By Haley Brock
The 2018 PepsiCo Showdown Boys features 64 high schools and nearly 2,000 city and suburban players from public and private schools all around the Chicago and Northern Illinois region.
Opening Day of the largest high school soccer tournament in the U.S. saw the top two seeds in the U.S. Army Bracket – nationally-ranked Morton and defending Class 2A champ Solorio – escape with 1-0 victories over Plainfield Central and Hoffman Estates. The No. 1 seeds in the U.S. Navy Bracket (Oswego) and U.S. Coast Guard Bracket (St. Edward) needed penalty kicks to beat Thornton and Bulls Prep to advance to Tuesday’s Elite Eight.
The popular showcase continues on Tuesday with all 64 high schools back in action at 32 different sites. Nearly 11,000 minutes of soccer will be played in the 16th annual event. With 2,500 minutes down, here is a look at which players and teams rose to the occasion on Opening Day at the Inwood Soccer Complex in Joliet:
2018 #PEPSICOSHOWDOWN BOYS
Leading Goal Scorers
3- AJ Adu, DePaul College Prep
2- Mason McCaw, Oswego
2- Josh Johansen, St. Edward
2- Seamus Kilgallon, Wheaton Academy
2- Leonard Ngongo, Rockford East
2- Mateusz Bula, Stagg
2- Nolan McGrath, Lincoln-Way West
2- Kevin Martinez, Juarez
2- Santiago Carnalla, DePaul Prep
2- Angel Arizmendiz, Washington
2- Alan Arriaga, Eisenhower
Leading Assists
2- Jack Kilgallon, Wheaton Academy
2- David Rizzo, Willowbrook
2- Alex Cervzntes, Garcia
2- Roberto Valencia, Juarez
2- Juan A. Garibay, Washington
2- Gael Arriaga, Eisenhower
2- Andy Lara, Muchin Prep
Team shutouts
Crystal Lake South
Morton
Garcia
Wheaton Academy
Francis Parker
Willowbrook
Rockford East
Riverside Brookfield
Fenton
Lake View
Stagg
Lincoln-Way West
Garcia
Washington
Bloom Township
Crystal Lake Central
Muchin Prep
West Chicago
H-F
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