High school boys soccer: Previewing teams around Kane County

The boys soccer season is here. Here are previews of teams from around the Kane County Chronicle coverage area.

BATAVIA

Coach: Mark Gianfrancesco

Last year’s record: 3-16

Top Returners: Mark Lillig, sr., F; Ryan Kahley, jr. M/F.

Key newcomer: Luke Bianco, jr., F.

Worth noting: After a difficult 2019 season for the Bulldogs, they do return nine players from that roster, which could bode well in a shortened season. Mark Lillig and Ryan Kahley figure to be prominent pieces of the Bulldogs attack up top while Dylan Edwards and Riley Miller shore up the defense in front of junior goalie Logan Saenz.

“We are looking to build relationships on the pitch throughout the six-week season. We have some nice talent that we will work to bring out as the season progresses,” Gianfrancesco said.

BURLINGTON CENTRAL

Coach: Mick Galeski

Last year’s record: 4-15, 0-9

Top Returners: Tristan Samuelian, sr., G; Eli Boer, sr., D

Key newcomer: Griffin Kollhoff, so., F.

Worth noting: The Rockets are set in goal, as returning starter Tristan Samuelian, who garnered consideration for all-area last season, will be coming back. Seniors Eli Boer (defense), Cooper Teets (midfielder) and Josh Madsen (midfielder) all are returning starters to stabilize a solid group. Sophomore midfielders Jack Petsche and Griffin Kollhoff, while not technically true newcomers, are also coming back after earning some playing time last season.

“[We have a] good mix of experience and youth,” Galeski said.

GENEVA

Coach: Jason Bhatta

Last year’s record: 13-5-4 (4-1-2)

Top Returners: Christian Diaz, jr., F; Joe Carli, sr., M

Key newcomer: Evan Horvath, sr., D.

Worth noting: The Vikings bring back a decent-sized group from a team that won a regional championship team in penalty kicks. Christian Diaz, a junior, will likely be headlining the group after he scored 10 goals as a sophomore. Diaz, an all-conference selection, will be flanked by Dominick Peri (two goals, five assists) and Joe Carli (three goals) as a trio to keep an eye on. The Vikings graduated all-area selection in goalie Osten Lockner, which will be a big loss to fill.

“We have a good mix of three-year varsity returners and a young group of exciting talent,” Bhatta said. “Playing a double round robin against the DuKane will be fun to see who can sustain success throughout a hectic season and we’re hoping to build on our success of last year.”

KANELAND

Coach: Scott Parillo

Last year’s record: 17-7

Top Returners: Evan Smith, sr., M; Braden Nigg, sr., D

Key newcomer: Cade Ory, jr., M

Worth noting: The Knights could be in for a re-tooling season after graduating nine starters from last year’s regional champion. Chief among the graduates was 2019 Kane County Chronicle Boys Soccer Player of the Year in Tucker Jahns, who dazzled over the course of his career to become the all-time leading scorer across both the boys and girls programs. Senior midfieler Evan Smith and senior defender Braden Nigg are both players to watch for the Knights.

“This is an opportunity for the returning varsity players to make an impact,” Parillo said. “I am just happy that the players are playing for their high school and myself and the coaching staff are coaching again.”

MARMIOM

Coach: Gerardo Alvarez

Last year’s record: 8-9-3

Top Returners: Joey Lagman, sr., D; James Lawinger, sr., F

Key newcomer: David Saucedo, so., F.

Worth noting: The Cadets welcome Alvarez, who will be in his first season as head coach. The Cadets bring back approximately four starters but will miss graduated all-area selection, TJ Laurich, as a stabilizing force on their back line. Senior Joey Lagman is expected to play right back this season for the Cadets, but is considered a solid two-way player to help on the offensive end. James Lawinger, Harley Karner and Saucedo will be key pieces offensively for the Cadets moving forward this season.

“I don’t [prefer] a particular formation,” Alvarez said. “I’m more keen on personnel that we have and how we’re able to play with that personnel. We’ll be playing a variety of formations. We’ll line up playing a formation and...naturally, we’ll end up playing five to seven formations. Whatever reinforces everything that we want to do on the field, that’s the formation we’ll play,” Alvarez said.

ST. CHARLES EAST

Coach: Vince DiNuzzo

Last year’s record: 18-2-3

Top Returners: Sebastian Carranza, jr., F; Alex Mancera, sr., M

Key newcomer: Gaetano D’Argento, sr., M

Worth noting: The Saints are well-positioned for another successful season with the return of several with varsity experience. A headliner is junior forward Sebastian Carranza, who had 13 goals and six assists as a sophomore and earned all-conference and all sectional honors. Alex Mancera, Jake Maslowski and Sam Wade are also all returning for the Saints up top. Gaetano D’Argento, a Bowling Green commit, could be an intriguing player to watch this season as well.

“We return a lot of key players and have a nice group of players who have developed in our program at the lower levels and are ready to step into roles on the varsity team,” DiNuzzo said. “We will have to do our best to get organized in the back with a lot of new faces.”

ST. CHARLES NORTH

Coach: Eric Willson

Last year’s record: 11-5-3

Top Returners: Luke Persenico, sr., F; Jared Sinnaeve, sr., M

Key newcomer: Max Montgomery, jr., G.

Worth noting: The North Stars lost in the sectional semifinals last season and graduated their all-area selection goalie in Bob Curran. Curran had a .085 goals allowed average and seven shutouts last season, so that’ll be a key hole to fill. There are 12 new varsity players this season, but St. Charles North has a number of solid returners in senior forward Luke Persenico, Sam Strader and Jared Sinnaeve to lead the team through the DuKane Conference round-robin schedule.

“[We are] looking forward to seeing how our mix of new players and senior-heavy squad gels together in a short time frame in order to compete in a tough conference and loaded non-conference schedule,” Willson said.