Boylan's 2 PKs add up
to 1 goal, Class AA title over Triad
Foul call in 80th minute leads to 1-0 Titans win
By Mike Garofola
HOFFMAN ESTATES -- Boylan was awarded a penalty kick in the final minute of the Class AA state final that senior forward Jack Bonavia converted not once, but twice. That added to the bizarreness at the end of the Titans 1-0 victory over Triad for the Class AA title on Saturday afternoon at Garber Stadium.
With this hard-fought contest drawing closer to extra sessions, Titans senior Taylor Sowell tricked his way with speed toward the Triad box when he was tripped up just inches inside the box.
The referee did not hesitate pointing to the spot. That delighted the Titans camp and riled up the Triad crowd, who not only felt Sowell did not make his way into the box but that the engagement with Roger Weber was not enough to award a spotkick just 44 seconds before time.
"I know what (it) was -- just your typical shoulder-to-shoulder play you see in soccer all the time,” said Weber. “I really didn't feel it was a foul at all."
After Bonavia watched his spot kick rattle off the bar and into the back off the right upper 90, the officials sent the Titans star back to the spot for a second time.
Bonavia promptly steered in the PK again. He sent it on the ground on the right side for his 22nd goal of the year for a second time.
The officials followed a national high school rule that states that all players must line up 10 yards away from the spot, which corresponds to the arc at the top of the box.
According to the rule, which was reviewed prior to the start of this tournament by the IHSA supervisor of officials, should a player from either side encroach inside the arc,
another kick shall be taken if the attempt is converted.
That same rule also says that should the spot-kick be saved or shot off goal, the ball is awarded to the team defending the kick.
The penalty kick was a massive moment in this hard-fought affair that saw tensions rise with every passing minute in a frenetic final quarter hour of action.
"It all happened so fast," said Bonavia. “(Sowell) burst free with the ball, and from where I was at, it looked like he was brought down in the box. It was very close.”
"I felt like I had to make something happen," said Sowell, a two-time IHSSCA All-Stater who finished his season with 19 goals and 18 assists. “When I took the ball and beat a couple of their guys, all I could think about was either getting a shot off, or getting into their box and trying to draw a foul.”
Sowell shared Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match honors with Triad keeper David DuPont.
"We went toe-to-toe for 80 minutes, and in the end, it was a tough way to go out," said Triad’s classy manager, Jim Jackson, who hoped to guide his men to the program’s first state title and joining the Knights girls who won the Class AA title in June.
"We asked the A.R. on our side for an explanation on the foul, and the rule about taking a second PK. In the end, it felt like a punch to the gut, and as I said a tough way to lose a game. We felt we played about as well as we could but without getting the result we came here for."
Jackson served as an assistant to Triad’s girls manager Matt Bettlach, who returned the favor in the boys season.
This final shaped up as one of teams who could score in bunches and stop opponents cold.
Triad scored 124 goals on the season with Jake Ellis leading the way with 24, He was followed by Tobey Suter (15), Wyatt Suter (14), Weber (15) and Jake Stewart (13). Main keepers David DuPont (13 saves, 2 goals, 14 games) and Brayden Tonn (25, 6, 10) were barely tested.
Boylan bagged 96 goals through the supersectional round thanks in part to the deadly quartet of Victor Ibarra, Bryan Sanchez, Bonavia and Sowell, who together accounted for 74. Maine keeper Alyas Fritz allowed only 11 goals and recorded a .48 GAA.
The Titans trademark possession style of play was in full bloom in the first half hour of the game as they enjoyed most of the play. They connected a high percentage of passes, many of which went through the aforementioned Titans foursome, which seemed poised to unlock Triad at some point.
The Knights Stewart, Weber and Luke and Sam Beeman remained organized and airtight along the back while their teammates in front of them defended well as a unit. They tracked back in the middle of the park to limit time and space against a Boylan attack that could create trouble at a moment’s notice.
"We have a great, all-state keeper in David DuPont (0.14 goals against average) to rely on, and a team that is very good at defending,” said Jackson. “I knew if we kept them under control, we would have a chance to put one in on them,"
Knights All-State midfielder, Jake Ellis dragged the ball alongside himself before firing just wide of the near post in the 17th minute. He had a hand in creating a handful of free kicks and deep throws, which were sent in with piercing accuracy from Stewart. The activity kept Titans keeper Fritz far busier than he cared to be.
Fritz's counterpart DuPont came to the rescue when the Titans nearly found the opener with three glorious chances during the final 10 minutes before the intermission.
The senior stopped Bonavia at 31 minutes, then Sowell, who beat three challengers before watching DuPont get just enough of his close-range blast to turn the ball around the post.
The Knights shot-stopper was at his absolute best in the 38th minute, when-in full extension he made an outrageous save on a magnificent free kick by Sanchez that he curled around the wall.
"David, he kept us in the game during that first half," said Jackson.
There was more of an ebb-and-flow by both sides after the break, with each club taking turns having the ball more than the other. Triad's Stewart tossed five long throws into the Titans area in the first quarter hour. Ellis stung the gloves of Fritz with his angled cracker in the 57th minute.
Boylan was forced to play a man down for the final 19 minutes after George Fey tackled Stewart from behind in a dangerous manner according to referee Doug Neufeldt, who sent the senior off in the 61st minute.
After the Titans labored through the first couple of minutes with 10 men, the NIC-10 champions began to attack with more confidence to keep the Knights from throwing more numbers forward in search to a score.
Using a strong wind at his back and a bright sun in the face of DuPont, Adan Pina drove his free kick from the midline straight on frame and forced the Knights keeper to punch the well-aimed serve away at 67 minutes.
Triad made some inroads when another Stewart deep throw was brought down by Tobey Suter and spilled freely to Trent Cissell, who drove his effort wide of the post.
Boylan followed with Sowell, who on the turn missed wide on an open net. Weber answered for Triad with a free kick that was saved by Fritz. Then on the other end, it was more DuPont heroics when he elevated to take one out of the back of the net from Sowell.
All of this nonstop, box-to-box play would lead up to a moment that was bigger than any other. If this thriller had a VAR, officials could have had a second look at the deciding play. Neufeldt, who did not have the luxury of such a device, likely made the correct decision in real time and full speed.
"We had a lot of the play after the red card, and a handful of very good chances, which their keeper did well to stop from going in," began Jackson.
"Despite the ending, it was a great game, and I am very proud of the effort the boys gave today.
"There certainly was some added pressure put upon these guys (who) wanted to bring home a state title, just as our girls program did last season. I was thrilled to be a part of that as Matt's assistant.
"We have (11) seniors who I am going to miss tremendously. They along with the rest of this roster have been a real joy to be around and coach, and all of them should be real proud of what they accomplished this season."
Triad, which ranked just behind Boylan in the final Chicagoland Soccer Illinois 10 poll, finished up with a dazzling 25-1-1 overall record.
Bonavia and Sowel are still undecided about their future collegiate plans. The task at hand was was clear to both prior to the start of the 2021 fall season.
"Boylan soccer has had a lot of great teams over the years: (seven) state trophies, one state championship and 10 trips to the state tournament," said Bonavia. “(We) all knew that. What we all wanted to do was make history this season, with this team and under a new head coach (Bart Boguszewski).”
Sowell added: "We all could see up on the wall what Boylan soccer has accomplished, so it was important for us to make our program even bigger, and more successful this season," he said.
Starting lineups
Boylan (4-3-3)
G: Alyas Fritz
D: Cole Carter
D: George Fey
D: Adan Pina
D: Nathan Dorado
M: Victor Ibarra
M: Taylor Sowell
M: Jovanny Millan
F: Bryan Sanchez
F: Jack Bonavia
F: Jose Lopez
Triad (4-5-1)
G: David DuPont
D: Jake Stewart
D: Roger Weber
D: Luke Beeman
D: Sam Beeman
M: Gibson Hunt
M: Trent Cissell
M: Jake Ellis
M: Wyatt Suter
M: Cameron Ramirez
F: Tobey Suter
Chicagoland Soccer Men of the Match: David DuPont, sr., GK, Triad; Taylor Sowell, sr., MF, Boylan
Officials: Doug Neufeldt (referee); Rod Schaefer (assistant); Doug Rutter (assistant); Rommel Benyamin (fourth)
Scoring summary
First half
No scoring
Second half
Boylan: Bonavia (PK) 80'
Statistics
Boylan
On Frame: 6
Off Frame: 4
Fouls: 12
Corners: 1
Offsides: 0
Yellow Cards: 2
Red Cards: 1
Triad
On Frame: 0
Off Frame: 6
Fouls: 7
Corners: 4
Offsides: 1
Yellow Cards: 1
Red Cards: 0
to 1 goal, Class AA title over Triad
Foul call in 80th minute leads to 1-0 Titans win
By Mike Garofola
HOFFMAN ESTATES -- Boylan was awarded a penalty kick in the final minute of the Class AA state final that senior forward Jack Bonavia converted not once, but twice. That added to the bizarreness at the end of the Titans 1-0 victory over Triad for the Class AA title on Saturday afternoon at Garber Stadium.
With this hard-fought contest drawing closer to extra sessions, Titans senior Taylor Sowell tricked his way with speed toward the Triad box when he was tripped up just inches inside the box.
The referee did not hesitate pointing to the spot. That delighted the Titans camp and riled up the Triad crowd, who not only felt Sowell did not make his way into the box but that the engagement with Roger Weber was not enough to award a spotkick just 44 seconds before time.
"I know what (it) was -- just your typical shoulder-to-shoulder play you see in soccer all the time,” said Weber. “I really didn't feel it was a foul at all."
After Bonavia watched his spot kick rattle off the bar and into the back off the right upper 90, the officials sent the Titans star back to the spot for a second time.
Bonavia promptly steered in the PK again. He sent it on the ground on the right side for his 22nd goal of the year for a second time.
The officials followed a national high school rule that states that all players must line up 10 yards away from the spot, which corresponds to the arc at the top of the box.
According to the rule, which was reviewed prior to the start of this tournament by the IHSA supervisor of officials, should a player from either side encroach inside the arc,
another kick shall be taken if the attempt is converted.
That same rule also says that should the spot-kick be saved or shot off goal, the ball is awarded to the team defending the kick.
The penalty kick was a massive moment in this hard-fought affair that saw tensions rise with every passing minute in a frenetic final quarter hour of action.
"It all happened so fast," said Bonavia. “(Sowell) burst free with the ball, and from where I was at, it looked like he was brought down in the box. It was very close.”
"I felt like I had to make something happen," said Sowell, a two-time IHSSCA All-Stater who finished his season with 19 goals and 18 assists. “When I took the ball and beat a couple of their guys, all I could think about was either getting a shot off, or getting into their box and trying to draw a foul.”
Sowell shared Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match honors with Triad keeper David DuPont.
"We went toe-to-toe for 80 minutes, and in the end, it was a tough way to go out," said Triad’s classy manager, Jim Jackson, who hoped to guide his men to the program’s first state title and joining the Knights girls who won the Class AA title in June.
"We asked the A.R. on our side for an explanation on the foul, and the rule about taking a second PK. In the end, it felt like a punch to the gut, and as I said a tough way to lose a game. We felt we played about as well as we could but without getting the result we came here for."
Jackson served as an assistant to Triad’s girls manager Matt Bettlach, who returned the favor in the boys season.
This final shaped up as one of teams who could score in bunches and stop opponents cold.
Triad scored 124 goals on the season with Jake Ellis leading the way with 24, He was followed by Tobey Suter (15), Wyatt Suter (14), Weber (15) and Jake Stewart (13). Main keepers David DuPont (13 saves, 2 goals, 14 games) and Brayden Tonn (25, 6, 10) were barely tested.
Boylan bagged 96 goals through the supersectional round thanks in part to the deadly quartet of Victor Ibarra, Bryan Sanchez, Bonavia and Sowell, who together accounted for 74. Maine keeper Alyas Fritz allowed only 11 goals and recorded a .48 GAA.
The Titans trademark possession style of play was in full bloom in the first half hour of the game as they enjoyed most of the play. They connected a high percentage of passes, many of which went through the aforementioned Titans foursome, which seemed poised to unlock Triad at some point.
The Knights Stewart, Weber and Luke and Sam Beeman remained organized and airtight along the back while their teammates in front of them defended well as a unit. They tracked back in the middle of the park to limit time and space against a Boylan attack that could create trouble at a moment’s notice.
"We have a great, all-state keeper in David DuPont (0.14 goals against average) to rely on, and a team that is very good at defending,” said Jackson. “I knew if we kept them under control, we would have a chance to put one in on them,"
Knights All-State midfielder, Jake Ellis dragged the ball alongside himself before firing just wide of the near post in the 17th minute. He had a hand in creating a handful of free kicks and deep throws, which were sent in with piercing accuracy from Stewart. The activity kept Titans keeper Fritz far busier than he cared to be.
Fritz's counterpart DuPont came to the rescue when the Titans nearly found the opener with three glorious chances during the final 10 minutes before the intermission.
The senior stopped Bonavia at 31 minutes, then Sowell, who beat three challengers before watching DuPont get just enough of his close-range blast to turn the ball around the post.
The Knights shot-stopper was at his absolute best in the 38th minute, when-in full extension he made an outrageous save on a magnificent free kick by Sanchez that he curled around the wall.
"David, he kept us in the game during that first half," said Jackson.
There was more of an ebb-and-flow by both sides after the break, with each club taking turns having the ball more than the other. Triad's Stewart tossed five long throws into the Titans area in the first quarter hour. Ellis stung the gloves of Fritz with his angled cracker in the 57th minute.
Boylan was forced to play a man down for the final 19 minutes after George Fey tackled Stewart from behind in a dangerous manner according to referee Doug Neufeldt, who sent the senior off in the 61st minute.
After the Titans labored through the first couple of minutes with 10 men, the NIC-10 champions began to attack with more confidence to keep the Knights from throwing more numbers forward in search to a score.
Using a strong wind at his back and a bright sun in the face of DuPont, Adan Pina drove his free kick from the midline straight on frame and forced the Knights keeper to punch the well-aimed serve away at 67 minutes.
Triad made some inroads when another Stewart deep throw was brought down by Tobey Suter and spilled freely to Trent Cissell, who drove his effort wide of the post.
Boylan followed with Sowell, who on the turn missed wide on an open net. Weber answered for Triad with a free kick that was saved by Fritz. Then on the other end, it was more DuPont heroics when he elevated to take one out of the back of the net from Sowell.
All of this nonstop, box-to-box play would lead up to a moment that was bigger than any other. If this thriller had a VAR, officials could have had a second look at the deciding play. Neufeldt, who did not have the luxury of such a device, likely made the correct decision in real time and full speed.
"We had a lot of the play after the red card, and a handful of very good chances, which their keeper did well to stop from going in," began Jackson.
"Despite the ending, it was a great game, and I am very proud of the effort the boys gave today.
"There certainly was some added pressure put upon these guys (who) wanted to bring home a state title, just as our girls program did last season. I was thrilled to be a part of that as Matt's assistant.
"We have (11) seniors who I am going to miss tremendously. They along with the rest of this roster have been a real joy to be around and coach, and all of them should be real proud of what they accomplished this season."
Triad, which ranked just behind Boylan in the final Chicagoland Soccer Illinois 10 poll, finished up with a dazzling 25-1-1 overall record.
Bonavia and Sowel are still undecided about their future collegiate plans. The task at hand was was clear to both prior to the start of the 2021 fall season.
"Boylan soccer has had a lot of great teams over the years: (seven) state trophies, one state championship and 10 trips to the state tournament," said Bonavia. “(We) all knew that. What we all wanted to do was make history this season, with this team and under a new head coach (Bart Boguszewski).”
Sowell added: "We all could see up on the wall what Boylan soccer has accomplished, so it was important for us to make our program even bigger, and more successful this season," he said.
Starting lineups
Boylan (4-3-3)
G: Alyas Fritz
D: Cole Carter
D: George Fey
D: Adan Pina
D: Nathan Dorado
M: Victor Ibarra
M: Taylor Sowell
M: Jovanny Millan
F: Bryan Sanchez
F: Jack Bonavia
F: Jose Lopez
Triad (4-5-1)
G: David DuPont
D: Jake Stewart
D: Roger Weber
D: Luke Beeman
D: Sam Beeman
M: Gibson Hunt
M: Trent Cissell
M: Jake Ellis
M: Wyatt Suter
M: Cameron Ramirez
F: Tobey Suter
Chicagoland Soccer Men of the Match: David DuPont, sr., GK, Triad; Taylor Sowell, sr., MF, Boylan
Officials: Doug Neufeldt (referee); Rod Schaefer (assistant); Doug Rutter (assistant); Rommel Benyamin (fourth)
Scoring summary
First half
No scoring
Second half
Boylan: Bonavia (PK) 80'
Statistics
Boylan
On Frame: 6
Off Frame: 4
Fouls: 12
Corners: 1
Offsides: 0
Yellow Cards: 2
Red Cards: 1
Triad
On Frame: 0
Off Frame: 6
Fouls: 7
Corners: 4
Offsides: 1
Yellow Cards: 1
Red Cards: 0