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Athlete of the Week
Collin Fischer
Huntley, jr. A
The attacker scored 10 goals this week as the Red Raiders strung together three consecutive wins for the first time this season. Fischer scored three in Tuesday’s 11-1 Fox Valley Conference win over Crystal Lake Central, he scored a game-high five goals against Jacobs on Wednesday and added two more Thursday in an 11-5 win over Crystal Lake South. With 24 goals and 15 assists on the season, Fischer is tied for fourth in the state with 39 points.
Northwest Herald Power Rankings
1. Cary-Grove (6-1, 3-0 FVC): The Trojans lost for for the first time this year Saturday against Gurnee Warren as their high-powered offense was held to four goals. Before the loss, C-G started the week with back-to-back wins over Class A programs Fremd and Stevenson. The Trojans play on three consecutive nights this week, starting with Grayslake North on Tuesday ahead of conference games with Prairie Ridge and Crystal Lake South.
2. Huntley (4-5, 3-1 FVC): After a slow start to the season, this week might signal the Red Raiders are rounding into form for the home stretch. They won three times, beating Crystal Lake Central, Jacobs and Crystal Lake South. Huntley hosts West Chicago in a nonconference game Tuesday before facing Prairie Ridge on Thursday.
3. Crystal Lake South (4-5, 3-1 FVC): The Gators began the week with a 15-8 win over Prairie Ridge, getting eight points from Jason Van Dyck and seven from Sam Klinsky. South lost its next two, to Huntley and Mundelein, before finishing the week with a 10-9 win over Crystal Lake Central on Sunday.
4. Jacobs (4-4, 2-2 FVC): The Golden Eagles got four goals from senior Brian Ta but dropped a one-goal conference game to Huntley on Wednesday before losing a nonconference game to Bartlett on Thursday. The Golden Eagles host Crystal Lake Central Monday before visiting Crystal Lake South Tuesday and then having the rest of the week off.
5. Crystal Lake Central (1-6, 1-3 FVC): Since coming from behind to pick up their first win of the season April 16 against Prairie Ridge, the Tigers struggled to score, netting eight goals in their next three games. Central pushed Crystal Lake South on Sunday but lost a 10-9 game. The Tigers go on the road against Jacobs Monday looking to avenge a 16-1 loss from earlier this month.
Noteworthy
High-scoring Trojans: Cary-Grove entered the week as the highest-scoring team in the state, averaging more than 17 goals per game. Three close games have brought that average down to 12.86 after Saturday's 9-4 loss. C-G coach Brendan Gorman said the team's key shooters had "their first really bad day" Saturday.
Despite the drop, they are still third in the state behind state-leading New Trier and a Chiefs Lacrosse team made up of players from Andrew, Sandburg and Stagg.
Addis returns for Huntley: Huntley's Chuck Addis, who missed the Red Raiders' first seven games, returned to the field this week and immediately contributed. The senior midfielder scored eight goals and assisted on one in three Huntley wins. Addis was third on the team in points last season and a first-team all-conference selection.
This Week's Top Games
Jacobs at Crystal Lake South
6 p.m. Tuesday at Sunset Park, Lake in the Hills
Both teams have FVC losses to Huntley, meaning the winner of this one should get sole possession of third place.
Cary-Grove at Crystal Lake South
6 p.m. Thursday at Sunset Park, Lake in the Hills
The Gators get their shot at FVC-leading Cary-Grove, which has yet to lose to an FVC opponent.