Boys soccer preview
BARTLETT HAWKS
Coach: Steven Buchs (3rd season)
Top players: Seniors Garrett Dini (F), Mike Kochanski (D), Joey Horgan (MF), Robert Reck (F), Mike Paparella (GK). Juniors Manuel Perez (D), Ryan Groeli (D).
Key losses: Vince DiNuzzo, Lenny Szatkowski.
Outlook: Buchs would like to see the Hawks become more offensive-minded this season. In years past, the Hawks have relied on a strong defensive unit to set the tone. However, the loss of goalkeeper DiNuzzo leaves a hole that has yet to be filled. Buchs expects Dini to lead the offensive attack.
"I am going to encourage this team to be a little more aggressive offensively this year," Buchs said. "We have a lot of new players and it will be important early to communicate with each other. The rest will take care of itself."
BURLINGTON CENTRAL ROCKETS
Coach: Michael Gecan (4th season)
Top players: Seniors Kyle DeRaedt (GK), Ryan Warner (F), Charlie Schmidlin (MF), Logan Krup (MF), Jordan Werrbach (MF), Brogan Petersen (MF). Juniors Johnathon Klopcic (D), Cameron Ostrowski (MF), Jimmy Reuter (F), Alex Pieper (D), Charles Fletcher (MF), Alan Avila (F). Sophomores Paul Jerger (D), Zach Joachum (D), Alex Nava (MF), Brent Ferstl (D). Freshman Chris Gousis (F).
Key losses: Enrique Alvarado, Ryan Mattes, Nate Parks.
Outlook: Centered around the return of All-Area goalie DeRaedt, the Rockets expect to be solid defensively. However, Gecan is unsure who will step up and lead the team on the offensive side of the field. The Rockets return six seniors, all of whom are expected to start. Gecan is also employing a new-look zone defense this season that will rely heavily on drawing opponents off-sides.
"We have a lot of young pups so this could be a bit of a rebuilding season for us," Gecan said. "There are a lot of good players in our senior class and we will rely on them for leadership."
DUNDEE-CROWN CHARGERS
Coach: Rey Vargas (5th season)
Top players: Seniors Wyatt Vucic (MF), Eugen Zau (MF/F), Julio Salas (MF), Luis Bahena (D), Roger Bravo (F), Ricardo Carillo (F). Junior Josh Cook (GK).
Key losses: Christian Meza, Eduardo Bernal, Kyle Vickstrom.
Outlook: Perhaps no other team was hit harder by graduation than the Chargers, who are attempting to replace 14 seniors from last year's 9-10-2 squad. Despite the losses, Vargas is hoping this year's class of seniors -- led by Salas and Vucic -- will set the tone while the team looks for an identity early in the season.
"They are starting to come together and understanding what we are going to have to do to win games," Vargas said. "I think we are going to have some growing pains, but these kids work hard and I know that will pay off for them."
ELGIN MAROONS
Coach: Dave Borg (8th season)
Top players: Seniors Kevin Rodriguez (D), Joel Montes (D), Pedro Rodriguez (MF), Juniors Omar Jasso (F), Jose Quevedo (MF). Sophomore Raul Hernandez (F).
Key losses: Joel Perez, Lucas Valencia, Omar Dina, Roberto Quintana.
Outlook: The biggest question facing the Maroons will be finding replacements for Valencia and Perez, two of the area's top offensive threats a season ago. Borg thinks Jasso, a tall and athletic forward, can help fill that role.
Defensively, the Maroons will be strong with two capable goalkeepers -- Satish and Ravadan -- and a back unit anchored by Kevin Rodriguez and Montes. In all, eight starters return.
"We lost a couple big guys, but actually we have a lot returning," Borg said. "On paper, this could be the best season we've had since I've been here. I'm excited to see what this group can do."
ELGIN ACADEMY HILLTOPPERS
Coach: Aurelio Castillo (1st season)
Outlook: Castillo has had little time to get to know the Hilltoppers, but the first-year coach expects his team to be competitive and mature as the season progresses.
"We are pretty much starting from scratch with a very young team," Castillo said. "We have some kids that are pretty talented, but right now I'm not sure where everybody fits. I'm expecting good things out of these kids. I have to."
HAMPSHIRE WHIP-PURS
Coach: John Gosling (1st season)
Top players: Seniors Ryan Ponomar (D), Austin Buck (MF). Juniors Colton Bicknese (D), Sam Woosley (D), Robert Murphy (MF).
Key losses: Junior Makinde, Shay Hauck, Cameron Rath.
Outlook: The Whips are basically starting from scratch with a new coach and young players in key positions, but Gosling thinks the team could post some surprising results as the season gets older. Ponomar could emerge as the team's defensive leader playing the sweeper position, while Gosling has liked the promise shown by Murphy and other members of a strong junior class. Hampshire is still searching for a replacement for departed goalkeeper Rath.
"We are going to be young, but we have a few upperclassmen who are showing good leadership and are demanding of each other," Gosling said. "We lack a lot of varsity experience, but we won't lack any heart or hustle. It's just a matter of learning how to play with one another on the varsity level."
HUNTLEY RED RAIDERS
Coach: Kris Grabner (6th season)
Top Players: Seniors Nico Carbonara (F), Jesus Alejos (MF), Jordan Contreras (D). Sophomore Kevin Montelongo (GK).
Key losses: Adrian Alejos, Dan Regan.
Outlook: The Red Raiders have the area's leading returning scorer in Carbonara. Last year, the speedy and crafty forward tallied a school-record 27 goals and now has 48 in his career. Montelongo proved to be one of the area's top newcomers and will once again be counted on to be the last line of defense.
JACOBS GOLDEN EAGLES
Coach: Jim Dzialo (9th season)
Top players: Seniors Mark Kyszka (D), Johnathon Ward (MF), Luis Carbral (MF), Sam McKee (F), Dan Schwimmer (GK).
Key loss: Mark Pignataro. Outlook: No other team in the area turned things around more dramatically in the postseason than the Golden Eagles did last season. After finishing 0-9 in the Fox Valley Conference's Valley Division, Jacobs caught fire late, advancing all the way to the sectional semifinals. Along the way, the team picked up a regional title with a 2-1 win in triple overtime against Cary-Grove on a goal by Kyszka. This season, the Golden Eagles are looking to build off of that momentum.
"Absolutely. We would like to pick right up where we left off," Dzialo said. "I'm optimistic about this season and so are the boys. We've got some holes to fill, but we are hoping for the best."
LARKIN ROYALS
Coach: Ken Hall (3rd season)
Top players: Seniors Fernando Alvarez (D), Raul Sandoval (F), Danny Hinterlong (MF), Nesto Almanza (D), Raziel Somarriba (GK), Michael Beraquin (F), Carson McFadden (MF).
Key losses: David Rodriguez, Steven Drew, Mitch Tyton (sophomore, injury).
Outlook: Hall and the Royals have good reason to be excited about this season with the return of several seniors from last year's 17-6-4 team, which included a fourth-place showing in the Upstate Eight Conference. Beraquin returns from a shoulder injury that sidelined him most of last season and will add scoring touch and a lot of speed up top with Sandoval. Sandoval, a hard-working lefty, scored 17 goals a year ago. Alvarez is one of the area's top defenders. The Royals have won back-to-back regional titles.
"I can't wait for the season to get going," said Hall, whose teams have lost two straight sectional finals matches. "Right now we look solid up and down. I've never coached a deeper team in high school. We have a lot of leaders, but we are looking for some people to step up and be the vocal leaders of this team."
ST. CHARLES EAST SAINTS
Coach: Paul Jennison (1st season)
Top players: Seniors Rob Soutar (D), Jeff Jones (MF), Ben Fowler (F).
Key loss: Cam Caruso.
Outlook: Jennison has seen enough to know that the Saints should be able to rely on athleticism and a strong work ethic to pull them through any rough times they might encounter due to a lack of experience. Soutar will be counted on for leadership in the back, while Fowler could emerge as the team's go-to player up top now that Caruso is out of the picture.
"I'm coming in new and looking to build the program back up," Jennison said. "Traditionally, this school has been very strong in soccer and I am very excited about the talent that is here. I think we are going to be very solid throughout the (lineup) and we should be able to get the ball up the field."
ST. CHARLES NORTH NORTH STARS
Coach: Eric Willson (5th season)
Top players: Seniors Brandon Bautista (MF), Steve Speaker (D), Alex Bergmann (MF), Luis Ramirez (F). Junior Angelo Catalano (MF). Sophomores Noah Anthony (MF), Zach Matuszak (D). Freshman Michael Winhoffer (MF).
Key losses: Austin Andrekus, Mike Picinich.
Outlook: Willson expects many observers to think the North Stars might head into rebuilding mode this season, but he has yet to admit that to himself. Despite losing all-conference picks Andrekus and Picinich, the North Stars -- two years removed from the program's first Downstate appearance -- expect to be right back in the mix for the Upstate Eight Conference title once again. Team captain Bautista and Bergmann logged the most varsity minutes last year and will be counted on to provide leadership.
"It won't be easy to do what we want to do, but we are setting out to win a lot of games," said Willson, whose team will start the season with seven straight road matches. "We are inexperienced in terms of varsity minutes, but at the same time we have a group of young guys that I think are ready to play right now."
ST. EDWARD GREEN WAVE
Coach: Tim Brieger (14th season)
Top players: Seniors Clayton Pfeiffer (F), Lucas Belcher (D), Luke McCullach (MF), Miguel Martinez (MF), John Currie (D), Ian Koller (F), Alex Koller (D/MF). Juniors David Smith (MF), Jim Cholewa (D), Alex Ptak (D), Kevin Dodgen (MF). Sophomore John Duggan (GK). Freshmen Ryan Frank (MF/F), Logan Johnson (MF/F).
Outlook: Brieger expected the Green Wave to go through some growing pains last season based on the team's returning inexperience at the varsity level. In the end, his fears turned out to be correct as the Wave pulled in with a 3-19 overall record.
One year later, Brieger's optimism is back centered around eight returning starters, including five seniors.
Pfeiffer will be a four-year starter, while three of the other four seniors are entering their third season with the team.
"With eight returning starters, most entering their third year starting, the growing pains are hopefully over for the Wave," said Brieger, who led the girls team Downstate in the spring for the first time in program history. "Defense and midfield play will be the key. How quickly the newcomers mesh with the other returners will go a long way to the Wave's success."
SOUTH ELGIN STORM
Coach: Mark Neville (3rd season)
Top players: Senior Mike Alfini (F). Juniors Kevin McElwain (MF), Onyx Gonzalez (MF), Ryan Hicks (GK).
Key losses: James Hollander (junior, playing club), Jake Shibona.
Outlook: After a winless campaign its inaugural season the Storm rebounded to post four wins last year, including a 4-2 win against Lake Park for its only Upstate Eight Conference victory. The loss of Hollander, an All-area and UEC selection, will hurt, but Neville is hopeful McElwain can help recoup some of the lost firepower. McElwain was injured in the Storm's first game last season and did not play the rest of the way. Hollander has elected to play club soccer.
"I would like for us to continue playing our style, getting everybody involved," Neville said. "We have some experience and I expect a few more wins than last year."
STREAMWOOD SABRES
Coach: Matt Polovin (7th season)
Top players: Seniors Alex Aranda (MF), Alex Lopez (F), Matt Rasinski (MF/F). Juniors Roger Romero (D), Michael Chwistek (D), Alex Perez (D), Edgar Leva (GK).
Outlook: The Sabres likely still remember a 5-1 defeat at the hands of Larkin last season for the regional title. The good thing is a bulk of that team returns led by All-Area pick Aranda and the versatile Perez. Polovin entered the preseason with only three starting spots up for grabs and he expects the Sabres to be deep enough to support a strong bench.
"This group remembers that Larkin game. It really upset them," Polovin said. "These guys really took it to heart. Every game they should play with a chip on their shoulder. As a team, we are definitely looking forward to seeing what we can do with a little more experience behind us."
WESTMINSTER CHRISTIAN WARRIORS
Coach: Mike Richardson (1st season)
Top players: Seniors Dan Graves (D/F), Jacob Moeller (D). Junior Ryan Beachler (D/MF). Sophomore Scott Sutarik (GK).
Key losses: Tyler Beachler, Ethan Flickinger.
Outlook: Westminster Christian lost a lot the past year, including its coach, top offensive threat and goalie. Richardson, formerly the team's assistant, now takes over following nearly 20 years of experience coaching club soccer.
"We only have three seniors this year so we are going to be asking a lot of them," Richardson said. "We are looking to compete and enter each game separately, taking it one game at a time. I guess we'll see if the guys are up to the challenge."
-- Compiled by Tim Masmar
