There was nothing to shout about last week. Just a tune-up game here and there to finish out the regular season before going into win-or-go-home mode. Some teams have already started. Some are looking forward to their first postseason matchup. Prep Coordinator Zach Piatt explains how it all begins:
1. St. Joseph Ogden
➜ Record: 20 wins, 2 losses, 1 draw
➜Previous ranking: 1st place
The Spartans ended the regular season on a high note, defeating Arthur Lovington Atwood Hammond 14-0. Tyler Hess topped the list with three goals and six assists. Logan Mills led the way in scoring with four points, Zach Harper had three points, and Quinn Staal and Alex Acosta each had two points. SJ-O will face Iroquois West in the Class 1A St. Ann Regional semifinals.
2. Fisher/GCMS
➜ Record: 17-3-1
➜Previous ranking: 2nd place
The Bunnies head into the 1A Fisher Regional semifinal against Unity on a six-game winning streak and have shut out their opponents in four straight games. With the 2-0 win over Teutopolis, the team and goaltender Parker Bailey achieved 16 shutouts on the year, extending a single-season program record. Keep an eye on Fisher/GCMS as Zach Zbinden returns to the team.
3. Oakwood/Salt Fork
➜ Record: 20 wins, 3 losses
➜Previous ranking: 3rd place
Given a chance to bounce back before the postseason after losing to Fisher/GCMS, O/SF did just that with a 6-1 win over BHRA thanks to four goals from Mason Swartz. O/SF hopes to carry that momentum into the 1A Hoopeston Area regional semifinals against the host Cornjerkers.
4. Watseka/Milford
➜ Record: 16 wins, 4 losses, 1 draw
➜Previous ranking: 4th place
In two close games, the Warriors worked hard to finish the regular season. David Bell converted the winning penalty kick for a 4-3 victory over Georgetown Ridge Farm/Westville. Bell then scored the team’s only goal and Jason Moore made a season-high 10 saves to tie Reed-Custer 1-1. They remain a dangerous team heading into the 1A St. Ann Regional semifinal against Clifton Central.
5. Uni High
➜ Record: 16 wins, 6 losses
➜Previous ranking: 6th place
The Irineks finished the regular season with a 10-1 win over Cornerstone Christian, winning the East Central Illinois Conference title a few days before any other team. Uni High has lost four of its previous five games, but is currently on a five-game winning streak. The team is on track for a 1A Fisher Regional semifinal game against St. Thomas More.
6. 100th anniversary
➜ Record: 11-7-2
➜Previous ranking: 7th place
The Chargers lost three straight games last week and weren’t in the best of shape, but they bounced back with wins over Rantoul/Paxton-Buckley-Roda and Bloomington and were able to head into the postseason with momentum. Centennial will face 2A regional host Charleston for a spot in the finals. Coach Tayer Al Saqri said his team was the best in the region. It’s time to prove it.
7. Mahomet Seymour
➜ Record: 13 wins, 7 losses, 2 draws
➜Previous ranking: 5th place
The Bulldogs are the only team in this ranking that still has a regular season game remaining, with a road game against Taylorville on Thursday. They then await the 2A Meridian Regional semifinal showdown between Mount Zion and the winner of Rantoul/Paxton Buckley-Roda. MS is currently 0-2, but Taylorville has a chance to get back on track before postseason play.
8. Urbana
➜ Record: 10 wins, 8 losses, 1 draw
➜Previous ranking: 9th place
The Tigers went through one of their toughest times in the final three weeks of the regular season, dropping five of their final seven games, but finished the season on a good note with an 8-0 win over Peoria. Seven different players scored goals to seal the victory. Urbana hopes that will be enough to advance to regional 2A at home, starting with Danville.
9. St. Thomas More
➜ Record: 9-6-4
➜Previous ranking: 10th place
The Sabers finished the regular season with a 4-0-2 record and continued that streak with an 8-0 win over Judah Christian in the 1A Fisher Regional quarterfinals on Tuesday. STM is tasked with playing third-seeded Uni-High in the semifinals, whom the Sabers lost 5-0 a month ago.
10. Unity
➜ Record: 8-7-3
➜Previous ranking: Not ranked
The Rockets had an up and down regular season, ending the season with two losses and one tie in their final three games. But they threw all that away in Tuesday’s 1A Fisher Regional quarterfinals with a 3-1 come-from-behind victory over Monticello thanks to goals from Teaguen Williams, Ryan Robinson and Nolan LeMore. Next up is our host Bunnies.
