Three storylines to watch
Marquette has put itself in the position of being a team to watch every year. This one will be no different. Though the team graduated state player of the year Gabe Anguil, it returns defensive stud Sam Magner, junior goalkeeper CJ Deslongchamps and three other all-Greater Metro picks. The team finished the season ranked second in the nation by United Soccer Coaches and should open the year in that poll.
Kings of the Hill:
Youth movement at Bay:
The biggest loss for Whitefish Bay this offseason was goalkeeper Jack Moxom, who gave up his senior season in order to sign with FC Cincinnati and play for one of its lower teams. He'll be missed and the team's defense will be young, but the Blue Dukes still have some of the most talented scorers in the state in senior's Mitchell Dryden and Ben Grimm.
In addition to returning to the traditional state tournament schedule at Uihlein Soccer Park – one game per day and on finals on Saturday – the game returns to 40-minute halves, good news for teams that struggle with depth. That extra time sometimes loomed large. Brookfield Central's 2019 championship wasn't decided until the 89th minute and Shorewood's title that was year was clinched with a game in the 87th minutes. This year those games would go to two 10-minute OT periods.
Back to normal:
1. Marquette (13-0-2):
Arrowhead's Luke Behringer (9) and Marquette's Miguel Gonzalez lead two of the top soccer teams in the area.
performers are sprinkled throughout a lineup that beat Oconomowoc for the regional title.
8. Oconomowoc (7-1-4):
Despite graduating the conference player of the year and two other all-league players, the defending Classic 8 champion returns a lot, especially on defense.
The Comets' top three returning scorers combined for 70 points to help the team reached the D2 semifinals.
With an experienced midfield and back line, the Lasers could surprise in the Classic 8 year with 15 goals and seven assists.
The senior midfielder's elite foot skills, great vision and ability to create scoring chances led to 11 goals and five assists in 2020.
The four-year varsity player is one of the state's most prolific scorers. He enters the season with 81 goals and is coming off a junior campaign in which he led the Comets in scoring with 27 points (11 goals, five assists).
The senior forward has fully recovered from a broken leg that prevented him from finishing last sesaon. Before the injury he recorded 27 goals and nine assists in just 11 games.
Warriors coach Chris Logan says the senior forward's motor, work rate and one-onone skills make him special. He recorded 11 goals and four assists last season.
The coaches made the Falcons' standout an all-state selection during the alternate fall season.
The senior midfielder dominates the game without posting eye-catching stats., doing the little things required of a midfielder such as reading plays and reacting quickly.
The senior ranked third in the North Shore in goals scored last season with 14 and also led the team in assists (13) in 13 games.
The Brown recruit has been a workhorse in the defensive midfield and an invaluable member of a team that was the Division 1 state runner up last season. He finished with four goals and one assist.
Asher Harris, Oconomowoc: With the senior in goal the team allowed just two goals in league play and posted six shutouts. He posted a 0.71 goalsagainst average last season.
Denis Krioutchenkov, Shorewood: The Davidson recruit recorded 34 goals and seven assists in 12 games and led Shorewood to the D2 state semifinals of the alternate fall season.
The first-team all-North Shore pick will be the anchor of a defense that posted five shutouts and in four other games where it allowed just one goal.
Sam Magner, Marquette: The Hilltoppers posted four shutouts in Greater Metro play with the help of their star defender. Great at reading the game and tenacious, Magner has continued to improve his strength and speed this offseason.
9. Delavan-Darien (11-3):
10. Kettle Moraine (6-4-1):
Andrew Alia, Kenosha St. Joseph:
Gunnar Busch, Wauwatosa East:
Estevan Colin, Delavan-Darien:
Mitchell Dryden, Whitefish Bay:
Nikita Gladkov, Muskego:
Aidan Glancey, Whitnall:
Miguel Gonzalez, Marquette:
Cazzie Major, Brookfield Academy:
The senior forward finished with 17 goals and six assists last season and was named the conference's offensive player of the year.
Aidian Martin, Menomonee Falls:
The midfielder led the team in goals (14) and assists (17) and earned first-team all-Greater Metro distinction.
Alan Mendez, Delavan-Darien:
The senior center midfielder netted seven goals and six assists last season.
The senior forward's quick feet and creativity helped him score 10 goals and record five assists for the Division 1 state champion.
Valentin Sandoval, Marquette:
Devin Stoltenberg, The Prairie School:
The senior goalkeeper posted a 0.48 goals-against average with 13 shutouts. He didn't give up a goal en route to the Hawks Division 3 state championship, a state record shared by a handful of players.