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The start of the high school boys soccer season initiates the drive toward Hoffman Estates for the Class 2A and 3A state finals in November. Here’s the outlook for Glenbard South, Glenbard West, Wheaton North, Wheaton Warrenville South and other area teams this season.
Glenbard South Raiders
Coach: Adam Szyszko
Conference: Metro Suburban Blue
Top players
Name Year Position
Kevin Enright jr. D
John McMahon jr. MF
Matteo Miglio sr. D
Spencer Pyle jr. F
Ryan Vozza so. F
Outlook: Until a 4-1 setback against village foe Glenbard West on Aug. 29, the Raiders had cruised to three decisive wins by a combined score of 16-2 to start the season.
Pyle, who tallied his ninth goal on the young season against the Hilltoppers, has been a force at the top of the attack. Vozza adds another threat offensively. Senior goalkeepers Lonnie Minnitti, Cooper Reif and Noah VanDenend are all new to the net, but the high-powered offense and the presence of experienced defenders Enright and Miglio should help ease the transition.
Glenbard West Hilltoppers
Coach: Maciej Kusmierz
Conference: West Suburban Silver
Top players
Name Year Position
Luke Andreasik sr. F
Blaise Bishop sr. MF
Seth Dillworth jr. F
Brady Heller sr. D
P.J. Knapke jr. MF
Jesus Meza so. F
Alexis Rogel sr. D
Jake Smith sr. D
Outlook: The Hilltoppers look poised to make some noise this season behind experienced players sprinkled throughout the field.
Heller, Rogel and Smith are all returning starters along the back line, and Heller possesses the versatility to jump up into the attack.
Knapke and Bishop will power the transition game through the midfield, and the addition of the speedy Dillworth to the attack alongside Andreasik gives West a powerful punch up top.
Junior Gabe Billings and freshman Oliver Holowinski are both new to varsity goalkeeping, but the strong defense in front of them already has shown its mettle.
West moved to 4-0 on the season with a 4-1 win against Glenbard South on Aug. 29, but the tests will come in quick succession against WSS foes Downers Grove North (Sept. 5), Lyons Township (Sept. 7) and Hinsdale Central (Sept. 19).
St. Francis Spartans
Coach: Kevin Ward
Conference: Chicago Catholic League
Top players
Name Year Position
Sean Conley jr. MF
Ethan Grosam sr. D
Nicholas Gulli jr. MF
Leo Herard sr. F
Jacob Power sr. D
Henry Roback sr. MF
Ryan Scharf sr. GK
Outlook: A solid group of players return from teams that have been at both ends of the spectrum in recent years – supersectional qualifiers in 2015 and on the short end in the regional final last year.
With Scharf back in net and Grosam and Power in front of him, the defense should be a strength. It was in a 4-1 win against Wheaton North in the season opener Aug. 24 – the Falcons’ lone goal coming via penalty kick. Freshman Trey Gora adds depth to the defense.
With Conley, Gulli and Roback in the midfield and Herard at the top of the attack, finding offense should not be an issue this season.
Wheaton Academy Warriors
Coach: Jeff Brooke
Conference: Metro Suburban Blue
Top players
Name Year Position
J.D. Gunn sr. GK
Luke Holwerda sr. F
Seamus Kilgallon jr. M
Mathew Oster sr. D
Quinn Partain sr. F
Outlook: This looks to be a rare rebuilding year for the Warriors, who graduated 14 seniors, half of them starters, from a team that went 16-2-3 in 2016.
The entire defense is new in front of Gunn, one of the few players with varsity experience. Gunn should be solid while the new unit jells. The Warriors opened the season with a 9-1 rout of Timothy Christian, but must play better against the bigger teams such as Geneva, which handed them their first home shutout in nearly two seasons with a 1-0 decision Aug. 26.
“I’m very pleased with how we’re playing in terms of style,” Brooke said. “We just need some guys to rise up and put the ball in the net.”
Wheaton North Falcons
Coach: Rob Stassen
Conference: DuPage Valley
Top players
Name Year Position
Jake Dzarnowski sr. F
Nathan Heyen jr. D
Jorge Petino sr. MF
Carlos Saavedra sr. D
Jack Tegart jr. D
Outlook: After a 2-15-2 season a year ago, the Falcons looked poised for success with nine returning starters back in the mix.
Saavedra and Tegart return to anchor the defense, where Heyen and Jack Mancuso will add depth. Co-captains Dzarnowski and Petino will lead the attack, with junior forwards Joe Gaither and Jack Morrissey plus junior midfielder Ethan Shikany joining in to make North a potentially dangerous offensive team.
The Falcons already flashed some of their potential in a 5-1 win against Schurz to start the season.
Wheaton Warrenville South Tigers
Coach: Guy Callipari
Conference: DuPage Valley
Top players
Name Year Position
Fabian Aranda sr. M
Will Buxton sr. D
Sumani Husseini jr. F
Unla Husseini sr. M
Gabby Lazcano sr. D
Outlook: Optimistic. The Tigers were third in the DVC last season and look to build on that. They should be solid defensively as co-captains Buxton and Lazcano provide leadership and experience and the midfield could be deep as sophomores Ryan Dufty and Nick McCrath and senior Jesus Martinez are poised to make an impact.
“We have seven returning players from the 2016 campaign,” Callipari said. “Our midfield will return the greatest number of players and their experience will allow us to acclimate through the middle and offensive third of the field.”