The IHSA regional soccer playoffs are coming real soon, and our varsity team looks more than ready. Over the past few weeks, the varsity boys soccer team has been putting in work and finishing off their season excellently. 

In their games against Hoffman Estates and Prospect, their opponents couldn’t score a single time. Last week, the boys had a tough conference game against Barrington and lost 3-2. Seniors Joe Salemi and Eltayeb Mahmoud were responsible for both the team’s goals. The games last week against Crystal Lake South and Palatine both ended in ties.

The next game will start the playoffs, and the varsity boys will play a home game against Barrington on October 18. Salemi is especially looking forward to the rematch, as “it obviously stung since that was the game that was the game that took us out of the race for the east title.” 

Coach Olson, Rolling Meadows High School’s head soccer coach, is looking at the playoffs optimistically. “We have made some adjustments, and have gotten some guys back who have been injured for the past few games, and we’re gonna take advantage of that.”

This game shows to be quite sentimental, as the team consists of many seniors, meaning that a loss would signify their last time playing together. Senior Oscar Chlopek says that all the anticipation and hard work “shows how close [they] have grown as a team.” All in all, he has quite enjoyed the season and will miss his teammates and the experience of playing with the group.

The team’s goalie, sophomore Marceli Okonski, looks to be especially eager for the playoffs. He strongly believes that he and his team “are more ready than ever to play and win the first playoff game, and not stop there.” Coach Olson says that Barrington “will be a good challenge”, and it seems that the whole team is ready to push through as far as they can.