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THE UNDERDOGS: BOYS

42. STC EAST

Head Coach: Tim O'Grady

Key Players: Andrew Roberge, Ethan Braham, Jack Sweeney, John Tarpey

Players to Watch: Charles Young, Kyle Chapko, Nick Milosch

Goalkeeper: TBA

Final 2015 Ranking: 41st

First Contest: March 7 at Meadows

Key Tournaments: Hinsdale South, Niles West, STC East

2015 Verdict: The Saints (10-7) were knocked out of the playoffs in the sectional quarterfinal round by Naperville North.

43. LANE

Head Coach: Matt O'Hagan

Key Players: Ben Martinez, Justin Trieu, Mark Gullickson, Max Boettcher

Players to Watch: Sam Lisec

Goalkeeper: TBA

Final 2015 Ranking: 45th

First Contest: March 9 vs Lake View

Key Tournaments: CPS, Lake Forest, Sandburg, St Patrick

2015 Verdict: Lane went 10-11 last season, finishing as the runner-up in the CPS Tournament, before being eliminated from the postseason by Von Steuben in the sectional quarterfinals.

44. PALATINE

Head Coach: Joe Gryzbek

Key Players: Alex Adame, Dylan White, Ivan Turkan, Marcus Carter-Buckman, TJ May

Players to Watch: Campbell Boston, Jerome Gabriel, Sean O'Brien

Goalkeeper: Jake Conrad

Final 2015 Ranking: 46th

First Contest: March 9 vs Hersey

Key Tournaments: GBS, MSL, Palatine, Stevenson

2015 Verdict: The Pirates (7-25) secured an opening round playoff victory over Vernon Hills before a loss to the eventual sectional champions (Stevenson) ended their season.

45. HINSDALE CENTRAL

Head Coach: Christy Brodell

Key Players: Duncan Ferguson, Jimmy Lee, Michael Johns, Steve Mungovan

Players to Watch: Albert LaVelle, Charlie Johns, Scotty Spinezola

Goalkeeper: Emmett Ferguson

Final 2015 Ranking: 43rd

First Contest: March 7 at Morton

Key Tournaments: Brother Rice, GBS, Mundelein, WSC

2015 Verdict: The Red Devils (10-22) defeated Metea Valley in the opening round of the playoffs; they fell at the hands of Neuqua Valley in the sectional quarterfinal round.

46. RIVERSIDE-BROOKFIELD

Head Coach: Kevin Wolak

Key Players: Christian Hernandez, Joey Rosa, Nick Pavlokovic

Players to Watch: Ben Regan

Goalkeeper: Coulter Greenwell

Final 2015 Ranking: 42nd

First Contest: March 8 vs Jones-Payton

Key Tournaments: R-B, Sandburg, Stagg

2015 Verdict: The Bulldogs (15-14) earned a victory over Westinghouse in their sectional opener and lost to the eventual sectional winners (Fenwick) in the quarterfinals.

47. MAINE WEST

Head Coach: Robert Delaney

Key Players: Adam Smolik-Valles, Brendan Atwood, Julian Hernandez, Kevin Wendtland

Players to Watch: Abraham Martinez, Anthony Alonzi, John Albert, Richie Sevic

Goalkeeper: Sam Ure

Final 2015 Ranking: 47th

First Contest: March 9 vs Von

Key Tournaments: Conant, CSL, Niles West

2015 Verdict: The Warriors (14-11-1) were eliminated from the postseason by Loyola in the sectional quarterfinals at Glenbrook North.

48. VON STEUBEN

Head Coach: Alan Whitmore

Key Players: Chris Iza, Ethan Hamp, Haydon Peterson, Nataniel Rivera, Santos Moreno

Players to Watch: Tyson Dean

Goalkeeper: Pablo Moreno

Final 2015 Ranking: Unranked

First Contest: March 9 at Maine West

Key Tournaments: CPS, Jones-Payton, Maine East, Niles West

2015 Verdict: The Panthers (17-12) earned a one-goal victory over Lane in the quarterfinal round of the St Ignatius Sectional before being eliminated from the event by the hosts in the semifinals.

49. LINCOLN-WAY WEST

Head Coach: Steven Anderson

Key Players: Devin Janosek, Jake Carlson, Josh Carlson, Kyle Karpluk, Michael Dice

Players to Watch: Andrew Fleisleber, Bill Laitar

Goalkeeper: Joey Steele

Final 2015 Ranking: Unranked

First Contest: March 8 vs St Rita

Key Tournaments: GBS, Niles West, Schaumburg

2015 Verdict: The Warriors (7-20) secured an opening-round playoff victory over Bradley before losing to Sandburg in the quarterfinals of the LWN Sectional.

50. BRADLEY

Head Coach: Rob White

Key Players: Adam Schroeder, Andrew Hinterliter, Brittan Hudgens, Dawson Schu, John Langfoss

Players to Watch: Austin Wray, Ryan Guerin

Goalkeeper: Jacob LaMore

Final 2015 Ranking: Unranked

First Contest: March 11 at Stagg Tournament

Key Tournaments: Hinsdale South, Maine East, Neuqua, Northside, Stagg, STC North

2015 Verdict: The Boilers (8-21-1) were eliminated from the postseason by LWW in the opening round of the LWN Sectional last season.

50. BREMEN

Head Coach: Zach Crim

Key Players: Adam Kral, Alex Holewa, Jake Gillund, Kevin Duffy

Players to Watch: Nick Snow, Tyler Vrba

Goalkeeper: Mike Barry

Final 2015 Ranking: Unranked

First Contest: March 9 at LWC

Key Tournaments: Evanston, Metea, Shepard, Stagg, St Patrick

2015 Verdict: Bremen (10-18-2) earned a 12-6 victory over Shepard in the opening round of the LWN Sectional; they were eliminated by Andrew in the quarterfinal round of the event.

50. HERSEY

Head Coach: Dick Mortensen

Key Players: Conor Stanley, Daniel Tian, Kristiyan Donov, Patrick Kusnierz

Players to Watch: Christian Maggio, Drew Maggio

Goalkeeper: TBA

Final 2015 Ranking: 48th

First Contest: March 8 at St Viator

Key Tournaments: Elk Grove, GBS, MSL, STC North

2015 Verdict: Hersey (13-15-1) grabbed a playoff win over Meadows at the Schaumburg Sectional but had their season come to an end with a loss to Conant in the quarterfinal round of the event.

50. JONES-PAYTON

Head Coach: Jim Cortez

Key Players: Hector Salazar, Nicolas Teodosescu, Steven Fitzgerald, Will Macellaio

Players to Watch: John Arey

Goalkeeper: Jake Heilmann

Final 2015 Ranking: Unranked

First Contest: March 8 at R-B

Key Tournaments: CPS, Shepard

2015 Verdict: The Eagles (15-12) defeated Mt Carmel in the sectional quarterfinals of the St Ignatius Sectional and were ousted from the playoffs in the semifinal round by DLS.

50. MAINE EAST

Head Coach: Peter Przekota

Key Players: Daniel Stefaniak, Eric Nguyen, Josh Espinoza, Victor Ponzio

Players to Watch: Matt Nieradka, Sumair Sheikh

Goalkeeper: Owen Trier

Final 2015 Ranking: 50th

First Contest: March 7 at Wheeling

Key Tournaments: CSL, Elk Grove, Maine East, R-B, York

2015 Verdict: The Blue Demons (11-17-1) were eliminated from the postseason by Maine West in the opening round of the GBN Sectional last season.

50. PROSPECT

Head Coach: Steve Gryzbek

Key Players: Jack Gabriel, Jake Bellows, Isaac Ginnodo, Matt Culliton, Matt Inserra

Players to Watch: Jacob Kosinski

Goalkeeper: Keith Rose

Final 2015 Ranking: 49th

First Contest: March 9 at Schaumburg

Key Tournaments: GBS, Hinsdale South, MSL, Sandburg

2015 Verdict: Prospect (9-12-2) were eliminated from the postseason by Fremd in a close battle in the sectional quarterfinals at Schaumburg.