By Randy Whalen

Alan Stewart recalls being the JV coach and an assistant on the varsity team when Joliet West was a sectional finalist in boys' soccer in 2022. 

Now, entering his second season as the Tigers' head boys soccer coach, he believes this year's group has some of the same qualities as the '22 team. 

"I see some similarities between this team and the one in '22," said Stewart of the team, which finished 17-6-3 and lost to Edwardsville in a shootout, following a 1-1 tie in regulation at the Class 3A Moline Sectional Final. "I would love for us to replicate that success."

With much of last season's squad returning this fall, the Tigers could have that opportunity. They only graduated three seniors from last year's team, which finished 7-14-2 and 2-7-2 in the Southwest Prairie Conference. 

This summer was a time for the start of a more successful Joliet West season. The team had five weeks of summer camp, meeting four days a week. Three of those weeks were in June and two in July. 

"We had 10 summer league games, with five of those at home," Stewart said of the local summer league the Tigers were in. "We played teams in our conference, but also played strong teams like Lemont, Naperville Central, and Waubonsie Valley. 

"Sure, some guys were missing, but we beat (2022 Class 3A State Champion) Naperville Central. We went 5-2-2 and looked really strong. (Minooka coach) Nate Springs did a great job putting it together."

Any summer play for a sport like boys' soccer is invaluable because it comes right before the season starts. After being disappointed with seven total wins in each of the past two seasons, Joliet West is looking to be better.

"We had a pretty strong summer showing, and we are returning a lot of players," Stewart said. "The boys came out strong, and we have a lot of strong leadership."

According to Stewart, senior midfielders Alex Mendoza and Ivan Moreno will be "two center pieces" this season. Also, look for seniors Xavier Garcia and Jafet Cerda, a transfer from Plainfield South, to step up as wings.

This fall, a change is coming to the SPC standings format. In the past, a tie game in the conference was just that, a tie. But now, the league has implemented a new standings system, similar to hockey.  

If the game is tied, each team will get a point. However, they will decide it by going straight to penalty kicks and continuing until a winner is determined. The winning team will get two points in the standings.

"I like it in the sense that we hosted a sectional last year, and two of the three games went to penalty kicks, and the other one was close," Stewart said. "Because we didn't play overtime or go to PKs, we were at a disadvantage if we had a team in that situation. So this will help us replicate it if that happens in the playoffs."

After losing in the regional semifinals the past two seasons, the Tigers hope to be in a position to do that this fall.

"The guys are hungry and have a lot to prove," Stewart said. "We had five games that we won or tied in the last seconds a year ago, including a tie (2-2 at home on September 18 to a 17-5-4, 6-1-4 in the SPC) to a very good Romeoville team. We were young last year, and we want to see better results."

Joliet West will once again start the season at the Windy City Ram Classic, which is hosted by Reavis and played at various sites. A year ago, the Tigers went 4-1 there and took ninth place out of 32 teams.

"We open up against Mount Carmel," Stewart said of the game on Tuesday, August 26, to start the tourney. "We hope to play five games there, like we did last season, and see good results."

Stewart, who also coaches the Tiger girls' soccer team, took over as the boys' coach right before the start of last season. So this year, he and the team are better prepared, and he's made tweaks to the schedule, too.

"We have a few more home games this season," said Stewart of the nine scheduled home games, compared to six last season. "Also, unlike last year, we hardly have any back-to-back games, and that's good.

"I'm looking forward to the season and an opportunity to implement my system. I'm excited."