All-City Alex Young of Payton. Payton is the number 2 seed in the Elmwood Park Regional and will have a good chance to advance to sectionals.
State Soccer Playoff Key Matches
Neilski's Take on Class AA Chances
The CPS will always be judged on how well they play against suburban schools. After basketball and track, soccer is maybe the next most competitive CPS sport.
Class AA teams have always performed better for the CPS in the past. This year is no different. It seems the best chances for the CPS will be Payton, Washington, Lake View and Juarez.
Payton is the 2nd seed in the Elmwood Park Regional and seems destined to play #1 seed Ridgewood in the regional finals. Payton has all-city Alex Young who is a big threat to score goals. Lake View, with all-city defenseman Hector Alcazar, is also in the Elmwood Park regional and could be a threat to Payton and Ridgewood.
City-runner up Washington travels to the suburbs at the Rich East Regionals where they are the 4th seed. They will have a tough path as they face host Rich East to open the playoffs, then if they win face either Illiana Christian or Tinley Park. If they are fortunate to win, they then will likely face number one seed Lemont. Good luck! Washington has really good mid-field play and have a top notch forward in Miseal Martinez. So they have a chance.
Juarez is in the tough Wheaton Academy Regional, where they are the 6th seed. They open with Cristo Rey on Tuesday, then likely face Wheaton Academy for the regional finals. Juarez will be a heavy underdog in that game.
Little Village and Juarez are from what I call the Caliente Valle (hot valley) of soccer in the city.
Little Village has one of the strongest teams it has ever had but are in a killer playoff bracket. To get to the sectional finals they will have to get by Montini, Nazareth Academy, and #1 St. Joseph.
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