Boys’ soccer teams are finishing up their regular season schedules, and they’re still not done playing hot potato with the title of No. 1. Looks like the postseason will have to determine who wants it most. Here’s preps coordinator Zach Piatt’s latest area Top 10:
1. St. Joseph-Ogden➜ Record: 19-2-1
➜ Previous ranking: No. 2
SJ-O, welcome to the top spot. The Spartans are the fourth different team to reach this list’s pinnacle, and they’ve done it with the same old song and dance. Their win streak is up to 12 games now, and they still haven’t lost since Aug. 29, an impressive run of success.
2. Fisher/GCMS➜ Record: 16-3-1
➜ Previous ranking: No. 3
The biggest game of the regular season went the Bunnies’ way on Tuesday, as they bested Oakwood/Salt Fork 2-0 with goals from David Hull and Sid Pfoff. A 7-0 win against Blue Ridge on Wednesday was Fisher/GCMS’ 15th shutout, a single-season record.
3. Oakwood/Salt Fork➜ Record: 19-3
➜ Previous ranking: No. 1
Despite the loss to Fisher/GCMS on Tuesday, O/SF won its other three games in the last week to peak its winning streak at 12 games. And it’s done it without all-time leading goal-scorer Ethan Merritt, who’s been sidelined with a back injury.
4. Watseka/Milford➜ Record: 15-4
➜ Previous ranking: No. 4
An 8-0 loss to St. Joseph-Ogden on Monday halted the Warriors’ run of five wins in a row. The Warriors brushed it off and responded with a 9-0 win against Schlarman the next day. This is still a team no one wants to see come postseason.
5. Mahomet-Seymour➜ Record: 12-5-1
➜ Previous ranking: No. 6
Remember when the Bulldogs were 1-3-1? They’ve left that start to the season in the rearview mirror and have won 11 of 13 games since then, squarely in position to capture an Apollo Conference championship. Safe to say the Bulldogs are hitting their stride.
6. Uni High➜ Record: 16-6
➜ Previous ranking: No. 7
The Illineks had a week in late September where it looked like they were changing for the worse, but they’ve snapped out of it. Their high-scoring offense, led by Shabi Prasanth, has also returned, netting 13, nine and 10 goals in the last three wins.
7. Centennial➜ Record: 9-6-2
➜ Previous ranking: No. 5
The Chargers have now suffered consecutive losses for the first time since the opening week. Their 1-0 loss to Normal West on Tuesday made their road to a Big 12 championship a little tougher, but a home matchup with first-place Peoria Notre Dame awaits this Thursday.
8. BHRA➜ Record: 11-6-1
➜ Previous ranking: No. 10
Similar to Uni High, the Blue Devils went through a rough patch a couple weeks ago, but they seem to be back on the upswing. A big test against O/SF comes on Thursday, and Bryson Lithgow and Co. are hoping to ride their recent momentum.
9. Urbana➜ Record: 9-7-1
➜ Previous ranking: No. 8
As surprising as it may sound, the area’s top-ranked team just a few weeks ago is on the verge of dropping out of the Top 10. The Tigers have lost four of their last five games. Jevan Juday has done a solid job overall at goalkeeper, but the offense needs to pick it up.
10. St. Thomas More➜ Record: 7-6-4
➜ Previous ranking: NR
Two ties and two wins since the start of October, including a 2-0 victory over Unity on Tuesday, vaulted the Sabers back into the Top 10. They’ve had a roller-coaster of a season, starting 4-1-1 before an 0-5-1 stretch that motivated them into their current run.
