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SOUTHWEST SUBURBAN CONFERENCE
Bolingbrook
Coach: Nick Trotter
Last season’s record: 10-12
Top returners: Julian Pacheco, sr., F; Anthony Pacindo, sr., M
Key newcomers: Emmanuel Franco, sr., D.
Worth noting: Pacheco and Pacindo figure to lead a senior-heavy Bolingbrook roster. The squad will be made up of 16 seniors. Franco is a senior newcomer and may be key to the team’s success. Alejandro Becerra, Brayan Solis, Josh Cruz and Arthur Navarro along with sophomores Omar Chapparo and Erick Murillo will make their varsity debuts.
Lincoln-Way Central
Coach: Dave Brown
Last season’s record: 15-5
Top returners: Brandon Mellen, sr., D/M; Zach Davis, jr., M; Brendan Gavin, jr., D/M; Nico Espinosa, so., M/F
Key newcomers: Eddie Rafacz, so., F/M; Johnny Roussakis, fr., M
Worth noting: Brown is in his first year at the helm and has a few solid returners but will need to rely on an inexperienced roster to be successful. Mellen, Davis, Gavin and Espinoza will provide a spark while newcomers Rafacz and Roussakis could surprise teams.
“We will be a young team varsity experience wise that can hopefully find our identity sooner rather than later once game play begins,” Brown said. “One thing that is very obvious is that I have a hardworking group that is anxious to get better.”
Lincoln-Way East
Coach: Matthew Ribbens
Last season’s record: 8-9-3
Top returners: Jeffrey Newberry, sr.; Dominic Lee, sr.; Nicolas Porada, so.; Connor Fenlon, sr., GK
Key newcomers: Dylan Waishwell, jr.; Casey Butler, jr.; Jacob Chay.; Caden Udani, fr., F; Akshay Patel, fr.
Worth noting: Expectations are high for Ribbens, who is in his first year with the program after coming from Victoria Soto High School where he’s enjoyed postseason success, including a trip to the state tournament in 2018. Newberry, Lee, Porada and Fenlon figure to help Ribbens lead the team to success in his first season at the helm.
“Lincoln-Way East is stacked with talent for the next four years,” Ribbens said. “All three levels will be a force this season. We have waited a long time for this season and cannot wait to show the conference what we are all about.”
Lincoln-Way West
Coach: Matt Laude
Last season’s record: 14-10
Top returners: Anthony Carli, jr.; Drew Murphy, sr.; Codey Collin, sr.; Aaron Ronaldson, sr.; Dylan Frank, sr.
Key newcomers: Anthony DeSilva, jr.; Jack Towner, so.; Ross DeGroot, jr.; Justin Hahs, jr.; Luke Swallow, jr.; Ian Webber, jr.; Julian Panici, jr.
Worth noting: Lincoln Way-West is looking to build off of last year’s sectional championship run. Carli, Murphy, Collin, Ronaldson and Frank figure to lead an experienced bunch. While these guys are a solid core, newcomers, DeSilva, Towner, DeGroot, Hahs, Swallow, Webber and Panici make this a potentially dangerous team.
Lockport
Coach: Chris Beal
Last season’s record: N/A
Top returners: Pat Marshall, jr., GK, 5-10; Gabe Czako, jr., D, 6-2; David Vetrinas, sr., D, 6-1; Sebastian Molek, sr., MF, 5-10
Key newcomers: Makonnen Stamply, jr., F, 5-10
Worth noting: Lockport will rely on Czako and Vetrinas to anchor the team’s defense while Marshall should be a staple in the net. Makonnen Stampley is a newcomer who could surprise some people in the area.
SOUTHWEST PRAIRIE CONFERENCE
Joliet Central
Coach: Erick Estrada
Last season’s record: 6-12, 4-7
Top returners: Jaime Hernandez, jr., F, 5-7; Aaron Razo, jr., M, 5-5; Angel Vega, sr., D, 5-5; Adan Martinez, jr., D, 5-11
Key newcomers: Jorge Carbajal, jr., D, 5-11; Luis Alvarez, jr., M, 5-2; Christian Villagomez, so., GK, 6-3
Worth noting: Hernandez returns as the team’s top scorer from last season. Razo, Vega and Martinez also figure to be key contributors for the Steelmen. Carbajal, Alvarez and Villagomez are newcomers but will be relied upon to help the team be successful.
“This season’s Steelmen varsity team is going to be a great competitor with some youth and experience at the helm. Plus its unity is its strongest asset this season,” Estrada said.
Joliet West
Coach: Mike O’Shea
Last season’s record: 17-9
Top returners: Tony Kochev, jr., F/M, 5-7; Brian Sanchez, sr., D, 5-10; Gavin Moore, sr., F, 5-10
Key newcomers: Joseph Karnezis, fr.5-7; Adrian Maldonado, fr., 5-7
Worth noting: Joliet West has a solid outlook going into the season after winning a regional championship last year. Kochev had nine goals as a sophomore and should prove to be an excellent scorer for West. While they lost a solid senior class, freshmen Karnezis and Maldonado will provide a nice boost.
“This team has a lot to live up to after winning a regional in 2019. We did lose a large group of very talented seniors from that roster,” O’Shea said. “The talent is here. It is up to them to decide what to do with it. The sky is the limit.”
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Minooka
Coach: Nate Spriggs
Last season’s record: 14-10-1
Top returners: Ben Joder, sr., F; Manny Campuzano, sr., D; Zac Monnett, jr.
Key newcomers: Kaleb Lowden, jr., D Ben Wolcott, so., F
Worth noting: Minooka will return only three starters after a solid season last year. Fortunately, Joder, who scored 26 goals and added four assists, is one of those returners. He was named All-Conference and All-Sectional. Campuzano is a three-year starter on defense and Monnett was an All-Conference midfielder as a sophomore scoring six goals and adding 11 assists.
“A solid backline will hopefully solidify our defense, and we will work to put pressure on our opponents on the offensive end by utilizing our team speed,” Spriggs said. “Team chemistry, senior leadership and our player’s work ethic will hopefully lead to a successful season.”
Plainfield Central
Coach: Kevin Fitzgerald
Last season’s record: 9-16-1
Top returners: Berto Centeno, sr., D, 5-11; Carlos Rosales, jr., D, 5-9; Moses Mata, jr., F, 5-8
Key newcomers: N/A
Worth noting: Plainfield Central is returning Centeno, Rosales, Mata and Cooper and hopes to be competitive in a tough Southwest Prairie Conference. Centeno and Rosales figure to hold down the defensive responsibilities while Mata will provide a bit of the scoring punch. Mata had 12 goals last season while Centeno was All-Sectional Honorable Mention.
Plainfield North
Coach: Lukasz Majewski
Last season’s record: 15-7
Top returners: N/A
Key newcomers: N/A
Worth Noting: The Tigers were one of the area’s most explosive teams last season, but if that trend continues it will be under new leadership in coach Majewski. The Tigers lost some of that firepower to graduation, but still employed a healthy number of underclassmen last season as well and should be able to keep things moving in the right direction.
Plainfield South
Coach: Bryant Williams
Last season’s record: 5-14
Top returners: Miki Derka, sr., F, 5-7; Rocco Rizzi, sr., D, 5-5; David Sanchez, so., M, 5-6
Key newcomers: Fernando Delgado, jr., D, 6-3
Worth noting: Plainfield South has 11 seniors returning, including six starters. Derka figures to lead the team’s offensive attack. Sanchez and Rizzi also are expected to be key contributors.
“Defense will be the strength of this team, but we have to score more goals than last year to be successful,” Williams said.
Romeoville
Coach: Nick Cirrincione
Last season’s record: 9-14
Top returners: Edrik Padilla, sr.; Tyler Budz, sr.; Ricardo Zuniga, sr.
Key newcomers: NA
Worth noting: Romeoville will have to try to find a new identity after graduating a large class of seniors, but Padilla, Budz and Zuniga should help the team stay competitive.
“We are in the rebuilding process, and I am very excited for the future of the program,” Cirrincione said. “(We) have a lot of talent right now that I am looking forward to help develop.”
EAST SUBURBAN CATHOLIC CONFERENCE
Joliet Catholic
Coach: Tom Cranmer
Last season’s record: 12-10-1
Top returners: Joey O’Connell, sr., GK/MF; Nick Ragusa, sr., D/MF; Alec Galyon, jr., MF; David Connors, jr., D; Aldo Estrada, so., F
Key newcomers: Michael Chavez Jr., sr.,M; Ramon Rios, so., MF
Worth noting: Joliet Catholic has a lot of turnover after losing 14 players from last year’s sectional championship team. However, expectations still are high because of the quality of returners. Estrada scored all three Hilltopper goals in last year’s sectional and had 11 goals on the year. Connors and Ragusa will spearhead the team’s back line, while Galyon will start for the third consecutive season in the midfield. Newcomers Chavez Jr. and Rios could provide major punch. Chavez is playing high school soccer this year after three years of club soccer. Rios, a sophomore, played club soccer last year as well. The duo could give the Hilltoppers a boost in the tough East Suburban Catholic Conference.
CHICAGO CATHOLIC LEAGUE
Providence Catholic
Coach: Bernard O’Donnell
Last season’s record: 10-11-1
Top returners: Lucca Kessler, sr., D; Drew McCallister, sr., M; Andrew Sample, sr., M; Nick Warren, sr., GK; Paul Austrums, sr., M; Ryan Cosgrove, sr., M
Key newcomers: Sean McGrath, Fr.
Worth noting: The Celtics won the conference last season and have six returning starters from that team. Kessler, McCallister, Sample, Warren, Austrums and Cosgrove lead an excellent senior core for Providence.
“My main focus for this season is to develop and get the boys ready for the fall season while still competing at the highest level possible to keep the conference championship title,” O’Donnell said.
SOUTH SUBURBAN CONFERENCE
Lemont
Coach: Rick Prangen
Last season’s record: 13-3-8
Top returners: Peter Borzecki, jr., D; Adam Hornick, jr., D
Key newcomers: N/A
Worth noting: Lemont is coming off of an excellent season winning a regional and losing in the sectional championship to Benet Academy. The roster will be inexperienced with only two returners. Borzecki and Hornick will be defensive anchors for Prangen.
“We are a very young team,” Prangen said. “(We are) hoping to gain experience this spring season to be ready for the fall.”
ILLINOIS CENTRAL EIGHT CONFERENCE
Coal City
Coach: Steven McCleary
Last season’s record: 9-11-2
Top returners: Keegan Johnson, sr., MF; Bobby Milne, sr., D; Alex Baudino, jr., D; Colin Hart, jr., GK
Key newcomers: N/A
Worth noting: Coal City is looking to have a big season returning 10 starters. Johnson will be starting for the fourth consecutive year and led the Coalers with 12 goals and four assists last season. Milne and Baudino are returning All-Conference players.
“We have lots of experience returning this year and are looking to earn the respect from our conference opponents,” McCleary said. “We are looking to come out aggressive and get off to a good start in a tough conference.”
Reed-Custer
Coach: Andy Gleixner
Last season’s record: 1-16
Top returners: Glen Escobedo, sr.,D, 5-10; Stephen Condreay, so., GK, 5-8; Eli Shafter, jr., F, 5-7; Braxton Brassard, jr., MF, 5-10; Danny Kuban, so., MF, 6-2
Key newcomers: Mendi Alieu, so., F, 6-0
Worth noting: Reed-Custer is looking for a bounce back year after finishing 1-16 last season. The Comets have five solid returners and figure to be improved in the Illinois Central Eight.
“We are still a team in the making,” Gleixner said. “We threw a lot of freshmen to the wolves last year, especially in the ICE Conference. We are a little over a year older now and we look to continue to improve as the season rolls on.”
Wilmington
Coach: Travis Ivanoff
Last season’s record: 2-18
Top returners: Erik Osthiem, jr., M, 5-8; Josh Girot, jr., M, 5-11; Justin Esposito, sr., M, 6-0; Wes Jewel, sr., 5-10, D
Key newcomers: Talin Yakima, fr., D
Worth noting: Osthiem returns after being on the 2019 All-Sectional Team. He had eight goals and three assists. Girot, Esposito and Jewel all are expected to do big things for the Wildcats. Yakima, a freshman, could be an impact player on defense.
“The time has come for our current upperclassmen to step up and play competitive varsity soccer,” Ivanoff said. “They have been playing against varsity teams since they were freshmen. What we lack in numbers we make up with skill, speed and power.”
INTERSTATE EIGHT CONFERENCE
Morris
Coach: David Valdivia
Last season’s record: 4-15-2
Top returners: Tony Castellanos, sr., M, 6-0; Keaton Auwerda, sr., D, 6-1; Tommy Dinelli, sr., 5-10, M; Mason Reed, sr., D, 5-10; Damian Becerra, sr. F, 6-0; Jack Hansen, sr., M, 6-1; Matt Munsell, jr., F, 6-1
Key newcomers: Ryker Anderson, fr., F, 5-11; Levi Wilson, so., GK, 5-11
Worth noting: Morris has 12 returning seniors, including four three-year starters. Dinelli and Becerra are the team’s two leading scorers from last season. Anderson and Wilson will provide an extra spark as newcomers this season.
“With 12 seniors, we feel like we will be competitive in the Interstate Eight,” Valdivia said. “We have been growing as a program and hope to take a big step this spring.”
Editor’s note: Some area schools declined to provide information about their programs.