Senior defender Max Kaplan is among several returning Riverside Brookfield High School boys soccer players who learned plenty from the 2025 season. The Bulldogs suffered two one-goal regulation losses and three others decided on penalty kicks in finishing 5-13-2 overall and 0-4-2 in the Upstate Eight Conference East Division.
“We were competitive in a lot of games. I think that once we went down, we found ourselves in a hole mentally and we struggled to get back as a team,” Kaplan said. “This year we feel really strong and like we can compete in those games again and come out with a win.”
The Bulldogs already did that Saturday, outlasting Andrew in the consolation bracket of the Reavis Windy City Ram Classic, winning 7-6 on sudden-death penalty kicks to settle a 1-1 tie.
“We’ve focused a lot on conditioning. Just finishing out games, I think that was part of the problem (last season),” RBHS coach Ivek Halic said prior to the tournament. “We kept it close and then we’d just lose that mental discipline at the end. The boys are working hard. I love it.”
The team has 12 returnees and eight full- or part-time returning starters in seniors Luis Alvarez, Kaplan, Jack Luethje, Michinobu Scheuermann, Liam Wallace, Owen Wilson and Tomas Medina-Colon and juniors Aaron Acevedo, Caleb Adams, Ruben Briceno, Aaron Garcia and Michael Panduro.
Varsity newcomers are seniors Alejandro Robles and Dylan Strobel, juniors Konrad Pietka and Wyatt Streeter and freshman Karlo Stavlic.
“(Stavlic) is bringing a lot of energy, understanding of the game, a high soccer IQ,” Halic said.
RBHS lost in the Class 2A Timothy Christian Regional semifinals 4-0 to the host Trojans after winning the previous two games by shutout. Alvarez was the Bulldogs’ 2025 All-UEC East player, collecting three goals and four assists. Briceno (4 goals, 3 assists), Panduro (2 goals, 4 assists) and Acevedo (3 assists) also were among top offensive contributors.
Goalies Pietka and Medina are new starters but the defensive line is experienced with Wilson, Wallace, Kaplan, Luethje and Garcia.
“We’ve maintained chemistry from last year because we all know how we play and how we play together,” Wallace said. “Getting that whole season last year has helped build into this season. We play as a team. That’s maybe more different this year. We’ve bought into the whole team thing and we’re really going into the season strong.”
Pietka was the big star Saturday with a save on Andrew’s fourth penalty kick, extending the result to sudden death starting with the sixth round.
Adame, Garcia, Briceno, Scheuermann, Stavlic, Wallace and Kaplan converted their penalty kicks. The Bulldogs won as the Thunderbolts’ eighth attempt hit off the post.
Stavlic tied the game 1-1 in the first half by converting a penalty kick.
The Bulldogs lost their Windy City and season opener Aug. 25 to Hinsdale South 2-1 on penalty kicks after a 1-1 tie and then lost in the consolation bracket 1-0 to Bradley Bourbonnais Thursday. Briceno scored against Hinsdale South with an assist from Acevedo. Wilson converted the Bulldogs’ OT penalty kick.
“We all have the skills we need to be successful, but playing as a team is really going to tie it all together,” Kaplan said.
“Just support on and off the field (will help) and make no holes for us to fall short in games.”
LTHS boys soccer
Senior defender Ari Chen and several of his Lyons Township boys soccer teammates are used to strong starts. The Lions tied New Trier 1-1 in the Tourney of Champions Saturday after beating Wheaton Academy 3-1 in the home opener, Aug. 26, and Plainfield North 2-1 in the season opener, Aug. 24.
Chen and fellow seniors Julian Avdiu, Hayden McTigue and Cormac Moran are in their third varsity seasons. Chen received all-sectional and All-West Suburban Conference Silver Division honors last season. McTigue also started as a sophomore.
“We have a lot of experience and a lot of chemistry that you need. We’ve got the new faces that bring a new energy,” Chen said. “Right now we’ve been playing well. I don’t know if we’ve been playing our best. I think we’ve shown sparks that we can play and move the ball well.”
The Lions boast even more returning starters from last year’s strong team that finished 17-5-2 and shared second in the WSC Silver at 4-2. They lost to eventual 3A state runner-up St. Laurence 1-0 in the Hinsdale Central Sectional semifinals after capturing their 12th straight regional.
Chen, Avdiu, McTigue and Moran are joined by seniors Owen Kachmarik, Harrison Kittridge, Jake Faas, Ryan Keenan, Emmett Kessler, Rocco King, Charlie Pelling and Hayden Rout and juniors Marty Svelnis and Wolfie Ketterling as varsity returnees.
Newcomers are seniors Alexis Chavez-Gonzalez, Nick Dreves-Hunt, Owen Ruiz and Max Sklaryk, juniors Martin Garcia and Trevor Lusk and sophomores Kane Fox, Jakob Roman and Brendan Sullivan. Sklaryk is new to the program after previously playing club soccer only.
“We have a lot of returning and very good players on our roster from 1 to 22. We have high goals for the entire year,” said LTHS coach Paul Labbato, whose new varsity assistant is Stewart Turner-Jackson. “I think the encouragement (so far) is that we’ve gotten better each game and our coaching sessions were being able to be implemented (Saturday). We frustrated New Trier in many aspects of the game.”
Defense remains a strength. Chen, Kachmarik, Kittridge and Svelnis return from the back line that recorded 16 shutouts with nine coming in the final 11 games and allowed just 11 goals.
“We have a lot of experience playing with each other,” Chen said.
Ketterling, Chavez-Gonzalez and Ruiz are goalies. Ketterling also is varsity kicker for the LTHS football team. Sullivan is the brother of just-graduated defender Gavin Sullivan.
Avdiu (4 goals, 7 assists), Sklaryk (4 goals, 5 assists), Fass (3 goals, 5 assists), Moran (4 goals, 2 assists) and King (3 goals, 3 assists)
Roman scored in the first half to tie Saturday’s game after the Trevians scored in the opening minutes on a lengthy throw-in. Ruiz made six saves.
“(Ruiz) played outstanding. He was probably the player of the game,” Labbato said. “I think our defense getting stronger and stronger each game (is a key to success).”
Cormac and Roman scored against Wheaton Academy along with an own goal. Ketterling had the shutout.
“We want to make it as far as we can in the postseason,” Chen said. “Right now, coach is having us make mini-goals, process goals, trying to make us focus next game.”
