Conner gives C-G something extra

Cary-Grove's Drew Conner reacts to a collision with a Crystal Lake South player during a match Oct. 11. C-G opens regional play Wednesday against Barrington. (Sarah Nader – snader@shawmedia.com)

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After missing two of his first three seasons, it has been a triumphant return for one of Cary-Grove’s brightest soccer stars.

Drew Conner, a sensationally skilled midfielder, took advantage when he earned an opportunity to train with the prestigious Chicago Fire Junior Academy as a freshman and junior during the fall season.

“It’s made me who I am,” Conner said. “It’s the highest level of soccer. It draws from the best players in the Midwest, and you can’t help but get better.”

However, with one last chance to rejoin his C-G classmates this fall, Conner decided to return to the high school team for his senior season.

And the Trojans have been reaping the benefits.

Conner, who has been added to the watch list for the 2011 High School All-American Game in December in Birmingham, Ala., has given C-G (16-2) one of the top playmakers in the area this season.

“Drew has done an awesome job,” Trojans coach Mark Olson said. “He really helps us get going, and we really feed off one another.”

Conner scored two goals as C-G knocked off two-time defending division champ Crystal Lake South, 4-0, last week to capture the Fox Valley Conference Valley Division title.

“It was a huge deal, but we moved on as soon as it happened,” Conner insisted. “We have bigger goals this year.”

The top-seeded Trojans take on No. 4 seed Barrington (11-8-3) in the IHSA Class 3A Lake Zurich Regional semifinals at 5 p.m. Wednesday. No. 2 seed McHenry (14-5-2) plays the third-seeded host Bears (10-5-5) in the other semifinal at Lake Zurich at 7 p.m.

Leading scorers Dylan Clohessy and Arturo Diaz and goalkeeper Frank Valle have led McHenry, which finished third in the FVC Valley.

“You’d be hard-pressed to find another regional as tough as this one,” McHenry coach Tony Caruso said. “C-G is the best team, but those other three aren’t that much down from them.”

At Algonquin: Senior Charlie Oliver leads top-seeded Crystal Lake South (13-8) against No. 4 seed Dundee-Crown (8-9-3) in the Class 3A Jacobs Regional semifinals at 5 p.m. Wednesday.

Oliver ,one of the most exciting forwards in the area, has 27 goals and eight assists this season. Oliver has an eye-opening 81 goals and 30 assists in his three-year varsity career.

The second-seeded host Golden Eagles (9-11) host No. 3 seed Huntley (11-7-3) in the other semifinal at 7 p.m.

“It’ll be a very evenly matched regional,” said South coach Brian Allen, whose team defeated D-C, Jacobs and Huntley during the regular season. “There are no surprises with all four teams (from the FVC Valley).”

At Hampshire: No. 3 seed Prairie Ridge (7-11-3), winner of four consecutive matches, draws the FVC Fox co-champ, No. 2 seed Hampshire (12-10), in the Class 2A Hampshire Regional semis at 7 p.m. today.

No.4 seed Marengo (10-7-4), a 4-0 winner against No. 5 seed Crystal Lake Central in an opening-round contest Saturday, battles top-seeded Burlington Central (10-5-4) in today’s first semifinal at 5 p.m.

At Grayslake: After defeating rival Woodstock North, 1-0, in the opener Friday, No.4 seed Woodstock (8-12-2) looks to upend the top-seeded host Rams (8-8) in the Class 2A Grayslake Central Regional semis at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday.

No. 3 seed Marian Central (7-9-4) hopes to extend its season against second-seeded Grayslake North (8-12) in Wednesday’s other semifinal at 6:30 p.m.

At Antioch: No. 2 seed Johnsburg (16-6), the FVC Fox co-champ, opens against No. 3 seed Antioch (9-6-2) in the Class 2A Antioch Regional semifinals at 4 p.m. Wednesday.

No. 4 seed Richmond-Burton faces a tough test against No. 1 seed Lakes (11-9-1), the North Suburban Conference Prairie Division champ, in the first semifinal at 4 p.m. today.