Inside boys soccer

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Athlete of the Week

Mike McKune

Cary-Grove, sr.

McKune, a midfielder, has helped over the years to build a Trojans midfield that has just dominated the middle of the field, and this year it is especially strong. The addition of Drew Conner has helped, and fellow veteran midfielder Mike Loke has been just as consistent as ever, but McKune has developed a knack for leadership to go with his skill.

McKune dished both assists in the Trojans’ come-from-behind win against Jacobs on Thursday to preserve their perfect Fox Valley Conference Valley Division record. He has 10 goals and 10 assists this season.

Noteworthy

Cary-Grove and Crystal Lake South square off: The Gators will be defending their FVC Valley Division title when they face Cary-Grove on Tuesday, and they’ll take on a Trojans team in the midst of one of the best seasons in school history.

C-G put itself in a position to play for the title with its 2-1 win against Jacobs on Thursday.

South has outscored its FVC Valley opponents, 14-4, while C-G has outscored them, 18-3. Conner and sophomore forward Kevin Wilde scored the Trojans’ two goals, and McKune accounted for both assists.

“That’s one of the things you start out the season working for, that’s one of the goals you have as a team; to play well and give yourself an opportunity to be there,” C-G coach Mark Olson said. “I think that’s what every competitor wants. That being said, South is still the defending champs, they have the upper hand in it. We just have to come to compete.”

Another title: With its 2-1 victory against Genoa-Kingston on Thursday, Harvard wrapped up the Big Northern Conference East Division title – the program’s fourth in the past six years.

Senior forward Nathan Baldwin, the Hornets’ explosive force up top, finished his regular-season finale with the decisive goal against the Cogs.

Marengo gave the Hornets a little help by beating Burlington Central on Thursday, 2-1.

It was a win-win situation: Harvard and Burlington were tied for the conference title, and Marengo coach Jim McKinnon hadn’t ever beat the Rockets.

The win sends Harvard into the postseason on a high note. The top-seeded Hornets start IHSA Class 1A regional play at home Tuesday against St. Martin de Porres, the fourth seed. Harvard hosts the regional and the sectional, which undoubtedly will fuel the players’ fire to succeed in the tournament.

In FVC Fox Division play, Hampshire and Johnsburg will tie for the division title if Hampshire beats Grayslake Central on Tuesday and Johnsburg beats Woodstock North, which upset Hampshire on Tuesday to move the Whip-Purs into a tie with the Skyhawks for first in the FVC Fox. Johnsburg is the reigning champion; Hampshire finished second in the BNC East last year and is in its first season in the FVC. The Skyhawks and the Whips each are 4-1 in FVC Fox play this season.

“The start of the season we were really unlucky, losing games by one goal because of untimely mistakes,” Johnsburg coach Rob Eastland said. “We started tweaking it and getting things right and we’ve been playing much better these last few weeks.”

Hampshire beat Johnsburg in overtime Sept. 22 – a game Eastland would love to get back.

“Even when that game happened the reaction of my players was everything a coach wants,” Eastland said. “They really started playing well after that.”

This week’s top matches

Prairie Ridge at Marian Central, 10 a.m. Saturday

The Wolves and Hurricanes meet in non-conference play to wind down the regular season.

Burlington Central at

Hampshire, 6:30 p.m. Monday

The Rockets and the Whips are old rivals from Hampshire’s years in the BNC East.

FVC Fox Division deciding games:

Woodstock North at Johnsburg, 4:30 p.m. Tuesday; Hampshire at Grayslake Central, 6:30 p.m. Tuesday

The Whips could clinch at least a share of the FVC Fox if they win and Johnsburg beats Woodstock North on Tuesday. Visa versa for Johnsburg, which is defending its FVC Fox title.

Cary-Grove at Crystal Lake South, 4:30 p.m. Tuesday

The showdown between the FVC Valley Division rivals and leaders should be as good as advertised.

– Maureen Lynch
mlynch@shawmedia.com
Twitter @nwh_molynch