Chicagoland Boys Preseason First XI

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We're just a few days away from the boys high school season in Illinois kicking off. Here's a look at my second annual Chicagoland Preseason first XI.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>GK Thomas Terry - New Trier Sr</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Terry was sensational between the posts last season for the 3A champions. Allowing just 17 goals with a 0.605 goals against average. Athletic 6'0" goalkeeper who plays well with his feet and has outstanding field awareness.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>D Sam Hess - Naperville North Jr</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hess was a difference-maker on the back line last season as a sophomore for Naperville North. Helping the huskies defense get 15 clean sheets last season. Very productive player in the ECNL season, too. Aggressive tackler capable of stopping lots of scoring chances in the defensive third. Plays with a high motor.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>D Roberto Salinas - Elgin Sr</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Salinas was an anchor on the Maroon back line last season en rout to a 3A super-sectional appearance. Plays at a very fast pace and even contributes offensively. Maroons only conceded more than one goal in four games last season while holding seven clean sheets. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>D Pacifique Ndayishimiye - West Aurora Sr</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>An under-the-radar prospect. Ndayishimiye a high-energy wing-back who always seems to play with a chip on his shoulder. Helped get 10 clean sheets last season for West Aurora. Great speed on the wing and gets up-and-down the field at a terrific pace. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>M [player_tooltip player_id='54366' first='Jaxon' last='Stokes'] - Naperville North Sr</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Stokes has 42 goals in two varsity seasons at Naperville North. His playmaking seemed to take a big bump from last season as he dished out 11 assists. A true game-changer at both the high school and ECNL level for Eclipse the last few years.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>M [player_tooltip player_id='143966' first='Noah' last='Radeke']</strong> <strong>- Naperville North Sr</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Stokes's running mate at Naperville North. Radeke's probably the most valuable player on this team last season for his ability to make everyone better. Dishing out 20 assists his junior year in addition to scoring 20 goals. Super technical with the ball at his feet. Wins lots of 1v1 battles. Plays beyond his years. D1 impact player.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>M Eli Jarrell - Naperville Central Jr</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A midfielder who loves to create his own shot. Scoring 15 goals with 7 assists last season for Naperville Central. He was also one of just two freshman on their state championship team in 2022.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>M/F [player_tooltip player_id='147283' first='Calyx' last='Hoover'] - New Trier Jr</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hoover's set for a much larger role on New Trier this season after scoring 10 goals and 5 assists in his sophomore campaign. Love the pace he brings to the attacking midfield. Great touch around the ball with a quick first-step to blow by you in an instant. Will put New Trier in many dangerous spots this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>F Bryce Richards - OPRF Sr</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Another forward who will see an expanded role heading into his senior year. Scored 15 goals for an OPRF squad that was stunned in last years regional final. Love his ability to out-dribble opponents and be involved in creating countless scoring opportunities.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>F Krystian Niziolek - Conant Sr</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Niziolek has 33 goals and 21 assists in two varsity seasons at Conant so far. Leading them to a combined 30-16-1 record during that span. Love his decisiveness with the ball. Already knowing what to do with the ball before he receives it on the wing. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>F Omar Ortiz - Bloom Sr</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ortiz has combined for a whopping 66 goals and 71 assists in his three varsity seasons at Bloom. Outstanding shot creator with college-level awareness and technical abilities. Went 25-2 and dominated the southland conference last season. Bloom is a combined 66-10-4 since he's joined the team.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->