender, is likely to wear the captain’s band and never relinquish it. Tomek will be relied upon as a goal scorer up top while Lyon adds depth in the net after returning from club soccer.
“John is a leader for us, an experienced varsity player. Chris had a great year last year, and I hope he can continue that,” Jennison said.

Batavia
NICKNAME Bulldogs
COLORS Crimson and gold
HOME FIELD Bulldog Stadium, 1200 W. Wilson St., Batavia
COACH Mark Gianfrancesco
2008 RECORD 11-8-3
CONFERENCE Western Sun (6-1-1)

TOP RETURNERS
Mitch Albrecht    sr.    M
Jordan Carey    sr.    D
Eduardo Cuatle    so.    D
Hyrum DaSilva    sr.    F
Ty McCoy        sr.    M
Mac Sellers    sr.    M
Anthony Torres    so.    D
Martin Vierecki    sr.    M
Ty Witkowski    sr.    GK
Cody Witkowski    so.   

PROMISING NEWCOMERS
Connor Besic    sr.   
Steve Lauman    sr.

OUTLOOK
Expectations are running higher than usual for the Bulldogs this season. Eight starters (and 14 players overall) return from a team that was part of a loaded four-team regional that included Naperville Central and Waubonsie Valley. And it’s likely the Bulldogs have had redemption on their mind since the end of last season, when Waubonsie scored two goals in quick succession to erase a 1-0 Batavia lead in a regional semifinal that the Bulldogs lost 2-1.
“It’s going to be living up to expectations,” Gianfrancesco said of this team’s greatest challenge.
However, the potential to live up to and perhaps exceed expectation is certainly there with a host of returning players all over the field.
Albrecht, a four-year starter and all-sectional and Republican all-area team selection last year, returns to anchor a midfield that should be Batavia’s strength. Albrecht tallied seven goals and 12 assists last season, and he will be bolstered in the midfield by the return of Sellers and Vierckl.
Along the back line, Cuatle and Torres are sophomore returning starters, and the extra year of experience should make them even better.

Bartlett
NICKNAME Hawks
COLORS Royal blue and white
HOME FIELD Millennium Field, 701 W. Schaumburg Road, Streamwood
COACH Ben Beary
2008 RECORD 6-11-5
CONFERENCE Upstate Eight (3-7)
NEXT HOME GAME Monday, Sept. 14 in Bartlett tourney at Millennium Field

TOP RETURNERS
Brett Dini        jr.    D
Jeff Gal        jr.    GK
Joe McCullough    sr.    M
Alex Ortiz        jr.    F
Brian Roman    sr.    M
Tommy Russo    jr.    M

PROMISING NEWCOMERS
Carmelo Abate    jr.    M
Fabio Aiello    jr.    D
Brett Palmer    sr.    D
David Wade    jr.    D

OUTLOOK
The good news is the Hawks have returning players at every level of the field, from Gal in between the posts to Dini on defense to midfielders Roman, Russo and McCullough to Ortiz up top.
The bad news is that, aside from those six players, new head coach Ben Beary has 16 varsity newcomers filling out the roster.
Three rookies will be among the starting four defenders and midfielder Carmelo Abate is also a new face. However, Beary believes this squad has the talent to hang with the teams that comprise a tough schedule.
“We have a very tight-knit group this year,” Beary said. “Most of the nine juniors have played on the same travel club since they were young, and that is a rare luxury of camaraderie at this level.”
Another plus is that the incoming players, while short on varsity experience, are ready for the style Beary, the former boys and girls freshman coach at Bartlett, is hoping to implement.
“We have an influx of foot control, which lends itself nicely to our strength of controlling possession during the game,” Beary said. “We also have depth at almost every position.”
The skill level across the board should help offset the mental mistakes that are inevitable when so many players are adjusting to life on the varsity level.

Glenbard North
Coach Greg Chrisman
Home field 990 N. Kuhn Drive, Carol Stream
2008 record 11-7-4
CONFERENCE DuPage Valley (2-3-2)
Next home game Tuesday vs. Naperville North, 6:30 p.m.

TOP RETURNERS
Jake Tenut    sr.    M
Matt Pablo    sr.    F
Kyle Florez    jr.    M

PROMISING NEWCOMERS
Jon Colucci    so.    F
Dom Ferreri    so.    D

OUTLOOK
Although Glenbard North graduated nine starters from a year ago, Coach Chrisman views 2009 not as a rebuilding campaign, but a re-loading one. Plus, the Panthers do have experience with Tenut, Pablo and Florez.
“The summer brought excitement and optimism to the younger players,” Chrisman said. “They knew that their were plenty of open positions and they are battling for those spots.”
Since the group is not experienced as a whole, it might take to the mid-season point for an identity to be established. And Chrisan believes it might start with Glenbard North’s front-line players.
“Our forwards have the ability to put pressure on the opposing teams’ defense with and without the ball,” Chrisman said. “Their work rate and speed is going to be a challenge for other teams to defend.”
The Panthers’ 2008 season ended with a 2-1 loss to St. Charles North in a Class 3A regional semifinal. St. Charles North ended up qualifying for the Barrington supersectional.
Glenbard North should gain quality experience in the Addison Trail Tournament, which began this week as well as the St. Charles East Tournament, which kicks off Sept. 21.
“The last two years, we have either won or taken second place in those tournaments,” Chrisman said. “We would like to continue that trend.”

St. Charles North
NICKNAME North Stars
COLORS Royal blue and black
HOME FIELD 255 Red Gate Road, St. Charles
COACH Eric Willson
2008 RECORD 14-9-2
CONFERENCE Upstate Eight (5-4-1)
NEXT HOME GAME Monday, Sept. 14 vs. Geneva, 6:30 p.m.

TOP RETURNERS
Angelo Catalano    sr.    M
Dan Figura    sr.    M
Zach Hosler    sr.    GK
Tyler McEnery    sr.    GK
Matt Rassmussen    jr.    F
James Reed    sr.    F

PROMISING NEWCOMERS
Tyler Davis    fr.    M
Drew Smith    so.    M

OUTLOOK
It was another season, another deep playoff run for the North Stars in 2008. This season should be much of same as 13 players return from that team, all of whom saw significant minutes last year and all of whom can play almost anywhere on the field.
Two experienced goalkeepers — Hosler and McEnery — will split time this year, as they did last season, and both provide stability at one of the most important positions on the field.
Catalano stepped up in some big situations last year and returns to anchor the midfield. Figura is listed as a midfielder on the North Stars’ roster, but Willson can insert him at nearly any position and expect to get the same results.
One thing is for certain — by the time the postseason rolls around in late October the North Stars will be battle-tested. Already standing at 1-1 after games against Stevenson (a 2-1 loss) and Rockford-Guilford (a 3-2 win), North will be challenged by Geneva, Neuqua Valley, St. Charles East, Waubonsie Valley, Streamwood and in tournaments like Barrington and the Pepsi Showdown.

St. Charles East
NICKNAME Saints
COLORS Black and orange
HOME FIELD Norris Stadium, 1020 Dunham Road, St. Charles
COACH Paul Jennison
2008 RECORD 9-7-7
CONFERENCE Upstate Eight (3-2-4)
NEXT HOME GAME Monday, Sept. 21 in St. Charles East Invite

TOP RETURNERS
John Bren    jr.    M
Scott Dettro    sr.    GK
Charlie Lyon    sr.    GK
John Schnell    sr.    D
Chris Tomek    jr.    F

OUTLOOK
Excitement surrounds the Saints this season. Despite losing some key players from last year’s team (such as standout midfielder Jeff Jones), plenty of talent returns all over the field, and the continuity should pay immediate dividends.
Bren had a strong sophomore campaign last season, and he should be part of a solid foundation for the Saints.
Perhaps the biggest positive so far is that, to a player, the Saints are buying into Jennison’s scheme and playing the game how he would like to see it played.
“Our ability to play the ball, keeping the ball on our feet,” Jennison said of his team’s greatest strength.
“We’re able to pass the ball. They know how I want to play, and that’s how they’re playing.”
Schnell, a returning senior defender, is likely to wear the captain’s band and never relinquish it. Tomek will be relied upon as a goal scorer up top while Lyon adds depth in the net after returning from club soccer.

South Elgin
NICKNAME Storm
COLORS Red, navy, silver
HOME FIELD Millennium Field, 701 W. Schaumburg Road, Streamwood
COACH Mark Neville

 

Glenbard East
NICKNAME Rams
CONFERENCE DuPage Valley
HOME FIELD 1014 Main St., Lombard
COACH Josh Adler (6th year)
2008 RECORD (4-10-2)
NEXT HOME GAME Tuesday, Sept. 15 vs. Glenbard North

TOP RETURNER
Sean Little    sr.    D
Ella Mrakovich    sr.    GK
Ben Arellano    sr.    RB

PROMISING NEWCOMERS
Brent Disterheft    jr.    M
Oscar Barraza    jr.    M

OUTLOOK
While most of the Rams’ game is sound, coach Josh Adler hopes they can solidify the part of their play which leads to wins — scoring.
“Our big thing to work on is our going forward and finishing in the final third of the field and trying to find ways to put the ball in the back of the net,” Adler said.
But he believes the veterans on the team have learned from last year, which only yielded four wins for the Rams.
“There’s a lot of returning experience with this group,” Adler said. “They made a big committment in the off-season to work on their game and get better. I think, now, they realize what they need to do to win the bigger games.”
Yet, most of that returning experience is in the defense with seniors Ella Mrakovich in goal and Little as the center back.
“We’ve got a lot of returners in our midfield and back four,” Adler said. “We’ve been a really good defending team through the summer, so we take a lot of pride in that.”
He also described the team as a tight-knit group which likes to train hard and have fun.

Montini
NICKNAME Broncos
CONFERENCE Suburban Christian
COACH Sue Brown
HOME FIELD 19W070 16th St., Lombard
NEXT HOME GAME Saturday vs. Juarez, noon

TOP RETURNERS
Zander Carpanzano    jr.    M/F
Julian Milcent    sr.    D
Rob Moore    sr.    D
Tim Hill    so.    G
Dan Burke    so.    M
Kyle Samas    so.    M

PROMISING NEWCOMERS
Andrew Harte    fr.    M/F
Krystian Gebis    fr.    F
Phillip Kesik    fr.    D

OUTLOOK
The Broncos are an extremely young team this fall, starting only five upperclassman. What that ultimately means is the team is a work in progress and will try to build throughout the season.
“To me that is a pretty young team when you start six underclassman,” Brown said. “The freshmen are having a tough time being as physical as they need to be on the varsity. That is something we need to work on, bringing them up to the physical level.”
Though Montini might lack a lot of experience, there is plenty of talent on the field, led by Carpanzano, a third-year varsity player who will be counted on heavily to kick start the offense. Burke and Samas will also play midfield with Gebis and Harte expected to provide some scoring punch upfront.
Moore is the sweeper and Milcent is the central defender and that duo is flanked by Kesik and Ryan Crackel. That group of defenders will work in front of Hill, an outstanding keeper who enters his second year in goal.
“We are a huge work in progress,” the coach said. “But from where we started this year to where we are now, we have already made good progress. We are looking for growth as a team and hopefully by the end of the season, we should be able to blend well together. We have talent, we just need to bring it together.”
The Broncos’ main goal is to win a regional title, which would be the first in program history. A year ago, the squad advanced to the Class 2A regional final before falling 3-2 to Juarez.
“We would like to be there again,” Brown said. “I think, actually I know we can do it. Just as long as we keep building and working as a team.”

Willowbrook
NICKNAME Warriors
CONFERENCE West Suburban Gold
COACH Brian Frank (1st year)
HOME FIELD 1250 Ardmore Ave., Villa Park
NEXT HOME GAME Saturday at Willowbrook Invite, 10 a.m.

TOP RETURNERS
Ben Meza    sr.    D
Hector Herrara    sr.    F
Joe Kelly    sr.    F
John Tepper    sr.    M

PROMISING NEWCOMERS
Ibrahim Ramulic    jr.    M
Omar Mendoza    jr.    M
Drew Kuenstler    jr.    D

OUTLOOK
This is a program clearly in transition and one that is looking to build from the ground up. Taking over the reins is Frank, who is also the head girls soccer coach at Immaculate Conception.
The Warriors lost a lot of players from last year and, thus, do not return a lot of experience.
“A good chunk of the team for whatever reason didn’t return,” Frank said. “We had the same problem at the lower levels as well. Our numbers aren’t where we want them to be.
“The good news is we had 19 freshmen come in and that is good for the future. The problem was at the sophomore level we had only 11 or 12 and at the varsity we have 16. Part of my job is to fix that.”
Willowbrook will be led by Meza and Kelly, a pair of senior co-captains. Herrara will be looked at to add scoring punch while Tepper and Ramulic handle the center midfield duties. Senior Ian Escallier is the goalie after being a part of a committee approach in 2008.
“Do we have a lot of experience? No,” the coach said. “Do we have a lot of depth? No. Those could end up being our shortcomings especially being in the West Suburban Conference. But this year we are looking to be more competitive than in the past and in the process, build numbers for our program.
“The program is at Level 1. There is only one way to go and that is up. The parents have been very supportive and we haven’t had any problems with the kids. The attitude has been very positive.”

York
NICKNAME Dukes
CONFERENCE West Suburban Silver
COACH Markus Roy (5th year)
HOME FIELD 355 W. St. Charles Road, Elmhurst (team will begin season playing at Bryan Middle School, 111 W. Butterfield Road, Elmhurst)
2008 RESULTS 14-5, lost 3-2 in triple overtime against Glenbard West in first round of the playoffs
FIRST HOME GAME Sept. 15 vs. Oak Park River Forest, 4:30 p.m.

TOP RETURNERS
David Selvaggi    jr.    F
Stefan Salzano    sr.    M
Eric Moreau    sr.    M
Klaudio Kamberi    sr.    F
Andrew Aldrich    sr.    F

PROMISING NEWCOMERS
Cody Kliethermas    jr.    M
Maurice Watkins    jr.    M

OUTLOOK
The Dukes earned a share of the West Suburban Silver title last season for the first time in eight years, but with eight starters gone from that team, including the top three scorers, this year’s squad will rely on a small core of veterans to lead the repeat attempt.
“We just have to build off our success from last year,” Moreau said. “We have a relatively new team so new players have to step up.”
Those new players will learn from guys like Salzano and Selvaggi, who are both coming off all-conference seasons and, along with Moreau, are entering their third season on varsity. Last year’s success taught the Dukes the importance of teamwork and staying focused, two lessons the younger players will learn right away.
“At the end of the year when we had a good record going into the playoffs, it seemed that we pulled the foot off the gas pedal a little bit,” Moreau said. “We thought we’d float in and get a few easy wins. We’ve got to come out to every game playing strong and wanting it.”
The Dukes could face one challenge that has nothing to do with focus or teamwork or how they play on the field. The challenge could be the field itself. York’s first few home games will be played at Bryan Middle School while the turf field at the school’s stadium is still under construction.
Roy also acknowledged that with both Lyons and Hinsdale Central among the top 10 teams in multiple state-wide preseason rankings, repeating as WSS champions will not be easy.
“We obviously want to win it, but we’re playing against LT, Hinsdale, Oak Park,” Roy said. “This is a huge conference, and finishing realistically in the top three would be great for our program.”

Timothy Christian
NICKNAME Trojans
COACH Rudi Getsch (3rd year)
HOME FIELD 1061 S. Prospect Ave, Elmhurst
2008 RECORD 18-6-1, Class 2A runners-up
NEXT HOME GAME Sept. 14 vs. Illiana Christian, 6:15 p.m.

TOP RETURNERS
Jon Workman    sr.    M
Nate Middel    sr.    M
Corey Phillip    jr.    M/F
MIke Pizzello    jr.    M

PROMISING NEWCOMERS
Adam Garza    fr.    D
Nolan DuBois    so.    M/F
Nick Groenewold    so.    F
Colin Middel    so.    F
Dae He Cho    sr.    D

OUTLOOK
This is a vastly different squad than the one that finished as the runner-up in Class 1A a year ago. Gone are seven starters, including the top four goal scorers and the goalkeeper.
The Trojans do have their midfield in tact with Workman, Nate Middel, Phillip and Pizzello all back and that group should be the strength of this year’s team. Phillip scored seven goals in 2008 while Workman and Middel combined for another seven.
“It is extremely important for us to realize this isn’t the same team,” Getsch said. “We cannot have the attitude of expectancy and assume because we did it last year it will happen this year. That is a big focus, realizing what we have and where we are at and then setting realistic goals.”
One question mark for Timothy Christian lies in goal where Foster will get first crack after playing forward in 2008. Another concern lies with a defensive unit of Garza, Cho, sweeper Kyle Anderson and stopper Troy Ellens that is talented but lacks varsity experience.
Groenewold and Colin Middel get the nod upfront while big things are also expected from DuBois at either the forward or midfield position.
“Our offense is pretty solid,” the coach said. “Our front six are very solid and they have good skills on the ball. They have all the skills you look for at those positions. Defensively it is a young group and in many respects an inexperienced group. They are learning to play together.
“We have a lot of ifs with this team and that is one of them. If they play the way they are capable of, this could be a good team.”
In a major change, the Trojans find themselves in the Metro Suburban Conference with the likes of Riverside Brookfield, Elmwood Park, Ridgewood and Fenton. Illiana Christian also has joined the MSC and is the only familiar opponent out of the bunch.
“The positive of it is you prepare every game for your best,” Gesch said. “I can legitimately say that I don’t know what to expect on the other team’s end. So let’s just go out and do our best and let the chips fall wherever they may.”

Hinsdale Central
Nickname Red Devils
Coach Mike Wiggins (8th year)
HOME FIELD Centennial Field, 55th and Grant streets, Hinsdale
2008 results 17-7-2 (4-2, West Suburban Silver)
NEXT HOME GAME 9 a.m. Saturday vs Lincoln Way East

TOP RETURNERS
Robert LaRocque        sr.    M
Taylor Cole        jr.    D
Eric Loebig        sr.    M
Cameron Legan        sr.    M
Michael Oleszkiewicz    sr.    F
Mitch Reavis        so.    F

PROMISING NEWCOMERS
Lenny Zavala        so.    D

OUTLOOK
The Red Devils return seven starters from a squad that lost 3-0 to Neuqua Valley in the Class 3A supersectional last fall.
Leading the way is a pair of three-year starters in LaRocque, who had four goals and two assists last season, and Cole, who totaled two goals and five assists in 2008.
“We are just settling into the 10 weeks,” Wiggins said, “trying to sort out the style of play that fits our team. We have a lot of talented individual players. But it is a process. We are not trying to win it all week one.
“Our expectations are high but we only set them high because we know we have a group that can meet those expectations.”
One goal the squad will be trying to reach is winning the West Suburban Silver title, which the Red Devils have not done since 2006. A year ago, they lost to both Glenbard West and York on their way to a 4-2 mark.
Hinsdale Central also hopes to reach the Sweet 16 for the sixth time in the eight years under Wiggins.
“Every day is an opportunity to learn,” the coach said, “and an opportunity for the coaching staff to assess where we are at. We are going to give every guy an opportunity to show what they can do.
“We’ve got a lot of good information on our guys, they are learning about the system we are in and we are introducing new things weekly. There is no rush. All we can expect from the guys is to come out and compete and trust that at the end of the season, they will be where they need to be.”
After four games, the squad is 1-2-1 with a win over Lincoln Way West and losses to Naperville North and Hinsdale South.

Hinsdale South
Nickname Hornets
Coach James VanDenburgh
Home field 7401 Clarendon Hills Road, Darien
2008 record 7-13-1, (3-3, West Suburban Gold)
Next home game Saturday vs. Oswego East

TOP RETURNERS
Jonathan Beavis    jr.    D
Don Scholes    sr.    M
Mark Palka    sr.    D
Ryan Knoelk    sr.    GK
Patrick Mika    sr.    D

PROMISING NEWCOMERS
Matt Warta    jr.    MF
Nick Henry    jr.    F
Andrea Bina    sr.    F
Joe Petrak    jr.    D
Edwin Cisneros    jr.    F

OUTLOOK
New head coach James VanDenburgh inherits a group with a ton of experience in all phases of the game. From the back end to the midfield to front-line offensive threats, the Hornets have a group that is ready to go. The team got its first win of the season Tuesday at the Red Devil Cup after upsetting rival Hinsdale Central 3-0. This game should do nothing but provide the Hornets with self-assurance, considering the Red Devils qualified for the Class 3A Benedictine Supersectional a season ago.
“Our confidence is a by-product of our belief in group spirit, which continues to grow with every practice and game,” VanDenburgh said. “My expectations for the season are simple: work hard, believe in group spirit and have fun.”
As far as West Suburban Gold conference action goes, Hinsdale South will begin league play against reigning champion Morton on Sept. 15 in Berwyn. The Hornets have not won the WSGC since 1995.
“Our conference is always tough,” VanDenburgh said. “Morton and Downers Grove South are always great clubs that play high quality soccer and set the bar high. We’ll see as conference play approaches how the rest of us try to match the high level set by such great programs.”
In 2008, Hinsdale South’s season ended with a 2-0 loss to Fenwick in a Class 3A regional semifinal.
“The defense is the strength of the team,” VanDenburgh said. “With senior leadership and intensity, we are looking to be able to build the ball up and attack from the back. All offense starts with a solid, organized and smart defense.”