Deerfield
Coach: Elliott Hurtig
2015 Record: 17-5-2 (4-0-1 CSL North), lost to Libertyville in a Class 3A sectional final
Key returners: Sr. M Matt Grady, Sr. D Matthew Swill, Sr. D Levi Goldstein, Sr. F Collin Hinds, Sr. M Brad Levine
Outlook: Despite losing nine seniors to graduation, with four moving on to the college ranks, Hurtig expects the Warriors to be competitive this season and contend for the league title. He said the defense is solid and has experience. The biggest challenge will be getting the younger players ready for the varsity level. “It will be a big adjustment for so many of the guys to get used to the pace and speed of play,” Hurtig said. “So many of our players do not have varsity experience.”
Keep an eye on: Grady is a four-year varsity player and returning starter who Hurtig expects to provide the leadership to help the younger players develop. “He dribbles the ball really well, and he’s good off his feet,” Grady said. “He leads by example and has the experience to lead on and off the field.”
Glenbrook North
Coach: Paul Vignocchi
2015 record: 13-7-4 (4-1-0 Central Suburban North), lost to Evanston in a Class 3A sectional semifinal
Key Returners: Sr. D Seth Grossman, Sr. M Jackson Grabill
Outlook: The Spartans are coming off a season that exceeded expectations, winning New Trier’s Northside College Showcase tournament and making a sectional semifinal appearance. Glenbrook North will field an almost identical team this season. The only senior starter on last year’s team was goalkeeper Ian Albert, the team MVP.
“This is one of my best junior-senior combination classes I’ve had as far as talent goes. I haven’t had a class this strong since my first year,” said Vignocchi, referring to his 2004 team that finished fourth in Class AA.
Grossman echoed those thoughts.
“We have very high expectations and want to make a deep run this year,” he said. “The last couple years we had a lot of underclassmen and didn’t know what to expect. This year it’s mostly upperclassmen.”
Even though his team possesses talent, Vignocchi understands it will take a lot of work to get the Spartans to see their potential.
“Talent doesn’t always equal success,” Vignocchi said. “The closer our guys get off the field, the better we are going to be on the field.”
Keep an eye on: The Spartans are expected to get a boost from senior midfielder Timmy Iscra. This will be his first year playing for Glenbrook North. He opted to play academy soccer the previous three seasons. Iscra, who has verbally committed to DePaul, will look to improve an offense that averaged 1.25 goals per game a year ago.
Highland Park
Coach: Blake Novotny
2015 Record: 7-11-5 (1-2-2 CSL North), lost to Libertyville in a Class 3A sectional semifinal
Key returners: Sr. F Tommy Quirk, Sr. M/F Ethan Ochoa, Sr. D Ambrosio Toledo
Outlook: The Giants plan to pick up where they left off after a successful postseason run which included a regional title. Quirk returned from an injury two-thirds of the way through the 2015 season, and things improved quickly. “We got a wave of energy when (Quirk) came back,” Novotny said. “We played a difficult schedule, but we played tough.” Novotny said Ochoa will contribute at both ends, while Toledo is ready to challenge whoever has the ball for the opposition.
Keep an eye on: Novotny expects Quirk to average more than a goal per match, perhaps in the neighborhood of 25 goals this year. The forward should provide a spark to the rest of the team, whether scoring goals or setting up his teammates.
Maine East
Coach: Jeff Bishop
2015 record: 7-13-1 (1-3-1 Central Suburban North), lost to Glenbrook South in a Class 3A regional semifinal
Key returners: Sr. M Marek Dziergas, Sr. M Danny Gamaonov, Sr. M Konrad Nawrot
Outlook: The squad is senior-heavy with lots of returning players and plenty of depth, which should be a strength for the Blue Demons, Bishop said. This is the most experienced team Bishop’s had in his three years as head coach, he said. Possession will be another strength of the team, Bishop added.
Keep an eye on: Maine East will work on finishing this year, according to Bishop. If they can consistently finish off the opportunities they create, the Blue Demons hope to end the year with a winning record. Last season was the program’s first losing season since 2005. Bishop is expecting senior midfielders Dziergas, Gamaonov and Nawrot to have big years.
“We have the potential, but we haven’t proven ourselves to be a very goal-scoring, threatening team,” Bishop said.
Vernon Hills
Coach: Mike McCaulou
2015 record: 16-7-1 (4-1-1 North Suburban Prairie), lost to Carmel in a Class 2A sectional final
Key returners: Sr. F Chris White, Sr. M Aaron Castellanos, Sr. D Andrew Kim, Sr. GK Brennan Reback
Outlook: The Cougars are brimming with optimism as they return nine starters and several quality reserves from a year ago. White leads a skilled and dangerous attacking team. Change is the new constant, as Vernon Hills switches leagues to the Central Suburban North. “It’s a great soccer conference,” McCaulou said. “We played three teams from the conference (last year) and won two of them, losing a close game against Deerfield. We are very excited. Right now our only concern is the travel we are going to have to face.”
Keep an eye on: The 6-foot White is a two-year all-conference player who earned all-sectional honors last year. He has great size with explosive speed and the ability to take defenders off the dribble. “Any coach in the state would want him,” McCaulou said. “He goes box to box, a great competitor and athlete.”
Steve Sadin, Lee Bosch, Heather Rule and Patrick Z. McGavin are freelance reporters for Pioneer Press.
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