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Kenwood has elected to forfeit Monday's Class AA boys soccer regional semifinal against Little Village after a scheduling issue with regional host Riverside-Brookfield. According to Kenwood athletic director Sara Lee, Kenwood requested the game be pushed back from its 3 p.m. start time so coaches and players wouldn't have to leave school early.
"Our coach highly encourages academics over athletics," Lee said. "We were informed by Riverside-Brookfield that the change would not be possible, because they would have to pay workers overtime if there was a change. The fact is Riverside-Brookfield's soccer field happens to be one with lights, so a later scheduled game would still be possible. The administration here at Kenwood commends coach Pete Scheidler for his decision. This sends an important message of academics to our athletes, and even to the other schools."
Why is the IHSA allowing a host school WITH LIGHTS to host a 3 p.m. game? Honestly, it looks lazy and horrible for Riverside-Brookfield and the IHSA. It looks as though Riverside-Brookfield is crapping on the Public League teams, and the IHSA allowed them to do that.
Let's be realistic - the players have to be signed out at 1 p.m., on the bus by 1:30 for the 3 p.m. state game. Why couldn't Riverside-Brookfield host games at 5 and 7 p.m.?
But this brings up a bigger issue.
Why are two Public League teams playing a regional semifinal game all the way at Riverside-Brookfield? I covered Parker vs. Latin - two schools right down the street from one another in Chicago - at North Shore County Day in Winnetka on Friday. Wouldn't the IHSA have been better off allowing one of the schools to host? That would promote the sport and give students a chance to attend.
I know there are field issues, referee issues and other things when running a tournament. But there has to be a little give and take and some common sense.
As for this week's rankings, not much movement. I really think there are a number of very good teams this year, but we're still missing that "great" team.
Joe Trost's Boys Soccer Top 10
1. New Trier 15-1 (1)
Will Trevians advance back to state finals?
2. Naperville Central 15-2-2 (2)
Preseason No. 1 ready to finish season No. 1
3. Neuqua Valley 16-4-2 (3)
Joining the Pepsi Showdown in 2009
4. Larkin 19-1 (4)
Looking forward to long postseason run
5. Geneva 17-2-1 (5)
Sloan, McSpadden, Orr beat Rockford Boylan
6. Lake Zurich 17-1-3 (6)
Bears feeling a little disrespected with "low" ranking
7. Morton 21-2-1 (7)
Zeba, Ortiz help Mustangs record another 20-win season
8. Loyola 13-3-1 (8)
Ramblers prove there is more than football at Loyola
9. St. Viator 18-2 (9)
18 consecutive wins heading into playoffs
10. Deerfield 16-3-1 (10)
Mott, Frankel, Newman find the back of the net
- Joe Trost
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