Top 10 Teams
1. Mount Carmel: Caravan have speed, size and skill with strong nucleus from Class 3A supersectional qualifier. Senior Felix Mendoza powers the attack.
2. Thornton co-op: Six starters return from a 3A sectional finalist. Forward Miguel Vargas, midfielder Luis Arredondo and midfielder Johnathan Rodriguez are players to watch.
3. Lincoln-Way East: Griffins feature two of the state’s top players in senior midfielder Cory Pitlik and senior defender Jacob Dirienzo.
4. Sandburg: Eagles welcome back six starters and four rotation players from a 3A sectional qualifier. Coach Desi Vuillaume pointed to Christos Dalmares as potential standout.
5. Bloom: Trojans are fast and explosive with top talents in junior midfielder Jonathan Elizalde and sophomore midfielder Christian Munoz.
6. Bremen: Braves are again the top local threat in 2A. Midfielder Nery Carrasco and defender Edgar Esparza highlight five returning starters.
7. Lockport: Porters have strong nucleus, boasting speed and skill. Junior midfielder David Panszczyk and senior defender Quinn Roth lead way.
8. Marist: RedHawks have seven returning starters from 3A regional finalist. Goalkeeper John Kennedy anchors defense. Ethan Fitt is a scoring threat.
9. T.F. United: Combined program features two standouts in electric senior midfielder Eduardo Melgoza and junior midfielder Armando Lopez.
10. Brother Rice: Wisconsin commit Jack Finnegan, who scored 23 goals and had six assists last season, is one of the state’s top players.
Top 25 Players
Gael Arriaga, Eisenhower, junior, forward; Damian Barbosa, Mount Carmel, sophomore, forward; Langston Bedgood, St. Rita, senior, midfielder; Nery Carrasco, Bremen, senior, midfielder; Jacob Dirienzo, Lincoln-Way East, senior, defender; Jonathan Elizalde, Bloom, junior, midfielder; Daniel Favela, Mount Carmel, junior, forward; Jack Finnegan, Brother Rice, senior, midfielder; Marek Judka, Reavis, senior, defender; John Kennedy, Marist, senior, goalkeeper; Adam Kedzior, Lincoln-Way Central, senior, goalkeeper; Eduardo Melgoza, T.F. United, senior, midfielder; Felix Mendoza, Mount Carmel, senior, midfielder; Christian Munoz, Bloom, sophomore, midfielder; David Panszczyk, Lockport, junior, midfielder; Cory Pitlik, Lincoln-Way East, senior, infielder; Adrian Pituch, Argo, senior, midfielder; Damian Rincon, Mount Carmel, senior, midfielder; Jonathan Rodriguez, Thornton co-op, junior, midfielder; Juan Rodriguez, Crete-Monee, senior, midfielder; Dominick Rutka, Andrew, junior, forward; Eddy Sanchez, Shepard, senior, keeper; Rudy Sanchez, Oak Lawn, senior, defender; Antonio Valencia, Mount Carmel, sophomore, forward; Miguel Vargas, Thornton co-op, junior, forward.
