High school boys soccer: 2019 season preview capsules

FOX VALLEY CONFERENCE

Cary-Grove

Coach: Mark Olson (14th season)

Last year: 6-8-2, 4-4 FVC

Top returners: Drew Szydlo, sr., M; Eric Szydlo, sr., D; Mateo Nunez, sr., M-F; Colin McAlpine, sr., D-M; Sebastian Sproch, sr., F-M; Dario Gamboa, jr., M; Jesus Padilla, jr., M-F; Kameron Fadden, so., D; Angel Lazaro, jr., D.

Key newcomers: Spencer Bethers, sr., F; Luke McKune, sr., MF; Luis Rodriguez, sr., D-M; Sam Larsen, jr., GK; Sam Kedzior, so., GK, Tom Latawiec, so., M; Jacob Motz, so., D; Anthony Warfield, so., M.

Worth noting: The Trojans' four FVC wins came against Huntley, Crystal Lake Central, McHenry and Prairie Ridge. C-G graduated its top defender in Kolin Fadden, a Northwest Herald All-Area second-team selection. ... The Trojans last won a regional title in 2015. ... C-G returns six varsity starters, including four-year starter Drew Szydlo. ... "Their work ethic, enthusiasm and energy are all there," Olson said. "They are very coachable and team first. We have to stay disciplined in order to be competitive with the rest of the conference."

Crystal Lake Central

Coach: Jay Schwarzrock (second season of second stint; 12th overall)

Last year: 9-11, 1-6-1 FVC; Class 3A regional champion

Top returners: Billy Cummings, sr., F; Jake Nelson, sr., M; Bryden Freund, sr., D; Mason Pfeifer, sr., M.

Key newcomers: Kareem Castaneda, sr., D; Joey Moore, so., GK.

Worth noting: Central surprised everyone last year and won a Class 3A regional title, despite having a losing record. … This year's team features 13 seniors. "We hope to build off the success that we had at the end of last season and turn some of our close conference losses from last year into wins this year." … Cummings scored the game-winning goal in last year's regional final win over DeKalb.

Crystal Lake South

Coach: Brian Allen (13th season)

Last year: 22-2-3, 7-0-1 FVC; FVC champions, IHSA Class 2A state champions

Top returners: Alex Canfield, sr., F; Sabien Raymond, sr., M; Garett Schneider, sr., M; Colton Weidner, sr., M; Jake Bimbi, sr., D; Evan Carlson, sr., D; Danny Ciezadlo, sr., D; Tyler Getzinger, jr., M;Tom Coughlin, so., M; Michal Dejworek, so., M.

Key newcomers: Carson Hill, sr., GK; Tomasz Slawek, so., D; Sam Bahnfleth, so., M; Brandon Osterberg, jr., D/M; Pawel Dejworek, jr., D; Jackson Schuetzle, so., F; Quentin Hughes, sr., M.

Worth noting: The defending Class 2A state champion graduated 12 seniors, particularly in the midfield and on the defensive end. Both goalkeepers, who contributed so much to the championship run, have graduated. … Canfield was last season's Northwest Herald Boys Soccer Player of the Year after scoring 31 goals. He returns for his senior season. … Allen said he sees "a great deal of potential" in the 2019 Gators and that the team is looking at the pressures of being a defending state champion "as a privilege, rather than shying away from it."

Dundee-Crown

Coach: Rey Vargas (16th season)

Last year: 18-4-4, 6-0-2 FVC; Class 3A regional champions

Top returners: Rolan Dearborn, sr., M/F; Kevin Martinez, sr., M; Joahan Cruz, sr., D.

Key newcomers: Julian Saldana, jr., M; Jefferson Leon, so., D; Osvaldo Rodriguez, jr., M.

Worth noting: Dundee-Crown was the only team to draw against South in FVC play and finished one win shy of matching them as co-FVC champs in 2018. ... The Chargers have won 18 matches in each of the last two seasons and have won two Class 3A regionals in three years. … Dearborn is one of the quickest players in the conference and was the Chargers' leading goal-scorer in 2018. … D-C graduated one of its largest senior classes in a number of years. "We will have many newcomers and will have a learning curve," Vargas said.

Hampshire

Coach: Rick Schuster (third season)

Last year: 11-5-5, 3-2-3

Top returners: Ryan Heileman, sr., D; Hugo Sztuk Vel Sztukowski, sr., M; Sawyer Shores, sr., F; Kobe Frenette, jr., M.

Key newcomers: Alex Gomez, jr., M.

Worth noting: After a promising start to 2018, injuries derailed the Whip-Purs' season and led to an early exit from the Class 3A regionals. Much of that production, however, returns in 2019. … Schuster believes his third Hampshire team could be the best yet. "We have a good balance of players that are strong offensively or defensively," Schuster said. "We also have a veteran team." … Heileman was a Second-Team All-Area performer and could be a top defender in the FVC.

Huntley

Coach: Matt Lewandowski (first season)

Last year: 2-16-2, 1-6-1 FVC

Top returners: Justin Kornas, sr., M; Austin Killen, so., M; Dylan Mielke, sr., M.; Skylar Briarton, jr., M.

Key newcomers: Jack Fritz, sr., D; Nick Ward, sr., D.

Worth noting: Lewandowski, the girls coach for the last two seasons, takes over the boys program for longtime varsity coach Kris Grabner, who led the program for 16 seasons. … Even through a tough season in 2018, Lewandowski said the players remained positive. A large number of them return in 2019. … "I think our biggest strength will be our options through the midfield," Lewandowski said. "We have a group of very skilled players."

Jacobs

Coach: Colin Brice (second season)

Last year: 10-9-4, 5-1-2

Top returners: Alex Nicastro, sr., M; Liam Armstrong, jr., M; John O'Connor, sr., M; Preston Krahl, sr., GK; Chris Loizzi, sr., D; Sam Colucci, sr., D.

Key newcomers: Karl Manlapid, so., F; Ruben Zarate, so., F

Worth noting: Jacobs returns 10 starters from a team that finished third in the FVC a year ago. The Golden Eagles saw steady improvement and played at their best down the final stretch in 2018. … O'Connor and Armstrong were two top players for the Eagles in the midfield last season and should resume those roles in 2019. … Krahl is one of the more experienced goalkeepers in the area.

McHenry

Coach: Tony Caruso (22nd season)

Last year: 8-9-1, 2-5-1 FVC

Top returners: Logan Freid, jr., GK; Johann Mota, jr., D; Danny Quinonez, sr., M; Nate Reinhart, sr,. F; Hunter Elsberg, sr., D; Troy Duginske, sr., D; Kenneth Barranco, so., M; Edwin Navas, so., M; Jose Lira, sr., F; Tony Vazquez, sr., D; Luke Anderson, jr., M; Angel Anaya, jr., D; Manny Anaya, jr., M.

Key newcomers: Jack Waters, so., M; JJ Tapia, fr., M; Emerson Hernandez-Landa, fr., M; Ryan Gremo, fr., D; Ailton Rodriguez, sr., M.

Worth noting: Reinhart returns from an ACL injury he suffered early in the 2018 season and Caruso expects him "to bounce back and be a very dangerous player for our team." He scored 12 goals as a sophomore in 2017. … The Warriors have a lot of experience returning. Caruso said he thinks the Warriors will be much improved on the defensive end.

Prairie Ridge

Coach: Mark Lewis (second season)

Last year: 6-12, 2-6

Top returners: Bennett Barr, jr., M; Ethan Covers, sr., D; Owen Erickson, sr., GK; Trenton Feltes, sr., D; Dayton Gates, jr., M; Dane Justesen, jr., M; Luke Kim, jr., M; Aiden O'Hanian, jr., D; Alex Pajak, sr., M; Michael Thompson, sr., F; Tyus Whitfield, so., F; Luke Wolf, jr., M.

Key newcomers: Keifer Besterfeldt, jr., M; Cade Collins, fr., F; Cameron Gablenz, sr., D; Daniel Khoury, so., F.

Worth noting: Even though it went through a rough season in 2018, Prairie Ridge was one of the younger teams in the FVC and has a ton of experience coming back. … Last year's leading scorer Noah Smeja graduated after scoring 17 goals. The Wolves will have to find ways to replace his goal production.

KISHWAUKEE RIVER CONFERENCE

Harvard

Coach: Victor Gonzalez (fifth season)

Last year: 16-3-1, 10-0-2 KRC; KRC champions, Class 2A regional champions

Top returners: Miguel Juarez, sr., D; Angel Romo, jr., M.

Key newcomers: Aldo Popoca, jr., GK; Roger Hernandez, jr., M; Manny Mercado, jr., M.

Worth noting: Harvard graduated nine seniors off a highly successful 2018 Hornets squad that won a conference title and its first regional since 2014. … Gonzalez said he wouldn't be surprised if the Hornets struggle early in the year with so many new faces. … "Hopefully we can find some chemistry early and find some players to fill roles," Gonzalez said.

Johnsburg

Coach: Adam Bronars (third season)

Last year: 4-10-3, 2-7-2 KRC

Top returners: Michael Grunder, sr., M; Jack Heaney sr., F; Noah Strote, sr., F; Gavin Conner, sr., D; Tyler LoPresti, sr., D.

Key newcomers: Trevor Roos, so., M; Peter Link, so., F; Reid Andersen, so., D.

Worth noting: The Skyhawks were an overtime loss away from winning a regional championship last fall in Class 1A. … Bronars said he hopes to see his team progress throughout the season and playing its best soccer at the end of the season.

Marengo

Coach: Sergio Orozco (second season)

Last year: 8-12-1, 2-9-1 KRC

Top returners: Isidro Reyes, sr., M.

Worth noting: The Indians beat Richmond-Burton, 1-0, to start the Class 2A postseason and fell to Woodstock, 2-0, in the semifinals. ... Marengo's two KRC wins came against Woodstock North and Johnsburg after going winless in conference play two seasons ago. The Indians improved by seven wins overall.

Richmond-Burton

Coach: Casey DeCaluwe (ninth season)

Last year: 7-10-3, 4-7-1 KRC

Top returners: Payton May, sr., M; Hayden Rudkin, sr., M; Ethan Demers, so., F; Jacob Maldonado, sr., GK; Aidan Hannigan, sr., M; Billy Restis, sr., D; Pierce Rockwell, sr., D; Carson Webb, jr., D; Tristan Rockwell, so., M.

Key newcomers: Hugo Campos, jr., F

Worth noting: R-B returns a lot of depth from last year's team. "Our goal is to be much more competitive in the conference, while focusing on getting better every day," coach Casey DeCaluwe said. … The Rockets have never won a regional in program history. They drop into Class 1A for the state tournament this season and have a regional title on their list of goals this season.

Woodstock

Coach: Matt Warmbier (third season)

Last year: 18-7-1, 9-3 KRC

Top returners: Oscar Escorza, jr., M; Mac Buckley, sr., M; Dylan Gonzalez, jr., D.

Key newcomers: Victor Cazares, sr., M; Robert Diaz, so., D; Prithvi Patel, jr., D.

Worth noting: Woodstock returns only four starters from last season and four additional players with limited varsity experience. Warmbier said it could be a "retooling season for the Streaks." … Escorza was the third-leading scorer on varsity last year, with 10 goals and 13 assists.

Woodstock North

Coach: John Liuzzi (third season)

Last year: 12-6-6, 4-4-4 KRC

Top returners: Jesus Lopez, sr., M; Damien Alonzo, sr., M; Eliel Reynoso, sr., D; Jaime Castaneda, jr., D; David Cruz, sr., D; Jacob Hernandez, so., F.

Worth noting: North is doing well, numbers-wise. Liuzzi said the school has three levels of soccer for the first time. "We're excited to see the sport growing in our school," he said. … North returns a number of core varsity players after posting its first winning record in school history in 2018.

EAST SUBURBAN CATHOLIC CONFERENCE

Marian Central

Coach: Art Dixon (third season)

Last year: 3-17-3; 0-7-2 ESCC; Class 1A regional champions

Top returners: Paul Serdar, sr., D; Caleb Taylor, sr., GK; Nicolas Iafigliola, sr., M; Jonathan DePrey, sr., M; Sebastian Kielsa, sr., D; Dominik Drwila, sr., M; Matthew Jablonski, sr., M-GK; Christopher Ghita, jr., F; Mateo Raso, jr., F; Aidan Robertson, jr., M; Derek Emmert, so., D

Key newcomers: Matt Garrelts, so., M-D; Paul Sweeney, so., F-M; Noah Peterson, jr., D; Brendan Stoll, so., D; Matthew Gruebnau, jr., D; Michael Sbarounis, fr., M; Nathan Iafigliola, fr., M; Adam Garrelts, sr., M; Steven Sbarounis, jr., D-M; Tyler Zopp, fr., D.

Worth noting: The Hurricanes had one win during the regular season but won their first two postseason games en route to a regional championship. Marian earned a 3-2 overtime win over Johnsburg in the Class 1A Marian Central Regional final. The Hurricanes lost to Rockford Christian, 2-1, in the sectional semifinals. ... Serdar was named to the All-ESCC team for the second straight year. ... "Our goal is to develop our core players and become stronger than last year's team as the season progresses, so we can advance beyond last year's 1A regional title," Dixon said.