|
1
|
St. Ignatius
Cleveland, OH
|
0-0-0
|
| St. Ignatius or St. Benedict's (N.J.) have claimed eight of the last nine FAB 50 Fall national titles. There's reason to believe these powers will be vying for the top again in 2019, and much might be determined Sept. 20 in Cleveland when they go head-to-head. This year's St. Ignatius team is led by Indiana commit Kyle Folds, Notre Dame commit Matt McLaughlin and Ohio State-bound keeper Peter Van Euwen. In addition to facing St. Benedict's, St. Ignatius also competes in the Jesuit Cup and has non-league games against Kentucky defending champ St. Xavier (Ky.), FAB 50 preseason No. 5 Peoria Notre Dame (Ill.) and Top 25-ranked Olentangy Liberty. |
|
2
|
St. Benedict's Prep
Newark, NJ
|
0-0-0
|
| Replacing Celio Pompeu and Henrqiue Cruz might be difficult, but not impossible at this school. St. Benedict's is always flush with high-end talent, and this year's crew includes Cao Chaves. St. Benedict's has won four of the past five FAB 50 titles with the only interruption being the 2016 season -- won by St. Ignatius. St. Benedict's and St. Ignatius will clash on Sept. 20 in a match likely to go a long way in determining this year's FAB 50 No. 1 team. |
|
3
|
Naperville North
Naperville, IL
|
0-0-0
|
| The Huskies pulled off a first in Illinois history in 2018 -- a large-school perfect season. Don't expect something that epic in 2019, but look for the Huskies to again be a state and FAB 50 title contender. Ohio State-bound forward Ty Konrad leads a cast that includes players with club national title experience. Keep an eye on Zach Smith, who scored 13 goals last season as a impact transfer. Naperville North will need to sure up a defense that graduated several key defensive players in order to make a run at another trophy. |
|
4
|
Delbarton School
Morristown, NJ
|
0-0-0
|
| Last year was supposed to be a rebuilding season for Delbarton, yet the Green Wave turned in a 21-1-1 season. Providence commit Brendan McSorley and Ivan Scotto both return in addition to junior standout Curt Calov. Every member of the team is either a current or former Development Academy player or was on the STA '03 club team that recently won a US Club Soccer National Cup. Delbarton traveled to Italy for preseason training. |
|
5
|
Peoria Notre Dame
Peoria, IL
|
0-0-0
|
| Noah Madrigal and Myles Sophanavong -- two names, tons of goals. The standouts are both NCAA Division I recruits who have yet to commit. Last year they led Peoria Notre Dame to a state runner-up finish. This year they are aiming to take care of unfinished business. The Irish also has ramped up the schedule, which includes a date at the Tradition Classic in August along with non-league games against Chaminade (Mo.), St. Ignatius (Ohio) and Libertyville. |
|
6
|
Martin Luther King
Manhattan, NY
|
0-0-0
|
| MLK is the class of New York City and this program, which is riding a 59-match win streak, again is favored in 2019. Star midfielder Yaya Bakayoko is the key player. Other standouts include Dante Taylor, Sidi Camara, Ramchy St. Vil and Feren Nunez. The team has scheduled matches with Shea (R.I.), Parkland (Pa.) and Long Island small-school power Jericho. |
|
7
|
Medina
Medina, OH
|
0-0-0
|
| Brothers Parker and Gavin Csizar teammed up to lead Medina to a state title in 2018. Both are back in 2019 and expectations again are high for this Cleveland suburban program. The Bees have now established themselves as a boy-girls state power, and both start 2019 with FAB 50 Top 25 rankings. |
|
8
|
Seton Hall Prep
West Orange, NJ
|
0-0-0
|
| Rising seniors Aidan Dunphy and Jason Pereira were all-state honorees last year as Seton Hall Prep finished second to Delbarton in the North Jersey, Non-Public A tournament. Delbarton and Seton Hall Prep figure to be the frontrunners again in 2019. The Pirates will face a challenging schedule that includes New Jersey top programs Christian Brothers, Delran, Montclair and Pennington School. In addition, Seton Hall Prep will clash with Landon (Md.) at the Mainline High School Jamboree. |
|
9
|
McDonogh School
Owings Mills, MD
|
0-0-0
|
| McDonogh won the MIAA A title in a bit of a surprise last year over rival Loyola, but it certainly won't be a surprise if the Eagles repeat. Although the team graduated a dominate Penn State-bound midfielder and a game-changing William & Mary-signee in goal, the Eagles have James Madison commit Mason Christian and Bucknell commit Matt Owusu returning. In addition, Richie Nichols and Kyle Brown figure to be impact players this fall. The MIAA is full of contenders with Mount St. Joseph, Calvert Hall and Loyola all expected to be in the running for the top spot. |
|
10
|
Milwaukee Marquette
Milwaukee, WI
|
0-0-0
|
| Junior standout Gabe Anguil and senior Mikey Herrera should provide the scoring punch to pace the Hilltoppers toward another state title. The program has won the last five Wisconsin Division I titles and its out-of-state schedule has led to quite a national reputation. The Hilltoppers, who have had only three head coaches in their history, will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the program this fall. |
|
11
|
Louisville Collegiate
Louisville, KY
|
0-0-0
|
| With standouts Elijah Winder, Sixto Abraham and Cal LeDoux returning, Collegiate gets the nod for preseason No. 1 in Kentucky. Abraham, LeDoux and Winder combined for 53 goals last season. While Collegiate has had a steady stream of talent in recent years, it still has yet to get past the state quarterfinals, largely because the team plays in a district that features perennial state powers St. Xavier and Trinity, not to mention always dangerous Ballard. |
|
12
|
Fremd
Palatine, IL
|
0-0-0
|
| Goalkeeper Artur Cholewa and defender Jake Schoffstall are returning after all-state seasons in 2018. Fremd gave Naperville North quite a test last year and looks to be a possible title challenger this season. |
|
13
|
Lee's Summit
Lee's Summit, MO
|
0-0-0
|
| Lee's Summit is coming off a 21-3 season and with its key defensive players returning appears to be in the running for the Class 4 state title this fall. Goalkeeper Johnny Foster and defender Ian Shores were all-state selections last season. |
|
14
|
Cicero Morton
Cicero, IL
|
0-0-0
|
| There's never a shortage of talent at Morton, a school with more than 7,500 students from which to draw. This year's players to watch are Jesus and Cristian Perez, Saul Juarez and Edwin Zizumbo. Morton will be competing in the Go 4 The Goal Fall Classic, along with Naperville North and Marquette (Wis.). |
|
15
|
Troy Athens
Troy, MI
|
0-0-0
|
| Athens went 21-1 last year with the lone loss happening in the playoffs, which killed a run at a FAB 50 Top 5 finish. The Redhawks appear to be the preseason favorite this year, led by senior keeper Jason Kemp, who recorded 16 shutouts in 2018. |
|
16
|
Crystal Lake South
Crystal Lake, IL
|
0-0-0
|
| With Alex Canfield returning, Crystal Lake South has a bonafide scorer to lead its bid for a Class AA state title repeat. Crystal Lake South will compete in the Pepsi Showdown, which will provide a stiff test against mostly Class AAA opponents. |
|
17
|
Archbishop Moeller
Cincinnati, OH
|
0-0-0
|
| Moeller had a breakout season last year and figures to be a frontrunner in Cincinnati again this season. Leading the way will be midfielder Parker Grinstead, who was the Cincinnati Division I Co-Player of the Year last season. |
|
18
|
Cardinal Gibbons
Raleigh, NC
|
0-0-0
|
| The addition of four Development Academy players to Cardinal Gibbons' roster this year makes the Crusaders an easy preseason pick for No. 1 in North Carolina. The new players join forces with the juniors who helped Gibbons to a 19-win, state semifinalist season in 2018. Gibbons has ramped up the out-of-state schedules, as well, and will face Chaminade (Mo.), St. Anthony's (N.Y.) and McDonogh (Md.). |
|
19
|
Olentangy Liberty
Powell, OH
|
0-0-0
|
| With Ohio State-bound defender Blake Collins and midfielder Tyler Harris, Olentangy Liberty is figured to be the favorite in the Columbus area this season. |
|
20
|
Central Bucks West
Doylestown, PA
|
0-0-0
|
| With three all-league performers returning from a 19-3 team, Central Bucks West gets the preseason nod in a highly competitive District 1-AAAA race. Long before CB West can entertain ideas of a district title it will need to get past league rival North Penn. Defenders Bailey Moyer and James Lutz and midfielder Jimi Leder are the top expected returners for this fall. |
|
21
|
Olathe West
Olathe, KS
|
0-0-0
|
| Jony Munoz was one of the standouts at the Allstate All-America Cup in Orlando in July, and he will be relied upon to lead Olathe West this season. Olathe West gets the preseason nod in a state that appears very competitive this fall with few clear frontrunners. |
|
22
|
Louisville Trinity
Louisville, KY
|
0-0-0
|
| An early playoff exit bumped Trinity from a likely Top 5 finish in 2018. The Sharocks are in a loaded district that includes preseason favorite Louisville Collegiate and defending state champ St. Xavier. For Trinity to break through in 2019, it will need another big performance from midfielder Jack Fischer, who was second on the team in scoring last year to Kentucky signee Brandon McManus. |
|
23
|
Chesterton
Chesterton, IN
|
0-0-0
|
| Senior Seth Conway and juniors Charlie Eaton and Zach Bowser are the key returnees for a Chesterton team that stunned Zionsville in last year's state final. There will be no surprise this year if Chesterton is back in the state tournament. |
|
24
|
Ludlow
Ludlow, MA
|
0-0-0
|
| Ludlow is coming off an undefeated season and showed well in summer soccer. A trio of first-team all-Western Mass Division I players return: Michael Tuck Jr., Michael Riley and Anthony Quiterio. |
|
25
|
Fairview
Boulder, CO
|
0-0-0
|
| After allowing only three goals all season, keeper Carter Melton is back to lead a Fairview square that is an easy call for preseason No. 1 in Colorado. The Knights will simply need to find more offense to make a serious run at the Class 5A state title. |
