Top 10 Teams
1. Grayslake Central (19-2-3): Is this season the Rams reach the Class 2A state championship game? After placing fourth in 2021 and third last season, the Rams lost 2022 News-Sun Boys Soccer Player of the Year Alan Alonso but have one of Lake County’s best goalkeepers, senior Uriel Garcia-Perez, as well as senior midfielder Mitchell Fein, senior midfielder/forward Nick Molochnikov and junior defender Anderson Chevrier.
2. Mundelein (9-6-7): Although the Mustangs don’t have a wealth of experience, they have depth and balance, according to coach Sebastian Falinski. Eight players, including four starters, return. Senior midfielder Frankie Jimenez, senior defender Adrian Rosiles, junior midfielder Kaiden Mata and junior midfielder/forward Diego Sanchez are among the main returnees.
3. Stevenson (22-1-3): The defending North Suburban Conference champion Patriots lost a lot of talent to graduation after winning the Class 3A third-place game last season but bring back a strong group aiming to take the next step in the playoffs. Senior defender Alex Huelsman, senior midfielder Shu Aoyagi and junior goalkeeper William Rokosh are among 14 returnees.
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4. Libertyville (7-9-4): The Wildcats expect to be in the mix again for the NSC title with the return of five starters. Senior midfielder Oliver Allen, senior midfielder Mateo Portillo, junior forward Noah Finnema, junior defender Nick Snow and junior defender Henry Bownas form the nucleus of the team.
5. Round Lake (11-4-3): The Panthers are one of the most experienced teams in Lake County with six starters back, most notably junior midfielder Jorgie Morales, who scored 10 goals. Senior midfielder Oscar Martinez, senior defender Luis Salinas, senior defender Eric Nieto and junior defender Sebastian Herrera also return.
6. Warren (15-5-2): The Blue Devils are banking on a promising group of sophomores behind experienced senior midfielders Lucas Ahonen, Chris Crowson and Diego Torres, who are the heart of the team.
7. Grayslake North (3-13-2): The Knights will try to steal some thunder from Grayslake Central with seven starters back in the fold. Senior forward Chris Fabela, junior midfielder Sam Soriano, senior midfielder Will Verber, senior defender Caden Moran and sophomore defender Alonso Morales are the top returnees.
8. Vernon Hills (13-8-2): The Cougars have been a consistent force in the Class 2A playoffs for the past decade. Six starters return to lead another charge, including senior defender Nikita Stepanov and junior goalkeeper Brandon Grunfeld.
9. Waukegan (8-11-3): With five starters back after reaching a Class 3A sectional final, the Bulldogs are thinking big this season. Junior goalkeeper Julian Mendoza, senior midfielder Creasy Rivera, senior midfielder Abner Morales and senior forward Angel Palomo are among the key players.
10. Wauconda (12-4-3): Senior defender Karsten Ternes, one of the top players in the area, is back for the Bulldogs. Junior forward Freddy Barnshaw and senior midfielder Francisco Cabral also return.
25 Players to Watch
Lucas Ahonen, Warren, senior, midfielder; Oliver Allen, Libertyville, senior, midfielder; Christian Castro, Deerfield, junior, forward; Andrew Chamernik, Lakes, senior, forward; Chris Fabela, Grayslake North, senior, forward; Mitchell Fein, Grayslake Central, senior, midfielder; Uriel Garcia-Perez, Grayslake Central, senior, goalkeeper; Brandon Grunfeld, Vernon Hills, junior, goalkeeper; Alex Huelsman, Stevenson, senior, defender; Frankie Jimenez, Mundelein, senior, midfielder; Filip Kanski, Lake Zurich, senior, goalkeeper; Roman Lynch, Carmel, senior, defender; Oscar Martinez, Round Lake, senior, midfielder; David Mendoza, Zion-Benton, junior, midfielder; Julian Mendoza, Waukegan, junior, goalkeeper; Jorgie Morales, Round Lake, junior, midfielder; Mateo Portillo, Libertyville, senior, midfielder; Creasy Rivera, Waukegan, senior, midfielder; William Rokosh, Stevenson, junior, goalkeeper; Adrian Rosiles, Mundelein, senior, defender; Jared Sanchez, Zion-Benton, senior, defender/midfielder; Nikita Stepanov, Vernon Hills, senior, defender; Karsten Ternes, Wauconda, senior, defender; Diego Torres, Warren, senior, midfielder; Dominick Ziaja, Lake Forest, senior, defender.
Bobby Narang is a freelance reporter for the News-Sun.