Boys soccer: 5 storylines to watch in McHenry County in 2024

The Northwest Herald boys soccer preview will appear in print later this month with information on every local team. Until then, here are five storylines to look for during the 2024 season.

Can Crystal Lake South defend its state championship?

The Gators won their second state championship in program history when they defeated Peoria Notre Dame for the Class 2A state title last season. South captured its first title since 2018 and third state trophy in the past six years.

Now the question is whether the Gators can make it two in a row. Nolan Getzinger, who won the Northwest Herald Boys Soccer Player of the Year award the past two seasons, graduated along with other top players such as Chris Slawek, Nico Velasco, Brendan Lewis, Blake Marunde and Garrett Hess.

The good news for South? It returns plenty of talent. Rising senior forward Ali Ahmed is back after scoring 25 goals and tallying four assists, while rising senior midfielder Nick Prus and junior defender Pierce Johnson are just some of the top players of a talented returning cast.

The road to a repeat won’t be easy. Naperville North was the last team to win two straight titles in 2018 in Class 3A, while a Class 2A team hasn’t repeated since the IHSA changed to a three-class playoff format in 2008.

Who will challenge Gators for Fox Valley Conference title?

While South became the first FVC team to win two straight league titles in 10 years, it didn’t come easily. The Gators shared the title with Huntley, which won at least a share of its second conference title in the past decade.

South has won the most conference titles during that time with four. Huntley, Jacobs and Dundee-Crown each have won two, while Crystal Lake Central won one. Hampshire won the FVC tournament during the 2021 spring season.

The Gators and the Red Raiders will be considered favorites to contend for another FVC title. While South returns plenty of talent from last season, Huntley will need to replace graduated talent such as Hudson Nielsen, Jack Breunig and Jack Backey. Senior Mason Leslie will be a name to watch.

Jacobs, Prairie Ridge and D-C finished behind South and Huntley, respectively, last season and also should challenge for the top FVC spot. The Golden Eagles will need to replace plenty of senior talent, and Wolves rising senior forward Henry Knoll and Chargers senior defender Diego Flores will try to continue their programs’ recent success.

Can anyone knock off Harvard in the Kishwaukee River Conference?

The Hornets are coming off one of their best seasons in the past five years. Not only did Harvard win its fourth straight KRC title, but also its first regional title since 2018. Harvard eventually lost in a sectional final to the 2A champion Gators.

Harvard’s continued success in the KRC didn’t come easily. The Hornets beat out Woodstock North with a tiebreaker and edged out Woodstock by three points.

There will be plenty of talent to replace for the Hornets. Last season’s KRC Field Player of the Year Martin Quintero graduated along with others such as Brayan Contreras, David Pichardo and Marco Herrera. Rising senior midfielders Diego Ramierz and Miguel Mercado will try to continue the Hornets’ success.

Harvard will be tested in the KRC once again. Johnsburg will try to build off a supersectional appearance. Richmond-Burton tries to repeat an appearance in the sectional finals.

Who can take over as the area’s top player?

Getzinger took over the area the last couple of seasons, earning the Northwest Herald Boys Soccer Player of the Year honor two straight years. Now others will try to fill those shoes this season, and there are plenty of candidates.

His former teammates Ahmed, Prus and Johnson could step into that role as they try to help South repeat. Ahmed earned Illinois High School Soccer Coaches Association All-Sectional and All-FVC honors last year. Prus had 14 goals and three assists, while Johnson was a key defensive player and showed off his versatility on the pitch.

Flores, Knoll and Leslie also will try to take the area’s top spot. Flores scored seven goals, had five assists and led a defense that limited opponents to 1.2 goals per match. Knoll knocked in 15 goals and had six assists. Leslie earned All-FVC honors.

Will McHenry County teams continue last year’s postseason success?

McHenry County teams regained playoff success last season after a down year in 2022. South won the area’s second state championship since PR won in 1999. Johnsburg also won a sectional title, while Harvard and R-B reached their respective sectional championships.

PR and Huntley each won regional titles last year and likely will contend for more this season.

The area has enjoyed success since at least 2013. A McHenry County team has reached the supersectional round each year a playoff was held during that span, except 2022. Huntley, Jacobs, McHenry and Johnsburg have played in a supersectional match during that time, while Harvard and South have made the state finals.

That success should continue this season.