Evanston
Coach: Franz Calixte
2015 record: 21-2-3 (3-1-1 Central Suburban South), lost to eventual state champion Libertyville in a Class 3A supersectional
Key returners: Sr. D Josh Klier, Sr. MF Dylan Ter Molen, Sr. F Sam Blustein, Jr. MF Miguel Jimenez
Outlook: This year’s team is pretty much the definition of rebuilding. Evanston had 16 seniors on last year’s roster, including goalkeeper Adam Masters, the 2015 Pioneer Press All-Area Boys Soccer Player of the Year. Only four players on this year’s roster are returners, including just two starters in Ter Molen and Klier.
“(Klier will) be able to dominate in defending and also bring some offensive swagger to the game,” Calixte said.
Keep an eye on: Klier and Ter Molen played on the U17 FC United Select 1 club team in the offseason that won the State Cup and went 1-1-1 at the Region II tournament. In those high-level games, communication is extremely important, Klier said.
“It really helped my communication skills,” Klier said.
More Top Picks Kites
He said he hopes he can bring what he learned back to his high school team. The club soccer experience also helps when it comes to calming the nerves in high school games, Klier said.
Calixte said he hopes the experience Klier and Ter Molen had with FC United helps with Evanston “getting that winning mentality.”
Glenbrook South
Coach: Seong Ha
2015 record: 13-9-2 (1-3-1 Central Suburban South), lost to Glenbrook North in a Class 3A regional final
Key returners: Sr. D Grady Bruch, Sr. M/F Max Klemm, Sr. F Kai Erber
Outlook: Three years ago, in his final season as the freshman coach, Ha trained Klemm, Erber, Bruch and Jacob Boner. Ha became varsity coach the following year and brought all four players to the varsity team with him. Ha said he thinks their mix of skill and familiarity will produce enough goals for the Titans to compete for the conference title.
“Their soccer IQ is impressive,” Ha said. “We will tinker with a few things up front, but this will not be a rebuild.”
The Titans have not won their conference since 1984, but Ha said he feels this team can break the drought.
Keep an eye on: Glenbrook South’s defense was depleted by graduation and only senior Clayton Nelson and sophomore Gavin Morse return in the back. Another big loss was Perry Adamopoulos, a three-year fixture between the goal posts. But Ha said the open competition for playing time will only make the team better.
“It’s always nice to see who is going to step up and fill in,” Ha said. “It’s going be trial by error but whatever plays out, it’s going to be a very competitive environment going into the first game (on Monday, Aug. 22, at Rolling Meadows).”
Senior Chase Swaringen and junior Mike Hatfield are battling to be the starting goalkeeper.
Maine South
Coach: Dan States
2015 record: 14-2-7 (3-0-2 Central Suburban South), lost to Niles North in a Class 3A regional final
Key returners: Jr. F Alessandro Corazzina, Sr. F Philip Mierzwa, Sr. D Liam Pittges
Outlook: The Hawks return 12 regulars from a 2015 team that compiled a 19-game unbeaten streak before getting upset in the postseason. The second-seeded Hawks’ season ended when they lost to 11th-seeded Niles North on penalty kicks. The forward pairing of Corazzina (11 goals in 2015) and Mierzwa (9 goals, 8 assists) is coming off a productive campaign together.
“The (postseason upset) is on (the players’) minds and hopefully that will be a source of energy,” States said. “But it’s a long season with a lot of tough games before the playoffs begin.”
Keep an eye on: Pittges and fellow senior Patrick Hopkins played on either side of then-senior David Aniol in a back three last season, helping the Hawks post 15 shutouts and concede just 10 goals. Now, Pittges and Hopkins will have to show they can anchor the team’s backline without Aniol, a Robert Morris Illinois-signee.
“(Pittges and Hopkins) have played together on the club scene and in high school and we’re hoping that time together translates to success this fall. We’re going to need their leadership,” States said.
New Trier
Coach: Matt Ravenscraft
2015 record: 8-9-5 (1-3-1 Central Suburban South), lost to Lane in a Class 3A regional semifinal
Key returners: Sr. M Louis Shaw, Sr. D Cameron Zwick, Sr. F Matt Gallo
Outlook: New Trier’s roster will look pretty similar to last season, since 18 players have come back, and that’s something Ravenscraft takes as a positive sign.
“There’s buy-in from every guy,” said Ravenscraft, who is in his first season as head coach. “They’ll work on learning how to manage those key game moments — whether tied, winning or losing — better.
Keep an eye on: Ravenscraft has been with the program as an assistant for the past six years, including two with varsity. He’s spent hundreds of hours in coaching clinics the past few years, improving his ability to run a dynamic training session, he said.
“What really stands out with Ravenscraft is his passion for the game,” Shaw said. “He loves soccer, and I think that’s a necessary requirement for a head coach.”
Ravenscraft said he hopes to help the Trevians finish with 10 or more shutouts, they had six last year, and generate momentum with longer winning streaks. New Trier won two games in a row three separate times in 2015.
Niles North
Coach: Filip Cejovic
2015 record: 11-8-7 (1-2-2 Central Suburban North), lost to Leyden in a Class 3A sectional semifinal
More Top Picks Best Kitchenaid Stand Mixer Alternatives
Key returners: Sr. D Alem Zukancic, Sr. F Edwin Alfaro, Sr. M Aziz Abdul
Outlook: The Vikings return a solid senior core from a team that upset second-seeded Maine South on penalties in last year’s regional final. Niles North was the 11th seed. Alfaro, who scored 4 goals last season, could be a difference maker up front. The backline will have experience.
“Defense is one of our greatest strengths,” Zukancic said. “It’s almost returning entirely from last year and we’ve melded together and are looking to limit the goals and help out our goalkeeper.”
Keep an eye on: The Vikings are in their first year in the Central Suburban South, which features New Trier, Evanston, Maine South, Glenbrook South and rival Niles West and is the conference’s more competitive division.
“It’s probably the strongest conference in the state,” said Cejovic, whose brother Milo Cejovic is the coach at Niles West. “It’s our goal to elevate the program and compete with those kinds of teams on a nightly basis as far as results and the kind of soccer we play.”
Niles West
Coach: Milo Cejovic
2015 record: 9-6-4 (1-1-3 Central Suburban South), lost to Niles North in a Class 3A regional semifinal
Key returners: Sr. D Kevin Sanchez, Sr. M Laith Zaibal
Outlook: Niles West lost 11 seniors from its 2015 team to graduation — including eight who were starters — but Cejovic said he has confidence in his junior class. His concern is with leadership.
“Some of the guys need to figure out how to be leaders on the field and off the field,” Cejovic said. “As far as skill, we have guys to fill those roles.”
Cejovic thinks the familiarity among the players and an upgrade in technical skill has the Wolves poised to reach at least the sectional round of the playoffs.
Keep an eye on: Midfielder Daniel Radeljic, the only sophomore on varsity at the start of the season, looks to be a focal point in the middle of the Wolves’ attack. Cejovic said Radeljic would have been on varsity last year, but he opted to play with an academy team instead.
“He is young, but built like a grown man,” Cejovic said. “He’s very composed on the ball. He knows what he wants to do and he does it. He could be a game changer.”
Radeljic will share the middle of the pitch with older brother and senior Alen Radeljic.
Heather Rule, Dan Shalin and Lee Bosch are freelance reporters for Pioneer Press.
Twitter @hlrule