Welcome, Guest!

Boys soccer: Illineks one win away from state


Sophomore Dan Lilly (20) collides with Danville Schlarman's goalkeeper during Uni's 1-0 Class A sectional semifinal victory today at Monticello High School. Gargoyle photo (click to enlarge)

By Gargoyle Staff
Published: Saturday, October 20, 2007 - 1:15am
Tags:

[Note: An earlier version of this story was posted on Friday, Oct. 19.]

MONTICELLO — Junior Noel Knox scored the game's only goal as the Uni boys soccer team defeated Danville Schlarman 1-0 Friday afternoon in the Class A Monticello sectional semifinals.

"Every single player stepped it up," said senior forward/midfielder Jake Seeley. "The second half was much better for us than the first half. That’s why the goal happened. Our team shape was better. We definitely had the momentum in the second half, and they kind of got back on their heels and got frustrated with each other."

The victory means Uni (13-8-1) will play Teutopolis (15-8-2) for the sectional championship at 3:30 p.m. Monday. It's the second year in a row that Uni will play for the sectional title. Last year the Illineks lost to Warrensburg-Latham 2-1 in the finals.

PLAYOFF GAME
AT A GLANCE

  • Score: Uni 1, Danville Schlarman 0
  • Uni record: 13-8-1, 3-1 ECIC
  • Recap: The No. 2-seeded Illineks defeated No. 3 Schlarman in the semifinals of the Class A Monticello sectionals, advancing to the finals.
  • Next game: Uni vs. Teutopolis, 3:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 22, Monticello High School. Win this game, and Uni will play at state on Friday.

If the Illineks win Monday's game, which will take place at Monticello High School, they will advance to the IHSA state tournament. No Uni "ball" team — soccer, basketball, or volleyball — has ever qualified for state. The tournament will be played Oct. 26 and 27 at North Central College in Naperville.

The school will provide a fan bus Monday afternoon, according to Athletic Director Sally Walker.

"Students who wish to support the team will be excused from their seventh-period class at 2:30 to load the bus for the match," Walker said in a schoolwide e-mail.

"Students will be responsible for covering their admission of $5 to the match. We will attend the match and return home immediately following the match, around 5:45."

Uni entered Friday's game as the sectional's No. 2 seed; Schlarman was No. 3. It was the second time the teams played each other this season. Uni won the previous match 3-1 on Sept. 14.

Senior goalkeeper Isaac Radnitzer missed that game with an injury; in his place sophomore Nile Hamer stepped up and made 10 saves.

This time Radnitzer was in goal and came away with his 10th shutout of the season — and his third straight of the playoffs. Radnitzer made nine saves against a tough and aggressive Hilltopper offense, five in the first half and four in the second.

The Illineks are unscored upon in the postseason and have given up only one goal in their last five contests, all of them wins after the team went through a five-game losing streak in late September and early October.

After a scoreless first half in which the wind was against them, the Illineks did a solid job of battling the Hilltoppers for possession throughout the final 40 minutes. Uni finished with 10 shots on goal, nine in the second half.

"It was pretty bickering ot there — people were really talking," Seeley said. "We got really excited. They had about four times as many fans as we did so they were really loud. I think we just got it in our heads that we were the underdog here and we really wanted to show them."

Knox's goal came with 19 minutes, 12 seconds left in the game. The ball actually bounced off the back of a Hilltopper defender and into the net, but Knox made the score possible with his shot. Junior Holden Bucher assisted on the play.

"It came because Noel was hustling," Seeley said. "If you get enough scrappy stuff going on in front of there, something’s going to go in."

Uni's opponent on Monday, Teutopolis, entered the sectional as the No. 5 seed. The Wooden Shoes upset top-seeded Judah Christian 4-0 on Thursday. It was Judah's only loss of the season. The Tribe finished 15-1-3.

Danville Schlarman finished the year 11-5-2.

Seeley is one of three players on this year's Illinek team who started in the 2006 sectional title game. How does he compare the current drive to state with last year's?

"We’re playing someone totally unknown this year in the finals," Seeley said. "We've never even played them before, ever. So we have no idea what to expect.

"Last year we were going in against Warrensburg-Latham, and they had pretty much routed us earlier in the season, so I think we were a little bit intimidated there. But I think here we have just a totally open mind, so it’s different. For whatever reason, I feel like we have more momentum now, maybe just because we had that midseason slump, but now we’ve had five wins in a row."

MORE PHOTOS: UNI VS. DANVILLE SCHLARMAN


Senior Geoffrey Beck (11) keeps possession as Russell Prochaska (27) watches. Gargoyle photo (click to enlarge)



Dan Lilly (left) beats the Hilltoppers' Michael Bateman to the ball. Gargoyle photo (click to enlarge)


Senior midfielder Alex Zhai (5) races past Schlarman's Chris Alverez. Gargoyle photo (click to enlarge)


Junior Carter Hutchens scans the field. Gargoyle photo (click to enlarge)


Junior midfielder Russell Prochaska (27) gets ready to challenge Scott Showers (23). Gargoyle photo (click to enlarge)


Prochaska and Showers collide. To the right are David Hjelmstad (9) and Alex Zhai. Gargoyle photo (click to enlarge)


Senior forward Sam Imlay (4) maneuvers past Schlarman's Nick Pellegrini (9). Gargoyle photo (click to enlarge)


Senior Jake Seeley makes a run toward the Hilltopper net. Gargoyle photo (click to enlarge)


Senior midfielder Julian Hartman (21) looks for an open teammate as Chris Alverez gives chase. Gargoyle photo (click to enlarge)


Forward/midfielder Jake Seeley (2) outruns Kevin Goodwin (10). Gargoyle photo (click to enlarge)


Jake Seeley takes on Schlarman's Refugio Guerrero (21). Gargoyle photo (click to enlarge)


Senior goalkeeper Isaac Radnitzer recorded his 10th shutout of the season. Gargoyle photo (click to enlarge)


Isaac Radnitzer and senior back T.J. Bozada (6) lead a Uni defense that is unscored upon in the playoffs. Gargoyle photo (click to enlarge)


T.J. Bozada gets ready to send the ball out of Uni's half. Gargoyle photo (click to enlarge)


Sam Imlay spins away from Nick Pellegrini. Gargoyle photo (click to enlarge)


Russell Prochaska and Chris Alverez fight for possession. Gargoyle photo (click to enlarge)


Sam Imlay hits the ground as Zane Dillon (2) and Michael Kasper (5) head for the ball. Gargoyle photo (click to enlarge)


Uni coach Philip Anders addresses his team during halftime. Gargoyle photo (click to enlarge)


Sam Imlay takes aim in the second half. Gargoyle photo (click to enlarge)


Junior Noel Knox scored the game's only goal. Gargoyle photo (click to enlarge)


Junior Holden Bucher delivers the ball to the Hilltopper half of the field. Gargoyle photo (click to enlarge)


Holden Bucher (10) and Scott Showers (23) collide. The Illineks have given up only one goal since Bucher switched to defense five games ago. Gargoyle photo (click to enlarge)


Freshman defender David Hjelmstad (9) and Scott Showers have the same idea. Gargoyle photo (click to enlarge)


David Hjelmstad gets entangled with a Hilltopper after he disrupts a Schlarman possession. Gargoyle photo (click to enlarge)


Dan Lilly stays on the attack despite heavy traffic. Gargoyle photo (click to enlarge)


Midfielder Alex Zhai wants that ball. Gargoyle photo (click to enlarge)


Junior Kareem Sayegh (29) and the rest of the Uni sideline celebrate as the game ends in an Illinek victory. Gargoyle photo (click to enlarge)


Happy players return from thanking Uni fans for their support. Gargoyle photo (click to enlarge)


Holden Bucher and Isaac Radnitzer celebrate along with Dan Lilly (left) and Noel Knox (7). Gargoyle photo (click to enlarge)

THE SEASON SO FAR

2007 BOYS SOCCER VARSITY RECORD: 13-8-1 overall, 3-1 East Central Illinois Conference
(home games listed in bold)

Aug. 25: Oakwood (Uni High Soccer Shoot Out), W 5-1

  • Story: Illineks win first game of season-opening tournament
  • Halftime score: Uni 2, Oakwood 1
  • Uni goals: Dan Lilly 2 (season total: 2); Holden Bucher 1 (season total: 1); Sam Imlay 1 (season total: 1); Jake Seeley 1 (season total: 1)
  • Uni assists: Sam Imlay 2 (season total: 2); David Hjelmstad 1 (season total: 1); Stephen Prochaska 1 (season total: 1); Jake Seeley 1 (season total: 1)
  • Uni saves: Isaac Radnitzer 6

Aug. 25: Blue Ridge (Uni High Soccer Shoot Out), W 1-0

Aug. 25: Fisher (Uni High Soccer Shoot Out), T 1-1

Aug. 28: at Judah Christian, L 5-0 *

  • Story: Judah downs Uni
  • Halftime score: Judah Christian 2, Uni 0
  • Uni goals: none
  • Uni assists: none
  • Uni saves: Isaac Radnitzer 8
  • JV game: Judah Christian 1, Uni 0

Aug. 30: Mahomet-Seymour, L 1-0

  • Story: Mahomet-Seymour shuts out Illineks
  • Halftime score: 0-0
  • Uni goals: none
  • Uni assists: none
  • Uni saves: Isaac Radnitzer 18
  • JV game: Mahomet-Seymour 3, Uni 1 (goal by Loic Hostetter, with assist by Eric Fritzsche)

Sept. 4: at Fisher, W 2-0

  • Story: Illineks get back on scoreboard, defeat Fisher 2-0
  • Halftime score: Uni 1, Fisher 0
  • Uni goals: Stephen Prochaska 1 (season total: 1); Holden Bucher 1 (season total: 2)
  • Uni assists: Holden Bucher 1 (season total: 2); Neil Pearson 1 (season total: 1)
  • Uni saves: Isaac Radnitzer 5
  • JV game: Fisher 4, Uni 2 (Uni goals by Richard Weisbach, with assist by Grant Loos; Loic Hostetter, with assist by Jasper Maniates-Selvin)

Sept. 6: Decatur Christian, W 3-0 *

  • Story: Bucher leads Uni to 3-0 win
  • Halftime score: 0-0
  • Uni goals: Holden Bucher 2 (season total: 4); Jake Seeley 1 (season total: 2)
  • Uni assists: Russell Prochaska 1 (season total: 1); Dan Lilly 1 (season total: 1); Seeley 1 (season total: 2)
  • Uni saves: Isaac Radnitzer 3
  • JV game: none

Sept. 8: Sullivan, W 2-0 (game called after first half due to lightning)

  • Story: Uni wins game shortened by lightning
  • Halftime score: 2-0
  • Uni goals: Carter Hutchens 1 (season total: 1); Dan Lilly 1 (season total: 3)
  • Uni assists: Jake Seeley 2 (season total: 4)
  • Uni saves: Isaac Radnitzer 2
  • JV game: none

Sept. 11: at Oakwood, L 2-1

  • Story: Comets get payback, beat Illineks 2-1
  • Halftime score: 2-1
  • Uni goal: Jake Seeley 1 (season total: 3)
  • Uni assist: Julian Hartman 1 (season total: 1)
  • Uni saves: Isaac Radnitzer 11
  • JV game: Uni 1, Oakwood 1 (unofficial match; Uni goal by Radnitzer)

Sept. 13: Iroquois West, W 4-0

  • Story: Uni bounces back from Oakwood loss, shuts out Iroquois West
  • Halftime score: 3-0
  • Uni goals: Dan Lilly 2 (season total: 5); Jake Seeley 1 (season total: 4); Isaac Radnitzer (season total: 1)
  • Uni assists: Carter Hutchens 1 (season total: 1); Julian Hartman 1 (season total: 2)
  • Uni saves: Isaac Radnitzer 9
  • JV game: none (intra-squad scrimmage)

Sept. 14: Schlarman, W 3-1

  • Story: Hamer comes up big in first varsity game as Illineks down Hilltoppers
  • Halftime score: Uni 2, Schlarman 1
  • Uni goals: Dan Lilly 1 (season total: 6); Jake Seeley 1 (season total: 5); Holden Bucher 1 (season total: 5)
  • Uni assists: Jake Seeley 1 (season total: 5); Dan Lilly 1 (season total: 2); Julian Hartman 1 (season total: 3)
  • Uni saves: Nile Hamer 10
  • JV game: Uni 2, Schlarman 1

Sept. 18: at Decatur Lutheran, W 4-0 *

  • Story: Uni defeats Decatur Lutheran
  • Halftime score: 3-0
  • Uni goals: Dan Lilly 1 (season total: 7); Carter Hutchens 1 (season total: 2); Stephen Prochaska 1 (season total: 2); Sam Imlay 1 (season total: 2)
  • Uni assists: Jake Seeley 2 (season total: 7); Sam Imlay 1 (season total: 3)
  • Uni saves: Isaac Radnitzer 4, Nile Hamer 2
  • JV game: none

Sept. 20: at Champaign Central, L 7-1

  • Story: Central gets even for last year's upset
  • Halftime score: Central 4, Uni 1
  • Uni goal: Eddie Diazmunoz (season total: 3)
  • Uni assist: Noel Knox (season total: 1)
  • Uni saves: Isaac Radnitzer 25
  • JV game: Central 4, Uni 0

Sept. 24: Warrensburg-Latham, L 2-0

Sept. 29: at Urbana, L 5-0

Oct. 2: at Tolono Unity, L 2-1

  • Story: Unity upsets Illineks
  • Halftime score: Uni 1, Unity 0
  • Uni goal: Noel Knox (season total: 1)
  • Uni assist: Jake Seeley (season total: 8)
  • Uni saves: Isaac Radnitzer 7
  • JV game: Uni 4, Tolono Unity 0 (Uni goals: Chris Mathy 3, Richard Weisbach 1)

Oct. 4: St. Thomas More, L 7-0

  • Story: Illineks drop fifth straight
  • Halftime score: St. Thomas More 6, Uni 0
  • Uni goals: none
  • Uni assists: none
  • Uni saves: Isaac Radnitzer 4
  • JV game: St. Thomas More 2, Uni 0

Oct. 9: Normal Calvary Baptist, W 5-0 *

  • Story: Uni shuts out Normal Calvary Baptist, ends losing streak
  • Halftime score: Uni 2, Normal Calvary Baptist 0
  • Uni goals: Dan Lilly 2 (season total: 9), Carter Hutchens 1 (season total: 3), Jake Seeley 1 (season total 6), Holden Butcher 1 (season total: 6)
  • Uni assists: Jake Seeley 2 (season total: 10), Alex Zhai 1 (season total: 1), Dan Lilly 1 (season total: 3)
  • Uni saves: Isaac Radnitzer 5
  • JV results: The junior varsity participated in the Monticello Tournament on Monday, going 0-2. The team lost to St. Thomas More 3-0 in its first match and 5-3 to Judah Christian in its second. In the Judah game, Noel Knox scored two goals and Jasper Maniates-Selvin one. Maniates-Selvin assisted on Knox's first goal; Loic Hostetter assisted on the other. Eric Fritzsche assisted on Maniates-Selvin's goal.

Oct. 11: Monticello, W 2-1

  • Story: Uni ends regular season with win over Monticello; playoffs begin today
  • Halftime score: Uni 1, Monticello 0
  • Uni goals: Jake Seeley 2 (season total: 8)
  • Uni assists: Dan Lilly 1 (season total: 4), Carter Hutchens 1 (season total: 2)
  • Uni saves: Isaac Radnitzer 7
  • JV game: Uni 1, Monticello 0 (Uni goal: Eric Fritzsche, assist by Richard Weisbach)

Oct. 12: Mt. Carmel, W 2-0 (Class A sectional first-round game)

Oct. 16: Monticello, W 1-0 (Class A sectional quarterfinal game)

  • Story: Uni advances to sectional semifinals
  • Halftime score: Uni 1, Monticello 0
  • Uni goal: Sam Imlay 1 (season total: 4)
  • Uni assist: Dan Lilly 1 (season total: 5)
  • Uni saves: Isaac Radnitzer 16
  • JV game: none; playoff game (varsity only)

Oct. 19: Danville Schlarman, W 1-0 (Class A sectional semifinal game at Monticello; Uni was the home team as the higher seed)

  • Story: see above
  • Halftime score: 0-0
  • Uni goal: Noel Knox 1 (season total: 2)
  • Uni assist: Holden Bucher 1 (season total: 3)
  • Uni saves: Isaac Radnitzer 9
  • JV game: none; playoff game (varsity only)

Next opponent: Teutopolis (Class A sectional finals), Monday, Oct. 22, at Monticello High School (directions); game to begin at 3:30 p.m.

* East Central Illinois Conference game

  • Login or register to post comments