1. Barrington 25-2
Broncos' first state championship. Unak, Furio, Ozbay, Reilly among the heroes.

2. Neuqua Valley 24-2-4
Wildcats come up just short in second final in school's 10-year history.

3. Hinsdale Central 20-8-1
Red Devils take fourth in first quarterfinal trip in 32 years. Shakon, Tiemstra star.

4. New Trier 21-3-1
Trevians come up short in repeat bid. Solid nucleus returns for 2008 season.

5. Lemont 22-3-3
"Little" Indians play big soccer—make first state tournament quarterfinals.

6. Naperville Central 19-4-1
Seniors Byard Ebling, Joe Wehrli, Joe Sawa, Matt Sterner had big years.

7. Geneva 19-6-3
The Vikings went 14-1-1 in their last 16 games. Filipiak, Sloan, Cornwell keys.

8. Naperville North 16-4-4
Another talented Huskies team can only wonder what might have been.

9. Wheaton South 19-4-4
Tigers love their Pepsi. Eric Shrigley ends career as second-leading WWS scorer.

10. Lincoln-Way Cent. 22-3-1
Knights another playoff upset victim. Phil Galounis returns next season.

Copyright © 2007, The Chicago Tribune
 

By Dave Surico, Tribune staff reporter, November 9, 2007, 7:48 PM CST

Whether it's tending a net, planting some bushes or chopping winter firewood, Hinsdale Central's John Shakon can get the job done. The senior runs his own landscaping and firewood businesses, work that comes after his primary free-time focus of Red Devils soccer.

Shakon's record-breaking work in goal was a primary reason Hinsdale took its first trip to the state quarterfinals in 32 years. A victory over preseason No. 1 New Trier in the quarters helped the Devils to a fourth-place finish. Behind it all was a rock-solid Shakon, the last line of defense for the Red Devils. For his exceptional exploits in goal, Shakon has been named the Tribune's first-team All-State goalie.

Everyone knew the Wisconsin-Milwaukee recruit was good. He had 14 shutouts this season to set a school record and also holds the school's career mark of 24. If fans didn't know how good, he gave them a three-game demonstration at state in which he made 20 saves on the weekend, many of the spectacular variety.

"The crowds, that was a first-time experience for me, having that many people at one of my games," Shakon said. "It made the games so much more fun to play in. Every time you'd make a save, you'd have people cheering for you.

"You're not going to acknowledge it because you're paying attention to the game, but you hear those things and it gives you a good feeling and gives you confidence too.

"I felt I finished the year on a very, very high note, just the saves I was making. I look back on it and I'm thinking 'Wow, I actually did that?' "

Shakon did that and more. He was uncanny with his ability to come off his line at the right moment to break up plays or steal thought-to-be perfect through balls from opponents. He contributed to the Red Devils' attack with four assists by taking free kicks from the goal to past midfield, and with his powerful left leg he punted balls that bounded deep into enemy territory.

His activity on the soccer field mirrors his life.

"I always am trying to find something to do, whether its playing soccer or working," the teenage entrepreneur said. "Over the summer I had a small landscape business. I cut and sell firewood. If I feel I can do the job, I'll take down trees for neighbors."

Hinsdale Central's unexpectedly deep venture into the playoffs cut down on his wood-splitting time. He likes to have 10-12 cords for sale. He's down to four. There's little doubt the hard-working Shakon will rebuild his inventory. And there is little doubt how he will look back on his high school career.

"The biggest thing I take away is how much fun I've had, especially with that group of guys," he said. "I've played with them forever.

"I've always believed that we had the potential to do what we did. It was this year that we just went out and did it. And it was fantastic."

1. Barrington 25-2 (NR)
   Broncos can show state ring to all doubters
2. Neuqua Valley 24-2-4 (4)
   First loss to Illinois team came in title game
3. Hinsdale Central 20-8-1 (NR)
   Goalie John Shakon played bigger than 5-11
4. New Trier 21-3-1 (5)
   Trevians return 11 players next season
5. Naperville Central 19-4-1 (6)
   Lone Naperville school without state title
6. Geneva 19-6-3 (10)
   Ran out of gas against Neuqua Valley
7. WW South 19-4-4 (3)
   Coach Guy Callipari graduates 15 players
8. Downers Grove South 18-3-3 (9)
   2008 preseason No. 1? 15 players return
9. Naperville North 16-4-4 (7)
   Did Huskies meet preseason expectations?
10. Lincoln-Way Central 22-3-1 (1)
    Chemistry issues hurt the Knights

Last line of defense propels Red Devils
Defending state champions unable to solve keeper Shakon

By Dave Surico, Tribune staff reporter, November 2, 2007, 11:59 PM CDT

If John Shakon's Hinsdale Central teammates gave him a theme song, they'd probably choose "Lean on Me."

When New Trier's attack pounded the Red Devils' end, Shakon made amazing stop after amazing stop to help Central to a 2-1 double-overtime victory over the 2006 state champions.

"When our defense gets beat, we turn around and watch a shot we think is gonna go in," said Central All-State defender David Tiemstra, who gave his team a 1-0 lead in the 65th minute. "He comes out of nowhere and makes a great save. We're glad to have him back there."

Shakon had nine stops.

"After the tying goal [in the 68th minute], there were about five to 10 minutes where they didn't leave our half," Shakon said. "A goal's a goal. You have to get up and let it go. If you dwell on the goal, you're mentally out of it."

Hinsdale Central's Mark Knight ended the game in the 94th minute.

"I saw [Jason] Loebig take the corner kick," Knight said. "I was feeling it. I knew I was going to go up and get it. ... [It's the] best feeling ever."

New Trier had revenge in mind from a 2-0 defeat to the Red Devils on Sept. 15. The Trevians (21-3-1) gave up only eight goals all season; the Red Devils scored four of them.

"It just didn't go our way," said Trevians keeper Jordan Maman, who was a major part of the 21-shutout season.

3-OT win sends Devils to state
By Dave Surico, Tribune staff reporter, October 29, 2007, 10:04 PM CDT

After 32 years, 102 minutes didn't seem so long to Hinsdale Central.

The Red Devils will make their first quarterfinal appearance at the state tournament in more than three decades this weekend after a 1-0 triple-overtime decision Monday over Argo at Toyota Park.

Click here to find out more!
Goalkeeper John Shakon continued to raise the bar at Hinsdale Central with his record 14th shutout of the season.

"That was one of those games where I really had to be on my toes," the Wisconsin-Milwaukee-bound senior said. "They didn't have that many chances, but the ones they had were dangerous."

Senior midfielder John Balsamo started the game-ending play with a serve between the Argo goal and defense. Argonauts keeper David Mickiewicz charged at an open Mark Knight, and both went down. Junior midfielder Jeff Graham found the ball and tapped it into the unattended goal for his team-high 10th goal of the year.

Hinsdale Central (19-6-1), which won the state title in 1975, will meet New Trier in the quarterfinals Friday.

Hinsdale Central's John Shakon and Oak Park's Drew Golz are historic figures at their respective schools. A classic confrontation between the two set the mood in the Oak Park Regional final. Red Devil Shakon won a one-on-one confrontation with Golz and Central went on to its first regional title since 2004 with a 1-0 win Friday.
Shakon, who became his school's career shutout leader at 22 with the win, stopped Golz, Oak Park's all-time top-goal scorer, on a breakaway in the 36th minute. Shakon got a hand on Golz' blast from 15 yards. The ball rebounded back to the forward who headed another shot that the goalkeeper cradled.
"The ball was bouncing and I gave it a touch," said Golz, who finished his career with 50 goals. "I thought their keeper was a little left so I went right. We had some awesome chances. That's how it goes sometimes."

Shakon stopped 12 shots in the game, none more meaningful than the breakaway.
"That gets the blood pumping when you see one-on-one," said Shakon, who tied the season mark of 12. "He's a good player. That was the hardest shot of the season. That's a good team there. Give credit to our backline and midfield. They were fantastic. They beat us in double overtime earlier in the season. That's revenge and we finally got the regional done. "

Mark Knight's eighth goal of the season was all Hinsdale Central (16-6-1) needed. The senior's tap in started with a John Balsamo pass from midfield that left him and Jeff Graham alone on goal. The ball went off Graham after he tangled with Huskie keeper Mark Bernthal. Knight swooped in on the ball for an easy tap in at the 29-minute mark.

Oak Park finished the season with a 15-6-2 mark.
 

October 18, 2007, 8:21 PM CDT

Hinsdale Central goalkeeper John Shakon talks a good game, but only when he's playing one. The senior's ability to communicate to his teammates is a big reason the Red Devils (15-6-1) are threatening several of the Hinsdale soccer program's defensive records.

He has 11 shutouts, one off the school single-season mark, and a 0.67 goals-against average. Shakon tied the school's career shutout record of 21, which he shares with current Michigan starter Patrick Sperry. Combined with the efforts of defenders Sam Toczylowski, Alex Scott, Robert LaRocque and Tribune 2006 All-Stater Dave Tiemstra, Hinsdale Central has allowed only 15 goals this season, and only one in its last seven games.

Shakon wasn't always good at in-game banter.

"That's something that's developed," said the three-year starter, who recently committed to Wisconsin-Milwaukee. "There was an instance where the coaches said to me, 'In order to take your game to the next level, you've got to step up with the vocal aspects of your game.'

"It especially keeps the defense in the game. It keeps them confident to know that someone's back there and he's in tune with the game. It also keeps me focused."

Hinsdale Central defeated St. Joseph 2-1 on Wednesday and plays regional host Oak Park on Friday for the right to move on to sectionals.

Dave Surico

by Dave Owen, Suburban Life
Hinsdale, IL - Unscored upon in its first six games, defending state boys soccer champion New Trier had its wall of invincibility toppled Saturday at Hinsdale Central.

David Tiemstra scored off a Mark Knight assist just over three minutes into the game, and a later goal by Knight via a Greg Patterson assist combined with excellent play from goalkeeper John Shakon (12 saves) and the Red Devil defense to produce a 2-0 win over the Trevians.

“Make no mistake, they’re a very good team, definitely worthy of a No. 8 ranking (nationally) in the NSCA,” Hinsdale Central coach Mike Wiggins said of New Trier, which also lost to the Red Devils last year. “But we also knew that we had won four of our last five games and outscored our opponents 11-2 in those five games. We continue to come together as a group, and today was another very good showing.

“Our three backs that started today, Alex Scott, Sam Toczylowski and David Tiemstra, demonstrated why we have three of the strongest defenders around. We committed to winning balls in the air and did a good job with that.

“Our tactical approach had everything to do with being able to get up on them in the first four minutes of the game,” Wiggins added. “We knew getting a goal on these guys would have a significant impact on how they played.”

A springboard to beating New Trier came at the elite Great Midwest Classic a week earlier at Indianapolis, where Hinsdale Central (7-4-1) won two of three games.

“Indiana was huge coming off a few losses (two in a row before the trip),” Knight said. “We bounced back big time and got ourselves together.”

“Our program had never won a game in the Great Midwest Classic,” Wiggins said. “We went down there and won two games in one day, so we had confidence. That really was good for us, and today only strengthens our belief in our ability.”

The quick goal against New Trier sent the Red Devils’ confidence to new heights.

“It was huge scoring early like we did,” Knight said. “It got some of our other guys going, made them feel a little more comfortable and definitely sparked the team. We went at them harder after we scored the first goal.

“When we got that second goal we knuckled down and said, ‘We’re not going to let them score.’ Now we just hope to keep playing hard and go as far as we can.”

Knight and Tiemstra also scored goals Thursday in a 2-0 win at Hinsdale South, in which goalkeeper Shakon had his fourth assist of the season along with the shutout.

Bouncing back nicely from a 3-0 opening loss to Wisconsin power Marquette University High School, Hinsdale Central's boys soccer team went on to two impressive wins in Saturday’s final day of the Great Midwest Classic in Indianapolis.

The Red Devils (4-3-1) defeated two of the top seven teams ranked in Kentucky, topping Trinity of Louisville
1-0 on a David Tiemstra goal.

Tiemstra then had two goals and Mark Knight had two assists as Hinsdale Central defeated Lexington Catholic 3-1. Jason Loebig had assists in both wins.

The Hinsdale Central soccer team overcame soggy conditions and area-ranked Naperville North to earn a scoreless tie in its season opener Aug. 21 in Naperville.

Senior goalie John Shakon notched the shutout with defensive help from Alex Scott, Paul Cooper, Robbie LaRocque and Billy Cheng. Hinsdale Central coach Mike Wiggins also praised the efforts of midfielders David Tiemstra, Greg Patterson, John Balsamo and freshman Taylor Cole and forwards Mark Knight and Jason Loebig.

"The field conditions evened the competition. I thought we played well considering we had to adjust to the frustration of a soggy turf," said Wiggins, whose team began action in its Red Devil Cup Tuesday.

-- by Bill Stone