McGowen's 73rd-minute header
gives Hinsdale Central state title
Red Devils beat undefeated
Normal 1-0 for Class 3A crown
By Mike Garofola
HOFFMAN ESTATES -- Hinsdale Central is at the top of the IHSA soccer world for the first time since 1975.
For one last time this season, Will McGowen provided another late dramatic winner, thumping his header in 7 minutes from time to send a huge Red Devils crowd into hysteria as their heroes beat nationally ranked Normal 1-0 for the Class 3A crown late Saturday night at Garber Stadium in Hoffman Estates.
After finishing on top of the Lyons Sectional with remarkable victories over the hosts and No. 1 Morton, the Red Devils (19-4-4) followed up with McGowen providing the winner in a shootout triumph over Naperville North in the Lewis University Supersectional to book a place in the Final Four.
Once there, more drama played out in a tense 2-1 decision over Fremd in the semifinal Friday. That set up a gritty, well-played final with the Ironmen the McGowen once again decided. The win helped erase the stunning disappoingment from the 2013 postseason, that saw the affable then junior and his mates crash out of the sectionals after entering the postseason as the No. 1 club in the land.
"It feels so good to finally put last season behind us, and especially this way," said McGowen.
"I have come to expect Evan (Floersch) to put one great ball after another into the box on all of our dead-balls, and there were 3-4 others all night long that we almost got to - but this one was the best with Bryan (Loebig) flicking it forward to allow me to get in on the end of it."
For all of the quality players the Ironmen had on their roster -- including two all-state players, Eddie Plesha (39 goals) and Connor Oltman, not to mention their marvelous center midfielder Mason Maier -- one thing was clear, the Ironmen could play the game.
"Oh my that was a very good team," marveled Hinsdale Central manager Mike Wiggins."Eddie (Plesha) up top was amazing. They had pace, size, and a real idea of how to attack and when to get forward. On paper, they looked to be the best here this weekend in 3A.
"But we also knew the longer we stayed in the game with them, and at 0-0, that slowly things would turn in our favor as the pressure mounted for them. We were in a similiar situation last year heading into the tournament as the No. 1 team (undefeated), and the team everyone was after.
"It's not easy being that team, and for us, we had several guys back after going through all of the stress (and) all, so that was part of our tactical approach to this night. And I feel the guys put forth the effort needed in order to accomplish what we set out to do against a wonderfully talented, and well coached team such as Normal."
Wiggins' plan nearly went up in smoke when Plesha went close twice in the opening 10 minutes - rattling the woodwork in the 5th minute, then narrowly getting in on keeper Wes Bergevin after collecting a ball over the top. If not for a stealth-like tackle from Nick Silva, the sensational senior would have had Bergevin all to himself in the 9th minute.
"I should have finished at least one, if not both of those chances - maybe our fortunes would have changed if I did," said a disappointed Plesha.
As the match continued to open up following these two dangerous opportunities for the Ironmen, the introduction of Maier, and Ryan Woodside in the Normal attack began to increase in the center of the park. Riley Hutchison, who provided some well paced serves and helpers on the outside, added to the pressure.
Plesha found room on the outside after Woodside put him through, but his angled shot went just wide of the back post in the 19th minute. Before that, it was Hutchison who connected with Plesha to help send the striker in on his two early chances.
"We struggled to find our game in our own end during those first 15 minutes or so, and we nearly paid for it when No. 5 (Plesha) had those two chances," admitted Floersch, one of Hinsdale Central's rock solid back three.
Wiggins gave a lot of credit to his defensive stalwarts.
"I'll agree playing three in the back at this level can be deadly, but we're lucky to have an All-American defender with Evan, and two players on either side of him (McGowen and Silva) to make it a little easier. But in truth, if our outside players don't track back, defend, and give us a lot of energy and pace at that position, the whole three in the back concept fails," said Wiggins.
That may have been where the Red Devils would finally break down their opponents.
"Hinsdale seemed like they were winning most of the first and second balls against us, and they began to take away the outside, forcing us to play in the middle of the field far too much, and that approach slowly took away our options and forced us to play they way they wanted us to," said Normal mananger Brian Pelton.
The Red Devils midfield unit of Justin and Jeremy Yi, Mikey Usher, Jimmy Walker and Jack Balderman, among others, turned in a high-level work rate after intermission. The group allowed little space and time for their counterparts to possess and turn in order to find their frontrunner Plesha, who Hinsdale Central slowly took out of the game.
"It was our 3-5-2-1 versus their 4-2-4-1 and the match-up was beginning to go in our favor, especially in the second half when our pressure was starting to make a difference," said Wiggins.
Added Floersch: "Once we settled in, and saw what they could do, and how we could defend, I felt like our tactics were beginning to take hold, and the work defensively in the center of the park took a lot away from what they did so well."
Ironmen keeper Josh Millmore found himself alone on an island when the senior came far off his line to chase a long ball into the Normal end. If not for a well-played tackle on a tracking mission from Jack Watt, things may have been dicey as the Red Devils poured forward in pursuit of the loose ball.
That 51st minute scare led to another later on when a searing free kick from Floersch forced the goalkeeper to marshall a dangerous ball out of the box in the 68th minute.
Five minutes later, McGowen popped up when the power of a long-range throw-in from Floersch was only matched by the individual effort from Loebig's redirect, and the ever-present McGowen who beat a helpless Millmore from near the spot.
"It all happened so fast, but like I said, I always expect Evan to give us great chances like that with his restarts," McGowen said with a big smile.
"We began this year losing 5-2 to Plainfield North, then a few games later (3-0) to Morton, and last year I don't think we gave up more than 12 goals before going out early," began Loebig. "We all learned from those struggles last year, and it made us that much stronger, and aware for this upcoming season."
Added Wiggins" "For me, I believe our 4-3 comeback win over Peoria Notre Dame at their tournament in mid-September might have been the turning point for these guys."
"We were down 3-1, then fired back to score the next three. You cannot recreate a situation or moment like that.
"Last year we lost to Lyons in the secitonal final, and I don't think any of the guys wanted to feel that again. So when the build-up to getting here began with beating Lyons in the sectional semifinal, then winning games against Morton, Naperville North and Fremd, all you could say is we beat four teams that all could be in our place if things go the other way.
"Sometimes there's no way to figure out how and why you get here. But one thing is for sure, we're lucky to have a fantastic group of players who have all given everything they can for team and teammates. And when that happens, good things can come true."
Starting lineups
Hinsdale Central
GK Wes Bergevin
D Nick Silva
D Evan Floresch
D Will McGowen
MF Justin Yi
MF Jack Baderman
MF Jeremy Yi
MF Mikey Usher
MF Jimmy Walker
F Bryan Loebig
F Sam Johnson
Normal
GK Josh Millmore
D Connor Oltman
D Josh Schapmire
D Jack Watt
D Riley Hutchison
MF Josef Holcomb
MF Ryan Woodside
MF Mason Maier
MF Dalton Bruso
MF Chris Tanton
F Eddie Plesha
Officials: Jon Martelin (center), John Anderson, Jeff Ryder, Mario Castillo (fourth)
Man of the Match: Will McGowen, Hinsdale Central
gives Hinsdale Central state title
Red Devils beat undefeated
Normal 1-0 for Class 3A crown
By Mike Garofola
HOFFMAN ESTATES -- Hinsdale Central is at the top of the IHSA soccer world for the first time since 1975.
For one last time this season, Will McGowen provided another late dramatic winner, thumping his header in 7 minutes from time to send a huge Red Devils crowd into hysteria as their heroes beat nationally ranked Normal 1-0 for the Class 3A crown late Saturday night at Garber Stadium in Hoffman Estates.
After finishing on top of the Lyons Sectional with remarkable victories over the hosts and No. 1 Morton, the Red Devils (19-4-4) followed up with McGowen providing the winner in a shootout triumph over Naperville North in the Lewis University Supersectional to book a place in the Final Four.
Once there, more drama played out in a tense 2-1 decision over Fremd in the semifinal Friday. That set up a gritty, well-played final with the Ironmen the McGowen once again decided. The win helped erase the stunning disappoingment from the 2013 postseason, that saw the affable then junior and his mates crash out of the sectionals after entering the postseason as the No. 1 club in the land.
"It feels so good to finally put last season behind us, and especially this way," said McGowen.
"I have come to expect Evan (Floersch) to put one great ball after another into the box on all of our dead-balls, and there were 3-4 others all night long that we almost got to - but this one was the best with Bryan (Loebig) flicking it forward to allow me to get in on the end of it."
For all of the quality players the Ironmen had on their roster -- including two all-state players, Eddie Plesha (39 goals) and Connor Oltman, not to mention their marvelous center midfielder Mason Maier -- one thing was clear, the Ironmen could play the game.
"Oh my that was a very good team," marveled Hinsdale Central manager Mike Wiggins."Eddie (Plesha) up top was amazing. They had pace, size, and a real idea of how to attack and when to get forward. On paper, they looked to be the best here this weekend in 3A.
"But we also knew the longer we stayed in the game with them, and at 0-0, that slowly things would turn in our favor as the pressure mounted for them. We were in a similiar situation last year heading into the tournament as the No. 1 team (undefeated), and the team everyone was after.
"It's not easy being that team, and for us, we had several guys back after going through all of the stress (and) all, so that was part of our tactical approach to this night. And I feel the guys put forth the effort needed in order to accomplish what we set out to do against a wonderfully talented, and well coached team such as Normal."
Wiggins' plan nearly went up in smoke when Plesha went close twice in the opening 10 minutes - rattling the woodwork in the 5th minute, then narrowly getting in on keeper Wes Bergevin after collecting a ball over the top. If not for a stealth-like tackle from Nick Silva, the sensational senior would have had Bergevin all to himself in the 9th minute.
"I should have finished at least one, if not both of those chances - maybe our fortunes would have changed if I did," said a disappointed Plesha.
As the match continued to open up following these two dangerous opportunities for the Ironmen, the introduction of Maier, and Ryan Woodside in the Normal attack began to increase in the center of the park. Riley Hutchison, who provided some well paced serves and helpers on the outside, added to the pressure.
Plesha found room on the outside after Woodside put him through, but his angled shot went just wide of the back post in the 19th minute. Before that, it was Hutchison who connected with Plesha to help send the striker in on his two early chances.
"We struggled to find our game in our own end during those first 15 minutes or so, and we nearly paid for it when No. 5 (Plesha) had those two chances," admitted Floersch, one of Hinsdale Central's rock solid back three.
Wiggins gave a lot of credit to his defensive stalwarts.
"I'll agree playing three in the back at this level can be deadly, but we're lucky to have an All-American defender with Evan, and two players on either side of him (McGowen and Silva) to make it a little easier. But in truth, if our outside players don't track back, defend, and give us a lot of energy and pace at that position, the whole three in the back concept fails," said Wiggins.
That may have been where the Red Devils would finally break down their opponents.
"Hinsdale seemed like they were winning most of the first and second balls against us, and they began to take away the outside, forcing us to play in the middle of the field far too much, and that approach slowly took away our options and forced us to play they way they wanted us to," said Normal mananger Brian Pelton.
The Red Devils midfield unit of Justin and Jeremy Yi, Mikey Usher, Jimmy Walker and Jack Balderman, among others, turned in a high-level work rate after intermission. The group allowed little space and time for their counterparts to possess and turn in order to find their frontrunner Plesha, who Hinsdale Central slowly took out of the game.
"It was our 3-5-2-1 versus their 4-2-4-1 and the match-up was beginning to go in our favor, especially in the second half when our pressure was starting to make a difference," said Wiggins.
Added Floersch: "Once we settled in, and saw what they could do, and how we could defend, I felt like our tactics were beginning to take hold, and the work defensively in the center of the park took a lot away from what they did so well."
Ironmen keeper Josh Millmore found himself alone on an island when the senior came far off his line to chase a long ball into the Normal end. If not for a well-played tackle on a tracking mission from Jack Watt, things may have been dicey as the Red Devils poured forward in pursuit of the loose ball.
That 51st minute scare led to another later on when a searing free kick from Floersch forced the goalkeeper to marshall a dangerous ball out of the box in the 68th minute.
Five minutes later, McGowen popped up when the power of a long-range throw-in from Floersch was only matched by the individual effort from Loebig's redirect, and the ever-present McGowen who beat a helpless Millmore from near the spot.
"It all happened so fast, but like I said, I always expect Evan to give us great chances like that with his restarts," McGowen said with a big smile.
"We began this year losing 5-2 to Plainfield North, then a few games later (3-0) to Morton, and last year I don't think we gave up more than 12 goals before going out early," began Loebig. "We all learned from those struggles last year, and it made us that much stronger, and aware for this upcoming season."
Added Wiggins" "For me, I believe our 4-3 comeback win over Peoria Notre Dame at their tournament in mid-September might have been the turning point for these guys."
"We were down 3-1, then fired back to score the next three. You cannot recreate a situation or moment like that.
"Last year we lost to Lyons in the secitonal final, and I don't think any of the guys wanted to feel that again. So when the build-up to getting here began with beating Lyons in the sectional semifinal, then winning games against Morton, Naperville North and Fremd, all you could say is we beat four teams that all could be in our place if things go the other way.
"Sometimes there's no way to figure out how and why you get here. But one thing is for sure, we're lucky to have a fantastic group of players who have all given everything they can for team and teammates. And when that happens, good things can come true."
Starting lineups
Hinsdale Central
GK Wes Bergevin
D Nick Silva
D Evan Floresch
D Will McGowen
MF Justin Yi
MF Jack Baderman
MF Jeremy Yi
MF Mikey Usher
MF Jimmy Walker
F Bryan Loebig
F Sam Johnson
Normal
GK Josh Millmore
D Connor Oltman
D Josh Schapmire
D Jack Watt
D Riley Hutchison
MF Josef Holcomb
MF Ryan Woodside
MF Mason Maier
MF Dalton Bruso
MF Chris Tanton
F Eddie Plesha
Officials: Jon Martelin (center), John Anderson, Jeff Ryder, Mario Castillo (fourth)
Man of the Match: Will McGowen, Hinsdale Central