Patrick McGavin – Page 18

Elgin's Geovanny Catalan (12) controls the ball against York during the Class 3A Streamwood Supersectional on Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2022.

A star is torn: Geovanny Catalan almost didn’t play, puts on a show as Elgin pushes defending state champion York to the limit. ‘I was undecided.’

November 2, 2022 at 8:47 a.m.

Elgin's Geovanny Catalan faced a conundrum in the preseason. A highly rated academy player, Catalan was uncertain about whether he wanted to try high school soccer. The senior midfielder also...

Neuqua Valley cornerback Miles Miskel can read receivers’ minds. It’s not telepathy. It’s experience.

November 1, 2022 at 1:15 p.m.

Neuqua Valley cornerback Miles Miskel often knows what receivers are thinking. The 5-foot-11, 180-pound junior is a receiver too. "They do certain things where I just think, 'I know what...

Marmion's Harley Karner and Lemont's Aidan Ontiveros battle for the ball during the Class 2A Glenbard South Sectional championship game in Glen Ellyn on Saturday, Oct. 29, 2022.

Laser show: Searching for that ‘extra little nudge at the end,’ Alvaro Alanis unleashes sizzling shot as Marmion edges Lemont for sectional title.

October 29, 2022 at 7:24 p.m.

With Marmion's Alvaro Alanis, it's almost now you see him and now you don't. The junior midfielder prefers to play in the soccer equivalent of the shadows — making moves...

Elgin's Omar Saldana (7) reacts against Dundee-Crown during a Class 3A Hampshire Sectional semifinal game on Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2022.

Perfect PK: Edgar Perez converts in shootout as Elgin tops Larkin for program’s first sectional title. ‘It was one of the best feelings of my life.’

October 29, 2022 at 5:36 p.m.

Edgar Perez went through his entire ritual for Elgin. The senior defender has a particular approach he takes before every penalty kick. "I always get the ball and turn it...

Jaden McGee is back — really back — and gets Neuqua Valley going in the first round of the playoffs: ‘It finally feels like I’m at full throttle.’

October 29, 2022 at 1:15 p.m.

Neuqua Valley running back Jaden McGee finally felt like himself Friday night. A senior season filled with promise was nearly undone by injury after he missed parts of three games....

Elgin's Omar Saldana (7) drives through Dundee-Crown defenders Miguel Pena (10) and Cristian Lechuga (13) during a Class 3A Hampshire Sectional semifinal game on Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2022.

The Facilitator: Omar Saldana scores goal and adds usual assist as Elgin downs Dundee-Crown to reach sectional final. ‘We know what we like to do.’

October 26, 2022 at 10:18 p.m.

Elgin's Omar Saldana is the kind of malleable player every great team requires. The senior midfielder fits his versatile game to the available situation. "Everybody has their own talent or...

Marmion's Harley Karner celebrates with teammates Diego Tellez and Jordan Peinado after scoring against Rockford Boylan during a Class 2A Glenbard South Sectional semifinal in Glen Ellyn on Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2022.

The G-force: Giovanni Magana connects on free kicks as Marmion gains revenge on Rockford Boylan in sectional

October 26, 2022 at 2:24 p.m.

Sophomore midfielder Giovanni Magana is the modest type. He's almost embarrassed by the outsized reputation he has gained playing for the Marmion boys soccer team. He prefers to let his...

Matt Chevalier sat out last season with a rugby injury. Neuqua Valley knows what it was missing. ‘Matt is probably the most versatile player we have.’

October 25, 2022 at 1:10 p.m.

Neuqua Valley safety Matt Chevalier had a long time to ponder what he missed. He suffered a broken collarbone playing rugby in spring 2021, an injury that forced him to...

Providence's Lucas Proudfoot turns to hand the ball off to Jamari Tribett (7) against St. Laurence during a CCL/ESCC Orange game in New Lenox on Friday, Oct. 21, 2022.

He’s the bomb: Lucas Proudfoot learns to air it out as Providence reaches playoffs for first time since 2019. Proudly put? ‘We’re not done yet.’

October 25, 2022 at 8:48 a.m.

Lucas Proudfoot changed his game to fit the moment for Providence. The senior quarterback learned to stop worrying and also fell in love with the bomb — a big, vertical...

West Aurora's Omari Rashidi (10) reacts to scoring the first goal against Neuqua Valley during a Class 3A Metea Valley Regional semifinal game in Aurora on Tuesday, Oct. 18, 2022.

Chalk talk: Ayub Rashidi says he and brother Omari ‘speak the same language’ on the field for West Aurora: Swahili. It works vs. Neuqua Valley.

October 19, 2022 at 8:03 a.m.

If it sounds like Ayub and Omari Rashidi are speaking a language all their own on the soccer field for West Aurora, that's much closer to the truth than you...

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