Steve Millar’s top 10 boys soccer teams and 25 players to watch in the Southland for the 2024 season

News Room

Bloom begins on top of the mountain, but St. Laurence, Brother Rice, Stagg and Reavis continue to climb and pose postseason threat.

Top 10 Teams

1. Bloom (25-2): Blazing Trojans graduated 17 seniors but can rebuild around the area’s brightest star in senior forward Omar Ortiz, who had 25 goals and 27 assists last season. Senior midfielders Marco Ramirez and Leo Corona and junior midfielder Mark Bernal look to take on bigger roles.

2. St. Laurence (15-8-2): There are some big holes to fill from the team that finished third in Class 2A in 2023, but Vikings have solid defensive base to lean on. Senior defender Matthew Suchecki, junior goalkeeper Vin Diesi and senior defender/midfielder Frankie Martinez lead the way.

3. Brother Rice (19-4-2): New coach Al Perez inherits several returning starters from a Class 2A sectional champ. Senior midfielder Angelo Piech had 11 goals and 10 assists last season, while seniors Julian Zambrano and Jimmy Gricus anchor the defense. Can the Crusaders continue the momentum built by former coach Matt Prunckle?

4. Stagg (18-4-1): Chargers said goodbye to a decorated senior class and look to reload behind a host of new faces. Junior Sebastian Kornak leads the defense. Look for senior midfielders Hubert Turek and Maciej Ostrega and senior forward Michael Kulig to step up on offense.

5. Reavis (14-5-5): Rams must replace Ahmed Dhalai, who poured in 40 goals last season. Junior forward Galileo Figueroa, senior midfielder Juvenal Padilla and senior forward Diego Ochoa want to help fill the void. Seniors Krystian Paluch and Daniel Garcia lead the defense in front of senior goalkeeper Bart Obrochta.

6. Lincoln-Way Central (14-4-1): Knights have a core of experienced players ready to lead the way, including senior midfielders Jamison Stockrahm and Reilly Follett and senior defenders Kent Nelson and Matt Bettenhausen. Junior forward Connor Pate and junior midfielder Aidan Byrne seek to spark the offense.

7. Andrew (11-7-3): Thunderbolts are looking for big things with nine starters returning and 13 seniors on the roster, led by senior midfielders Caden Arguelles and Damian Gal, senior defender Erick Mietus and senior goalkeeper Luke Herzic. Keep an eye on junior forward Will MacLeod.

8. Beecher (24-5): Bobcats reached a Class 1A sectional final last season and bring back the bulk of that team. Junior forward Wences Baumgartner poured in a program record 54 goals in 2023. Senior midfielders Logan Wilkins and Gavin Smith are leaders for a team with state aspirations.

9. Lockport (14-5-1): Senior midfielders Ismael Gomez and Alex Miczek look to lead Porters, who went unbeaten last season in SouthWest Suburban Blue, back to big things. Senior Troy Seibert and junior Jacob Hareza are dangerous forwards while senior Andrew Farina anchors defense.

10. Shepard (13-12-1): Astros have a senior-heavy roster, including midfielders Filip Zawodniak and Dimitri Latka, forward Michael Rantisi and defender Ahmad Jaber. Keep an eye on junior midfielder Eron Magana as Shepard seeks to contend for South Suburban Red title.

Julian Zambrano
Vincent D. Johnson/Daily Southtown

Brother Rice’s Julian Zambrano (33) scores a goal against Bremen during the Class 2A St. Rita Regional championship game in Chicago on Saturday, Oct. 21, 2023. (Vincent D. Johnson / Daily Southtown)

The 25 Players to Watch

  • Wences Baumgartner, Beecher, junior, forward.
  • Christian Bedgood, Marist, senior, midfielder.
  • Tyler Chrisman, Lemont, senior, midfielder.
  • Roman De La Torre, Eisenhower, senior, defender.
  • Galileo Figueroa, Reavis, junior, forward.
  • Lennon Flores, Oak Forest, senior, forward.
  • Ismael Gomez, Lockport, senior, midfielder.
  • Giovanni Gonzalez, Oak Lawn, senior, goalkeeper.
  • Sebastian Kornak, Stagg, junior, defender.
  • Diego Lagunas, Bremen, junior, forward.
  • Casey Lenarz, Chicago Christian, junior, midfielder.
  • Ryan McCann, Sandburg, senior, defender.
  • Erick Mietus, Andrew, senior, defender.
  • Rory Minogue, St. Rita, senior, forward.
  • Adrian Ontiveros, Lincoln-Way West, junior, defender.
  • Omar Ortiz, Bloom, senior, forward.
  • Connor Pate, Lincoln-Way Central, junior, forward.
  • Angelo Piech, Brother Rice, senior, midfielder.
  • Mario Ramirez, De La Salle, senior, midfielder.
  • Omar Romo, Crete-Monee, senior, midfielder.
  • Matthew Suchecki, St. Laurence, senior, defender.
  • Logan Wilkins, Beecher, senior, midfielder.
  • Kamden Williams, Lincoln-Way East, senior, midfielder.
  • Julian Zambrano, Brother Rice, senior, defender.
  • Filip Zawodniak, Shepard, senior, midfielder.

Related posts