HS: Fall FAB 50 rankings, Oct. 30

by Sheldon Shealer

October 30, 2018

It seems just like yesterday the high school soccer season started.

Now, by week's end, a large chunk of the boys FAB 50 Top 10 might be finalized.

St. Benedict's Prep (Newark, N.J.) controls its fate and plays in the state semifinals Tuesday with a state final match slated for Thursday. Two wins, and it's another star in the jersey for the Gray Bees' national powerhouse program.

FAB 50 No. 2 Naperville North (Naperville, Ill.) and No. 3 Libertyville (Ill.) are both thre wins away from a state title. Of course, that path might result in a clash of these powers.

No. 6 Loyola (Towson, Md.), No. 8 Peoria Notre Dame (Peoria, Ill.) and No. 9 Milwaukee Marquette (Milwaukee, Wis.) all wrap up their seasons this week.

Of the six teams listed, it is possible five could win out to secure Top 10 finishes.

On the girls side this week, there was quite a bit of movement in the Top 25 as teams jockey for position as the season winds down. Carmel (Ind.) and Houston (Germantown, Tenn.) join Bishop Kelly (Boise, Idaho) as the three teams that have secured Top 25 finishes. Look for these teams to move up in future weeks as tournaments play out in other fall power states such as New Jersey, Ohio and Maryland.

Now on with the rankings ...

BIG MOVERS: BOYS: Monroe-Woodbury (Central Valley, N.Y.). Monroe-Woodbury is making a serious run at state No. 1 after its 17-0 start. The team has 13 shutouts and next advances to the state tournament. ... GIRLS: Seattle Prep (Seattle, Wash.). While a five-spot jump isn't too large, it does position Seattle Prep for a possible Top 10 finish. This perennial Washington private school power has rolled through the early rounds of the Metro League tournament, and the team's perfect record and high quality players, coupled with results, jumps the team to No. 14 this week.

NEWCOMERS: BOYS: No. 41 River Hill (Clarksville, Md.), No. 42 Holy Ghost Prep (Bensalem Township, Pa.), No. 43 Medina (Ohio), No. 44 Arapahoe (Centennial, Colo.), No. 45 Seton Hall Prep (West Orange, N.J.), No. 46 Franklin Regional (Murrysville, Pa.), No. 47 Grandview (Aurora, Colo.) and No. 49 Lake Park (Ill.). ... GIRLS: No. 11 Twinsburg (Ohio), No. 24 Pennington School (Pennington, N.J.), No 46 [Mechanicsburg pa-w] (Pa.), No. 47 Suffield (West Suffield, Conn.) and No. 49 Staples (Westport, Conn.).