Streamwood flows into the top spot for the start of the season, but Elgin and West Aurora both appear to be poised to make some moves.
Top 10 Teams
1. Streamwood (15-5-4): Sabres are loaded for a run to state finals. Senior forward AJ Sabanovic is a player of the year candidate in Illinois and an All-American contender. Senior Alex Alcala is one of the area’s toughest defenders. Freshman midfielder Adrian Chavez is a name to watch.
2. Elgin (16-4-3): Dynamic scorer Eduardo Nava graduated, but Maroons are loaded with stars as they hope to repeat as sectional champions. Senior midfielder Aaron Saldana and senior defender Roberto Salinas are two of the best at their jobs in the state. Beto Gaytan is a three-year starter.
3. West Aurora (19-4-0): Blackhawks won Southwest Prairie Conference title but will compete this year in Upstate Eight. Pacifique Ndayishimiye and Power Selemani are two of area’s top returnees for Blackhawks, who tout seven returning starters after setting program record for wins.
4. St. Charles East (19-8): Saints were a win away from state finals, losing to eventual Class 3A champion New Trier in supersectional. Eight starters and 14 seniors graduated and sophomore Michael Grezenko joined Sporting KC’s pro youth system, which will test the Saints’ depth.
5. Geneva (13-6-2): Vikings lost quite a bit of star power to graduation, but senior midfielder Reece Leonard, a co-captain, returns after all-sectional honors as a junior. Coach Jason Bhatta has built a program that tends to reload, not rebuild, which he hopes will continue this season.
6. St. Charles North (11-7-1): North Stars lost some scoring firepower to graduation, but they have one of the area’s top up-and-coming scorers back in sophomore forward Oliver Longosz. He had six goals as a freshman. Senior defender Casey Kriz returns to lock down the back end.
7. Dundee-Crown (14-8-1): Chargers return vast majority of starting lineup, led by senior defender Diego Flores, and they hope that will be enough to climb back into the top of the Fox Valley Conference this season after going 4-5 last year.
8. Marmion (12-4-3): Cadets play up again this season in Class 3A and look to be up to the challenge. Senior forward Giovanni Magana was an all-state selection last season. Senior defender Diego Tellez helps to keep things clean in front of senior goalkeeper Adam Ozsvath.
9. Metea Valley (8-11-1): Mustangs have 13 starters returning for coach Josh Robinson, who said they’re eager to leave a legacy. Anthony Hildreth and Sahil Khare, a pair of senior midfielders, lead way. Cameron Leys is a defender for soccer team and placekicker for football team.
10. Waubonsie Valley (6-11-4): Warriors have seven starters back from last year, including one of the area’s top players in senior forward Lachlan Ladd. Senior defender Cade Valek also returns on the back end for veteran-laden team that wants to flip last season’s record around.
Elgin’s Aaron Saldana (8) cuts back as Huntley’s Elias Ramon (3) pressures the ball during a Class 3A Round Lake Sectional semifinal on Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2023. (Mark Kodiak Ukena / The Beacon-News)
The 25 Players to Watch
- Alex Alcala, Streamwood, senior, defender.
- Raul Arismendi, Bartlett, junior, midfielder.
- Jackson Carey, Hampshire, senior, midfielder.
- Dylan Drendel, Oswego East, senior, midfielder.
- Diego Flores, Dundee-Crown, senior, defender.
- Anthony Hildreth, Metea Valley, senior, midfielder.
- MJ Hoffman, Oswego East, senior, forward.
- Sahil Khare, Metea Valley, senior, midfielder.
- Casey Kriz, St. Charles North, senior, defender.
- Lachlan Ladd, Waubonsie Valley, senior, forward.
- Jahson Leon, South Elgin, senior, forward.
- Reece Leonard, Geneva, senior, midfielder.
- Oliver Longosz, St. Charles North, sophomore, forward.
- Giovanni Magana, Marmion, senior, midfielder.
- Pacifique Ndayishimiye, West Aurora, senior, defender.
- Adam Ozsvath, Marmion, senior, goalkeeper.
- Caleb Pankiewicz, Oswego East, senior, defender.
- Adan Rueda, Bartlett, senior, defender.
- AJ Sabanovic, Streamwood, senior, forward.
- Aaron Saldana, Elgin, senior, midfielder.
- Roberto Salinas, Elgin, senior, defender.
- Power Selemani, West Aurora, senior, forward.
- Diego Tellez, Marmion, senior, defender.
- Jay Umana, East Aurora, senior, midfielder.
- Cade Valek, Waubonsie Valley, senior, defender
Paul Johnson is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.
