Random Internet browsing led me to Neuqua Valley's boys soccer site. I guess old habits die hard while transitioning from reporter to editor. Anyway, I was surprised to see the three-time state-qualifying Wildcats have a new leader.

Tony Kees has replaced Jim Johns as the varsity team's head coach. Here's Kees' public greeting. (Warning: You'll have to make an extra click or two to actually land on Kees' message). As you'll see, Neuqua's getting a heavily decorated and highly motivated leader.

Agreed?

The Chicago Fire Juniors 16-and-under boys team continued their undefeated Northern Illinois Soccer League premiership division play with two victories. On Saturday, the Fire defeated Sockers FC 3-1 and on Sunday defeated Euro Premier Club 6-1. Neuqua Valley's Will Butler is on the team.

Neuqua Valley senior Danny O'Leary was also among the local athletes who signed a letter of intent on National Signing Day on Wednesday.

O'Leary committed to play soccer at Notre Dame for coach Bobby Clark. The signing came a year after O'Leary had given Clark his verbal commitment.

The Sun regrets having not included O'Leary among the list of signees in the paper. If you know of any other student-athlete who signed a letter of intent Wednesday, please let us know.

Despite a couple of nicks in their records, Naperville Central and Neuqua Valley still loom large in the ESPN RISE national soccer rankings this week.

Central (12-2-1) is up four spots to No. 35, and Neuqua (12-3-1) is 47th after falling out of the poll. Central and Neuqua play each other at noon on Saturday at Memorial Stadium.

The Redhawks dropped from No. 7 in the nation to No. 21 in this week's ESPN RISE national rankings.

Their loss to Downers Grove South knocked them down the charts. They remain No. 2 in the state behind New Trier, which is ranked sixth in the country.

Neuqua Valley fell out of the top 25 with its second loss of the year.

The make-up date for the highly anticipated rematch between nationally-ranked Naperville Central and Neuqua Valley is set for noon on Oct. 11 at Memorial Stadium.

Central defeated Neuqua 2-1 in regulation to claim its first Best of the West Soccer Tournament championship Sept. 6.

Currently, the unbeaten Redhawks are ranked seventh in the nation by ESPN RISE. They cracked the rankings after beating Neuqua and, in the process, knocked the Wildcats down the chart to 22nd.

On the Redhawks heels? Ninth-ranked New Trier.

Before Naperville Central defends its ESPN RISE national ranking against Neuqua Valley on Saturday afternoon at Central, the Redhawks will first conduct a free youth soccer clinic.

The one-hour session begins at 3 p.m. and is free, but all proceeds will benefit the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. And for every $5 donation, you will receive a ticket into the rematch game between Central and Neuqua. Again, the details:

When: 3-4 p.m. Saturday
Where: Naperville Central's West St. Soccer Complex
Who: Boys and girls soccer players, ages 5-14
Bring: shin guards, a soccer ball and a drink

Central (8-0), ranked eighth nationally and No. 1 in Illinois, defeated previously unbeaten Neuqua 2-1 in the Best of the West Tournament championship Saturday at Memorial Stadium.

Final update: Central defeated Neuqua 2-1 for its first Best of the West Tournament championship since the format began pitting pool-play winners in a title game. See The Sun for complete coverage.

Update: Neuqua cut Central's lead in half in the 48th minute on Bryan Dosch's volley inside the goalmouth. Central's Jerry Maddi, the game's first goal scorer, just left the game injured and not under his own power. It's his right leg.

The Redhawks lead Neuqua Valley 2-0 at halftime of the Best of the West Tournament championship Saturday at Memorial Stadium.

Senior Jerry Maddi scored in the 37th minute, and junior Art Garza scored in the 39th minute. The Redhawks have six shots on goal, forcing Neuqua goalkeeper Jack Turanchik into making four diving saves already.

Neuqua has no shots on goal. This is also the third time the unbeaten Wildcats have trailed by two goals this year. Plainfield Central and Naperville North led by two and both lost.

Will the Wildcats respond again or will Central win its first BOW tournament title under coach Jay Konrad?

Tournament favorites Neuqua Valley and Naperville Central both won their second games of pool play Thursday, setting themselves up for a title-game rematch on Saturday night at Central.

See The Sun for the full story on Central's 3-0 win over Sandburg at Central. As for Neuqua, it stayed unbeaten like Central by defeating Benet 5-0 at North.

Also on Thursday, Naperville North rebounded from its loss to Neuqua by beating Lincoln-Way Central 2-1 at North.

Hang onto those tickets. The Best of the West Soccer Tournament final everyone's been pining for (OK, just me) is still in order.

On Wednesday, Neuqua Valley defeated Naperville North 4-2 in stellar comeback fashion and Naperville Central defeated Fremd 4-1.

See The Sun for the full story on Neuqua's comeback. As for Central, just know that Jerry Maddi scored two goals and that Chris Prince and Andy Miltonberger each scored once.

But before everyone (OK, me) gets too excited for the final, Central has a tough opponent in Sandburg on Thursday and Waubonsie on Saturday while Neuqua still has Benet on Thursday and Lincoln-Way Central on Saturday.

The championship starts at 6 p.m. Saturday at Central. Neuqua defeated Central last year for the title, and Benet defeated Central two years ago in the championship.

Is this Central's year?

UPDATE: Benet ties Lincoln-Way Central 0-0, wins shootout 3-1.

Harshbarger-Welzel Field in Naperville is empty as we speak, but there's still hope that Benet will play Lincoln-Way Central in the nightcap of this Best of the West doubleheader.

Lightning postponed Neuqua Valley vs. host Naperville North until 4:30 p.m. Wednesday. The game will resume where it left off Tuesday before the weather and the second game forced postponement.

North led nationally-ranked Neuqua 1-0 when referees stopped the game with 31:01 left to play in the first half. Senior forward Emerson Beck scored in the ninth minute.